Child Seat Advice
Discussion
FlatToTheMat said:
I realise it’s seemingly an abandoned thread but I’ll try here before starting a new one;
1st child incoming, we have a Touareg with front passenger and outer rear isofix.. budget isn’t a concern however safety is. What is currently considered the best? Obviously we want rear racing as long as possible.
Wife likes the Britax B Safe 35 and Boulevard Infant seat. I like the look of the Joie Every stage.
We would really like something that’s suitable from birth to 4years
Would recommend suggestions, thanks in advance
We had a baby back in Jan and have been using the maxi Cosi Pebble i-size and the 2 way fix base.1st child incoming, we have a Touareg with front passenger and outer rear isofix.. budget isn’t a concern however safety is. What is currently considered the best? Obviously we want rear racing as long as possible.
Wife likes the Britax B Safe 35 and Boulevard Infant seat. I like the look of the Joie Every stage.
We would really like something that’s suitable from birth to 4years
Would recommend suggestions, thanks in advance
Edited by FlatToTheMat on Tuesday 14th May 07:33
That fit him till he was 4months and now he's in the 2 way pearl which will do him till he's around 4.
They came as part of a bundle too.
We also have a JOIE 360 i-size in our second car which is great.
FlatToTheMat said:
I realise it’s seemingly an abandoned thread but I’ll try here before starting a new one;
1st child incoming, we have a Touareg with front passenger and outer rear isofix.. budget isn’t a concern however safety is. What is currently considered the best? Obviously we want rear racing as long as possible.
Wife likes the Britax B Safe 35 and Boulevard Infant seat. I like the look of the Joie Every stage.
We would really like something that’s suitable from birth to 4years
Would recommend suggestions, thanks in advance
The baby seats that you can click on/off a base in the car to remove baby still asleep in the seat is invaluable. And if that seat can then click straight on to your buggy, even better. You need to do everything to make life easier.1st child incoming, we have a Touareg with front passenger and outer rear isofix.. budget isn’t a concern however safety is. What is currently considered the best? Obviously we want rear racing as long as possible.
Wife likes the Britax B Safe 35 and Boulevard Infant seat. I like the look of the Joie Every stage.
We would really like something that’s suitable from birth to 4years
Would recommend suggestions, thanks in advance
Edited by FlatToTheMat on Tuesday 14th May 07:33
Just one word about the age ranges that get applied to car seats, if you have a big baby and then a big toddler, you can cut 1-2 years off the age suitability. E.g. I had a Maxi Cosi pearl which says ok for rear facing up to 105cm or 4 years old. My son had to go front facing at about 2 years old, his height was around 90cm, as his legs just got squashed up against the seat back.
Also, depending on how fit/strong baby's mum is, you may want to look at the swivel seats. Even if she doesn't have a cesarian to recover from it can be difficult lifting and twisting with a baby in your arms whilst trying to lower them into a seat carefully. Obviously more room in your Touareg than our hatchback so may not be a problem with the seats higher up.
Thanks guys, wasn’t fully expecting a response. I will now consider and compare your suggestions.
Definitely will look for a swivel, as you say it’ll be nicer on mum etc.
Hadn’t considered baby’s size vs how many years of use we get but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. We are both ‘average size’ (me maybe so much of late... neither is she actually 😉) hopefully child is compact!
Thanks a lot
Definitely will look for a swivel, as you say it’ll be nicer on mum etc.
Hadn’t considered baby’s size vs how many years of use we get but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. We are both ‘average size’ (me maybe so much of late... neither is she actually 😉) hopefully child is compact!
Thanks a lot
xx99xx said:
The baby seats that you can click on/off a base in the car to remove baby still asleep in the seat is invaluable. And if that seat can then click straight on to your buggy, even better. You need to do everything to make life easier.
100%. Dannbodge said:
FlatToTheMat said:
I realise it’s seemingly an abandoned thread but I’ll try here before starting a new one;
1st child incoming, we have a Touareg with front passenger and outer rear isofix.. budget isn’t a concern however safety is. What is currently considered the best? Obviously we want rear racing as long as possible.
