OK... calling all parents:

We are expecting our first child in July. My wife and I bought our new Volvo with the expectation of using this GREAT new ISOFIX system. I have heard from others that Volvo does not offer the ISOFIX infant or car seat (something about a delay or recall). I have confirmed with my dealer and with VCNA that this is true.

BTW:

ISOFIX, also known as LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) is intended to improve the attachment of car seats in vehicles. Under a new federal regulation, lower attachment hardware will be required on all vehicles and child restraints manufactured on or after September 1, 2002.

My questions are:

1) Where do I find an ISOFIX carseat before July?

2) What would be your recommendations as far as Non-ISOFIX infant/baby carseats? Britax, Century, Evenflo, Graco, Fisher Price, etc.

3) Are the popular "Removable Systems" as safe as fixed units?

Shopping for carseats is more stressful than shopping for cars :(

Thanks for your help,

Rob

Rob,

Fisher Price and Cosco both offer a LATCH / ISOFIX seat, but they are both in short supply. I've never seen the Cosco seat anywhere, and the Fisher Price seat is sold out at most retailers (I'm talking about on-line stores here). Both those seats however are the so called "convertable" type, rear facing for infants, forward facing for toddlers. No "convertable" seat is realy the best choice for a newborn infant. It's a compromise at best since they are really too big to hold a small baby snuggly. What I would suggest is one of the removable systems you mentioned. The safty issue is something I don't feel qualified to disscuss, but at the very least you know that a seat must pass government tests before it can be sold, and that proper fit is a large component of safey. Check out consumerreports.org for more on the safty issue. The great thing about the removable systems is that you don't need to wake the baby when moving him in and out of the car. You strap him into the seat (which doubles as a carrier) in your home, then carry the whole thing outside, and snap it into the base which stays permanently in the car. When you get to where you are going, you pop it out of the base and either carry it, or snap it into one of the many stroller "frames" that are sold as accesories to these seats (or you can buy one of the many complete systems that turn into toddler strollers later on, although I find them a little bulky). Once your baby outgrows its infant carrier/seat, (about a year from now) there should be a lot more choice and availability with regards to LATCH seats.

Good luck.

Koz.

The upscale model from Cosco is sold under the brand name "PRIORI"

Yannis

i dont know, my 01 s40 came with isofix seats. maybe on the v70 for sdome reason it doesn't??

No, no, no...

My V70 does come with the ISOFIX attachment points. I'm looking for the actual baby carseats that will work with this system.

Thanks for the input Zain.

- Rob