Child seats

[bobjebb]

Can't find anything conclusive...

Anyone got one fitted in their RS4? Is it obvious whether or not I have ISOFIX fitted? Recommendations welcome.

The Mrs is buying a Lexus RX300, so obviously looking for something thats compatable for both

Thanks!


Bob

[don]

easy.. strap goes over the back seats and clips onto the bracket which is mounted on the back of the seat, there are 3 of them.. Front of the baby seat as usual is restrained by the seat belt...

Had both a baby capsule and baby seat in my car for a while when my sister was over with her childers.

[Dippy]

Bob,

On the rear seats, slide your hand down into the gap between the seat and the backrest. Feel to the left and right. If you feel two metal loops about a foot apart then you have ISOFIX. They are not visible, but not 'deep' either, so if you have them it should become fairly obvious.

I have ISOFIX and have been very pleased with it. It has three main advantages:
1) Much safer than using the seatbelt. Even the best fitting seats with a seatbelt will move about a bit, but with ISOFIX it is rock solid.
2) In some seats (such as a rear facing capsule) the seat belt gets in the way when loading/unloading a baby, whereas with ISOFIX the access is easier.
3) ISOFIX gives really easy fitting/removal (seconds), whereas with a seatbelt it can take minutes to remove and refit. This is why in recent surveys so many seats in the UK were found to be poorly fitted.

When my first daughter was a baby I couldn't get an ISOFIX capsule (Britax do one now). However when she could sit I got the Audi one made by Hugepak. It's the left hand one below. Although the restraint looks strange. It is actually excellent, and good for a toddle to sleep on. Also when the child is older (it is suitable up to around 6 years) the belt is so much easier to use than the 3-point harness.

When our second daughter was old enough, we bought a new Graco seat for our eldest. Seats for older children are designed to use the normal seatbelt (there is usually an extra hook at shoulder height to keep it low), so the seat is not held down. This is not a problem when the child is in it, but when they're not and you're driving round a corner...

So I also bought a LATCH strap which allows me to secure the seat to the ISOFIX points. I had to buy this from the US.

[bobjebb]

Thanks for that - I'll confer with the boss. I'm actually pushing her to get the Lexus soon, so I don't get sick on my seats.

[RobertH]

If you decide on the Audi seat (the one with the cushion which the kids lie their head on when small) then let me know as we have a virtually unused one which we will be selling. I think they are something silly new like £160+ !

Robert.

[Dippy]

I'm actually pushing her to get the Lexus soon, so I don't get sick on my seats.

That's why I got the leather interior...

[tombs]

I'm actually pushing her to get the Lexus soon, so I don't get sick on my seats.

Can't she handle your driving?

[bobjebb]

Thanks Robert - I think the Lexus will be coming before D-Day now, so he/she/it will be transported in relative safety!

[Tomson]

I found my ISOFix today, did'nt know i had it. My Joe is 3 and a half so I have a graco seat and a protective sheet to go under it, and a protective cover on the back of the passenger seat to avoid feet marks. Anyway , can I firmly attach the Graco seat to the Isofix - or do I need one of the straps you are on about dippy?. How can you tell if your seat is ISOFIX friendly ?

[Dippy]

If it's an ISOFIX seat it will clearly be indicated. It has two great 'claws' that come out of the back so it needs to have some serious extra design and will cost more than most seats.

When I last looked, it was still only Britax doing ISOFIX in the UK and only the DUO. It states it is suitable for a 4 year old, but it has a 3 point harness. I find these a PIA for older children. My wife has this sort of seat in her car and my 2 year old complains about it - she's used to the 'normal' seat in my car.

I have the Graco Junior for my eldest (she's 4 but needs to wear age 6 clothes). I find it great because it uses the car's seatbelt and is permanently looped into the Graco's extra guide. So my daughter can put herself into and out of the seat!

Anyway, yes you'd need a strap to keep your Graco seat secure. I have the Century/Graco EZ Latch as shown above. It fits the Graco Junior very well. If you have any trouble getting one let me know - I may be able to find details of where I bought mine (mail-order from the US).

[dog]

Bobjebb,
Isofix is the only way to go. Dippy wrote a really nice summary. The seats are rock solid, I use the belt and the rear ancher points too. (belt with a suspender approach) My seat is the Britex ISOFIX Duo. Was hard to get in Australia as ISOFIX is illegal here... (don't ask)
Now I am in trouble as my little one is a big one ( I have to use the highest seatbelt position now) and I am not too far from needing a larger seat (one for more than 20kg child) However I can't find a ISOFIX seat for older kids. Recaro looks great but does not have ISOFIX.

[Steve_Mc]

Bob, do you mean child seat or baby seat? Our 2 year old has the Britax ISOFIX duo plus child seat, which is great - rock solid and very easy to clip in and out when required. Our newborn uses a more conventional Britax rock-a-tot baby seat, which is not ISOFIX and a PIA to do up every time, but at least he'll only be in it for a short while. I don't think there are many ISOFX baby seats on the market, and they are pretty expensive.

Happy to meet up some time and give you a quick demo if you want?

[bobjebb]

looking for a baby seat - he/she isn't out yet... Due in 6 weeks or so but apparantly you need to have this stuff sorted. It will be going in the Lexus (phew) which has ISOFIX, but would always appreciate some guidance before we buy? Thanks Steve, maybe PM your details and I'll perhaps give you a call if the wife starts getting flustered/grossly unreasonable and moody?

Ta

[Dippy]

AFAIK you'll not get an ISOFIX baby seat, because it must be rear-facing, and as you can imagine, designing such a seat with ISOFIX claws would be difficult.

However with a newborn, you won't want to put him/her in and out of the seat fixed in the car, you'll want to keep the baby in the seat and put the seat in/out of the car. That's why the rocker type Steve mentions is the way to go.

Yes, fixing the rocker is a PIA, but believe me this is the least of your worries compared to the HELL you are going to face having a new-born baby in the house. You don't really need much sleep at night do you?

[dog]

You guys must call the baby capsule a "rocker". I had no idea what you were on about. The best is to get a capsule that has a base attached and a capsule that you can remove (I thought most are like that now)
bobjebb,
The Britex ISOFIX Duo has both attachments, so you can use it in both of your cars.
The RS4 is ISOFIX ready, you just have to screw the hooks in and it is as good as gold. That is what I have done.
This is what I needed:
- 8D0 813 545 x 1 Left bracket
- 8D0 813 546 A x 1 Righ bracket
- 8L0 837 453 x 4 bolts