Rear facing child seat

kenchan · 03-14-2013, 01:55 PM

where's your prius?

MarkGideon · 03-14-2013, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

Does your airbag light off stays on with the car seat in it? I put my dog in the car, the light turns on and off, it sort of worries me. I have the baby and the car to myself today, maybe I will take him in the garage to try.

I have a backpack that I carry into the office, weighs maybe 12-15 pounds on a packed day, and that is enough to sometimes cause the light to come on and off in my car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

Yeah, that's why I don't want to do front facing and why I asked about rear facing seat. If the airbag is off, I don't know what difference it makes if it is front or rear facing. The only thing I can think of is the dash crunches in a certain way, pushing against the seat.

Anyway I am just looking for temporary usage (once a week), I don't want to buy another car unless I have to.

Just some quick Googling will provide you info on why rear facing is best for newborns, but to save you some steps:

Quote:

Babies have heavy heads and fragile necks. In a crash, an infant’s soft spinal column can stretch, leading to spinal cord damage if he is riding facing forward. The baby could die or be paralyzed permanently. This is true even for babies who have strong neck muscles and good head control. The neck bones are flexible, and the ligaments are loose to allow for growth.

If the baby is facing forward in a frontal crash, which is the most common and most severe type, the body is held back by the straps — but the head is not. The head is thrust forward, stretching the neck and the easily injured spinal cord. Older children in forward–facing safety seats or safety belts may end up with temporary neck injuries or fractures that will heal. But a baby’s neck bones actually separate during a crash, which can allow the spinal cord to be ripped apart. Picture what happens if someone yanks an electrical plug out of a socket by the cord, causing the wires to break.

Sure, only once a week or so for six miles. And it possibly would only take one minor accident to result in a life-changing event for the baby. It is a decision you will ultimately have to make and live with. But if it were me, I would not do it.

kenchan · 03-14-2013, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkGideon

Sure, only once a week or so for six miles. And it possibly would only take one minor accident to result in a life-changing event for the baby. It is a decision you will ultimately have to make and live with. But if it were me, I would not do it.

cossie stated it was a temporary baby?

cossie1600 · 03-14-2013, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

where's your prius?

Gave it to my mom, we had to get a SUV to fit the baby and the dogs.

Anyhow I just test fitted the seat, seems like there is plenty of room to clear the dash. I just have to make sure the airbag is off all the time, not flashing on and off like when my dog was on it

Haboob · 03-14-2013, 02:11 PM

Strap'em down in the hatch it is!

I def. wouldn't get rid of the car, being it's a financial hit and the child is only going to be this small for a short period of time.

If it were me (and may be some day) I'd probably swap cars w/a family member if I needed to go somewhere, then again - they aren't allowed to drive my car so it's more like take a family member's car.

cossie1600 · 03-14-2013, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkGideon

I have a backpack that I carry into the office, weighs maybe 12-15 pounds on a packed day, and that is enough to sometimes cause the light to come on and off in my car.

Sure, only once a week or so for six miles. And it possibly would only take one minor accident to result in a life-changing event for the baby. It is a decision you will ultimately have to make and live with. But if it were me, I would not do it.

That's why I am testing to make sure the light will come on permanently. I think it flickers on and off due to how the weight is distributed with a heavy bag or a dog.

As long as the airbag is off, I am just not seeing why it is more dangerous than any other car? That's what I am trying to get at. Can you think of a reason?

Haboob · 03-14-2013, 02:20 PM

It (the Owner's Manual) says that it's a pattern sensor, so it should be able to recognize that there's a child restraint in there:

Quote:

The occupant classification sensor (pattern
sensor) is in the front passenger seat cushion
and is designed to detect an occupant and
objects on the seat. For example, if a child is in
the front passenger seat, the Advanced Air Bag
System is designed to turn the passenger air
bag OFF in accordance with the regulations.
Also, if a child restraint of the type specified in
the regulations is on the seat, the occupant
classification sensor can detect it and cause the
air bag to turn OFF

And it also says,

Quote:

Infants
Infants up to at least one year old should be
placed in a rear facing child restraint. The
passenger seat is not suitable for use with a
rear facing child restraint for infants. Therefore,
infants should not be transported in this vehicle

But it is ultimately up to you.

kenchan · 03-14-2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haboob

Infants
Infants up to at least one year old should be
placed in a rear facing child restraint. The
passenger seat is not suitable for use with a
rear facing child restraint for infants. Therefore,
infants should not be transported in this vehicle

hummm! i never considered putting my kids in the car before they were at least 40lbs, but heck, that pretty much sums it up if that's from the official nissan 370z owner's manual.

cossie1600 · 03-14-2013, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haboob

Strap'em down in the hatch it is!

