Child Seat Advice

[sheldo]

hi we are currently looking at car seats for our 6 month old lad. He's very nearly out grown his infant carrier and we are now looking for a stage 1 (9months to 4 years) He currently weighs 23Lb if this makes any odds. We currently have a kia picanto gs on an 06 and a bmw 530 sport on and 02. We want something that can be interchanged between the two fairly easily.

We nearly parted with some money yesterday for a recaro young expert plus. Any thoughts on these seats or better suggestions in the same price range? Also will it be suitable for both cars?

Thanks for offering your help in what can be a bit of mine field.

[DBSV8]

sheldo said:

hi we are currently looking at car seats for our 6 month old lad. He's very nearly out grown his infant carrier and we are now looking for a stage 1 (9months to 4 years) He currently weighs 23Lb if this makes any odds. We currently have a kia picanto gs on an 06 and a bmw 530 sport on and 02. We want something that can be interchanged between the two fairly easily.

We nearly parted with some money yesterday for a recaro young expert plus. Any thoughts on these seats or better suggestions in the same price range? Also will it be suitable for both cars?

Thanks for offering your help in what can be a bit of mine field.

I can reccommend the Atka Graco Duologic 2 ,

I upgraded from a Maxi cosy Cabriofix to the Dualogic 2 , when our daughter outgrew the cabriofix ( age 16 months @ 10 kgs ), The Dualogic 2 covers ages from Birth newborn - Toddler - Infant 18 kg 3 - 4 years old .
It has passed the swedish plus test ( higher than European tests ) Is rear facing , and is the most compact of any rear facing seat ,
I have fitted it to a Honda Accord Aerodeck , Lexus IS300 sportcross , and Toyota Yaris , It can be fixed either with seatbelt or Isofix.
It is very easy to fit ,
The seat can be removed with child still a sleep , it has wheels and a trolly handle so you can wheel your baby around a store still asleep , ( great advantage ) you dont need a push chair !
The seat has 3 positions , so you can go from upright to recline position ,

It cost 340euros direct from Sweden , Excellent service from Haken arrived in 4 days , info here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrmKpEN1148&

http://www.carseat.se/store.html

Installed in the Honda using seatbelt option and in recline position 1

Edited by DBSV8 on Tuesday 8th March 07:36

[boobles]

sheldo said:

hi we are currently looking at car seats for our 6 month old lad. He's very nearly out grown his infant carrier and we are now looking for a stage 1 (9months to 4 years) He currently weighs 23Lb if this makes any odds. We currently have a kia picanto gs on an 06 and a bmw 530 sport on and 02. We want something that can be interchanged between the two fairly easily.

We nearly parted with some money yesterday for a recaro young expert plus. Any thoughts on these seats or better suggestions in the same price range? Also will it be suitable for both cars?

Thanks for offering your help in what can be a bit of mine field.

Hi,

23lbs in weight is fine to start looking at the next stage seat.
The thing about trying to find one seat that fits both cars is always farily difficult because not all child seats fit all cars. You may find that the Recaro fit's one but not the other.

I always suggest taking both cars if possible to Halfords or Mothercare where the staff are trained to install seats until you find the right one....

[theboss]

Silver940 said:

We got some of the Kiddy Guardian Pro seats with this pad style rather than harnesses after a car accident meant the seats needed replacing. Chose these on the basis that they have been tested and show a reduction in loadings on the childs neck compared to the harness seats. Once used to them the kids seem to find them perfectly OK. On the down side if they don't want to get in you can't hook them in with loose straps and pin them down, they can make it very difficult for you - only a rare occurance fortunately,

On the plus side they look alot more comfy to sleep in, hated seeing the kids hung at a horrible angle from the harness belts when asleep



You do have to remember to belt the seats in if going out without the kids though unlike the traditional style.

I was looking for new seats recently and tried my youngest (25 months old) in one of these seats with an 'impact cushion' design.

I thought it looked like a better design personally, however my toddler went absolutely nuts and we had to remove her. She sat there sobbing, pointing at her 'old' seat which was a Maxi Cosi with conventional harness.

I think it would be easier to start with one at 9-12 months old than it would to 'impose' the design on a toddler who is already used to a harness.

In the end I bought a couple of Britax Duo Plus seats (Isofix) and am pleased - they seem much slimmer in the base than alternatives which is useful when we seat three children across the back (even in an E65 car seats make this 'tight').

To the OP who started this thread off - do you know what this 'protection pad' is for that Britax require when fixing the Duo Plus in BMW's and several other types of car? It just seems like a cheap bit of foam, I can't see what difference it could make in an accident.

