Car seats in IS350?
07-15-07, 12:37 PM
#16
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i have a 4 month old right now. i have to move the pass seat all the way up to it the rear facing baby seat. my gf sits in the back with him. the stroller takes up almost all of the trunk. and with all the gear you gotta bring for the baby your about out of space. theres been a couple times where i told her we should trade in for a gs.
07-15-07, 01:22 PM
#20
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Same here, highlander. People who have been there always joke about it, but you can never be prepared for how much 'stuff' you end up bringing with you with a baby in the back.
We take the highlander so often that I'm having trouble putting the miles on the IS to break it in.
We take the highlander so often that I'm having trouble putting the miles on the IS to break it in.
07-15-07, 01:36 PM
#21
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We have a Britax carseat in the IS350, which works fine. If it's just me and my son, I hit button "3" on the passenger side door to move the seat up and out of kicking range. The passenger seat memory settings are great for things like this.
I do not have the seat in the middle. It's been my understanding that the latch system is not intended to be used in that way, but I may be mistaken. In any case, it works well on the passenger side rear seat, and my 2 1/2 year old son loves to ride in Dad's car (he cries when we take Mommy's car now!).
I do not have the seat in the middle. It's been my understanding that the latch system is not intended to be used in that way, but I may be mistaken. In any case, it works well on the passenger side rear seat, and my 2 1/2 year old son loves to ride in Dad's car (he cries when we take Mommy's car now!).
07-15-07, 02:41 PM
#22
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As far as I can tell, using the LATCH system doesn't really depend on the distance between each anchor (within reason, of course). It is widely agreed that the safest place for a child seat is in the middle of the seat, and the LATCH anchors are always two to each side. However, if you have a relatively short bench in the back, as is the case with our IS', you can probably use the innermost anchor (one from each side) with the seat in the center.
The standard setup LATCH anchors are about 11" apart, whereas using one from each side the anchors are about 14" apart. I highly doubt that this makes much difference. There is no discernable difference in the amount of play in the base in either position.
Using the two anchors closest to the doors would be another story however.
The standard setup LATCH anchors are about 11" apart, whereas using one from each side the anchors are about 14" apart. I highly doubt that this makes much difference. There is no discernable difference in the amount of play in the base in either position.
Using the two anchors closest to the doors would be another story however.
07-15-07, 03:01 PM
#23
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my baby is a whopping 5 days old and we used the IS for the first time today to go to Mass. My wife had move her seat up quite a bit and i had to raise the back of my seat foward so its really not that easy having the carseat in my car for our family trips but then again thats what the mrs's mdx is for. ill just use my car to pick up the little one so just me and the baby for the most part 
07-15-07, 04:06 PM
#24
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We have a Britax carseat in the IS350, which works fine. If it's just me and my son, I hit button "3" on the passenger side door to move the seat up and out of kicking range. The passenger seat memory settings are great for things like this.
I do not have the seat in the middle. It's been my understanding that the latch system is not intended to be used in that way, but I may be mistaken. In any case, it works well on the passenger side rear seat, and my 2 1/2 year old son loves to ride in Dad's car (he cries when we take Mommy's car now!).
I do not have the seat in the middle. It's been my understanding that the latch system is not intended to be used in that way, but I may be mistaken. In any case, it works well on the passenger side rear seat, and my 2 1/2 year old son loves to ride in Dad's car (he cries when we take Mommy's car now!).
I also have a Britax (Roundabout) and I have to move up the front seat like you do.
07-15-07, 05:49 PM
#25
Britax roundabout is the highest rated seat out there........ i own three and they are very high quality. congrats on the new baby, i remember bringing mine home the first time in the lexus thinking man, hes gonna pooop all over the place........
getting any sleep?
getting any sleep?
07-15-07, 06:41 PM
#26
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Thanks
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. This topic really got a great response, and I appreciate all the information about peoples own personal experiences with the seats and child safety.
07-15-07, 06:51 PM
#27
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When a kid is big enough not to need a car seat depends on the childs height and weight. My wife tells me that 80 lbs is the general weight at which most children will no longer require a special child seat, but I haven't done much research on this topic myself. Both of my kids are quite small for their age. My 8 year old weighs about 47 lbs, and my 6 year old weighs about 35 lbs (he just turned 6 today!!). They would not be safe without the child seats. Even my 8 year old when sitting without the car seat supporting him would have the shoulder strap on his neck or face, which is not where you want it!
When I was growing up we took my Dads 1965 Dodge Polara on family vacations, and it didn't even have the shoulder straps. He did make us wear the lap belts though. Back in those days they didn't even sell car seats for children, at least I don't think they did.
When I was growing up we took my Dads 1965 Dodge Polara on family vacations, and it didn't even have the shoulder straps. He did make us wear the lap belts though. Back in those days they didn't even sell car seats for children, at least I don't think they did.
I'm ignorant, but when do kids graduate from car seats? I would have thought by 8 and 6 yo they would be out of car seats. Just curious as to what the standard operating procedure is these days. We've come a long way, when I was a kid there were no seatbelts and we would horse around in the back seat, often laying on the back parcel shelf.
07-16-07, 04:22 AM
#28
Lexus Champion
Never thought of that...hmm. I realize child safety here is the most important and had the seat installed by people certifed to install child restraints. There is always a chance that the seat could fail (God forbid) and if it were up to me I would have it on the sides so that I could benefit from lower restraints. If you have seen the post of saftey crashes, our cars do really well with side inpact, but I have more baby mama drama that I care to admit and well long story short...if you can convince her mother of the same...I would pay you what I have paid in legal fees just to watch. 
I appreciate the comment though...it is something to think about and a good point.
I appreciate the comment though...it is something to think about and a good point.
07-16-07, 04:26 AM
#29
Lexus Champion
Does anyone here have car seats installed in their IS350? I'm just wondering how well they would fit with my kids, and how comfortable my kids would be with the limited leg and head room back there. I have an 8 year old and a 6 year old, and both are in car seats now. Is there enough head room in the back seat of the IS350? Those seats raise them up quite a bit. How about leg room? I've done the measurements, and it looks like they will fit okay, but I just want to know if any other forum members have had experience with this.
Thank you very much. Anyone with information to help, please let me know.
Thank you very much. Anyone with information to help, please let me know.
07-16-07, 05:12 AM
#30
Lexus Champion
DOT is worried about side impacts, and if the latch system is in the car which it is, it is stronger then any lap belt accross the seat. They have done many tests on these things and the middle is the safests. However DOT and consumer reports have rated the seats that have removable bases (infant) as the worst kind and in 25mph tests the top portion of the seats have been known to seperate and fly through the front window, so in reality thier is no real safe location for a baby seat. The seats that failed were basically everyone except the britax brand.