I def. wouldn't get rid of the car, being it's a financial hit and the child is only going to be this small for a short period of time.

If it were me (and may be some day) I'd probably swap cars w/a family member if I needed to go somewhere, then again - they aren't allowed to drive my car so it's more like take a family member's car.

My wife works from home with the exception of meetings that requires her to go in. I work 1.5 miles from home and daycare is 2.5 miles from home. I literally would only use the Z to transport baby when she has to go into the office or I have to pick up the baby from daycare in an emergency. I can go buy an old Volvo for $4K, but the car would just sit and take up driveway space as I rarely drive the Z or the SUV as is. What is the point of sinking all the money into cars that you don't get to drive?

Regardless, I really am trying to see if anyone can think of any reasons why you shouldn't have a rear facing child seat WITH THE AIRBAG OFF. The curtain airbag and side airbags are deemed to be safe based on all research. On my SUV, they actually recommend the rear seat that has the airbag over the middle seat for proper LATCH mount.

Haboob · 03-14-2013, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

My wife works from home with the exception of meetings that requires her to go in. I work 1.5 miles from home and daycare is 2.5 miles from home. I literally would only use the Z to transport baby when she has to go into the office or I have to pick up the baby from daycare in an emergency. I can go buy an old Volvo for $4K, but the car would just sit and take up driveway space as I rarely drive the Z or the SUV as is. What is the point of sinking all the money into cars that you don't get to drive?

Regardless, I really am trying to see if anyone can think of any reasons why you shouldn't have a rear facing child seat WITH THE AIRBAG OFF. The curtain airbag and side airbags are deemed to be safe based on all research. On my SUV, they actually recommend the rear seat that has the airbag over the middle seat for proper LATCH mount.

I'm against getting a new (used) car just for that purpose too, don't get me wrong.

However, I'm no expert on babies (thankfully

), but I could see side impact being an issue along with how close it is to the dash/glass?

I've only seen them seated in the middle seat of cars/SUV's, but that could just be the parent's preference or due to space issue w/the seats.

cossie1600 · 03-14-2013, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haboob

It (the Owner's Manual) says that it's a pattern sensor, so it should be able to recognize that there's a child restraint in there:

And it also says,

But it is ultimately up to you.

I saw it, but the question is WHY? I guess the extra tether point in the back adds as an extra support for the top of the car seat. Outside of that, I can't find anything else.

cossie1600 · 03-14-2013, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haboob

I'm against getting a new (used) car just for that purpose too, don't get me wrong.

However, I'm no expert on babies (thankfully

), but I could see side impact being an issue along with how close it is to the dash/glass?

I've only seen them seated in the middle seat of cars/SUV's, but that could just be the parent's preference or due to space issue w/the seats.

Yes I agree with the dash comment as hitting a dash might be harder than hitting a front seat. Glass are laminated no?

It all depends on the size of the car. Many cars now don't even put LATCH on the center seat now as the side seats are not that much worse than the center based on new research.

Haboob · 03-14-2013, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

Yes I agree with the dash comment as hitting a dash might be harder than hitting a front seat. Glass are laminated no?

It all depends on the size of the car. Many cars now don't even put LATCH on the center seat now as the side seats are not that much worse than the center based on new research.

The windshield, yes, but the others I don't think so.

Though, I'm sure shattered glass will reach anywhere in any car so that's a moot point.

Other than, "They say so." I can't really think of anything else for or against it.

cossie1600 · 03-14-2013, 02:50 PM

I am not for it either, but it beats buying a beater that is possibly less safe than my newer car.

I am trying to convince my wife to let me trade my car in for a TTS, but she won't do it.

kenchan · 03-14-2013, 03:11 PM

honda fits are the way to go... (dats you keep your z and get the fit).

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03-14-2013, 01:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	where's your prius?

03-14-2013, 02:11 PM	#20 (permalink)
Haboob A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Surface of the sun. Posts: 13,159 Drives: '18 GTI Autobahn DSG Rep Power: 1387	Strap'em down in the hatch it is! I def. wouldn't get rid of the car, being it's a financial hit and the child is only going to be this small for a short period of time. If it were me (and may be some day) I'd probably swap cars w/a family member if I needed to go somewhere, then again - they aren't allowed to drive my car so it's more like take a family member's car.

03-14-2013, 02:50 PM	#29 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	I am not for it either, but it beats buying a beater that is possibly less safe than my newer car. I am trying to convince my wife to let me trade my car in for a TTS, but she won't do it.

03-14-2013, 03:11 PM	#30 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	honda fits are the way to go... (dats you keep your z and get the fit).