[boobles]

I think the "protection pad" is used in BMW's & some other makes due to the car manufactures seat design. I think the pad absorbes energy & takes this away from the child seat & child.

The impact cusion scores high in Impact tests because of the forces that are measured, IE chest accelerations, no other measurements are required for an R44 approval.

Edited by boobles on Sunday 6th March 16:36

[SWH]

Hi boobles,

Looking at getting a forward facing seat for our 21mth old (he's 12KG at the moment) and after some of your expert advice if I may.

Currently he's in a Maxi-Cosi Mobi - the massive rear facing one. Car is a Saab 9-5 Estate (2004), could occasionally be a 2007 Laguna hatchback but that's not essential. Fully aware he'll fit in the rear facing one for quite a while longer, however we're looking to make his journeys more interesting (more on that later) and re-gain some space in the front for when Mrs. SWH needs to feed his little brother who is due to arrive at any time - The Mobi requires the front seat to be a fair way forwards (to say the least).

We're looking at either the Jane Exo or the Maxi-Cosi Axiss at the moment, happy to consider others of course. The Exo is interesting due to the ISOFIX with shock absorber design, although that may be technology for technology's sake rather than any discernible benefit; and the Axiss due to the ability to rotate the seat on its base making it easier to put a wriggling toddler in the car.

• Making journey more interesting - He's got a rare form Haemolytic Anaemia and needs various trips up to Great Ormond St. for treatment (from Eastbourne) and he was particularly keen on being front facing when on holiday in Portugal back in November. Doesn't prevent him being a cheeky demanding toddler by any means

Clearly many considerations, his safety being top of the list, journey enjoyment being another very high up the list, along with gaining some front seat space as well of course.

[boobles]

Hi,

Nothing wrong with looking at buying the next stage up so long as your child is ready for this.
As always, I would recommend going to either Halfords or Mothercare & try some in before you commit to buying. The staff there are both trained by us & they are pretty clued up when it comes to installing them. I would also say that buying the most expensive doesn't always mean you are buying the best. You must buy what is right for your vehicle & this is why I always suggest going to these stores before you commit to buying anything.

[SWH]

boobles said:

Hi,

Nothing wrong with looking at buying the next stage up so long as your child is ready for this.
As always, I would recommend going to either Halfords or Mothercare & try some in before you commit to buying. The staff there are both trained by us & they are pretty clued up when it comes to installing them. I would also say that buying the most expensive doesn't always mean you are buying the best. You must buy what is right for your vehicle & this is why I always suggest going to these stores before you commit to buying anything.

Thank you, hadn't credited either of those stores with the child seat experience/ability they probably deserve. Certainly be good to try a few and see what fits in best, complete with test pilot. Price not really a consideration (within reason), but good to confirm most expensive isn't necessarily the best.

Many thanks

[boobles]

DBSV8 said:

sheldo said:

hi we are currently looking at car seats for our 6 month old lad. He's very nearly out grown his infant carrier and we are now looking for a stage 1 (9months to 4 years) He currently weighs 23Lb if this makes any odds. We currently have a kia picanto gs on an 06 and a bmw 530 sport on and 02. We want something that can be interchanged between the two fairly easily.

We nearly parted with some money yesterday for a recaro young expert plus. Any thoughts on these seats or better suggestions in the same price range? Also will it be suitable for both cars?

Thanks for offering your help in what can be a bit of mine field.

I can reccommend the Atka Graco Duologic 2 ,

I upgraded from a Maxi cosy Cabriofix to the Dualogic 2 , when our daughter outgrew the cabriofix ( age 16 months @ 10 kgs ), The Dualogic 2 covers ages from Birth newborn - Toddler - Infant 18 kg 3 - 4 years old .
It has passed the swedish plus test ( higher than European tests ) Is rear facing , and is the most compact of any rear facing seat ,
I have fitted it to a Honda Accord Aerodeck , Lexus IS300 sportcross , and Toyota Yaris , It can be fixed either with seatbelt or Isofix.
It is very easy to fit ,
The seat can be removed with child still a sleep , it has wheels and a trolly handle so you can wheel your baby around a store still asleep , ( great advantage ) you dont need a push chair !
The seat has 3 positions , so you can go from upright to recline position ,

It cost 340euros direct from Sweden , Excellent service from Haken arrived in 4 days , info here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrmKpEN1148&

http://www.carseat.se/store.html

Installed in the Honda using seatbelt option and in recline position 1

Edited by DBSV8 on Tuesday 8th March 07:36

Something doesn't look right with that installation. Why isn't the diagonal belt securing the rear of the seat? I think you have installed it wrong.

[DBSV8]

boobles said:

Something doesn't look right with that installation. Why isn't the diagonal belt securing the rear of the seat? I think you have installed it wrong.

