is it legal to have a baby in the front seat of a kombi? does anyone know and is it possiable to fit one into the front seat?

I'm guessing, but I'd imagine not if there are seat belts in the back seat. It would be safer to get a... don't know what they are called, but they are a pole that fits across the back of the kombi to hold the fastening from the capsule/baby seat. You could ask at Baby Co, they should know the lagalities.

i was thinking more along the lines of easy access. if the baby was in the front and spat the dummy i could get it, other wise id have to pull over and run around and get the dummy, or i could get a full time nanny.

Some food for thought (the last paragraph)...

http://www.your-baby.com.au/articles/CarProblems.htm 

More reading material...

http://www.mynrma.com.au/motoring/help/question_answer/child.shtml 

Also, not directly answering your question but still of interest maybe...

]http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrninte.nsf/AllDocs/DCC966A8F493A156CA256...

And one of these places maybe able to answer for you...

]http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrninte.nsf/alldocs/DBAF42AC4D3A0DCBCA256...

Hope some of this helps

Yeah, I can see what you mean, but there are laws covering this issue - I'm pretty sure any kid under 9(?? not absolutely sure if this is the same in Victoria) must be in the back seat unless it is not possible (ie no back seat belts).

Good luck with the full time nanny... :o

I have been through this same issue, although due to safety concerns I don't allow our kids in the front of our 74 kombi.
Our van has two child restraints fitted to the engine deck which you could use for the rear seat.
As far as the front seat, I see no reason why you couldn't fit a child seat in the passenger side (apart from the safety side of things).
I have also seen a 'middle' front seat in a bay window kombi which swung up to allow access to the rear. It was specially made - I haven't seen another kombi with one.

The jump seat was an option for all walk thru model buses.

its a '65 kombi so i cant walk through, id have to climb over.

Well after raising 3 kids and driving everywhere I found I would aways pull over if something was really up with one of them, it's safer

Mine were always in the back seat of a sedan, then we grew to the van stage which we needed to ferry them and their friends around in, plus bikes, surf gear and whatever else they got into, oh, and the dog

You become a travelling circus

When they're babies it's amazing the number of things you do by the road, like change nappies, breast feeding or feeding them. It becomes a major expedition if your out for the whole day, it's amazing how resourceful you do become.

The first baby is usually easy, it's where to put the baby when you already have two in child seats that gets tricky:o

You'll work out what works best for your child. Hope you figure out where to fit the 'child restraints', (terrible term!)

Don't go for the nanny.....I ended up married to the one I got........

Rachel, snap

I have a baby on the way too, as well as a 65 Kombi!!

I already have a seat belt installed in the back (Devon camper conversion), but I've yet to try the baby seat in there. As and when I do, I'll take a few snaps to show you.

Cheers

Steve

Here's our two littlies. The seat Jemma is in on the right is one of the ones that when they are little, the seat lies down the other way to be a baby capsule. Both seats are anchored to a bar at the rear of the Kombi.

Hmmm...headlining has been redone since then...must post something in Member's Rides.

Yes I have to admit the walkthrough is handy when ducking back at the lights to retrieve dummies, toys etc but I think the safety aspect of them being in the back far outweighs the inconvenience of having to play fetch (and sometimes many times at that!)

I have installed 3 lap belts in the rear of my 64 bus and have harness mounts on the rear parcel shelf i use a seat and harness set up "Safe and Sound" brand.
The rear parcel shelf mounts secure the seat from which runs the harness which is like a 5 point set up with loops through which the lap belt runs through and an attachment from the seat to the harness between the legs .It is very snug and works well.
MitcHell.

bump

Hey Rachael how's it going?

Have you been able to find a way around the baby seat problem?

Just bring this up again to see if anyone else can come up with a thought

:sandrine

hi jen

everything is going well, still sick as a dog though! and still stressing about the car issue but 1. im not going to sell it!!! thats that. but Lizzy is going in to be all fixed up, clutch, rear seal and service next week so i will be happy with her for a while. im just having a problem with the .............. i want to keep a bed and have seats and baby seat all in the back so i can go camping and safely drive my baby around. then i also have the issue of sound proofing. have got some ideas from here though!......... six months to get it all done.:bounce:bounce:bounce

Cool great to hear Rachael:thumb

Selling it may be something you would have regretted afterwards

I almost sold Bel but met losts of great people here instead who encouraged:kiss

Now look at me :o

I used to get 'morning sickness', it was all day sickness for nearly the whole 9 mths:puke

Heh Rach....you definetly can't sell Lizzy,i need my fellow splitty chick to cruise with.(once mines on the road!!!!!)
You just need to get rid of the permanent bed & get a full seat that folds down into a bed when needed.
I got a baby bolt put into the back tray part,just above the engine & use to connect my friends baby seat in & take her everywhere..no probs.

hiya mandie

never ever selling no matter what everyone says. i'll look at the restraints later on.

Don't be too concerned about sound proofing. My littlest sleeps soundly in the Kombi, did from 5 months old (we didn't have the Kombi before then) and still does

Then again, so does Amy (4.5 years old)!!

[Edited on 21-9-2003 by KOM123]

Never soundproof a kombi when you have children!!! It's only the fact that you can't hear them properly that keeps you sane (mind you, mine are 10 and 12, and they can talk. And talk. And talk....)

Re: the fallen dummy.
Just buy a roll of cheap masking tape, and bind the sucker on so it cant fall out.

And!!!! if you put the baby in a cardboard box on the floor, the cops arent going to know whats in it so you wont get into any trouble.

hope this helps :P

Not any help but,
A mate of mine, Shane, his daughter was born in their kombi on the way to the hospital.
Cheers
Dave

for anyone that wants to know, it is legal to have a baby in the front seat. you just have to get a ankor point for the front, all my problems are solved!!!:bounce:bounce

I would check with the seat manufacturers before mounting the seat in the front. We bought a "Babylove" seat and the destructions said DANGER.NOT TO BE MOUNTED IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. MOUNT SEAT IN REAR ONLY.Also if you use it as a capsual and have a prang(heavens forbid) you will find that glass does not have much bend.....The rear might be more of an inconvieniance but safety should come first...:kiss. The best advise to get would be from the Ambulance guys.they know all this stuff.We hired a capsule for 3 months and they even fitted it. Cost about $50 from memory. Good luck. (was not in the Manx!!! Was in twin cab)

[Edited on 4-10-2003 by Mick H]

Tape the baby down with duct tape.