[nsany]

Hey all,

As a first time parent, I've learned some lessons along the way. Most recently, I've learned that you can't just make your car seat buying decision based on Consumer Report's top picks.

Using that as my criteria, I ended up shelling out big bucks for a Britax Boulevard, only to find that the fit was terrible in my wife's XC90. The shell created this awful interference fit with the headrest, and the base dug into the leather seats something awful.

Putting the seat in the middle position wasn't an option, as my wife is short, so it would have been a pain to get our daughter in and out.

The search for the ultimate seat ended with the Recaro Young Sport. Out of the box, this seat fit the XC90 like a glove! Build quality is top notch, noticably better than the Britax.

This material may be covered elsewhere on this forum, but I wanted to offer a new thread to folks who may (like me) have chosen the XC90 for its safety marks, but want a child seat that fits well without worrying.

 

[highseas]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (nsany)

I have two Recaros in the back of our XC90. One is the Young Sport, though it's only a five-point harness up to 40lbs. The newer Recaros, Como and Signo are five-point up to 70lbs. Unlike the Britax, the Recaros will fit in the side seating positions of the XC90. You just have to use a bit of muscle to get them up under the headrests.

 

[jnusaputr]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (highseas)

oh crap...r u saying the britax seats WILL NOT fit? i am currenty using the britax boulevard for rear facing and need to switch to front facing in a few months.

 

[highseas]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (jnusaputr)

It will only work in the center seating position. It's too tall for the outboard seats; you can't get it under the headrest so it won't sit flush against the seatback. It's a problem in the Volvo because the rear headrests aren't adjustable or removable.

 

[nsany]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (jnusaputr)

Nope, the boulevard will not fit. You can force the issue if you muscle it, but you'll end up creasing the seat leather something fierce. Best bet is to abandon the Britax and try another seat. FWIW, I found out that Babies R Us will permit a test fit of any seats in their store. They cannot allow you to latch it in place, but you can at least see if it will fit well.

If anyone else has advise on seats that fit well, add them here. Hopefully this thread will serve to help guide some buying decisions for other parents!

(as an aside, the Boulevard fits wonderfully in the Nissan Murano. I rented one recently, and the Britax fit like a glove.)

 

[sol]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (nsany)

The SafeGuard child seat - http://www.safeguardseat.com/child/index.htm - seems to fit in the outboard second row seats. I haven't tried it in the center, though. It has an impressive list of features and credentials.

 

[jnusaputr]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (nsany)

sh!t! my wife is going to have fit when she finds out.

we would have never bought the boulevard then :S and there are NO refunds on these things! The canadian laws for car seat is more stringent....so i will have to look what is out there available for use here in canada

 

[obiwan]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (jnusaputr)

I use maxi cosi

 

[smino]

I used the britax with a thick blanket under on the seat to prevent any issues. It worked fine for me. It meant that fully reclining the passenger seat was not possible when it was in the middle. So you put up with it for a year or two. Now I just use the middle child seat as he is big enough for it. I was also able to buy from volvo the child padded addon which keeps him comfy in the middle seat. For long rides though 4+ hours, I still would prefer something that can fully support his head if he falls asleep. What are you guys using for the 40+lbs long body kids that can support their heads on the sides, but not take up too much room in the back.

 

[dznj]

Re: (smino)

Be careful with the blanket under the car seat. I went to a safety clinic, and was given quite an earful by a policeman about having a towel under the car seat. Seem they can cause the seat to slip badly in the event of an accident, and reduce the effectiveness of the seat. I'd rather have a mark on the seat, then even think of the alternative.

 

[mrkhanman]

Re: (dznj)

Sunshine Kids Radian 65 is what we have. upto 65 pounds with 5 point harness.

the seats are awesome, fit in all three positions. can also put two in the side and middle and still fold the otherside down to get into the thrid row.

 

[dmd]

Re: (dznj)

Most child seats will cause some indent in the leather, but after removing for several months
they all went away.

We use a pad that is built for keeping the seats from sliding and marking the leather, they work
well. I doubt anyone would have a problem with them sliding.

 

[paume]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (nsany)

Hi,

Just my two cents. I have 4 safeguard seats installed in my 2005 XC90. These seats do require latch anchors, so on the third row I use the anchors found in the back side pillars behind the seats. The thing i like the most about these seats is that they are extremely light, take very little space and are very easy to remove. So easy that it takes a second to let my kids access the back row thanks to the seatbelt-type latches on the sides.

 

[obiwan]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (paume)

Quote, originally posted by paume »

Hi, so on the third row I use the anchors found in the back side pillars behind the seats.

1- You mean you use the load tie-down hooks on each side? If so, what do you use in the middle? and I don't know if they are rated to hold the seat.
I may feel better using the seatbelt to hold the seats in the third row.

2- Speaking of seats, I find it odd that the middle seat has a latch (tether) attachment but no isofix attachments

 

[nsany]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (obiwan)

Quote, originally posted by obiwan »

2- Speaking of seats, I find it odd that the middle seat has a latch (tether) attachment but no isofix attachments

I might be off here, but isn't Isofix the Volvo way of saying "LATCH"? I thought they were two of the same. If so, and you put a car seat in the middle, aren't you using the latch anchors from the outboard seats?

 

[sol]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (paume)

Quote, originally posted by paume »

.... on the third row I use the anchors found in the back side pillars behind the seats...

As obiwan says, those are load/cargo tiedown attachments and I doubt that they are strong enough to hold the seat in place in a crash. I think that they're just attached to the plastic trim. Please switch immediately to using the seatbelts to secure child seats in the third row.

And as others have noticed, there are no lower LATCH/Isofix attachment points for the center seat in the second row, but there's indeed a top tether anchor. The owner's manual states that you should not use the attachment points from the outboard seats to secure a child seat in the center. Again, use the seatbelt along with the top tether.

And yes, LATCH and Isofix are essentially American and European synonyms.

 

[emory]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (sol)

Whats a good convertible car seat to use with the XC90. I tried alpha omega, does not recline enough in the rear facing position and interferes with the passenger seat.

 

[obiwan]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (emory)

If you mean rear to front facing, I use the maxi cosi priori.

good: adjustable recline in front facing
bad: I generally don't like five point restraints, adjustment is always an issue.
The cover frays at where the belts are held out of the way when putting a child in but they ship free new covers easy

More to do with my washing the covers than anything

I think they all interfere with the passenger seat as to how far one can recline the seat.

I think if you go to babies r us , they will let you try fit the seat

 

[Husker Z]

The Recaros fit wonderfully I think. Front facing and rear facing.

 

[cdauerer]

Re: Child/baby/booster seats that really fit the XC90! (nsany)

I have used a Britax Marathon with success in a variety of Volvos. First in a 2002 S80 after retrofitting Latch brackets (floor had tapped holes for it). Currently the seat is in my wife's 2005 S80. When mounted in the center, I remove the headrest and use the inner latch points, plus the top tether and seat belt. When I borrow an XC90 for long trips, I typically put the Britax in the center position, again using the top tether and inner latch anchors. Yes it creases the leather and you need to crush the headrest with the top tether, but it is very secure. After removal, the rear seat leather and cushions take a few days to recover, but the creases disappear.