Baby Seats

[shami]

Ok....deep breath....

First time dad, my wifes due in May next year. To all those out there that have gone through this, any tips on what sort to get???

I would love to get a recaro one, but the standards are different in the US and ahead of us?

Anyway ANY advice would be great and a point for me to start.

Cheers!

[Psyk]

Ok....deep breath....

First time dad, my wifes due in May next year. To all those out there that have gone through this, any tips on what sort to get???

I would love to get a recaro one, but the standards are different in the US and ahead of us?

Anyway ANY advice would be great and a point for me to start.

Cheers!

Went through this about 18 months ago now

We've got a Safe-n-Sound Platinum AHR and cannot fault it. It'll do rear-ward facing and then convert to forward facing as your little one gets older.

It comes with cushioned inserts which are removable ( and washable) when they get older. It's also easy to adjust the straps while the seat is installed.

Forget cool... safety first, and the Platinum AHR is a solid and sturdy unit that is easy to install and solidly built.

[shami]

Cheers, mate.

I have been looking at that one. It might be the way to go i think.

[maca]

Looks comfy too! Good discussion here. I don't wish this apon anyone; but how do these seats hold up in an accident? More importantly, how do the protect the little ones?

[Psyk]

Looks comfy too! Good discussion here. I don't wish this apon anyone; but how do these seats hold up in an accident? More importantly, how do the protect the little ones?

Good questions.

There's some 'cool' looking ones with some extra features that you can get overseas/e-bay etc. but would probably fail Aust. Design standards etc. - not that they don't care about their children overseas, but at least you have some re-course if something does go wrong with your child-seat - imagine getting rejected in court/insurance claim etc. because of a non-approved car seat

The Platinum AHR was solidly built compared to some of the others we saw - it is heavier but surprisingly easier to fit than some other ones I have seen and fitted.

There's only so much a car-seat can do and having 8 airbags, being a lot more diligent on the roads especially when the little one is in the back adds to the peace of mind.

[Rocket36]

how do these seats hold up in an accident? More importantly, how do the protect the little ones?

A decent child seat will protect a baby/infant in a crash more than the adult occupants are protected by the car's safety features.

There was a crash recently where both parents were killed in a car crash but the baby in the capsule in the back was fine.

[pixl]

A decent child seat will protect a baby/infant in a crash more than the adult occupants are protected by the car's safety features.

I came across this last week; very informative.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/st..._carseats.html

Steven Levitt shares data that shows car seats are no more effective than seatbelts in protecting kids from dying in cars.

[The_Hawk]

We have the older model of the one pictured above as well as a safe and sound Maxi Rider which is supposedly the best on the market (although that one is for bigger kids since it's front facing).

Rocket it right, one of those Safe and Sound seats was in a crash a few weeks ago and was the only thing to survive what was a horrific accident. I'll be looking for another of the same brand if/when we add another child to the clan.

Being in a Mk3 it wont effect you, but for newer cars it's just a damn shame the ADR doesn't line up with the superior (or at least commonly reffered to as superior) ISO Fix system since there are lots of cool seats built for that standard.

[Kiel_GTI]

I came across this last week; very informative.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/st..._carseats.html

Steven Levitt shares data that shows car seats are no more effective than seatbelts in protecting kids from dying in cars.

I watched just about the whole thing (skipped the first 4 minutes) and found that really interesting.

Thanks for sharing.

[DUB 12V]

good luck fitting the convertable baby seats in any VAG car unless you get a Q7, we have just tryed the top of the line convertable seat in all of the latest cars from honda oddesey, new holden 4x4, the best cars for baby seat are by far the new subaru liberty or new forester, good luck shami,