Mini Cooper Countryman and infant seat

[Leleluvsdis]

I am looking at getting a new car after first of the year, and am specifically looking at a Mini Cooper Countryman. Dh and I are also going to start trying for baby #1 in the Spring. My only concern is how well will an infant seat fit in the countryman. We are looking at a chicco or britax infant seat. Unfortunatly, we don't know anyone who has one to take with us when we look at cars, but do have a friend with a graco. Are they close enough in size to be able to tell how well they will fit?

 

[snoopy5386]

Something to think about, most babies are only in an infant seat for 6 months - 1 year. After that you'll need to fit a much larger convertible seat in there, most likely rearfacing. My SIL has a regular mini and fitting a car seat of any kind in there is near impossible.

I would post your question to the lovely folks at car-seat.org and see what they have to say.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I agree with Snoopy - your problem won't be the infant seat (most infant seats fit in most cars), but the convertible. And to be honest, it's kind of random. My son's large convertible seat (a Britax Boulevard) fit just fine rear-facing in our Toyota Prius and Honda Fit, but we test drove a Kia Sorrento small SUV, and it wouldn't fit in that vehicle behind the drivers' seat, even though that vehicle was much bigger either of our small-ish cars.

The good news is that if you Google " "Car Seat Name" and "Name of Vehicle"", you will very likely find a post on a car seat forum discussing just what you're looking for.

 

[CourtneyL]

The countryman is fairly spacious compared to a regular mini. You shouldn't have too much of a problem. The Chicco takes up less space than the britax infant seats. The infant seat that takes up the least amount of space is the Cybex Aton I think. The good news is that rear facing convertible car seats usually take up less space than infant seats.
The countryman has 4 captains chairs and I think the two in the back can move forward and back. The bench seat won't allow you to move the seats.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

If the countryman only has 4 seats you may also want to consider that the car seat wouldn't be able to sit in the middle rear seat which is the safest spot for a baby. we have a honda fit and for about 3 months no one could sit in the front passenger seat because we had to move it all the way forward to accommodate a rear facing convertible carseat.

 

[bumbershoot]

Something to think about, most babies are only in an infant seat for 6 months - 1 year. After that you'll need to fit a much larger convertible seat in there, most likely rearfacing. My SIL has a regular mini and fitting a car seat of any kind in there is near impossible.

I would post your question to the lovely folks at car-seat.org and see what they have to say.

I agree.

Heck, my son had outgrown his Graco, by height, BEFORE he was 4 months old. (he's 8.5 now and will be able to ride the Hulk and Dragon Challenge in February...he could ride them now...I'm 5'3", where did this height come from?) I had originally wanted to just START with a convertible seat, but people who said "but what if the baby is too tiny?" scared me, so we wasted our money with an infant seat. Sigh. (if baby had been too tiny, then DH could have run out and bought an infant seat!)

And the Roundabout we had definitely had a bigger footprint than the infant seat. Since we used it until he had grown out of the rear-facing seat entirely (he was well into being 2 when that happened), it's the convertible seat you want to make sure of.

I have NO idea what the Mini you're looking at is like, but we had a Sundance Duster (2 door ugh) and a Golf (4 door) at the time, and both were a pain with the seats. And we didn't even take the infant seat out of the car more than one time each...we just took baby out and put baby in. Too awkward, difficult, and HEAVY to carry seat and car. But just getting baby out of those little cars was difficult and involved a lot of stooping and bending. Later on we realized why people get somewhat bigger cars, LOL.

 

[thedonduck]

Just remember that the new guidelines are that children rear-face until AT LEAST 2. The law only dictates until 1 AND over 20 lbs in most states, but I have a feeling that will be changing sooner rather than later.

I see arguments all the time about their kids are "too scrunched" rear-facing, but people must remember that kids generally (automatically) sit cross legged or with the kids on things! Remember they are rear-facing to protect their necks in a crash.

Sorry off my soap box.

See if you can borrow someone's carseat similar to the one you want... or "test drive" one to BabiesRUs or the like and ask if you can try out the seat in the car. Be sure to actually get in then and make sure YOU can fit!

