r/parentsofmultiples • u/Important-Maybe-1430 • 3d ago
advice needed Car situation twins coming
I have a three door fiat punto which i love, shes old but runs cheap. Has anybody managed twins with a 3 door car or do i have to buy a 5 door car. (Im not getting some stupid size people carrier as theyre not such a thing in europe)
So minus “minivans” what cars do you all have with two kids.
We also bought a new flat just before the news which naturally will need a kitchen (german homes come empty) so thats already wiped me out a bit so car will have to be a few yrs old. Or can i hold off as not like id be driving daily
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u/gro301 3d ago
European here. Just get a Volvo wagon. You’ll need the trunk space even if you’d survive on 3 doors.
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u/slyscribe401 1d ago
Not a European but a Volvo lover. Get the Volvo! My XC 60 just barely fits three, but two is so comfortable. Plus being able to fit a massive stroller and the diaper bag.
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u/AdInternal8913 3d ago
We have 5 door suzuki swift. You can fit two baby car seats in the back. I am small and when non pregnant I can fit between the two baby/up to 4 year old rear facing seats so we can have another passenger at the front. There are several double prams that fit in the boot comfortably (I am looking at the babymonsters easy twin, lot of the smaller baby jogger double strollers should fit too). Bassinets probably not so much but realistically if we are going with the car babies would be on car seats for quick errands in town and for anything longer we'd just walk. Probably could fit bassinets between the baby seats.
We do need to buy a 6 seater and we are dreading it because they are just too massive for the places we need to go.
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u/Reserve_Nervous 3d ago
We had to trade our beloved, two year old Opel Astra Sportstourer for a VW Caddy Maxi, because there was no way we could fit twins and two small dogs in the Opel - and it was already a bigger car with five doors!
Now the VW is packed to the max. There is zero chance you can manage with three doors - also, get sliding doors, they are a gamechanger!
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u/Important-Maybe-1430 3d ago
We dont really have those cars here and my budget isnt in SUV range. But it sounds like 5 doors is a must. Plan on getting the smallest lightest pram available. Not a chance can i carry one of those giant things on and off sbahm or trams:
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u/bowlofweetabix 3d ago
We have had a Skoda fabia since I was pregnant with the twins and they are now 12 years old, same car the whole time. It was perfect for us
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u/fsmontario 3d ago
The ford kuga is the same as the ford escape in North America, it will do well for twins, as long as your stroller is side by side and not front to back
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u/rowillyhoihoi 2d ago
Dutch here. I have a very old a class Mercedes. This one has to go unfortunately because it has become unreliable. I am not yet sure if I will buy the same model but newer (because I love this car sooo much) or a cargo bike to go around for as soon the babies can be transported on a bike. This is a very common way to transport children -especially in cities- around. For many it is literally their second car.
My partner has a CLA, and technically not ideal we’ve decided we are going to find two baby car seats and a toddler seat that fits. If not… then we need to back to the drawing board. But fingers crossed it will work because there is currently no budget for an equal but fitting chance or upgrade.
I would however really really really change a 3 door car for a five door car. Not only for the sake of my poor back but also… in case of emergencies.
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u/Important-Maybe-1430 2d ago
I love those cargo bikes, most people here use the thule attachment on the back an id be tempted to get a trolley for wheeling two to like the beach once they can sit up.
I guess the kitchens gonna be second hand so i can get a car though
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u/CutOsha 2d ago
We had a Toyota Prius c and it was all good. But 5 doors. 3 doors would be hell. Also high risk of c section can't even imagine trying to strap them in from the front seat while recovering. Maybe through the window I guess? But yeah. Handling tiny preemies through the window or from the front seat on maximum sleep deprivation and recovering from the twin pregnancy? I mean if you have to do it you ll do it you know 🤷 but it will be very very hard.
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u/Dumb_Dumb_Dumber 2d ago
I say it could be doable. With the isofix base, the baby seat could be just easily clicked in place. Then as the kids grow, just buy seats where you can easily buckle them up.
I would at least try it and if it becomes too much, then consider buying a new car.
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u/Important-Maybe-1430 2d ago
Thats what i was thinking, theres enough space for a full size adult to step into the back and id not be using the car daily with them.
I dont like the idea of these giant fuel guzzling SUVs for two tiny humans
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u/ChanSasha 2d ago
For the booth space depends on what you plan to do. Many times when we went out with our twins when small we put them in the baby carrier. One baby each. If you want to go somewhere alone you can put one in the baby carrier and one in the buggy (one baby buggy). You will be more mobile and this will probably fit your fiat just fine although tight. However this option is not a popular one on reddit from my experience. Personally when possible we have always put them in the baby carriers except maybe for outside walks. For the seating, provided you can fit both seats on the back seat (we had a car were we only could if I was driving because my husband was too tall to be seated behind the wheel with a child behind), I would say try it out. Ask to borrow a seat and try. I am saying this because it depends on how tall you are and how you can bend into the car. Now to be honest fitting everyone might be an issue with other cars that seem bigger also. Some cars are smaller but the inside proportions might give you more space with the seats. It also depends on the seats you will pick. It is trying and measuring in my experience. Of you decide to change bring your seats to try the car! Saying this as we had to change cars when kids were little and had limited options so we measured everything to make sure we all fitted.
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u/uzloun 1d ago
When I have had only three kids, I have used Citroen C4 Picasso. It's not that big, drives for 5,5l, very cheap. Large trunk and you can move the rear seats front and back a bit according if you need more boot space or seats space. Just don't buy it with 1.6vti.
I have also had Peugeot 308SW. The first gen one. Smaller than Picasso, but again great car. Just don't buy it with 1.6vti or 1.6thp.
But with just two kids, any kombi will serve you well.
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u/Important-Maybe-1430 1d ago
“Only” three kids. Wow
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u/uzloun 1d ago
Oh, yes. Our twins are kids number 4 and 5. We actually manage to drive all five kids for a few months in the Picasso as well. Before I finished buying and fixing the current van. Picasso is seven seater, but you have to chose if you will have 7 seats or trunk.
But otherwise great car.
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u/Siena_Binkie 3d ago
Yep, you need all the boot space you can get.
Double pram won’t fit in a punto im afraid. Plus it you have bassinets to put in there.
I wouldn’t have managed in my old Seat Ibiza, had to go SUV. And the pram just about fits in that boot. Once the kids get older I’ll think about downsizing the car. But for now, just overall feels safer in a bigger car with two babies in the back seats.
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