Wife likes the Britax B Safe 35 and Boulevard Infant seat. I like the look of the Joie Every stage.
We would really like something that’s suitable from birth to 4years
We had a baby back in Jan and have been using the maxi Cosi Pebble i-size and the 2 way fix base.1st child incoming, we have a Touareg with front passenger and outer rear isofix.. budget isn’t a concern however safety is. What is currently considered the best? Obviously we want rear racing as long as possible.
Wife likes the Britax B Safe 35 and Boulevard Infant seat. I like the look of the Joie Every stage.
We would really like something that’s suitable from birth to 4years
That fit him till he was 4months and now he's in the 2 way pearl which will do him till he's around 4.
They came as part of a bundle too.
Swivel systems - only appropriate really when the kids get to toddler age (heavier but still need lifting in and out), and even then only where the Mum is either petite or has back problems. Becs has had 2x C-sections and on the days she did go out in the first month I did the lifting of the cabriofix in/out and after that time she was fine on her own.
We also have the Maxi Cosi Pebble, our daughter is 8 months and still fits it fine. When she needs a bigger seat, we will be going to the Pearl. This is with the 2 way fix base.
We have a slightly older Maxi Cosi at my mums for when we go and visit, mainly so we don't have to cart one around an airport etc, and after seeing how they are treated by baggage staff are glad we don't need to.
We have a slightly older Maxi Cosi at my mums for when we go and visit, mainly so we don't have to cart one around an airport etc, and after seeing how they are treated by baggage staff are glad we don't need to.
I had a 2013 Touareg when my eldest was born, and a Maxi Cosi Cabriofix was fine at first.
However, my son was a bit on the big side (99.6 centile) and he became quite heavy very quickly. When he was about 6 months old, my wife started refusing to drive my Touareg as she found it too difficult to lift the car seat (with him in it) up to the height of the Isofix base in the Touareg.
She had no problem at all with her 5-door Golf though.
With this in mind, it might be worth investigating seats that can swivel for easier access to the lifting handle.
However, my son was a bit on the big side (99.6 centile) and he became quite heavy very quickly. When he was about 6 months old, my wife started refusing to drive my Touareg as she found it too difficult to lift the car seat (with him in it) up to the height of the Isofix base in the Touareg.
She had no problem at all with her 5-door Golf though.
With this in mind, it might be worth investigating seats that can swivel for easier access to the lifting handle.
I had planned on a child seat that could be mounted into the pram also however the OT says she doesn’t like them, she read that they are not as safe as you shouldn’t have a baby in a child seat for longer than an hour etc
Plus she’s bought a hideously expensive Silver Cross behemoth to push it around in, no compatible child seats available!
Plus she’s bought a hideously expensive Silver Cross behemoth to push it around in, no compatible child seats available!
FlatToTheMat said:
I had planned on a child seat that could be mounted into the pram also however the OT says she doesn’t like them, she read that they are not as safe as you shouldn’t have a baby in a child seat for longer than an hour etc
Plus she’s bought a hideously expensive Silver Cross behemoth to push it around in, no compatible child seats available!
She's sort-of correct, but as long as it's not regular it shouldn't matter...and it applies mostly to young (<6m) babies.Plus she’s bought a hideously expensive Silver Cross behemoth to push it around in, no compatible child seats available!
Silver Cross...ah.
FlatToTheMat said:
I had planned on a child seat that could be mounted into the pram also however the OT says she doesn’t like them, she read that they are not as safe as you shouldn’t have a baby in a child seat for longer than an hour etc
Plus she’s bought a hideously expensive Silver Cross behemoth to push it around in, no compatible child seats available!