 

[Leleluvsdis]

Just remember that the new guidelines are that children rear-face until AT LEAST 2. The law only dictates until 1 AND over 20 lbs in most states, but I have a feeling that will be changing sooner rather than later.

I see arguments all the time about their kids are "too scrunched" rear-facing, but people must remember that kids generally (automatically) sit cross legged or with the kids on things! Remember they are rear-facing to protect their necks in a crash.

Sorry off my soap box.

See if you can borrow someone's carseat similar to the one you want... or "test drive" one to BabiesRUs or the like and ask if you can try out the seat in the car. Be sure to actually get in then and make sure YOU can fit!

I've wondered if you could do that. Take a seat and make sure it actually fits in your car before buying one. That would be ideal

Does anyone know if Target allows that? We don't have babies r' us, just toys r' us with an ever shrinking baby department

 

[DisneyRegulars]

Just remember that the new guidelines are that children rear-face until AT LEAST 2. The law only dictates until 1 AND over 20 lbs in most states, but I have a feeling that will be changing sooner rather than later.

I see arguments all the time about their kids are "too scrunched" rear-facing, but people must remember that kids generally (automatically) sit cross legged or with the kids on things! Remember they are rear-facing to protect their necks in a crash.

Sorry off my soap box.

See if you can borrow someone's carseat similar to the one you want... or "test drive" one to BabiesRUs or the like and ask if you can try out the seat in the car. Be sure to actually get in then and make sure YOU can fit!

This is a great idea. I would test drive to the toys r us with the shrinking baby department. I know my friend was concerned about cup holders so he test drove a car to a 7-11 to buy a large soda too see if it got in the cup holders. I would think a car seat stop would be quite reasonable.

 

[RachaelA]

BRU lets you try the seats out in your car. I'd call and confirm with your specific store though.

Definitely try a convertible seat rear facing not just an infant seat.

 

[merina888]

I'd also consider how easy it is to get baby in and out of the car. I am not familiar with the specific car you name, but when my first child was born, we had a 2 door sunfire and it was a pain to get his seat in. We had to climb in the back seat to get him in. Also consider trunk space. Some stroller will not fit in a very small trunk. My graco travel system stroller would not fit in the trunk of our sunfire without taking the front wheels off. So when we shopped for a car we did what others have suggested, we took our stroller and carseat with us to see how they fit in the car.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

This is a great idea. I would test drive to the toys r us with the shrinking baby department. I know my friend was concerned about cup holders so he test drove a car to a 7-11 to buy a large soda too see if it got in the cup holders. I would think a car seat stop would be quite reasonable.

I'm thinking if it was declined, I would go to a different dealership espcially is they said you can go to 7-11 haha I think that is the first time I have heard of driving to a 7-11 haha

Seriously though, the more I think about it, I figure, if I am going to spend that much money with them, it is definelty not to much to ask

BRU lets you try the seats out in your car. I'd call and confirm with your specific store though.

Definitely try a convertible seat rear facing not just an infant seat.

I hadn't thought about the convertable being a bigger hassle mainly because I haven't had a convertible rear facing to deal with before. Thanks for pointing that out.

I'd also consider how easy it is to get baby in and out of the car. I am not familiar with the specific car you name, but when my first child was born, we had a 2 door sunfire and it was a pain to get his seat in. We had to climb in the back seat to get him in. Also consider trunk space. Some stroller will not fit in a very small trunk. My graco travel system stroller would not fit in the trunk of our sunfire without taking the front wheels off. So when we shopped for a car we did what others have suggested, we took our stroller and carseat with us to see how they fit in the car.

The mini cooper countryman is a 4 door wagon type car. As far as getting in and out of the back seat, I wouldn't think it would be any different than my current car. That is a good point about the stroller fitting in the trunk too Maybe we will go to a bigger city when we are ready to look and buy, because the toys r us here doesn't have the stroller we want.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and suggestions. It is a huge help!!