It is installed correctly , although the photo may look confusing , the frame is actually secured by the seatbelt and locked into position with a tensioner that is hidden in the photo, alternatively you could use ISOFIX to fix the seat in place ,

The seat itself is locked into position in the frame , it also has the option to be removed from the frame ( when used in a taxi ) fixed in place using a seatbelt that would secure around the rear of the seat ( same style fixing as a Cabriofix )

there is a manual in English that fully explains the fixing points , I dont have them to hand as I am at work and the car and seat are in the UK

Edit to add

http://www.carseat.se/store.html


If you click on the Duologic2 link there is a seporate link to download the manual
heres the manual in English with diagrams showing how the seat and frame is secured



Thread lap portion of seatbelt through blue clipson both sides.


Open clip (A) and thread chest portion of seatbelt through blue clip (B) through clip underneath front of base (A) and through blue clip (C) .



Push down on base and tighten at the same time chest portion of seat belt thoroughly Make sure seat beltis holding base firmly in place. Lockclip and carefully check its securely locked.



Adjust height of support leg and lock in place .

Now fit seat as per instruction

Edited by DBSV8 on Monday 21st March 14:05

[boobles]

DBSV8 said:

boobles said:

Something doesn't look right with that installation. Why isn't the diagonal belt securing the rear of the seat? I think you have installed it wrong.

It is installed correctly , although the photo may look confusing , the frame is actually secured by the seatbelt and locked into position with a tensioner that is hidden in the photo, alternatively you could use ISOFIX to fix the seat in place ,

The seat itself is locked into position in the frame , it also has the option to be removed from the frame ( when used in a taxi ) fixed in place using a seatbelt that would secure around the rear of the seat ( same style fixing as a Cabriofix )

there is a manual in English that fully explains the fixing points , I dont have them to hand as I am at work and the car and seat are in the UK

Thats ok then.

As you can imagine I see hundreds of child restraints that are fitted wrongly & yours just doesn't look right.


This looks right to me.


http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://johan...

Edited by boobles on Monday 21st March 13:45

[DBSV8]

boobles said:

Thats ok then.

As you can imagine I see hundreds of child restraints that are fitted wrongly & yours just doesn't look right.


This looks right to me.


http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://johan...

Edited by boobles on Monday 21st March 13:45

in your photo the seat is fitted with out the frame ( as you would in a taxi ) , if you look closely at my photo you can see the seat is attached to the frame which has been secured as detailed above



frame is shown under the seat

Edited by DBSV8 on Monday 21st March 14:11

[boobles]

I have just managed to download the fitting instructions & I can see how & why you have installed it this way.
My apologies, I just wanted to be sure.

It's nice to be proven wrong sometimes.

[DBSV8]

boobles said:

I have just managed to download the fitting instructions & I can see how & why you have installed it this way.
My apologies, I just wanted to be sure.

It's nice to be proven wrong sometimes.

thanks

You had me thinking there

cheers

[boobles]

I didn't mean to worry you in anyway.
It's nice to see one fitted "correctly" for a change but I had to question it because I have not seen one like this before.
Keep up the good work.

[Blim_bug]

A bit of a long shot given the obscure nature of the vehicle, but would you have any recommendations for a seat that would be suitable for a 3 year old in a 2001 VW New Beetle RSi?

The rear bench seat is bucket like in nature (and very hard). It means that most, if not all the child seats I've tried to date perch on the outermost part of the bucket section (if that makes sense).

Thus far I've been using foam to fill it out and give the current seat something to purchase on.

Cheers!

Edited by Blim_bug on Monday 21st March 16:11

[Blim_bug]

Darned iPhone double post!

[boobles]

Hi,

Does the RSI have Isofix brackets in the back?
The only seat we have managed to install safely with these types of "bucket" seats is the Britax Romer Duo.
We recently had these seats approved in the new Aston Martin Rapide & I think the rear seat could be simular.

The duo can also be installed by using the 3pt seat belt instead of "isofix".
It's worth taking the car to Halfords & trying the Duo before you commit to buying.

The only problem is that the Duo only lasts until the child is approx 4yrs old so it wouldn't last that long before you had to change it.

[Blim_bug]

Thanks for your recommendation!

No isofix unfortunately, but I'll give halfords another go (it's been a good couple of years since I purchased the current seat so there's probably been a few newer additions since then)!

Thanks!

[boobles]

If you get no joy from them, let me know & I will look into other possible options, if there are any.

Doesn't look like Halfords stock these seats.

However, Mothercare do & they are also trained by us. http://www.mothercare.com/Britax-Duo-Plus-Isofix-S...

Edited by boobles on Monday 21st March 16:23