Baby seat safety in a 5

[Wuster]

Having just adjusted both car seats this weekend, I did noticed that both seats fit within the footprint of the two middle row captain's chairs.

So if the side curtain airbags did deploy, it should deploy between the window the car seats. It should not impact the car seats.

 

[jandree22]

Great, good info guys thanks!

 

[coolmazda5]

Great info for the MZ5, thanks!

Wife 2.0 and I did some research on car seating for babies and also found that some seats seem to be safer than others. I hope not to be making a baby seat commercial here but the Graco Quattro model topped the list in our research (pic attached). If you have any pics, please share them as well. I haven't seen many MZ5s with baby car seats so it would be interesting to see the different styles (for all ages).

Of course, make sure that somebody like canadianexpress looks at your install. Do not follow the pics as the installation manual (spin)

Our seat is fit in the back of the passenger seat. That little back mirror is proven to be very useful as well.

 

[doctorz]

Last year a colleague and I did a presentation on belt-positioning booster seats, and my then-six year old daughter was a willing accomplice/model, as shown in this photo. She's now seven and a half and still happily sits in the booster. The tough part is having friends that don't use booster seats, which is technically legal in Maryland but not a good idea if the belts don't fit.

Note the convertible car seat in the background, which is where daughter #2, who's now almost three years old, sat until we got a new car seat for her (see below). That particular seat is nicely attached to the LATCH anchors and the tether. I took the headrest off that seat to make the seat fit better.

The convertible car seat in the picture now sits in my Protege; a high back booster seat currently sits in our 5, still attached to the LATCH anchors and the tether anchor. That's the seat that uses the 5-point harness until the child reaches 40 pounds, at which point the harness is removed and the regular seat belts are used instead. I'll post pics of that car seat when I get a chance to take pictures.

BTW, we keep towels under the car seats--catches all sorts of debris, garbage, etc. Scary what bits manage to filter their way under the car seats.

 

[jandree22]

I hope not to be making a baby seat commercial here but the Graco Quattro model topped the list in our research (pic attached).

Just to clear this up, I think you mean the Graco SnugRide car seat? Quattro is a Stroller/Car Seat Travel system, but the actual seat used in that system is a SnugRide. That too, is what I purchased, and I get the feeling its widely the most popular infant seat chosen. Just curious are you using LATCH or your seatbelt for the Graco?

Thanks for those pics guys!

 

[Wuster]

BTW, we keep towels under the car seats--catches all sorts of debris, garbage, etc. Scary what bits manage to filter their way under the car seats.

I did the towel thing till about four months ago. I was in the local Target and in the automotive department, they had car seat mats on clearance for $6 each. It's water proof, and comes with two mesh pockets that you can stick CD's, sunglasses, etc. in.

It sorta looks like this but different colors and two pockets instead of one.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...2/601-6911280-2166568?ie=UTF8&asin=B0001EM8I2

If you go to the baby department at Target, you can only find the Eddie Bauer version for $25.

 

[coolmazda5]

Jandree, you are right! The seat is the SnugRide model. I got the whole "travel system" hence the Quattro name.

BTW, You may have already found out that they are proudly from PA State

Mine is using the seat belt and the latch if I'm not mistaken. The seat belt gets lose after some rides regardless of the locking clip.

I also got the seat protector thingie in Target as Wuster did.

Here is the only model we found though:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...2/601-5974201-9161729?ie=UTF8&asin=B000COW82C


Thanks DoctorZ for the pic!

 

[jandree22]

BTW, You may have already found out that they are proudly from PA State

That, I did not know... thanks for the juicy tidbit of info

 

[ChadSpeed]

Jandree, you are right! The seat is the SnugRide model. I got the whole "travel system" hence the Quattro name.

BTW, You may have already found out that they are proudly from PA State

Mine is using the seat belt and the latch if I'm not mistaken. The seat belt gets lose after some rides regardless of the locking clip.

I also got the seat protector thingie in Target as Wuster did.

Here is the only model we found though:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...2/601-5974201-9161729?ie=UTF8&asin=B000COW82C


Thanks DoctorZ for the pic!

I bought 2 Eddie Bauer seat protectors, they match the 5s interior and are leather/cloth combo and look great. I also use the latch with our 16mo sons seat, its a 5 point harness type, also Eddie Bauer, also matches the 5 interior. Women they have to match everything, but I did have trouble figuring out were to run the top latch of the seat, I tried running it down behind the car seat but in front of the seat back and thru the space between the seat back and seat bottom. That worked okay, but I changed it because I didn't think it was right, then ran it under the headrest and down the back of the seat, and that works also, except that you can't lower the headrest all the way down.

