Baby Seat

[R36 DSG]

Hey guys,
Just installed a Safe n Sound Meridian baby seat rear facing in the middle seat of our R36 sedan. Seat fits perfect clearing the front seats. The main reason for us choosing the middle seat is that it allows both the front seats plenty of room as well as the safety benefits. Now as our bundle of joy is yet to arrive I need some feedback from others who have put the seat in the middle on how difficult it is placing baby in and out.

[Umai Naa!!]

I prefer the middle as well, and we did do this for a while in our old '04 Golf. But we found that, unless you're carrying other children around, the other two rear seats are useless, but this may not be the case for you with your larger Passat. We also found that sometimes it can be tricky to balance yourself on your knees while you try to place the baby in the seat.

Unfortunately, there's no surefire solution for everyone. You'll have to compromise somewhere along the line. Bare in mind, when your little one is old enough and heavy enough, you can turn the car seat around to the forward-facing position.

[WazR36]

Hey guys,
Just installed a Safe n Sound Meridian baby seat rear facing in the middle seat of our R36 sedan. Seat fits perfect clearing the front seats. The main reason for us choosing the middle seat is that it allows both the front seats plenty of room as well as the safety benefits. Now as our bundle of joy is yet to arrive I need some feedback from others who have put the seat in the middle on how difficult it is placing baby in and out.

i have an ISOFIX seat which we use in both our jetta and R36 (maxi cosi pebble seat)
given it is so simple and easy to install, it can be moved from car-to-car or from side-to-side depending on who you are carrying with you in the back. well worth the shipping price if you want the safest possible option.

in terms of getting baby in - it won't be too much of an issue. in the event that we park close to another car (or a pole for example) i often put the baby through the drivers side rear door and just lean across to get him in. no problems you just need to reach. although given we have a seat and base style of setup he is already buckled into the seat i am just clipping it into place.

enjoy your upcoming baby!

[passatpout]

We had our daughter rear facing in the middle seat of our Passat wagon after she was born, and we found that it was OK (even my wife, with a bad back, got used to it). Obviously as they get bigger and heavier it's more of an issue.

Now we shift the seat to where it's required (eg on the side if we need to fold down the other seat back, in the middle if we need to carry other adults, etc). It helps that she's now big enough to climb in herself.

We've done some fairly long trips (2 hours +) with 4 adults plus the bub, and everyone's still been comfortable.

Enjoy your little bundle when he/she arrives too - take your time and appreciate everything.

[MJW]

We have had two kids (one still in a booster). Our son was quite a big boy & we found it increasingly hard to reach over to the middle particularly at around the 4 month age because he was really heavy & not mobile. My wife who already had a bad back got worse & I started to get a bad back from it. We gave in & put him behind the front passenger.

The difference in safetly between your child being in the middle seat as opposed to either side is quite negligible in reality but totally understand as a new parent why you would take every precaution as we did.

Congrats & all the best with the new addition.

[JustCruisn]

Seat in the middle is a pain, crawling in and out - forget it.
In my golf the other 2 seats were then unusable; Passat maybe different story as it is wider.

To the guy with the ISO fix seat - remember that you will be on your own in the event of an accident. No one will cover you for injuries to little one in that seat.

[Umai Naa!!]

That's right. They've not been signed-off yet.

[R36 DSG]

Thanks guys I appreciate your feedback. I waited as long as I could before buying the seat as I hoped the Isofix seats would be approved but no luck. With the seat in the middle I find that the only issue with carrying passengers in the back is it can be fiddly getting to the buckles. In regards to access to the seat in the middle does anyone find it helpful to sit in the car with baby inhand prior to placing them in the seat? If this can be done might alleviate any issues with sore backs

[passatpout]

With the seat in the middle I find that the only issue with carrying passengers in the back is it can be fiddly getting to the buckles. In regards to access to the seat in the middle does anyone find it helpful to sit in the car with baby inhand prior to placing them in the seat? If this can be done might alleviate any issues with sore backs

Yes, more than once after having people in the back, and after warning them, I've checked the baby seat to find it has been undone.

Sitting in the car then putting bubs in he seat can work too - trust me, you'll work out what's convenient for you fairly quickly!

Am hanging out for ISOFIX to be approved here, not so much for the Passat but for my wife's Mazda 2, where the top tether strap cuts right through the middle of the boot space... About this time next year, from what I've seen..

Good luck...

[kaanage]

Sitting in the car then putting bubs in he seat can work too -

That's what we did - no back strain at all this way with the bub in the center .

[cru22z]

I have 2 toddlers and on a maxi rider on each side. The middle seat becomes useless.

[Riker]

Left rear seat behind front passenger, leaving the right rear 100% useable. We never had any trouble getting the our bub in or out & now that she is 6 all we do is clip her in & tighten, she gets herself in & out of the seat. She will be in a booster base within a year so we'll get an isofix base & i'll also get one of those VW head surround upper pieces you clip into the rear headrest.