Seatbelt length & Child seat.

For a forward facing seat, the Maxi-Cosi Priory XP fits fine and was also the Which best buy in terms of ease of fitting and safety in an accident. It's quite shocking that the test the seats are subjected to aren't very stringent. Which completed a full test, including side impacts, which the current legislation doesn't require.

Regards

Andy

I think it's all a bit crap to be honest..

Out of 5 cars only one has been an easy fit, and it's notjust my car seat.

The Mk4 Polo was the best, Could accomodate teh Nutty Professor in BIG mode with that seat belt..

Wil be progressing to forward facing soon, but would like a better solution for Sprog No2

TT

[cootuk]

Too true, especially when Volvo recommend rear-facing for the first few years. I wonder whether the concept car designed by women had longer belts?

"I wonder whether the concept car designed by women had longer belts?"

I doubt it had an engine or even a steering wheel to be perfectly honest :+ !

[Philip Fisher]

Whilst the seat belt length might seem a big problem and a simple fix for the manufacturers, it is not as simple as it might first appear.

In an accident, the force of the occupant moving forward causes the belt to tighten on the spool and this causes slack in to the system. Even with Pre tensioners and load limiters, this still affects the performance of the belt. Manufacturers try to limit this by making the belt as short as is practical for everyday use.

I am sure that there is a problem with kiddy seats, and this must be really frustrating, but it is not as simple as just fitting longer belts from new.

Cheers

Someone asked a question about isofix child seats. Yes they are available, best to buy the ones recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. These should have been homologated for that particular vehicle.

the system is two fixed bars at the base of each seat and a top tether anchor. Isofix is supposed to be the motor industries long term plan to stop misfitting of child seats. Its a good idea in principal but doesn't seem to have taken of yet!

On the belt length around rear facing child seats. Its a problem for all manufacturers. If fitting in the front slide the seat back as far as posible that will give you more belt length.

I'd also recommend going to a specialist company like the In-car safety centre in Milton Keynes. They helped out with the wifes X-Trail got three seats in (one rear facing no problem).

One other thought on Kids & airbags, don't use rear facing seats with airbags. My own opinion is don't sit young kids in child seats in the front with passenger airbags, the deployment zones are designed for adults. Typically these bags are designed to protect a range of size from a small lady right up to a large man. However If the car has a cut off switch you can stop the airbag deploying and safely use child seat in the front with an airbag.

I'll get my anorak!

Jonathan

The rear facing seat is Klippan make and Prima 0+ model.

I think we bought this from Mothercare or Halfords but can't remember.

Halfords were definately far more helpful and knowledgable. Mothercare just had the saturday girl!

Paul

[cootuk]

What about side air bags though?
The Volvo research suggests these are ok with baby seats?

>What about side air bags though?
>The Volvo research suggests these are ok with baby seats?

Correct. The child seat sits inside the deployment envelope. This is typically from the seam on the outside edge of the seat bolster. The main concern is with the Passenger Airbag. A child seat pushes the child forward towards the airbag, best advise is if you have to do this push the seat backwards as far as possible. this also a concern with small adults to close to the Drivers airbag.

Right I'm off to collect my anorak form the dry cleaners.

"The main concern is with the Passenger Airbag. A child seat pushes the child forward towards the airbag, best advise is if you have to do this push the seat backwards as far as possible. this also a concern with small adults to close to the Drivers airbag."

The best advice is actually don't do it. If you're stuck, don't do it. If there's nowhere else to put the seat, don't do it.

If there's a passenger airbag fitted which can't be disabled and you don't have anywhere in the rear to put a child seat in then WALK.

Under no circumstances should you ever sit a child in front of an airbag. It will probably kill them. Airbags deploy with such huge force and, as you previously mentioned, are designed for adults.

This does not just apply to rear facing seats, it applies to forward facing seats too.

Regards

Andy