 

[Wuster]

If you take the headrest off and flip them around (so they're facing backwards) then you shouldn't have any problems with the top tether.

I learned it with my old Mazda3 hatch.

 

[ChadSpeed]

If you take the headrest off and flip them around (so they're facing backwards) then you shouldn't have any problems with the top tether.

I learned it with my old Mazda3 hatch.

Hell yes, thanks so much.(cabpatch)

 

[coolmazda5]

Versa Tether Question

Just checking, better be safe than sorry .

I just got a new baby car seat (yeah, yeah my little monster has almost outgrown the Graco SnugRide seat) and should be installed rear facing. The question is: Apart from the back seat tethers, Does the MZ5 have any of those on the floor? The MZ5 manual says nothing plus I have not seen any. I'm all set with the normal latches (same thing as the old seat).

The new seat is a Britax Marathon. Its manual shows the floor tether as the first option. As a 2nd option it shows the tether strap crossing overhead to get to the back seat tether. Of course option 1 looks/feels better but I don't care as long as its safe.

Oh, me likes the colors. Black n gray matching the car seats

 

[starlightmica]

I've used the Britax tether loop to attach the smaller Roundabout to the seat track. Here's a handy web site with lots of pics:

http://www.angelfire.com/wa3/isakswings/ratetherrf.html

 

[coolmazda5]

I've used the Britax tether loop to attach the smaller Roundabout to the seat track. Here's a handy web site with lots of pics:

http://www.angelfire.com/wa3/isakswings/ratetherrf.html

Thanks for the tip startlightmica. Good ideas. I'll give it a try!

For a duh! minute I had the morning thought that the Mazda5 had a tether (anchor) on the floor but under the carpet but needed to be "uncovered". Good thing I did not start ripping the damn thing off... (freak)

 

[jeffpurd]

I'm certainly no expert on these things but for some reason, I thought when these things were rear-facing, they were designed to sort of flop up against the seat in a collision. Thinking about it more, I guess that would only really ever happen in a rear-end collision, so it's probably moot. Intuitively, it seems better to be firmly tethered but it's interesting that no manufacturers provide them for LATCH tethers on the floor (to my knowledge) for the rear-facing situation.

 

[canadianexpress]

Just checking, better be safe than sorry .

I just got a new baby car seat (yeah, yeah my little monster has almost outgrown the Graco SnugRide seat) and should be installed rear facing. The question is: Apart from the back seat tethers, Does the MZ5 have any of those on the floor? The MZ5 manual says nothing plus I have not seen any. I'm all set with the normal latches (same thing as the old seat).

- No the Mazda does not have the tether on the floor, that manual mentions it is for Europe.

The new seat is a Britax Marathon. Its manual shows the floor tether as the first option. As a 2nd option it shows the tether strap crossing overhead to get to the back seat tether. Of course option 1 looks/feels better but I don't care as long as its safe.

- Transport Canada have tested this seat without using the tether for rear facing, and it has passed.so right now the 2nd option is just that optional if you like to install it that way. I find it very difficult to put the child in the seat iwith the second option.

Oh, me likes the colors. Black n gray matching the car seats

- Also just by looking at the pic you posted, the seat looks too upright. Ideal position is 45 degress for the backrest relative to the ground. The best way to do this is to tape together 3 to 4 pool noodle (about 10 to 12 inches long) and then install the seat on them.

Hope this helps.

 

[canadianexpress]

I'm certainly no expert on these things but for some reason, I thought when these things were rear-facing, they were designed to sort of flop up against the seat in a collision. Thinking about it more, I guess that would only really ever happen in a rear-end collision, so it's probably moot. Intuitively, it seems better to be firmly tethered but it's interesting that no manufacturers provide them for LATCH tethers on the floor (to my knowledge) for the rear-facing situation.

The rear seats are designed to flex down (absorbing the shock) and then back up. You should always leave 1 inch of clearance from the back of front seat to the back (rear facking only) of the child seat. If the back of the front seat is in the way, the energy of the impact is going through the child as oppose to the seat. Unfortunately this info is never mentioned in any manual.

 

[coolmazda5]

- Also just by looking at the pic you posted, the seat looks too upright. Ideal position is 45 degress for the backrest relative to the ground. The best way to do this is to tape together 3 to 4 pool noodle (about 10 to 12 inches long) and then install the seat on them.

Hope this helps.

Thanks! Yes indeed, it really helps. You are right, while testing several options I also noticed that same issue, it was really upright! (the seat manual highlights the angle needed as well). The seat has 2 positions, the one in the picture and the one on a 45 degree angle (or very close) so I have set it to 45 now. Anyway, it is work in progress. Wife has not needed the car until now . I'll try my best to get some new pics later on.