AlbertanMom
New member
It's been ages since I posted on here but I'm here for advice to come up with a solution so that I can keep my BELOVED Mazda5!
I have 3 kids now and am pregnant with my 4th, due in March.
DS1 is 6, riding in the 3rd row in a Nautilus booster
DS2 is 5, riding in an AirBooster in 2nd row
DS3 is 3, riding in Radian65 in 2nd row
New baby... I was given an Eddie Bauer infant seat that I can put in the 3rd row but it's SO tight back there, I'm not sure DS1 will be able to buckle himself.
The Radian won't install in the 3rd row (grr), and the AirBooster is not thick enough to accommodate the stupid design of the seatbelt.
So... here are my questions:
1. Can Mazda disable the airbag in the front so I can put the infant seat RF in the front seat? I've seen people put infant seats in the front in cars where the airbag can be disabled. I don't know how safe this is technically, but I would like to think it's fine.
2. Has anyone tried a Monterey in the back of the Mazda5? Is it thick enough? Is there enough room between the two seats to buckle? I could put DS3 in the Nautilus (harness) back there if necessary and move DS1 to the front and get another AirBooster for him.
3. The infant seat I was given is, frankly, enormous. Is there a small infant seat out there that has a smaller footprint, which would allow for DS1 to buckle himself easily in the 3rd row?
And really... those of you with a Mazda5... how much room is left in that car if you are transporting 4 kids? Is it just too much of a pain? I know a stroller won't fit, am wondering about groceries...
I really don't want to get rid of this and go to a minivan. My parents have a 2006 Freestar that they want to sell us, but the carseat situation doesn't look much better in that vehicle, especially since you seem to have to pull the middle seats forward to get to the 3rd row (not captain chairs, it's a bench seat).
Thanks, folks!
I have 3 kids now and am pregnant with my 4th, due in March.
DS1 is 6, riding in the 3rd row in a Nautilus booster
DS2 is 5, riding in an AirBooster in 2nd row
DS3 is 3, riding in Radian65 in 2nd row
New baby... I was given an Eddie Bauer infant seat that I can put in the 3rd row but it's SO tight back there, I'm not sure DS1 will be able to buckle himself.
The Radian won't install in the 3rd row (grr), and the AirBooster is not thick enough to accommodate the stupid design of the seatbelt.
So... here are my questions:
1. Can Mazda disable the airbag in the front so I can put the infant seat RF in the front seat? I've seen people put infant seats in the front in cars where the airbag can be disabled. I don't know how safe this is technically, but I would like to think it's fine.
2. Has anyone tried a Monterey in the back of the Mazda5? Is it thick enough? Is there enough room between the two seats to buckle? I could put DS3 in the Nautilus (harness) back there if necessary and move DS1 to the front and get another AirBooster for him.
3. The infant seat I was given is, frankly, enormous. Is there a small infant seat out there that has a smaller footprint, which would allow for DS1 to buckle himself easily in the 3rd row?
And really... those of you with a Mazda5... how much room is left in that car if you are transporting 4 kids? Is it just too much of a pain? I know a stroller won't fit, am wondering about groceries...
I really don't want to get rid of this and go to a minivan. My parents have a 2006 Freestar that they want to sell us, but the carseat situation doesn't look much better in that vehicle, especially since you seem to have to pull the middle seats forward to get to the 3rd row (not captain chairs, it's a bench seat).
Thanks, folks!