MS3 owers with babies/toddlers/kids?

[340CID]

My first post here as I don't own a MS3 yet but will need a new car within the next 3 weeks. I'll be test driving a MS3 this week. The car we (fiancee and myself) buy we will keep for at least 6 to 8 years (if not longer) and we plan on having kids within the next 3 to 5 years or so.

So, aside from borrowing a baby seat from one of my cousins who has kids, and doing a test fit in the MS3, can any members here give me first hand experiences of life with a baby seat in a MS3? What I'm also interested to know is when a baby seat in the back seat behind the front passenger seat, can the front passenger seat can be back all the way (or close to it)?

 

[FrequentFlyer]

I just got an MS3 and we have a 6 week old baby. You will not be able to have the passenger seat back all the way, but it's not too bad. Unless your passenger is 6' tall of course. I've been putting ours behind the driver's seat, but I'm short and the baby seat just clears the back of my seat, however I may switch it to the other side because my wife is short also and that is the 40% side of the 60/40 split. For one kid, it's not too bad. The trunk is large enough to fit a full sized stroller, a travel "Pack & Play" and a few duffle bags, not including putting stuff in the back seat either. Now if you have two kids, it's probably not going to work so well unless you pack real light, but that's kinda hard to do with kids. If we had to take a long road trip, we'd probably take my wife's Acura MDX since it's abit more spacious (and doesn't get much worse gas mileage surprisingly). We make sure we keep baby supplies at the parents' houses anyway, so when we go there, we don't have to be a BabiesRus on wheels.

 

[USMS3]

Ive had a babyseat in the back of my car as well and it went in and fit OK, but like Flyer said, you wont be able to scoot all the way back. Its a decent sized vehicle, but for more than one child, I would suggest something larger. One kid will do just fine back there though.

 

[MS3Jon]

I've got a 5 and 7 year old. They absolutely love riding in my car. I have had no issues with fitment, leg room, or comfort for the little ones.

 

[hilmar2k]

Two car seats in the back of my MS3 and they fit okay. Not tons of room, but sufficient.

 

[Psycho_Maz]

Anyone with toddlers in forward facing seats having any issues? I think the rear facing baby seats would take up more room.

 

[hilmar2k]

Anyone with toddlers in forward facing seats having any issues? I think the rear facing baby seats would take up more room.

No, I have a 3 year old and a 7 year olds without any issues. As others have said, the seats just can't be all the way back.

 

[340CID]

Thanks for all the info so far!

Frequent Flyer: That's also great info about trunk room as I was wondering about a full size stroller fitting back there. I would assume it would but also being able to pack a few things ontop is goof to know too!

Thanks everyone and keep it up!! This a great site... altho I'm sure you already know that. lol

 

[hectik1]

I have a 2 year old and there aren't really issue as far as the car seat, stroller, etc goes. A lot of room inside.(wiggle)

 

[Super Unique]

I would recommend fitting some sort of washable cover to the entire rear seat area when frequently used by children. Ever see what happens with kids and black leather? Not a pretty picture, You'll be finding pieces of cereal, and happy meal pickles for the next 20 years...... And all the windows will have finger smears.

 

[hectik1]

I would recommend fitting some sort of washable cover to the entire rear seat area when frequently used by children. Ever see what happens with kids and black leather? Not a pretty picture, You'll be finding pieces of cereal, and happy meal pickles for the next 20 years...... And all the windows will have finger smears.

That is why I got the sport....the sport seats are pretty durable and easy to clean!(cabpatch)

 

[Super Unique]

A child is a blessed and mysterious creature.

Only a child can paint an entire city with just 1 tiny little pint of paint. Doubt me? try one out

 

[navyagspeed3]

Anyone with toddlers in forward facing seats having any issues? I think the rear facing baby seats would take up more room.

I have a 1.5 year old and its just as easy to get her carseat in the MS3 as it is the Tribute. Only problem is having both cars in the Garage makes for a tight squeeze throught the door with the seat. IMO the best option for you is the make sure the seat you get has the anchor attachments they are way easier to use than the old seatbelt method.

 

[icspots]

I don't have a MS3, but I do have a Mz3 5-door which should be identical to the MS3 as far as installing a car seat. I've had infant seats for both my nephew and my son in my car without any real problems. The ones we used were a graco snugride and a maxi-cose mico. Both are the kind with a base you mount in the car and a removable seat that snaps into it (I highly recommend one of these as it makes getting in and out of the car for shopping, etc. way easier). I mounted both in the center of the back seat using the latch hooks. The graco "fit" better in the sense that it mounts the seat in the base further towards the seat back so you can have more space for the front seats. That being said neither really impinge too much on the front seats.... sometimes with the maxi-cosi I need to move my seat forward just to get it to snap into place, but then I can scoot it back again. Pretty much any car seat you buy at this point is going have latch connections, and if you've ever used a seatbelt to install a car seat you'll realize what a blessing latch is.

