Best car seats if you need three to fit

If you’re expecting a third baby, or even triplets, you will be thinking about how to fit three child car seats into your vehicle.

It might feel like quite a puzzle, working out which ones will fit the make and model of your car. And, of course, car seat safety is the main thing to consider.

Good Egg Safety CICOpens a new window, the UK's leading child seat specialist, says, 'We get asked about this a lot. Of course, fitting three child seats is easiest in cars with a full-size middle seat in the second row, as in most MPVs and some SUVs. In many smaller cars the middle seat may not be wide enough, so the options given below are really useful.'

We’ve scoured our Community to find the car seats that parents recommend as great options, either because they’re narrow or because they are designed to make three seats fit.

Our editors have researched the recommendations that parents in the BabyCentre Community have shared.

The best narrow car seats in the UK – at a glance

• Narrowest baby car seat on the market: Joie Juva
• Best narrow high-back booster seat: Britax Römer Adventure Plus 2
• Best multiple car seat for design: Multimac
• Best slim car seat for travel systems: Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro
• Most versatile car for fitting three child seats: Ford S-MAX

Buying three seats to fit in the back of a family car

What you need to know

Under UK car seat law, if you have a baby or child then they need a car seat. It’s the law until they’re 12 or reach 135cm in height. There are some exemptions, such as during a taxi ride or in an emergency. But for your little ones' safety, it's best if they each have their own child car seat.

It's safest if all your child car seats are in the back of the car, whether they're rear or forward-facing. Rear-facing car seats should never be used in a front passenger seat if there is an active airbag in the car.

Child car seats come in sizes called groups, which are based on a child’s weight, or categories for i-Size based on a child’s height. They’re fitted either with ISOFIX points in your car, or just by using the existing car seatbelts. Child seats that are fitted with ISOFIX, tend to have a third support leg or a top tether to support them. This must be used unless the child seat manual allows for belt fit options.

You need to be sure you have enough ISOFIX connectors in your car. Many only have two connectors, which may not be enough to fit your three preferred car seats.

We have lots more information about the different car seat types, and guidance on buying newborn car seats or Group 1 car seats, to help you.

Whether your chosen seats will fit into your car, really depends on its make and model. So, a good place to start is to find out the width of the three seats in your vehicle. You can find this by contacting your manufacturer, or it may be on their website. You may find it just as easy to use a tape measure and work it out yourself. Some cars have backs that are narrower than the seat section, so measure and account for both.

If you already have child car seats, find out the width of the ones you have. It will help you work out whether more than one or two will fit across. But remember that you’ll need to leave a little room between each seat for comfort and to allow access to the seatbelt socket. You can find out the width by searching online or looking at the manual that came with the seat. The brand's website or most online listings of the item will also include the width.

Our picks of the best car seats to fit 3 across 2024

Narrowest infant car seat on the market: Joie Juva

 

• Price: from £55.00
• Width: 41.5cm
• Age range: birth – 13kg (approx. 1 year)
• Features: universal child restraint; side-impact protection; compatible with many Joie strollers and travel systems

Joie seem to have cornered the market on space-saving car seats. The Juva is the narrowest car seat currently for sale in the UK that our editors found.

At just 41.5cm, it is that little bit slimmer than other car seats, which may make all the difference in your car. Plus, it’s one of the lightest, weighing just 3kg to help save your back when carrying your baby.

Not only that, but this group 0+ car seat is a bargain, costing a lot less than many on the market. It’s compatible with lots of Joie buggiesOpens a new window and other chassis that use Maxi-Cosi adapters to turn your stroller into a travel system.

The Juva is approved as a universal child restraint for installation in all cars, although do always check if your car seat is a good fit for yours. You can fit it using the adult seatbelt, or you can buy a base. The Joie Juva is compatible with the Joie clickFitOpens a new window or Joie i-BaseOpens a new window.

BabyCentre parents love the seat and the price point. A cheaper option is good, not least because not everyone has a car, so some parents may only need a car seat for the trip home from hospital, or the odd trip out in someone else's car.

So, if you do need to buy a brand new seat for baby number three that should fit in your car, this one isn’t going to cost you too much.

Heads up

Black is the only option.

BabyCentre parents say

"The Joie Juva is a good option as Joie is a good car seat brand and this costs about £50, so not a bad cost if you’ll hardly ever be using it."

"You can get a Joie Juva for less than £50 in the sale, and it's a really good seat."

"Another vote for the Joie Juva! Very safe due to their in-house testing, but also budget friendly!"

Available from PramworldOpens a new window, Baby BirdsOpens a new window and other major retailers.

Best narrow high-back booster seat: Britax Römer Adventure Plus 2

 

• Price: from £119.00
• Width: 44cm
• Age range: 3.5 years – 12 years
• Features: easily adjustable headrest and backrest; machine-washable cover; uses the adult seatbelt (not Isofix compatible)

With a width of just 44cm, this forward-facing seat is a great option for older children. It's a top choice with BabyCentre parents, who say they’ve managed to fit in two of these plus an infant car seat in order to meet the challenge of fitting three seats into their car.

The group 2/3 car seat suits kids from 15kg – 36kg, or 100cm – 150cm. It is also very light, at only 3.9kg, which makes it easy for moving between vehicles or for when you need to take it out of your car.

It has an adjustable headrest and is a decent price, too. It won’t break the bank if you need to upgrade to ensure all your children can fit in the car.

Heads up

The chair doesn’t have arm rests – but that’s also good for space.

BabyCentre parents say

"The Britax Adventure slots beside the Britax Eclipse forward-facing toddler seat really well if you put the Eclipse in the middle. The Britax Adventure hasn't got arm rests, which is a great help when trying to get three across."

