Child Seat Advice

Author
Discussion

Adrian E

3,248 posts

175 months

Thursday 19th March 2015
quotequote all
Plastic guides aren't necessarily a good thing - it's the fact the lap belt runs over the lap, not over the tummy area, that you want to see

This doesn't show it particularly well, especially as sprog is sitting at a peculiar angle! It does fit well



That was taken almost 2 years ago

adibranch

8 posts

158 months

Friday 20th March 2015
quotequote all
I'm also thinking that the seat belt directly across the fabric will rub through after a while wrecking (or damaging at the very least) the seat..

Adrian E

3,248 posts

175 months

Friday 20th March 2015
quotequote all
I'll try and grab an up to date pic, but basically the fabric (and the seat as a whole) is as good as new smile

You'll get good advice on the day you visit the shop - most important issues, as ever, are that it fits your cars, your child fits the seat and that they will continue to fit it longer term. Usability and longevity then come into play as well.

A

lilsmartie

13 posts

139 months

Sunday 22nd March 2015
quotequote all
This seems to be one of my specialist subjects at the moment!

We have a Britax Adventure (cheapie but small so was the best for 1 car we owned) decent for the price, frustrating cover that refuses to stay put but has lasted well.

Jane/Storchenmuhle/Recaro high back booster, good seat, comfy but fabric has worn badly (compared to Britax)

Cybex q-fix recent purchase as new car has iso-fix. looked at lots but chose this as it gets wider & taller. our 6yr old is already 128cm but want to keep her in a hbb for as long as possible. Really nice, chunky seat, headrest recline works well & good fabric too.

Diono Monteray 2 - another recent purchase, still in it's box as 2nd new car not arrived yet. Formerly Sunshine Kids brand & well know in US, uses LATCH style iso-fit straps as opposed to rigid iso-fix metal catches on the Cybex but this is a good thing for me as I have a bar in my old smart that's their 'not quite iso-fix' sized and these work with that fastening! again it adjusts height & width so hopefully will last until she's out of the seats! it's stated as good to 160cm smile

I looked at the izi seats but seemed lacking in side protection and didn't have the shoulder adjustment.

Kate

Antonia

305 posts

160 months

Sunday 22nd March 2015
quotequote all
lenats31 said:
There are other decent options:

Britax Hiway 2
Britax Maxway
Axkid Minikid
Thank you for the helpful advice. I must admit when I saw how complicated these sort of seats were to fit I gave up on the search and decided I'll upgrade the mini to a newer one with ISOFix, then I can be sure Ive fitted it properly. Until then bub will have to remain front facing. But I'm going to check exactly how the three you have suggested work.

lenats31

438 posts

172 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
quotequote all
Antonia said:
Thank you for the helpful advice. I must admit when I saw how complicated these sort of seats were to fit I gave up on the search and decided I'll upgrade the mini to a newer one with ISOFix, then I can be sure Ive fitted it properly. Until then bub will have to remain front facing. But I'm going to check exactly how the three you have suggested work.
Happy to help

The best place to buy these seats is from a specialist retailer. There are quite a few dedicated rearfaing retailers in the UK. They are well trained to show you how to install them and let you try it also. They are better than most mainstream baby gear shops.

Once you get to know the quirks and corners of your car, it will most likely not be a problem.

There is a list of retailers at rearfacing.co.uk

I would choose retailers with the largest number of different rearfacing seats.



lenats31

438 posts

172 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
quotequote all
lilsmartie said:
This seems to be one of my specialist subjects at the moment!

We have a Britax Adventure (cheapie but small so was the best for 1 car we owned) decent for the price, frustrating cover that refuses to stay put but has lasted well.

Jane/Storchenmuhle/Recaro high back booster, good seat, comfy but fabric has worn badly (compared to Britax)

Cybex q-fix recent purchase as new car has iso-fix. looked at lots but chose this as it gets wider & taller. our 6yr old is already 128cm but want to keep her in a hbb for as long as possible. Really nice, chunky seat, headrest recline works well & good fabric too.

