Just under a year into ownership of an Octavia Combi...love it...but another addition to the family on the way next year. Looks impossible to be able to get three car seats across the back

 

Any ideas or advice about what  I should do?

Not many options are there,

find 3 seats that fit or change vehicles to one that will take the 2 seats you have and a 3rd one as well.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/413859-the-three-seat-child-seats-car-club 

Edited 10 December, 20178 yr by AwaoffSki

How old are your kids? I have three and our oldest being seven she can sit in the middle of the back with no seat. Over three they can legally sit in the back with no seat

As per the linked thread above, this is the way forward. Not cheap, but almost certainly cheaper than changing car!

 

https://multimac.co.uk/home

10 minutes ago, A18kny said:

How old are your kids? I have three and our oldest being seven she can sit in the middle of the back with no seat. Over three they can legally sit in the back with no seat

will be 5, 3 and new born - thought it was wise to keep them in a seat until they were 11?

THe rules seem to change so often, when me or the wife isn’t there our oldest has her car seat in the front so they are all in car seats, but as the law states the oldest above three can legally sit without a car seat. Good luck finding a car to take three seats. 

 

We we have then maxi cosi swivel isopod and the Rodio Isofix

 

to be honest without changing to a discovery 4 etc ur fooked

http://gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules 

 

3 proper seats in an Alhambra / Sharan. 

Plus 2 behind, or plenty boot space.

Edited 10 December, 20178 yr by AwaoffSki

2 hours ago, A18kny said:

but as the law states the oldest above three can legally sit without a car seat. 

 

Where on earth have you seen this? 

Maybe if you read official government sites you would find out 

4 minutes ago, ahenners said:

 

Where on earth have you seen this? 

See . . . ^

15 minutes ago, A18kny said:

See . . . ^

 

Did read the gov site previously but didn't spot that bit - I should get better glasses! Handy to know 

Edited 10 December, 20178 yr by ahenners

19 minutes ago, ahenners said:

 

Did read the gov site previously but didn't spot that bit - I should get better glasses! Handy to know 

I also made the mistake of changing a car for no reason because I didn’t read it right. Haha least I read it right finally 

& do you take children in a car this way because you can regardless of their safety?

Double post, admins please delete..

Edited 10 December, 20178 yr by bigiainw

32 minutes ago, A18kny said:

Maybe if you read official government sites you would find out 

 

Thanks for this but my kids will always be more of a priority than not changing my car to accommodate them safely. Just because it's not illegal it doesn't mean that it's a good idea.

That can’t mean for normal, regular occurrences? The seatbelt surely doesn’t fit or support properly. Ive seen my 7 year old sit in a normal seat with belt and it didn’t in any way fit properly.  

 

Whatever floats your boat though I guess...

Trust me it’s nothing to do with not being safe, I’ve had discovery 4’s, be transporters the lot. She is 7 and the size of a 9 year, she is to big for her car seat which is the biggest size you get. The chair is fully extended, boost seats are illegal so it’s doesnt really leave you any choice when she is in the back does it?  I actually asked a police officer if I could use the booster and they also suggested to do what I’m already doing. 

Edited 10 December, 20178 yr by A18kny

38 minutes ago, A18kny said:

See . . . ^

NO! You read that wrong. ONLY IF THE CAR HAS NO SEATBELTS FITTED (I.E. ITS A REALLY OLD BANGER) CAN A 3 YEAR OLD TRAVEL WITHOUT A CHILD SEAT. For obvious reasons, there's nothing to fix a seat to. Child has to be over 12years old or over 135 cm tall to travel without an appropriate child seat/ booster.

 

Edited 10 December, 20178 yr by xman

Just now, xman said:

NO! You read that wrong. ONLY IF THE CAR HAS NO SEATBELTS FITTED (I.E. ITS A REALLY OLD BANGER) CAN A 3 YEAR OLD TRAVEL WITHOUT A CHILD SEAT. For obvious reasons, there's nothing to fix a seat to.

Read the bit above 

Right.  I read that as your 3 year old was in the back without a proper seat. 

One of those UK Government stupid Grey Areas that Civil Servants have written and MP's signed off.

Insurance Companies will no doubt have issues with.  Like the crazy MOT stuff, and advisories, Could not check because child seats fitted.

1 minute ago, SC03OTT said:

Right.  I read that as your 3 year old was in the back without a proper seat. 

No no, never, the three year old and 15 month old are in fully isofixed swivel seats, the oldest ( 7 yr old ) isn’t when the car Is full, when only four people she is in the front in her isofixed seat with the airbag turned off

Depending on your oldest child's height & weight, s/he may be able to use a booster seat and adult belt rather than a full child seat, and you may find a booster seat will OK fit between the two bulkier child seats. It also helps that the centre seatbelt is anchored to the seat back, rather than the C post, and as a consequence sits a little lower across the shoulder (you need to make sure the belt isn't going too high up, across the child's neck).

1 hour ago, petecollier said:

Depending on your oldest child's height & weight, s/he may be able to use a booster seat and adult belt rather than a full child seat, and you may find a booster seat will OK fit between the two bulkier child seats. It also helps that the centre seatbelt is anchored to the seat back, rather than the C post, and as a consequence sits a little lower across the shoulder (you need to make sure the belt isn't going too high up, across the child's neck).

Are booster seat still legal? I thought they are not allowed to be used anymore?

11 minutes ago, A18kny said:

Are booster seat still legal? I thought they are not allowed to be used anymore?

 

According to https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules, Class 3 booster cushions (for children weighing 22 to 36 kg are legal. Existing Class 2 booster cushions (children weighing 15 to 25 kg) can still be used, but manufacturers can no longer be sell them. Booster cusions in Classes 0, 0+, and 1 (if there ever were such things?) would not be legal for use.

 

To that, I would add only buy new, and make sure you check for all the necessary safety and approval markings.