Firstly, congrats on the impending arrival of your new little one, it's hard work but the rewards are amazing! We had the option of mounting our car seat to the pram with our 1st car seat and did use that function quite a lot, but thing's have changed a lot over the last 2 years. Our little boy is 2 1/2 now and we have one of those Britax one's that spins all the way round. We use it in rearward facing still and it is very handy to spin him towards you for getting him out. These seats go from 0 - 4 years now so they are pretty cost effective. I'd have a look at seats you like and then see how it did on the ADAC report for safety. Also we had a GB Vaya for about a year and it broke, took it back to Mothercare and they were excellent at swapping it, they don't do the GB Vaya anymore so just changed it for the Britax one for us, can't fault the service we received at all.Plus she’s bought a hideously expensive Silver Cross behemoth to push it around in, no compatible child seats available!
FlatToTheMat said:
I had planned on a child seat that could be mounted into the pram also however the OT says she doesn’t like them, she read that they are not as safe as you shouldn’t have a baby in a child seat for longer than an hour etc
Plus she’s bought a hideously expensive Silver Cross behemoth to push it around in, no compatible child seats available!
You are going to buy the detachable one the minute you return to work and she has a miserable trip to Tescos because baby woke up being transferred to the pram. Good luck! Plus she’s bought a hideously expensive Silver Cross behemoth to push it around in, no compatible child seats available!
We initally bought an isofix base and car seat which fits in the pram with supplied adapters for use up to around 18 months.
Pros:
Convenience, the car seat can be used for both the car and pram. As another poster mentioned, this is invaluable when the baby is asleep!
With isofix, it was click on/click off so no messing about with the seat belt (also invaluable when baby is awake and making a fuss!)
Isofix is supposed to be safer if installed properly.
Cons:
Weight - ours was a cybex aton and weighs more than most (according to reviews)
Obviously there is a financial cost once the baby outgrows the seat, you can get some which promise they can be used for longer, but I wasn't happy with them after using my 3 year old niece as a test subject in them, they just didn't seem comfortable or practical.
After my son outgrew his baby seat, I bought a joie every stage fx.
Pros:
Lasts until 12 yrs old. Sat my 8 year old nephew in it and it seemed to be ok for him
Well padded - some might say over padded.
Isofix but also seat belt compatible.
Multiple recline options (can't be changed on the fly).
Can be used both rear and front facing.
Cons:
Heavy and wide. The width is probably my biggest issue for this seat as it encroaches into the middle seat on my Mazda 6 estate.
Outside visibility not great for my son due to extra padding at head level.
Fiddly straps, they get twisted sometimes. Easy to fix but very annoying when it happens.
Takes a fair bit of effort to tighten the straps, a couple of reviewers said it was a big struggle for them.
Definitely not portable. If you think you will be moving this seat from car to car, think again!
Hope this helps with your decision and congrats on the pending fatherhood.
Pros:
Convenience, the car seat can be used for both the car and pram. As another poster mentioned, this is invaluable when the baby is asleep!
With isofix, it was click on/click off so no messing about with the seat belt (also invaluable when baby is awake and making a fuss!)
Isofix is supposed to be safer if installed properly.
Cons:
Weight - ours was a cybex aton and weighs more than most (according to reviews)
Obviously there is a financial cost once the baby outgrows the seat, you can get some which promise they can be used for longer, but I wasn't happy with them after using my 3 year old niece as a test subject in them, they just didn't seem comfortable or practical.
After my son outgrew his baby seat, I bought a joie every stage fx.
Pros:
Lasts until 12 yrs old. Sat my 8 year old nephew in it and it seemed to be ok for him
Well padded - some might say over padded.
Isofix but also seat belt compatible.
Multiple recline options (can't be changed on the fly).
Can be used both rear and front facing.
Cons:
Heavy and wide. The width is probably my biggest issue for this seat as it encroaches into the middle seat on my Mazda 6 estate.
Outside visibility not great for my son due to extra padding at head level.
Fiddly straps, they get twisted sometimes. Easy to fix but very annoying when it happens.
Takes a fair bit of effort to tighten the straps, a couple of reviewers said it was a big struggle for them.
Definitely not portable. If you think you will be moving this seat from car to car, think again!
Hope this helps with your decision and congrats on the pending fatherhood.
Ar63 said:
We initally bought an isofix base and car seat which fits in the pram with supplied adapters for use up to around 18 months.
