Comments on Acura MDX?

[MamaSuz]

Hi,

We drive an 2003 Acura MDX. It comfortably fits DD #1 in a Britax Regent and DD#2 in a FF Britax Roundabout. We're expecting Baby #3 in November and struggling w/the car issue. Has anyone used the rear third seat for their kids? The Regent won't fit, so #2 will be back there. We can't fit all three in the 2nd row, which would be my preference. The 2006 MDX got good ratings for the third seat but I'm still torn. What have others done w/three kids under four?

Thanks!
MamaSuz

[trailrunnermom]

What have others done w/three kids under four?

I had a 2004 MDX prior to January '07, and DS age 5, DS age 2, and several days each week, my great-niece, age 1+. On the days I kept my great-niece, my older DS would ride in a booster in the 3rd row (he would climb in through the back hatch.) On the 2nd row, we had a Husky and a Fisher-Price Safe Embrace. On days I didn't keep my great-niece, both DS could ride on the 2nd row. (I won't go into all the carseat specifics, but at that time, I was *not* consistently following the carseat use Best Practices which I've since learned thanks to Car-Safety.org.)

Then, my MDX was totaled in January of this year. I opted to replace it with an Odyssey. It's been great. I still look wistfully at other MDX's going by, but I'm so happy with the space in the Ody. I also started keeping great-niece #2, age 6 wks, in late January so I was glad that I didn't have to put both boys in the MDX 3rd row (easy to put one older child back there, not so easy to put two.)

You can fit 3-across the MDX middle row, but not if one of them is a Regent. And the Regent is a tight fit, if not impossible on the 3rd row (especially now that you must install with the recline bar.)

I wish I had an easy answer for you. If it's at all possible, you may want to consider opting for a minivan (or maybe a Tahoe with captain's chairs). In the Ody, DS is back in a 5-pt. in his Husky, and there's plenty of room to fit a 5th child in if needed! And my teenager and her friends don't have to climb ungracefully into the 3rd row. :) The other thing I love about the Ody is the sliding doors...I don't have to worry anymore about the kids throwing the doors open and dinging the car parked next to us! :)

ETA: Possible option: Store the Regent for a while, and get a narrower seat for the 4-y.o. so that you can have all 3-across. When you're comfortable with the middle child being in the 3rd row, put the oldest back in the Regent on the 2nd row. (If you're comfortable with that now, then that might be the way to go.)

[DaniCPST]

You should be able to fit 3 across the middle row...it is pretty easy in the MDX. I have had a Regent, SafeSeat 1, and Boulevard all across my middle row. The key is installing using the seatbelt instead of LATCH so the seat doesn't have to sit right in the middle of the vehicles seat. When I use my third row for my 6 year old I have her get in through the rear hatch. If I have my two year old back there I just move the sliding seat forward to buckle him in. I would steal an hour away from the kids and play with your seats and find a 3 across situation that works...that is my favorite way to have my kids...well until they start fighting and picking on each other. :p