Diono Monteray 2 - another recent purchase, still in it's box as 2nd new car not arrived yet. Formerly Sunshine Kids brand & well know in US, uses LATCH style iso-fit straps as opposed to rigid iso-fix metal catches on the Cybex but this is a good thing for me as I have a bar in my old smart that's their 'not quite iso-fix' sized and these work with that fastening! again it adjusts height & width so hopefully will last until she's out of the seats! it's stated as good to 160cm smile

I looked at the izi seats but seemed lacking in side protection and didn't have the shoulder adjustment.

Kate
The Besafe seats don´t lack side protection at all. In fact, quite the contrary: They have sidewings that move up and down with the head support and they rotate on the base in a crash to turn child away from the point of impact.

boobles

Original Poster:

15,241 posts

214 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
quotequote all
Hi guys,

Really sorry that I no longer reply to questions on here but I am more than happy to reply via PM. This way it remains private without being on a public forum. (my work don't like me replying on here)

I can assure you though that the likes of Lena & Adrian are more than capable of answering most of your questions along with obviously people who have experience with certain child restraints. biggrin

lenats31

438 posts

172 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
quotequote all
lilsmartie said:
This seems to be one of my specialist subjects at the moment!

We have a Britax Adventure (cheapie but small so was the best for 1 car we owned) decent for the price, frustrating cover that refuses to stay put but has lasted well.

Jane/Storchenmuhle/Recaro high back booster, good seat, comfy but fabric has worn badly (compared to Britax)

Cybex q-fix recent purchase as new car has iso-fix. looked at lots but chose this as it gets wider & taller. our 6yr old is already 128cm but want to keep her in a hbb for as long as possible. Really nice, chunky seat, headrest recline works well & good fabric too.

Diono Monteray 2 - another recent purchase, still in it's box as 2nd new car not arrived yet. Formerly Sunshine Kids brand & well know in US, uses LATCH style iso-fit straps as opposed to rigid iso-fix metal catches on the Cybex but this is a good thing for me as I have a bar in my old smart that's their 'not quite iso-fix' sized and these work with that fastening! again it adjusts height & width so hopefully will last until she's out of the seats! it's stated as good to 160cm smile

I looked at the izi seats but seemed lacking in side protection and didn't have the shoulder adjustment.

Kate
OH forgot: The shoulderbelt adjustment is hidden right under the head support on both sides

lilsmartie

13 posts

139 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
quotequote all
It was the width adjustment I was referring to it lacking, not the height. Side impact, appreciate it turns but seemed to be no better protection than the cheap Britax. The chunky sides on the Cybex and the Diono are more reassuring. Don't get me wrong the izi was a contender but we plan on using these to 1.5m so max growth room was a deciding factor! The Diono as a second seat was due to the LATCH system as opposed to rigid ISOfix so it will also work in my old smart with a bar that was brand specific not-quite-isofix sized...

jonlk

215 posts

169 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Evening all, hope everyone is well.

But of a query if you don't mind: Having had number 1 and number 2 quite far apart (6years) we've just been made aware of the possibility of an expiration date on our car seat (M&P Primo Viaggio on an isofix base), I haven't checked yet.

With thrift in mind we were hoping to re-use the old seat (stored cleanly and safely in the garage) - is this a bad idea?

Cheers

alolympic

700 posts

196 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
lenats31 said:
The Besafe seats don´t lack side protection at all. In fact, quite the contrary: They have sidewings that move up and down with the head support and they rotate on the base in a crash to turn child away from the point of impact.
After looking at the video of the ADAC test, I am not sure that the swivel on the Besafe is any more than just a gimmick -
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BptAqj_uGm4
Seeing this makes you question that, with the force of a side impact, how much force would the seat need to be able to swing in an opposite direction to that momentum? How would the seat generate that kind of opposite force?

Adrian E

3,248 posts

175 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
alolympic said:
After looking at the video of the ADAC test, I am not sure that the swivel on the Besafe is any more than just a gimmick -
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BptAqj_uGm4
Seeing this makes you question that, with the force of a side impact, how much force would the seat need to be able to swing in an opposite direction to that momentum? How would the seat generate that kind of opposite force?
That's a sled test, so not showing it at all well as the sled is moving and then hitting impact rams to decelerate it. If the impact were coming into the vehicle, the movement on the mounting will in effect push the child seat away from the point of impact. In a side impact, distance from the striking object is key. Further away you are, the better.

robwilk

818 posts

179 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
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

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
S Max
Merc GL
quashqai +2
X5 7 seater
Tesla S
Merc R Wagon
Discovery 4 7 seater


But what about a Merc Minibus? Properly big top quality can take all seats out and you have a van for dump visits plus the good ones are very nice indeed. Sliding doors too very handy plus weekends away/camping could sleep in it.
Don't discount it quickly worth a consideration.

