Child Seat Advice

[lenats31]

robwilk said:

Guess this is the best thread to post this question.
My daughter has a three year old and is expecting twins soon.
at the moment she has an A6 avant which is fine for one baby seat but not three.
Ive looked on the web and came up with a Galaxy or a sharan to take 3 baby seats and a twin buggy and assoicated stuff they need. Anyone one in this situation and has an other car to put of the list that can have three seats in the back.
Im discounting the three seats mounted on one frame I found on the web as looks like once its fixed its fixed, I think something removable would be more suitable.
Any Ideas?

Rob

I have seen the seat that you are referring to. Side protection is minimal - allmost non-exsistent. Side impacts is the second most occuring impact today. It is also very dangerous as most people sit close to point of impact. Frontal impacts is number 1 on both these lists.

My advise is that she arranges a visit to a specialist car seat retailer - The in Car safety Centre for exsample. Getting a safe arrangement acroos the back of this car might be possible for as long as at least one child uses a rearfacing seat. using rearfacing seats even after the baby seats creates a whole different scenario regarding space than forward facing seats do. This is also somewhat safer for the little ones I might add.

[TheMonster]

A question to the oracles on child seats if i may...

i have a b7 rs4

i bought a britax kidfix sl sict child seat largely on the basis of the which analysis.

however what's not clear to me is if it is actually approved for use in my car.the b7 rs4 is not in the "list of approved cars" but the b7 a4 is.... so surely that's the same thing, right? or have i just wasted £150 odd....

obviously i should have looked in to this before buying the seat but hey we've all been there right.

cheers

[kambites]

The whole point of Isofix is that it's universal across all cars. I've never come across a "list of approved cars" for a car seat?

[TheMonster]

kambites said:

The whole point of Isofix is that it's universal across all cars. I've never come across a "list of approved cars" for a car seat?

with respect i don't think you've looked very hard:

see page 2 of this

http://www.britax.co.uk/media/6736790/150323_typen...

we had the duo plus before and as you can see from this - http://www.britax.co.uk/media/6632641/150127_typen... - for some cars isofix isn't enough and you need a "top tether" as well.

[Adrian E]

TheMonster said:

kambites said:

The whole point of Isofix is that it's universal across all cars. I've never come across a "list of approved cars" for a car seat?

with respect i don't think you've looked very hard:

see page 2 of this

http://www.britax.co.uk/media/6736790/150323_typen...

we had the duo plus before and as you can see from this - http://www.britax.co.uk/media/6632641/150127_typen... - for some cars isofix isn't enough and you need a "top tether" as well.

As above, although Isofix was conceived as 'universal' by the time the legislation was in place it wasn't quite that simple! Most are 'semi-universal' meaning the vehicle needs to be on an approved fitting list. However for older vehicles this is often not maintained for modern child seats....

'Universal' became the 3 point isofix on the 2 outer rear seats that meet the anchorage requirements - due to a delay in implementing the update in whole vehicle type approval you'll find many vehicles which don't have the top tether on the outer seats to qualify as 'universal' so are only classed as semi-universal. The requirement for 2 point isofix on the front seats is also confusing as there's no need for a top tether....

Ref the RS4 query, assuming the rear seat isn't significantly different to the rest of the B7 models it's probably just not listed, as it's assumed to be the same as any other A4 in shell terms.

My 2002 Audi wasn't listed on the Maxicosi approved list but since the seat had a support leg anyway I was content to use it and worked on the basis I was happy with the fit and there wasn't a body in white available for Maxicosi to test fit the seat to!

[lenats31]

kambites said:

The whole point of Isofix is that it's universal across all cars. I've never come across a "list of approved cars" for a car seat?

The lists can be downloaded from the manufactorer websites and they come with the seats too

[aww999]

Hi all, what a great resource this thread is for people. I need to get 2 x group 2/3 seats for my tall, thin, almost 5yr old. I have done some research on the Which? site and come up with the following shortlist, any opinions or experience would be much appreciated. Our main car does not have isofix, the other car does.

Maxi-Cosi Rodi SPS
Recaro Monza Nova 2 Seatfix
Recaro Milano

Thanks in advance for any information!

[DoubleSix]

Just going to post this thread in here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Some very useful discussion and information about rear facing seat and the new iSize regulations.

Edited by DoubleSix on Monday 27th April 21:59

[petemurphy]

Hi all,

have 2 needs if u could help:

the childminder needs a seat for our daughter for getting her to nursery and back ( 4 miles ). Having loaned her ours have realised that its too small for her now ( maxi cosy thing ) and we need a new one too.

so its for a 4 year old, we have new golf. childminder wants to get something cheap like a booster cushion:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3...

if that uses a normal seat belt is it as safe as an adult sitting there? or do you think they need a proper seat? do we need a proper seat or a booster? is the difference just more side protection?

thanks

[DoubleSix]

Why go cheap with the most valuable thing in your life.

I'd go for something like this personally...

http://www.carseat.co.uk/car-seat-products/child-c...

[Adrian E]

petemurphy said:

Hi all,

have 2 needs if u could help:

the childminder needs a seat for our daughter for getting her to nursery and back ( 4 miles ). Having loaned her ours have realised that its too small for her now ( maxi cosy thing ) and we need a new one too.

so its for a 4 year old, we have new golf. childminder wants to get something cheap like a booster cushion:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3...

if that uses a normal seat belt is it as safe as an adult sitting there? or do you think they need a proper seat? do we need a proper seat or a booster? is the difference just more side protection?

thanks

As above post really - a booster without back does lift the child up so the lap belt sits more across the legs than the tummy, but it offers no side impact protection and whether the shoulder belt fits with a booster cushion depends on the geometry of the seat belt in the childminder's car.

What weight is your daughter? If close to 18kg then a group 2 seat is defo too low a weight limit now so unless you went for an up to 25kg group 2 seat (they're rare) then a high back booster as posted in the link above is the best option.

Put the best seat in the car that does the most journeys, if you need to economize. High back boosters, even ones with isofix to stop them flapping about, are easy and quick to move between cars. Only issue is if you're trying to get 3 across a typical back seat....

[petemurphy]

DoubleSix said:

Why go cheap with the most valuable thing in your life.

I'd go for something like this personally...

http://www.carseat.co.uk/car-seat-products/child-c...

true but i can use that argument to buy a 200k range rover..

want top of the range one in the wifes car but seems a lot for the childminder - yes obvs if she crashed then i would regret it but then id regret she didnt have a better safer car etc. will have a look round

[petemurphy]

hows this one for a cheap one for childminders car?

http://www.halfords.com/kids-zone/car-seats-bases/...

[DoubleSix]

A huge improvement on the Argos idea!

[petemurphy]

£29.99 in mothercare - sold!

[Chicken Chaser]

I need a new car seat for my 16month old. She's a little over 10kg but quite tall for her age. She can't fit in our rear facing.

I need her to forward face in a front seat in my van. Its 3 across the middle so needs to be fairly narrow. Are there any seats that may be suitable?

[DoubleSix]

Couldn't ever endorse that so I'll leave it others to make a recommendation.

[essayer]

Our boy is 6mo and coming up to 9kg. He's in a Recaro Privia at the moment, we have the straps set to the second highest level of four and his head is a few cm from the top of the hard shell. His legs dangle off the end but I gather that's fine.
Do I bring the straps down so he sits lower down or is it new seat time?

[DoubleSix]

You're right that it doesn't matter about the legs dangling. If you do decide to lower the straps just ensure the slot on the seat (where the force is exerted) is not lower than the top of his shoulder.

What does the manual say about weight and height for that particular seat?

[essayer]

I'll have to try each setting. It only mentions max weight (13kg) not length