Pros:
Convenience, the car seat can be used for both the car and pram. As another poster mentioned, this is invaluable when the baby is asleep!
With isofix, it was click on/click off so no messing about with the seat belt (also invaluable when baby is awake and making a fuss!)
Isofix is supposed to be safer if installed properly.
Cons:
Weight - ours was a cybex aton and weighs more than most (according to reviews)
Obviously there is a financial cost once the baby outgrows the seat, you can get some which promise they can be used for longer, but I wasn't happy with them after using my 3 year old niece as a test subject in them, they just didn't seem comfortable or practical.
After my son outgrew his baby seat, I bought a joie every stage fx.
Pros:
Lasts until 12 yrs old. Sat my 8 year old nephew in it and it seemed to be ok for him
Well padded - some might say over padded.
Isofix but also seat belt compatible.
Multiple recline options (can't be changed on the fly).
Can be used both rear and front facing.
Cons:
Heavy and wide. The width is probably my biggest issue for this seat as it encroaches into the middle seat on my Mazda 6 estate.
Outside visibility not great for my son due to extra padding at head level.
Fiddly straps, they get twisted sometimes. Easy to fix but very annoying when it happens.
Takes a fair bit of effort to tighten the straps, a couple of reviewers said it was a big struggle for them.
Definitely not portable. If you think you will be moving this seat from car to car, think again!
Hope this helps with your decision and congrats on the pending fatherhood.
I can echo above. Went from Cybex Cloud Q (which can go flat when out of base and on pram) this was amazing for sleeping baby. Pros:
Convenience, the car seat can be used for both the car and pram. As another poster mentioned, this is invaluable when the baby is asleep!
With isofix, it was click on/click off so no messing about with the seat belt (also invaluable when baby is awake and making a fuss!)
Isofix is supposed to be safer if installed properly.
Cons:
Weight - ours was a cybex aton and weighs more than most (according to reviews)
Obviously there is a financial cost once the baby outgrows the seat, you can get some which promise they can be used for longer, but I wasn't happy with them after using my 3 year old niece as a test subject in them, they just didn't seem comfortable or practical.
After my son outgrew his baby seat, I bought a joie every stage fx.
Pros:
Lasts until 12 yrs old. Sat my 8 year old nephew in it and it seemed to be ok for him
Well padded - some might say over padded.
Isofix but also seat belt compatible.
Multiple recline options (can't be changed on the fly).
Can be used both rear and front facing.
Cons:
Heavy and wide. The width is probably my biggest issue for this seat as it encroaches into the middle seat on my Mazda 6 estate.
Outside visibility not great for my son due to extra padding at head level.
Fiddly straps, they get twisted sometimes. Easy to fix but very annoying when it happens.
Takes a fair bit of effort to tighten the straps, a couple of reviewers said it was a big struggle for them.
Definitely not portable. If you think you will be moving this seat from car to car, think again!
Hope this helps with your decision and congrats on the pending fatherhood.
Joie Everystage is great too but definitely not portable... lol.
essayer said:
I'm sure ERF is safer in a crash, but if they get fractious and distract the driver isn't that more dangerous? Ours were both a lot happier facing forward than backward.. (awaits condemnation from perfect parents of PH)
Yes, bad drivers are generally less safe than good ones.
We had a maxi cosy cabriofix to start with, being able to lift the seat out to take in doors in the early stages is invaluable. Your wife is right, you aren't meant to keep newborns in car seats for extended periods, but being able to lift the car seat out and put it onto the pram when you are just nipping round the supermarket is ideal. There are adaptors available for some of the silvercross prams to fit maxi cosy seats.
Our boy grew out of it pretty quickly and is now in a joie 360, he's nearly three and I don't think he'll be in it much longer. My wife wanted him to stay rear facing for as long as possible, but once he went forward he was a much better traveller.
Our boy grew out of it pretty quickly and is now in a joie 360, he's nearly three and I don't think he'll be in it much longer. My wife wanted him to stay rear facing for as long as possible, but once he went forward he was a much better traveller.
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