Who me ?

7,455 posts

211 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
If she goes for a Sharan type vehicle, I'd look carefully at the accident/safety stats on passengers in the rear ( i.e boot area)of the rear seat. I regularly see kids in seats rear of the rear seat and think back in horror to an accident we had ( OK- LOTS OF YEARS AGO) where our dog was in the rear of our hatch,which got rammed twice by cars in a motorway rear ender. She suffered major damage to internal organs and died of tumours some months later. I'd stopped, but car behind failed to and so did one travelling far too fast. ( police estimate was 80+) .I don't know how Britax of the 2015's stand out against Britax of yonks ago, but if they do, the I recommend them in a second. Scenario- old Renault 4 ,I'd decided to fit baby seat in. Not listed in the instructions, so I gave Britax a call - "you need an extended fitting kit ,sir, address please and we;ll send you one out, FOC".Full detailed instructions, including hole sizes and minimum sizes of washers.

Adrian E

3,248 posts

175 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
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
Lots of good ideas above, but also depends if it's the main family transport and needs to be capable of carrying anything other than the mum and kids? Friend has just chopped in her X3 for a Sharan with #3 brewing in the oven. They're a decent option although do have a feel of 'my life is over' about them!

The 3rd row of seats issue is a very real one, but with 3 kids I'd be aiming to use the 3 in the middle row assuming any car you look at has x3 Isofix so you can actually fit them in!

R class is huge and ugly (and a 6 seater, if memory serves?) but does have a decent boot as well.

Other more car like options would be Merc E class and Jag saloon - I think both at some points in history have been wide enough for 3 child seats across the back.

The 3 year old could travel in the front if they can be trusted to not open the door or press buttons on the dash!

alolympic

700 posts

196 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Adrian E said:
In a side impact, distance from the striking object is key. Further away you are, the better.
Totally agree with this, which is why I am baffled that the default position for a child is not in the middle of the rear seat.
Why do car manufacturers not fit Isofix and the safest belts possible in the central position?
I have retro fitted an Isofix bracket in this position in my classic tor exactly this reason.

Adrian E

3,248 posts

175 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
alolympic said:
Adrian E said:
In a side impact, distance from the striking object is key. Further away you are, the better.
Totally agree with this, which is why I am baffled that the default position for a child is not in the middle of the rear seat.
Why do car manufacturers not fit Isofix and the safest belts possible in the central position?
I have retro fitted an Isofix bracket in this position in my classic tor exactly this reason.
In a lot of cars there simply isn't the width across the back seat - if you put the child seat in the middle there's no space for adults or older kids to sit either side, so you're limiting the use of the back of the car to a child seat only. Accessing that centre seat is a struggle on a daily basis too.

Some manufacturers do fit x3 Isofix anchorages, but the width required is massive. Earliest I can recall is the first of the aluminium Jag XJs about 10 years ago.

My S8 isn't exactly small and that gets 2 sets of Isofix, although does have rear seat mounted airbags too.

My sister in law drives her 2 kids around in a 2000 era Fiesta - now that frightens me from an injury risk perspective as there's just no survival space to speak of in any direction....

lenats31

438 posts

172 months

Thursday 2nd April 2015
quotequote all
jonlk said:
Evening all, hope everyone is well.

But of a query if you don't mind: Having had number 1 and number 2 quite far apart (6years) we've just been made aware of the possibility of an expiration date on our car seat (M&P Primo Viaggio on an isofix base), I haven't checked yet.

With thrift in mind we were hoping to re-use the old seat (stored cleanly and safely in the garage) - is this a bad idea?

Cheers
Hi,

my advise to you would be to destroy it and throw it out. Destroy it so no-one else will be tempted to take it and use it.

The materials it is made of weakens over time. This may affect the performance in a crash, which is something you dont want. Even if it has been stored in a garage.