"I have an Audi Allroad A6 and could get three seats across the rear. I had a Britax First Class in the middle and two Britax Adventure high-back boosters on either side."

"I’m pleased with it. It’s light to move compared to some car seats."

Available from BritaxOpens a new window and other major retailers, including AmazonOpens a new window.

Best multiple car seat for design: Multimac

 

• Price: from £1,499.00
• Width: from 96.5cm for 3 seats
• Age range: birth – 12 years (with minimac infant seat)
• Features: comes in a 3 or 4 seat option; fits most car models; each seat has an adjustable five-point harness and can take a child from 0-36kg

The Multimac flips all you think you know about car seats onto its head. Its genius design isn’t that different from car seats that fit in your car one by one, but it’s an entire bench of car seats that fit over your existing seats.

The design even comes with a four-seat option if you have a large family, as well as a compact three-seat design for smaller cars. See the listings on MultimacOpens a new window website to check your chosen product.

If you’d prefer not to change your small car, you need to fit four children in, or you just like the idea of this clever design, then the Multimac may be the choice for you. There's even a leather trim option (at a higher price tag), and you can buy an extra Minimac rear-facing car seat to make them suitable for babies from birth to 13kg.

Heads up

This is not a cheap option. You may also need to check with your car insurance company to see if they consider the seat a modification.

BabyCentre parents say

"We have a Multimac, which after a lot of research (and at one point looking at buying a new car), was the best choice for us. It is one unit that overlays the back seats. It was pricey but not when compared to a new car."

"Multimac are super easy to deal with and they didn't rush us for the money. It's not some big corporate thing where you can't get in touch with them or don't know who to speak to."

"We've just bought a Multimac! You do need a specific Multimac baby seat, which is not one you can take in and out all that easily, so no bringing baby in while they're sleeping or attaching to buggies. But needs must!"

Available from MultimacOpens a new window.

Best slim car seat for travel systems: Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

 

• Price: from £189.95
• Width: 44cm
• Age range: birth – 13kg (approx. 1 year)
• Features: memory-foam sides ensure very high impact protection; compatible with all Maxi-Cosi chassis and many leading brand buggies; i-Size; airline approved; 5-point harness

With a width of only 44cm, this i-Size car seat is not only a best buy for space, it’s also popular choice with BabyCentre parents whether they need three seats or not. Our parents have been big fans of this car seat for many years.

The big bonus with this option is its compatibility with a wide range of travel systems. If you need to buy a new infant car seat but already have a buggy chassis, it's likely the Pebble Pro will fit, although you may need to buy adapters too.

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble Pro is compatible with Bugaboo, Quinny, Maxi-Cosi, iCandy and Uppababy, making this narrow option a really great choice.

The seat is rear-facing and can be used until your baby is around 12 months old (13kg, or 75cm), using ISOFIX points in your car and a Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix 2 or 3 base. It's also airplane-approved and it has other features such as a travel system quick release button, making it easy to move it from buggy to car.

Heads up

It isn’t the cheapest car seat on the market.

BabyCentre parents say

"The Maxi-Cosi Pebble is compatible with our buggy and was so handy when popping into a shop or going for a quick walk when I didn't want to wake him. He was a big boy though, and it didn't get him to a year as he was just too heavy!"

"We got it as it's i-Size and travel system compatible. "

"We drive a Ford S-MAX and chose this as it has three ISOFIX points. At the moment we have these car seats in a row: Maxi-Cosi Pebble (with ISOFIX base), Britax Römer and a Cozy N safe Hudson."

"I have a Peugeot 5008 with a Maxi-Cosi and two booster seats all on the same row. "

Available from AmazonOpens a new window, Mamas & PapasOpens a new window and other major retailers.

Most versatile car for fitting three child seats: Ford S-MAX

 

• Seven seater
• Great for storage with large interior
• Five doors
• Price and other specs depend on exact model

So many people in our Community mentioned the Ford S-MAX, that we had to include it in the list.

Changing your car may not be an option, but if it’s something you’re thinking of doing anyway, then the Ford S-MAX is a great choice when it comes to fitting in three car seats.

It is a seven seater, but with the option to fold them all down if you need to transport a lot of luggage. Even with all seven seats up, reviews online suggest this car offers a lot of head and leg room for the front five passengers, as well as all the usual mod cons.

If you’re thinking about splashing out on a new vehicle and wondering which car might be good for your growing family, this may be one to take a look at.

Heads up

If you’re changing cars to a seven-seater, the S-MAX isn’t the cheapest on the market – although it's cheaper than many!

BabyCentre parents say

"We have a two-year-old and six-month twins and have a Ford S-MAX. It fits three seats across the middle row and has two in the boot as well. The car seats we have are a Maxi-Cosi, a Cosatto Wow and a Cybex Sirona."

"I’ve had a Ford S-MAX, which can fit any three seats across the back seats."

"We have a Ford S-MAX. We can fit three ISOFIX car seats in the back and it has two seats in the boot, which aren’t very spacious but are okay for small trips or older children. Love this car!"

"I second everything about the S-MAX, and it doesn't feel like you are driving a big car until you come to park it! We have front sensors and a rear camera, which are a godsend. (We got the car used and it came with them). 60 plate onwards has 3 ISOFIX across the middle."

"We're going for a Ford S-MAX. We have 2 ISOFIX high-back boosters & the ISOFIX baby seat. All fit no problem & I can fit my hand between the seats to access the buckle clip."

"I’ve had a Ford S-MAX, which can fit any three seats across the back seats."

Available from AutotraderOpens a new window among other car dealerships.

Seen something you like? Don't forget to add it to your Amazon baby wishlistOpens a new window.

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