 

[garjanjones]

Test drive the Mini to BRU or TRU and try out the carseat. (I couby a Brittax will fit, but you never know). I was actually suprised at the carseats that would fit into our car.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

Test drive the Mini to BRU or TRU and try out the carseat. (I couby a Brittax will fit, but you never know). I was actually suprised at the carseats that would fit into our car.

Our TRU does not have any infant seats in Britax, but can definetly try the convertibleseat. We also has a friend that has a britax convertible, now that I think about it that we could try out I'm sure. Thanks for the insight!

 

[Ldynred812]

You need to check and double check seat and car seat sizes. I drove a 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse. ONLY a Graco snugride base would fit in the back due to the bucket shaped seats. Yep, drove around for 2.5 years with my daughter in the back. Got some strange looks when I would pull an infant carrier out of the back. Since moved on with my Town and Country Mini Vans...and now have 3 kids.

Kecia

 

[Sheepdog23]

I have an original mini from 1976 with two doors and never had a problem with the infant seat. The convertible seat has been a problem though, and we did manage to find one that fit, but it was tough. I would speak with the mini dealer and see if they recommend one. Many carseat manufacturers like britax list which cars their seats are compatible with, at least here in europe. I have a britax two way which is not available in the US market, but it reminds me a little of dionos radian but not as large.My friend has a new mini and uses a maxi cosi. My mini is quite roomy on the inside and can imagine that the new countryman is too so you should be able to find one that works. if you need a little more room rearfacing, you can put it in the middle in the rear and then it somewhat has more space between the seats, or even on the front seat with the airbag off. Studies in Sweden (which has the fewest traffic deaths in the world for kids and we have to rear face until at least age 4) show that it is just as safe if not safer because the mother does not have to take her eyes off the road or do anything great to help the baby. We also crash test at much higher levels than the US. Almost All parents do it here but I am not sure you can turn off the airbag. I have a place in my newer car where i insert the key and turn it off. The new minis are BMWs and they can do it, so you should be able to. Good luck!!!

 

[Sheepdog23]

oh just realized that the mini only seats 4 so there goes the middle seat in the back, but i can say that my city mini stroller fits in my trunk, which is much smaller than the new ones. I do have do some akward adjusting because of the gas tank and battery, plus spare tire, but it goes in. I also use the quinny zapp which i love when we need to bring other things. I can't imagine life without my mini so i would definitely get one!!!! They also have great consumption.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

I have an original mini from 1976 with two doors and never had a problem with the infant seat. The convertible seat has been a problem though, and we did manage to find one that fit, but it was tough. I would speak with the mini dealer and see if they recommend one. Many carseat manufacturers like britax list which cars their seats are compatible with, at least here in europe. I have a britax two way which is not available in the US market, but it reminds me a little of dionos radian but not as large.My friend has a new mini and uses a maxi cosi. My mini is quite roomy on the inside and can imagine that the new countryman is too so you should be able to find one that works. if you need a little more room rearfacing, you can put it in the middle in the rear and then it somewhat has more space between the seats, or even on the front seat with the airbag off. Studies in Sweden (which has the fewest traffic deaths in the world for kids and we have to rear face until at least age 4) show that it is just as safe if not safer because the mother does not have to take her eyes off the road or do anything great to help the baby. We also crash test at much higher levels than the US. Almost All parents do it here but I am not sure you can turn off the airbag. I have a place in my newer car where i insert the key and turn it off. The new minis are BMWs and they can do it, so you should be able to. Good luck!!!

oh just realized that the mini only seats 4 so there goes the middle seat in the back, but i can say that my city mini stroller fits in my trunk, which is much smaller than the new ones. I do have do some akward adjusting because of the gas tank and battery, plus spare tire, but it goes in. I also use the quinny zapp which i love when we need to bring other things. I can't imagine life without my mini so i would definitely get one!!!! They also have great consumption.

Thank you for posting! Unfortunately, children are not allowed in the front seat under the age of 12. We are looking at the bench so we would have the option of the middle seat, which would be preferred. Thanks again. This is a huge help!!