Newbie here--I have an E320 wagon and a new baby, and am trying to figure out the safest way to carry him around. The carseat has multiple warnings stating that it should not be used near an active airbag. According to the manual, I can elect to have the rear airbags deactivated, but wondering if that's necessary if the carseat will be installed in the middle rear seat.
Basically, just wondering if anyone here has experience with this situation--Mercedes dealer won't answer any questions until Monday when the service center is open. Thanks for any advice!
Newbie here--I have an E320 wagon and a new baby, and am trying to figure out the safest way to carry him around. The carseat has multiple warnings stating that it should not be used near an active airbag. According to the manual, I can elect to have the rear airbags deactivated, but wondering if that's necessary if the carseat will be installed in the middle rear seat.
Basically, just wondering if anyone here has experience with this situation--Mercedes dealer won't answer any questions until Monday when the service center is open. Thanks for any advice!
I would think they mean it cant be near a front airbag, not a side airbag/curtain.
First of all, congratulations on your new bundle of joy, there is NOTHING else like having a child.
There have been several reports re: kids in the rear and the concern with injury from side airbags. Audi and BMW IIRC were first to address this. I don't know of any reports of actual injury although I am sure google will let you know.
If you are putting the car seat in the middle (the absolute ideal place) then the side bag (which is about like a medium sized loaf of Italian bread) should not pose any risk, confirm this with MBUSA).
With a newborn, I assume the baby will be rear facing. Consider tethering the top of the infant seat to the floor. With most infant seats, you only get two point fixation. In a roll over or a severe rear ender the top of the seat freely rotates upward all the way to the backrest.
As of a few years ago, Britax was the only company to address this issue with a top tether for the floor to keep the upper portion of the seat fixed. I called Graco and asked about this issue and the nincompoop that answered the call stated that "Britax is European and they have a higher safety standard than we do".
Make sure you have lower LATCH anchors and a tether especially after 1 year AND 20lbs (not or 20lbs, a 6 month old 20lb baby is still to young to face forward, before a year AND 20 lbs, their neck muscles are not strong enough to support the head in a frontal crash. Racers have the same issue in high speed crashes and wear a HANS (Head And Neck Support, developed at Michigan State, used worldwide: mini seat belts that attach to the helmet to prevent the head from separating from the spine).
Last edited by II kings 920 : 06-11-2007 at 11:36 AM.
Thanks for the advice--thought I'd post an update for anyone else in a similar position.
Basically, lots of worry for absolutely nothing---I contacted Britax and was told that side/curtain airbags aren't an issue.
So, thanks for talking a new mom down....off to look for the next thing to obsess about!
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