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Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here.

Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here.

Car seats

3 in the car won't go. . .

19 replies

foodfairy · 22/05/2010 18:36

I'm expecting our third child in a couple of months. We have a really small car which is fine as we don't drive that much - 5 mins to school each day is about it. I realise that we probably have to go down the people carrier route eventually, but money is a bit tight right now and it would be good if we could work out a way of coping for a couple of months.

So, has anyone had a 3 point seat belt fitted to the middle seat (think we could just about get DD booster in with this). Or could we disable the airbag in the frontseat and put the baby in there. I'm not too sure if this is legal or not?

Thanks.

OP posts:

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BertieBotts · 22/05/2010 18:37

Can't you put the eldest child with booster in the front seat? No need to disable airbag then.

foodfairy · 22/05/2010 20:35

He's 4, but quite tall (no idea how much he weighs). I didn't think they could go in the front??????? Unless over 5ft?

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 22/05/2010 20:40

Lol, where did you get that from? And surely if a child has to be over 5ft to sit in the front, a baby would definitely not be able to!

I am sure it's fine, let me check... Yes, it's fine, better for them to be in the back but definitely not unsafe

nicm · 22/05/2010 22:02

depend on the car seats. i have a KISS, a britax two way elite(with a lap only belt) and a maxi cosi priori in the back of a vw golf! is a bit of a squeeze but we can do it. getting the air bag deactivated is not recommended (different when you can switch it off yourself) but you can put a ff seat in the front as long as it is moved as far back from the air bag as possible. congratulations and good luck!

Loopymumsy · 23/05/2010 09:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bran · 23/05/2010 09:14

What about that bench thing that you fit onto the back seat? I can't remember what it's called now but I've seen it linked to on here before.

bran · 23/05/2010 09:19

This is it, Multimac.

foodfairy · 23/05/2010 12:11

Thanks for all the advice. Hubby and I are resigned to not all travelling in the car together until we save up for new car. We have a polo so really is a tight fit in the back with 2 seats and my hips are no longer what they were. The multimac looks great, but is £1000 so not very affordable - looking to put money aside to get a new car!

Nicm where did you get your britax from - have had a little search and can't find. . .

Looks like we might have DS who is 4 in the front seat. He will be in heaven, I will be constantly worrying about the airbag! Is it legal to deactivate them? Or is it safest to travel with him pushed as far back as possible and the airbag still on?

And why can't someone invent a slimline car seat which is safe with a 2 point seatbelt. Can't be that hard. Can it?

OP posts:

Trafficcone · 23/05/2010 12:26

I'd say it's far safer to have the airbag disabled. They have killed children, not just infants in carseats.

misdee · 23/05/2010 12:30

britax eclipse fits in the middle with just a lapbelt. then you could have baby seat one side and booster tyhe other

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 23/05/2010 12:42

How old are the DCs and what seats? this takes a lap belt

nicm · 23/05/2010 16:50

ff we got it from www.incarsafetycentre.co.uk. if you're anywhere near belfast or milton keynes i'd recommend them. my mum has a polo, i'll try the seats in it for you. not sure if they'd fit as it's tight enough in the golf. what weights are your dc now?

foodfairy · 23/05/2010 20:52

Looks like I'm not the only one struggling!

The kids are soon to be born (e.g rear facing) 2.5 and 4.I think I've been thinking about it in the wrong way from what you guys suggest, the baby goes near window, 4 year old near window with just a booster cushion and the 2.5 goes in the middle with a lap belt to fix it which has straps to hold her in.

Sounds like a tight squeeze, but would be great if it worked and help calm my fears about airbags going off.

Thanks again - would be really helpful to make this work!

OP posts:

liamsdaddy · 23/05/2010 20:56

It's perfectly legal to disable the airbags in a vehicle, most dealers will do it free.

On some cars you might get a little yellow light on the dashboard to remind you it's disabled.

raindroprhyme · 23/05/2010 21:04

just remember if you disable airbag in front then carry an adult passenger you must inform them or they could sue you. Also check with your insurance company.

sazm · 05/06/2010 09:58

liamsdaddy,most dealers wont do it free, we got quotes and they ranged from £300 - £800+ for an old vectra, as you need a certificate from the garage to say they have done it properly to make it legal,and its needs to have a switch installed so you can switch it on/off,and also make it ok with your insurance,it would be classed as a modification on your insurance which could make it dearer.

we have a britax eclipse which is a fab seat, we have it in the middle of our vectra
its narrow and we have it with a britax hi-liner at either side (the hi-liner headrest fits in behind the eclipse perfectly and makes them easier to fit in,

i would go to halfords/mothercare and try a few out,

i would try a britax eclipse in the middle,with a hi-liner at the other side and either a britax or maxi-cosi carrier at the other side for your baby.

Chandos · 06/06/2010 22:48

The eclipse is perfect for this situation as fits with 2 point seatbelt. I agree pop down to halfords try a few combinations out get them to check all fit ok

flaime · 12/06/2010 20:38

We had one in the front from about 4 years as it was easier than squeezing 3 in the back on the school run, they do say to put the front seat as far back as it will go if you have an air bag.

If you do need to put 3 kids in the back then the law states if you can't fit a third seat in the back as you already have 2 car seats fitted then a third child can sit in the middle without any booster seat/cushion -they just need to use the seatbelt provided.

We used to do this but did have a 3 point seatbelt and a seatbelt adjuster which had passed the same safety regs as car seats need to. Once they were all old enough to be on booster cushions we got three voyager booster cushions from Tescos's as they are very narrow and we can easily fit 3 across the back seat.

Adventuredad · 13/06/2010 14:47

A child should NEVER sit in front seat with an active airbag. Rear seat is then always safer. It's a really bad idea to put a young child forward facing with airbag active. Giving this advice is very irresponsible.

Front seat is an excellent place if airbag has been deactivated with key or switch . It's then as safe or safer than rear seat.

I would place your newborn up front if possible since this would be practical and safer (airbag deactivated of course)

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