my astra has side airbags in the seats and also curtain airbags, with a baby on the way i know you shouldnt use baby seats with front airbags, but does this also apply to curtain and side airbags? hopefully someone will know, and if so how do i deactivate the side airbags, there is no obvious way on the astra

Not sure, but couldn't you email Vauxhall? I needed something clearing up with my Mk1 Octavia and SUK responded with an email in a couple of days. If Vauxhall don't know the answer, then who will?

Would a site like Euroncap/ Mira have anything about it on there?

*Edit*

A quick search brings this up;

http://www.euroncap....7e-5bae00783a34

if you look at around 1.15 onwards, it shows the head airbags firing with child seats in (albeit the rear), but not sure what affect the ones in the seats would have.

Also, points 4 & 5 in this might be of interest.

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info/carseats_airbags.pdf

Edited 15 May, 201016 yr by TriggerFish

Obviously check with the manufacturer of the vehicle.

However, the reason for no rear facing seat with a baby in was that the explosion caused the air bag to hit the back of the rear facing seat with such force that the baby's head was severed and propelled out of the rear of the vehicle.

Not nice. I would think that the same impact from a side bag is less likely.

Again, I'm no expert, so check with the manufacturer.