Also as a paramedic I would strongly recommend installing your car seat in the center of the back seat. Your child is much safer there, whereas if they're behind one of the front seats and you get struck on that side of the car they could have a very bad day. Installing car seats is really quite easy, though I'd recommend going to your local fire department, or talk with the people at the hospital about where you can go to be taught how to install it properly.

I've also installed a toddler seat for my nephew (now just over 2 y/o) which also fit fine. Really the only time the car seat is screwing with your interior space is with a rear facing seat.

Storage-wise in the back we've easily fit a suitcase for the two of us for the weekend, a full-size stroller (bugaboo bee), and all the various baby clothes/diapers/toys. All of that fit under the removable cover over the cargo area. You can of course remove the cover and store more stuff, but if you're going to do that I'd suggest you make some form of cage to go between the seat back and the ceiling to reduce the chance of something flying forward in the case of an accident.

 

[Psycho_Maz]

Thanks for the info!

 

[viper117630]

My 2 year old daughter loves being in the MS3. Sometimes its a pain though because I am a clean FREAK when it comes to my MS3. I always lay down a towel so the car seat doesn't damage the seats and it's big enough that anything she drops wont stain the interior. Trunk is too small to hold any more than a full side stroller when you have the shade in. I think it is worth the sacrifices though. This is one awesome car and I have not regretted it yet.

 

[Boosted333]

My newborn loves the MS3, and my wife (short) fits fine in the passenger seat with the baby seat behind her. I did get a seat protector that goes under the baby seat, just in case she spills anything down the road.

 

[zoom-zoomhatch]

I always thought that rear facing seats should be put in the middle of the back seat? That's what I do and no problems with room. Althought she has figured out how to open cans of pringles and little snacks that we give her to play with cause they rattle and keep her content and she likes grinding them into the back of the seat where her feet are.

 

[AlbertaMS3]

So, first I'm just going to preface this by saying, I'm Jen, Dwayne's wife. I am a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician... which means I teach parents/caregivers how to install/use their child restraints.

Seats can absolutely fit into the MS3 (we own one and have kids )... it just depends on the child and the seat.

With a new baby, I would look at the Graco SafeSeat1 or the Chicco Keyfit30. They are both infant baby bucket type seats that only face rear and both will last your child to about 1 year old (with the Graco model lasting most kids up to 22 months of age). They both allow the handle to be left up on the seat when in the vehicle which allows more space for front seat passengers. They both also install easily and have built-in lock-offs. Instead of locking the seatbelt, you use the lock-offs and then you will have no tipping issues with your seat (common issue with rear facing seats and switchable seatbelts - which the MS3 has).

I would also look into getting a full featured umbrella stroller (Peg Perego P3 or Chicco Cortino are places to start looking). They push really easily (even with heavier kids). They both have a full recline for newborns to lay flat, allow a carseat to snap onto for quick trips, nice big hoods, storage baskets and they fold up *small*... great for trunk space.

This is a Peg Perego P3 with a Graco Snugride attached to it...

Once baby outgrows the infant seat, you'll want a convertible seat... one that rear faces and then forward faces. You'll want to look for tall top harness slots so that it will last until a good booster age (5 - 6 years old) and a higher weight limit (50 - 65lbs).

You'll want to keep your child rear facing as long as possible (per current AAP recommendations). Children that are forward facing before the age of 2 are 4 - 5 times more likely to be injured in a collision. www.car-seat.org is a great website full of techs to help you find the right seat for you budget, child, and vehicle. They can also give you more info on what is safest for you precious cargo.

This is a Britax Marathon in the MS3 rear facing behind the passenger seat. Once babies have good head control, the seat no longer needs to be at a 45 degree angle and can go as upright as 30 degrees. This one is installed at about a 33 degree angle and there is room for me to sit comfortably in the front (5'7") and room for dh (6'3") to sit in the front for trips around the city.
Britax Marathon rear facing with my 22 month old in it (26lbs, 35" at that time)...

Please note that this seat is tethered rear facing and is one of only two brands on the market that allow this to be done. Please do *not* tether your seat rear facing unless your owner's manual states it is allowed.

The seat in the foreground is a Sunshine Kids Radian (totally made for this car when forward facing). Here's a better picture of it...

Okay... if you made it this far through my book, Congratulations! I hope some of that info is helpful to you.

Jen, CRST (Dwayne's wife)

ETA: The middle is the safest spot IF the seat fits there properly. If it doesn't install well, then a proper install in one of the outboard positions is safer.

Seat protectors are *not* okay... they change the install and give you a false sense of a good install. A *thin* single layer towel is acceptable to help protect your seats.

 

[340CID]

AlbertaMS3: Wow, great post! Thanks for the info and real life pictures!

I notice the leather seats and the silver paint... you must have crossed the border and bought a US spec MS3? I'm in Vancouver and am contemplating picking up a US spec version since they are $6k cheaper then here in Canada. Although the 0% financing is the only things that is making me consider buying north of the border.