Child Seat Advice
Discussion
We've got these for 4-6 year olds, and they are pretty good. Real foam inserts rather than polystyrene, and you use normal seatbelts for them. They also have isofix fixings to keep the base in place. Were about £100 each from recollection.
http://uk.diono.com/monterey2-booster-black
http://uk.diono.com/monterey2-booster-black
Baby Craik is due in July, so we've got to sort out a car seat etc.
Current cars:
BMW E87 1 Series, this will be the main car
Fiat 500
MR2 Roadster, this probably won't get much use until Baby Craik is 10 months old, when I'll be taking 2 months paternity leave.
Being a car guy I'd like a Recaro seat for Baby Craik, but can't seem to find them in stock anywhere. Do they exist?
Having looked in a few shops the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix, along with Isofix base seems like a good choice, according to their website it should fit in the BMW fine, but not in the front of the 500, why would that be? The MR2 isn't even on their list of cars, but I guess I just need to make sure I can deactivate the passenger airbag.
Is it worth buying second hand, or are the seats/bases scrap if they have been in a crash? I'm guessing it could be hard to tell if they have.
Current cars:
BMW E87 1 Series, this will be the main car
Fiat 500
MR2 Roadster, this probably won't get much use until Baby Craik is 10 months old, when I'll be taking 2 months paternity leave.
Being a car guy I'd like a Recaro seat for Baby Craik, but can't seem to find them in stock anywhere. Do they exist?
Having looked in a few shops the Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix, along with Isofix base seems like a good choice, according to their website it should fit in the BMW fine, but not in the front of the 500, why would that be? The MR2 isn't even on their list of cars, but I guess I just need to make sure I can deactivate the passenger airbag.
Is it worth buying second hand, or are the seats/bases scrap if they have been in a crash? I'm guessing it could be hard to tell if they have.
Had a bit of a panic earlier when I couldn't find the Isofix mountings in the BMW. After a bit of internet research and removing the rear bench the mountings are there, I just need to buy the covers and cut the seat foam out to be able to use them. That'll be a job for next weekend then.
Kids seats is a minefield.
The 500 is pretty small, I'd guess it's nigh on impossible to get the seat into the back? Are the front seats shaped as that might be the other reason you can't use the seat there. We had a maxi cosi and it did take up more space than you'd think, well worth getting down to somewhere like John Lewis or mothercare and trying the seats in the cars as you may find that even if you can get the seat in the back the front seat would be too close to it.
The 500 is pretty small, I'd guess it's nigh on impossible to get the seat into the back? Are the front seats shaped as that might be the other reason you can't use the seat there. We had a maxi cosi and it did take up more space than you'd think, well worth getting down to somewhere like John Lewis or mothercare and trying the seats in the cars as you may find that even if you can get the seat in the back the front seat would be too close to it.
My wife did try take her friend and her newborn son for a ride in the 500 when it was new. She said that the baby seat didn't fit in the back, so had to go in the front. It is possible to turn off the airbag (through the multifunction display on the speedo), unlike my MR2.
I've seen some forward facing seats which say they're for 9 months+, so at least we'll be able to get out in the MR2 next summer when I'm on paternity leave.
I've seen some forward facing seats which say they're for 9 months+, so at least we'll be able to get out in the MR2 next summer when I'm on paternity leave.
For some reason the later stage Recaro seats are pretty well stocked but the Privia (for newborns) not so much. A few online places and John Lewis do it. We've been very happy with it (it won Which? and one of the big German safety tests) and we're only just now starting to think about larger seats at 15 months.
9 months is the absolute minimum for forward-facing, ideally you keep them in the smaller seat until they outgrow it, and the newborn stuff tends to be group 0+ which will last them 12-15 months at least.
9 months is the absolute minimum for forward-facing, ideally you keep them in the smaller seat until they outgrow it, and the newborn stuff tends to be group 0+ which will last them 12-15 months at least.
I want to get a group 1 rear facing seat for our second car, a Renault ZOE (with isofix/rear tether). Son is 18 months, about 12kg I guess. Keen to keep him rear facing as long as possible.
The ZOE has plenty of room in the back - our Nuna Rebl fits fine, but it's only occasional use so don't fancy spending best part of £400 again!
Anything cheaper worth looking at?
The ZOE has plenty of room in the back - our Nuna Rebl fits fine, but it's only occasional use so don't fancy spending best part of £400 again!
Anything cheaper worth looking at?
We have two BeSAFE ISofix Combi X3's. Great extended rear facing seats up to 18kg. My 3 1/2 year old is 16.5kg and she has been in the same seat from about 7 months old. She will go into a high backed isofix booster when she is near 18kg.
I'd keep them rear facing for as long as possible, its definitely the safest way for them to travel. People seem to be concerned about kids missing out facing rearwards, however she gets to see much more of the view out of the back window, rather than a fleeting glimpse through the side window. The only negative to rear facing is getting her to speak up, as it is quite difficult to hear her sometimes as she is rattling on about the next question or observation that has popped into her head.
