Car seat needed for 1 year old any help appreciated!

[strath44]

Hey folks, our little one has almost out grown her baby seat / carrier and we need the next step on the ladder!

We went to about 4 places and all had different seats and advice. There seems quite a big gap between the cheap and very expensive ones!

I like the idea of the rotation to the side for access to the seat but its not critical. I understand new legislation means the child must face rewards to a certain age now?

One of us does the nursery drop of and the other the pick up, we are really confused as to whether to get a cheap seat and an expensive seat (for long journeys) or what!?

Any recommendations appreciated!

[strath44]

Thanks folks this is very helpful, has anyone any particular seat recommendations, for example as a car person I recognised recaro but are their kids seats any good?

[strath44]

832ark said:

We just got a Recaro Monza Nova IS for our 17 month old. Its interesting that it uses a crash pad rather than straps. Very impressed so far and she seems to love it. Will do her until 12 or 135cm.

it that front or rear facing?

[strath44]

SWoll said:

Just do a google search for 'best child car seat' and all the latest info + independent reviews covering daily use and safety will be there. Then buy the best you can afford.

having tried that first and finding a lot of conflicting info I find it sometimes best to speak to real people using a product

[strath44]

SWoll said:

The problem being that all you're going to get is anecdotal and sometimes old or inaccurate information on a forum like this, which when safety is the primary concern isn't really the way forward IMHO.

ok i get it, would be fine if all I did was post this, however I have extensively been on google with my wife and have been round multiple shops. Sometimes its just good to fet some opions like this on a forum! you could post your comment on many many threads on this forum and it wouldn't leave much happening?

[strath44]

thanks, one definitely good thing I got from this is the securatot website which seems to explain and group things well compared to some sites!

I think we are almost there with the Joie Spin 360 as it covers most of the things we need, will go out tomorrow to try and find one to test particularly before having to buy 2 it looks like!

[strath44]

I cannot tell you how complicated all the legislation is, it appears cut and dry but to the poorly informed it is a minefield.

My wife took one of the cars down today to well know national retailer who sell car seats and fit them). Having literally spent hours deciding on the Joie Spin my wife was told they would not fit the seat to the car as it was not a approved vehicle on the Joie list! Contrary to all our research! Ahhhh

The assistant also told my wife the car (an 08 A6 saloon) doesn't have isofix. My wife said she was sure it did (it does, as do all cars after 2007 I believe)! However the girl said that as the car wasn't on the approved list there was no point in checking!

Anyway after an irate phone call it would appear that the child serving my wife was poorly informed! Now we have to wait a whole week to have the time to check.

What a minefield!

[strath44]

Thanks folks, height has been a consideration from the start as our little one is tall! That was an advantage of the Joie 360 as she could face front or rear (and be side loaded)

[strath44]

Thanks for all the feedback.

We have got on joie 360 spin for now and rather than buying 2 when my daughter turns about 1.5 yrs in a few months we will pick up a slightly different seat as well for shorter runs.

We almost got caught out as some seats now have a boot or back of seat anchor strap in addition to isofix. Our A6 does not appear to have this anchor.