Child seats

[passatpout]

Greetings all,

I'm after a bit of advice and thoughts... Bub number one is due in a couple of months, and we're now gearing up for the impending arrival. One thing that has us a little confused is with child seats/capsules for the rear seats. Normally they go in the rear, no worries if the front seats have side-impact airbags.

However, how about in the Passat wagon, with side-impact airbags in the rear seat? Has anyone else installed baby seats etc?

I've read the manual, and it doesn't say anything about the airbags being an issue, except for the mandatory warning about not using rearward-facing capsules on the front seat with the airbag active. I'm just a little concerned about what could happen (touch wood it doesn't), if the baby capsule is on the outer seat and the airbag is triggered.

Cheers,
PP

[ope126]

Rear side air bags are in the sedan also.
Never really thought of this as an issue however it is food for thought?!

I think the US market has a switch to turn off the front pasenger airbag, not sure if it does the side airbag also, as for the rear?

We have a 18mth old on the passenger side rear in a Safe-N-SOund Meridian AHR seat, we will be getting the same to place in the middle when bub no.2 arrives in October. All I can say is there is exactley the same amount of room inside as my Camry, however the doors open wider with a longer roofline which makes it easier to get bub in and out.

Back to the quston about the rear side airbags, not sure if they can be deactivated if that is what you are thinking, maybe ask VW Aust.

Keep us up to date.

[Autopia]

Considering the size of most side airbags I don't believe it's going to be an issue especially with the capsule to provide the baby with extra protection. The capsule should sit further inboard that a full size adult, further minimizing any negative effect of a side airbag deployment.

JM2C

[Passatwind]

Considering the size of most side airbags I don't believe it's going to be an issue especially with the capsule to provide the baby with extra protection. The capsule should sit further inboard that a full size adult, further minimizing any negative effect of a side airbag deployment.

JM2C

Roger that. Our two y.o. twins have used both baby capsules and infant restraints in the back of our wagon and both have lots of clearance from the door - more than an adult sitting there.