I'd keep them rear facing for as long as possible, its definitely the safest way for them to travel. People seem to be concerned about kids missing out facing rearwards, however she gets to see much more of the view out of the back window, rather than a fleeting glimpse through the side window. The only negative to rear facing is getting her to speak up, as it is quite difficult to hear her sometimes as she is rattling on about the next question or observation that has popped into her head.
zapbranny said:
We have two BeSAFE ISofix Combi X3's. Great extended rear facing seats up to 18kg. My 3 1/2 year old is 16.5kg and she has been in the same seat from about 7 months old. She will go into a high backed isofix booster when she is near 18kg.
I'd keep them rear facing for as long as possible, its definitely the safest way for them to travel. People seem to be concerned about kids missing out facing rearwards, however she gets to see much more of the view out of the back window, rather than a fleeting glimpse through the side window. The only negative to rear facing is getting her to speak up, as it is quite difficult to hear her sometimes as she is rattling on about the next question or observation that has popped into her head.
+1I'd keep them rear facing for as long as possible, its definitely the safest way for them to travel. People seem to be concerned about kids missing out facing rearwards, however she gets to see much more of the view out of the back window, rather than a fleeting glimpse through the side window. The only negative to rear facing is getting her to speak up, as it is quite difficult to hear her sometimes as she is rattling on about the next question or observation that has popped into her head.
All good stuff
essayer said:
I want to get a group 1 rear facing seat for our second car, a Renault ZOE (with isofix/rear tether). Son is 18 months, about 12kg I guess. Keen to keep him rear facing as long as possible.
The ZOE has plenty of room in the back - our Nuna Rebl fits fine, but it's only occasional use so don't fancy spending best part of £400 again!
Anything cheaper worth looking at?
http://www.madeformums.com/reviews-and-shopping/10-of-the-best-rear-facing-group-1-car-seats/30907-2.htmlThe ZOE has plenty of room in the back - our Nuna Rebl fits fine, but it's only occasional use so don't fancy spending best part of £400 again!
Anything cheaper worth looking at?
Maxi Cosi pearl is about £200. We've used Maxi Cosi seats for all stages and found them to be very good.
Anyone seen the Recaro Zero.1 for sale anywhere in the UK? Was announced at the start of the year. http://int.recaro-cs.com/child-seat/recaro-zero1
sjg said:
Anyone seen the Recaro Zero.1 for sale anywhere in the UK? Was announced at the start of the year. http://int.recaro-cs.com/child-seat/recaro-zero1
Looks awesome, looking at July/August before it's available.The Casualplay Bicare - despite sounding a bit like something you'd find in a pub toilet vending machine - seems like a good seat for the money. Anyone have one?
sjg said:
Anyone seen the Recaro Zero.1 for sale anywhere in the UK? Was announced at the start of the year. http://int.recaro-cs.com/child-seat/recaro-zero1
I read something recently about how companies are now marketing prams and buggies at blokes now, it seems car seats are no different. http://www.shoppersbase.com/45201/man-pram-rise-da...
Mind you, the recaro seats don't seem vastly overpriced like the "Man buggies".
I'm a bit confused about the new i-Size seats, can anyone help?
Older style rear-facing seats say they're suitable up to 13kg, which is approx 15 months.
i-Size seats say they're suitable up to 75cm, which is approx 12 months.
But they're being marketed as keeping babies rear-facing for longer... Eh?
I'm looking for a light seat to do a newborn for as long as possible before we have to replace it with a bigger/heavier toddler rear-facing seat.
Older style rear-facing seats say they're suitable up to 13kg, which is approx 15 months.
i-Size seats say they're suitable up to 75cm, which is approx 12 months.
But they're being marketed as keeping babies rear-facing for longer... Eh?
I'm looking for a light seat to do a newborn for as long as possible before we have to replace it with a bigger/heavier toddler rear-facing seat.
You want 'extended rear facing' but I do not think you will find a lightweight seat that will suit both ages.
I think you'll need to get:
- a lightweight baby seat which clips onto a base, and can also clip onto a travel system - this will go up to 12 months old or so
- then an ERF seat which will let them go rear facing up to about 4yo. Ideally a rotating one so that you can more easily get them in when they are having a wiggle day
You could cover all bases with a combi seat like the Nuna Rebl, but when they are small it's good not to have to remove them from the seat when shopping etc.
I think you'll need to get:
- a lightweight baby seat which clips onto a base, and can also clip onto a travel system - this will go up to 12 months old or so
- then an ERF seat which will let them go rear facing up to about 4yo. Ideally a rotating one so that you can more easily get them in when they are having a wiggle day
You could cover all bases with a combi seat like the Nuna Rebl, but when they are small it's good not to have to remove them from the seat when shopping etc.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff