Date:         Tue, 28 Sep 1999 09:47:47 -0400
Reply-To:     Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Subject:      Infant Carseat Recommendations?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi,

I replied to David's question earlier this morning, but wanted to add to
Bob's comment:

>
>     Get a complete seat.  Detachable seat-base combinations are just
>that, detachable.  I want my son as securely attached as possible.  Not
>to mention the implications of the whole baby-carrier thing.
>


We used a detachable base infant seat with our first child and always double
checked the locking mechanism after we "docked" it.  However, one time we
did end up driving with it improperly latched!  Scarey!!!  WIth our second
son, who was born at over 10 pounds, he didn't stay in the infant seat long
anyway -- and he quickly got to heavy to carry in the seat.  The only time
we carried him in it was when he was asleep.  This relates to "the
implications of the whole baby-carrier thing."  My interpretation on that
comment is that it is better to have the baby physically next to mom or dad
in the arms or a sling-type carrier (which we used) then isolated in a
plastic basket anyway.  This is one of the fundamentals of "attachment
parenting" and really getting to know your child.  But I digress . . .

Please see:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/

By the way, you will see that tether straps are FINALLY going to be required
in the U.S.!!  You will also see the universal mounting system (UCSSS) that
will be phased in by 2002.  Of course, the Europeans have it now already!
In Edition 2/99 of Volkswagen Magasinet (Norwegian) you can see an article
on the new VW Isofix carseat, and the fact that the new mounting points in
the seat cushion is now standard on Lupo, Golf, Bora (Jetta) and Beetle.  I
don't know why the Polo is left out, and it says something about the Passat
and Caravelle too, but I can't read it:

"Fester for IsoFix er standard i alle nye modeller av Volkswagen Lupo, Golf,
Bora, og Beetle samt de fleste modeller av Passat og Caravelle."

Wow, such safety advanced standards from the same company that brought U.S.
the no-lap-belt Jettas just a decade ago!

Michael Townsend
townsend@rtp.ericsson.se