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.

[Rocket36]

From news.com.au:

New child car seat rules announced for New South Wales
By Stephanie Gardiner - AAP
November 04, 2009 04:08pm


CAR crash victim Isabelle Broadhead's legacy will live on, with the introduction of new car seat regulations.

Isabelle Broadhead, 3, died after an accident in April 2006 that occurred while she was using a booster seat and an adult seatbelt in a car travelling just 40km/h. Since then, her parents, Danielle and Noel Broadhead, have been campaigning for better regulations to keep children safe.

Today, the New South Wales Government announced new safety rules - dubbed Isabelle's regulations - that mean children aged up to seven will have to be strapped into car restraints.

An emotional Mrs Broadhead thanked Isabelle and said her daughter had given her many gifts.

"And for me the greatest gift is that she lives on longer than she was actually here, that she's close to us and that she gives back ... that she will help keep children safer," Mrs Broadhead said.

The couple have long been researching safe ways for children to travel and hope the new rules will be easy for parents to understand.

"Sometimes ... they just don't know that in an accident it can be catastrophic at such a low speed," she said.

"It was a minute in time and then she was gone."

The regulations, which are part of national reforms, mean children younger than six months must be placed in a rearward-facing restraint.

Those aged six months to four years must be secured in a rear or forward-facing restraint, while children between four and seven must use a forward-facing restraint or a booster seat.

Until now it has only been compulsory for children up to the age of one to travel in baby capsules or seats that contain their own restraints.

Premier Nathan Rees said the changes were about saving children's lives.

"We can always do more to reduce the road toll, to reduce the tragedy and the impact on loved ones that comes from those deaths on the roads," Mr Rees said.

The new rules come into effect on March 1 and there will be a four-month amnesty on enforcement so parents can get used to the changes. Information about restraints can be found on the Roads and Traffic Authority website.

Mr Broadhead hopes parents won't be reluctant to buy a new seat because of the cost.

"We would give any amount of money to get our daughter back and we're sure if they had even an inkling of what it's like to lose your child, they wouldn't think twice about spending the money to buy one of those seats," he said.

From the RTA's website (http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents...hildrestraints) it looks as though it's only changing the laws to do with age and not the types of seat systems. This would be the perfect time to update the technology allowed by law though. I'm hoping someone in the NSW Govt. has the sense to think about that sort of thing.

Although, it's is a Labor Govt. so I wouldn't be holding my breath!!! ....

[shami]

Thanks for the input guys. I think i've sorted out the baby seat issue...now onto the other stuff

Its not going in my golf, thats siting in my driveway going nowhere. Its going into my wifes car, which, well i won't even mention what it is...

[Goldy]

Just out of interest guys can anyone tell me how well a backward facing car seat fits in a MK6 GTI?

My wife has a MK4 golf and when we went to look at buying car seats yesterday we did a trial run to check how it fits. Sure enough it fitted in the back but it meant the front passenger seat had to go so far forward neither my wife or I could fit in the seat.

Interested to know how others have dealt with this predicament and whether the Mk6 interior dimensions are bigger/more accomodating than the Mk4

I've got my heart set on a Mk6 GTI as my new company car and need to be able to look after my little one that's due late Feb. Safe'N'Sounds Infant capsule I was unaware of and I'll have to have a look into. (Cheers Dion M)

[midlifecrisis]

Just out of interest guys can anyone tell me how well a backward facing car seat fits in a MK6 GTI?

My wife has a MK4 golf and when we went to look at buying car seats yesterday we did a trial run to check how it fits. Sure enough it fitted in the back but it meant the front passenger seat had to go so far forward neither my wife or I could fit in the seat.

Interested to know how others have dealt with this predicament and whether the Mk6 interior dimensions are bigger/more accomodating than the Mk4

I've got my heart set on a Mk6 GTI as my new company car and need to be able to look after my little one that's due late Feb. Safe'N'Sounds Infant capsule I was unaware of and I'll have to have a look into. (Cheers Dion M)

Goldy did you get anywhere in your research. We have a Safe'N'Sound Compaq Deluxe in our old Pulsar and its got the same problem of forcing the front passenger right forward. I am seeing depth sizes of 480mm (620mm actually when in backwards facing mode) for it. I am hoping my planned Mk6 will not have this problem so if you have found anything out please let me know.