Baby seats....Don't send me away!
Discussion
SSC! said:
Look for a second hand isofix if you can. They are bloody handy when it's pouring rain. I have the Maxi Cosi Cab seat and isofix. Will you be using it with a pushchair?
And Congrats!!
Just for clarification, its not the isofix which makes it convenient, it's the base which the seat clicks into. The base can be held in by either isofix or belt.And Congrats!!
We're expecting our first baby in September and went for the Maxi Cosi Cabriofix with the isofix base. For us the big benefit was that it slots into our chosen pushchair base too for that extra bit of flexibility.
Well worth going to your local baby shop and trying them out though. I took my Monaro to Kiddicare and had the lads running in and out with seats and bases to find something that fits!
Well worth going to your local baby shop and trying them out though. I took my Monaro to Kiddicare and had the lads running in and out with seats and bases to find something that fits!
DJ_AS said:
Recaro.... but don't just take my word for it. Go into John Lewis / Halfords where they have Recaros is stock. Using your hand, push down on the seat cushion and note the thickness. Then do the same on every other seat. Then ask yourself which you'd like to sit in for a long time
Where's that not sure if serious... As previously stated, Recaros don't score particularly well in tests. Maxi-C, Kiddy and Britax seemed to me to be the most consistent brands when I was researching. We went for Kiddy for our slightly older children.
ewenm said:
thinfourth2 said:
Seek out boobles who is the member who spends his entire day firing rubber children into concrete blocks in different brands of seats
Everyone has to have a hobby
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
Everyone has to have a hobby
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
This.When our son was first born we had a Peg Perego isofix base and baby seat that latched into it - it also latched into the stroller. When he got older he sat in the stroller and we bought Britax isofix seats with side impact protection.
The Peg Perego stroller was far, far lighter than it's competitors, very useful when you need to fold it and carry when using the underground etc.
The Peg Perego stroller was far, far lighter than it's competitors, very useful when you need to fold it and carry when using the underground etc.
s1962a said:
Does the Recaro young sport come in an isofix version?
Its for older children and is belt in only- once belted in you strap the child in a 3 point harness when they are small and as they get older the car seat belt moves around the front to holds them and the seat together.We have the Recaro Monza Seatfix, that is suitable from 3 - 12 Years.
It started off as Toms seat, but its a bit tight for him now, even though he is only almost Six.
So its been passed down to Lucy, who seems very happy and comfy in it and always falls soundly asleep in it.
I can't say that we have ever used the Speakers with an iPod though!!
I bought mine from Halfords when they had an offer on, ISTR is teas about £115 during the offer, seems about £135 Now though.
The real advantage is the Isofix, which means it can easily be transferred from my Land Rover, to the Wifes Audi, which both have Isofix.
It also gets used in the Nannies car daily, without Isofix, works fine with just normally diagonal belts too.
Despite not scoring well in the Which tests I would recommend the Recaro, its a very high quality product.
It started off as Toms seat, but its a bit tight for him now, even though he is only almost Six.
So its been passed down to Lucy, who seems very happy and comfy in it and always falls soundly asleep in it.
I can't say that we have ever used the Speakers with an iPod though!!
I bought mine from Halfords when they had an offer on, ISTR is teas about £115 during the offer, seems about £135 Now though.
The real advantage is the Isofix, which means it can easily be transferred from my Land Rover, to the Wifes Audi, which both have Isofix.
It also gets used in the Nannies car daily, without Isofix, works fine with just normally diagonal belts too.
Despite not scoring well in the Which tests I would recommend the Recaro, its a very high quality product.
Bonefish Blues said:
DJ_AS said:
Recaro.... but don't just take my word for it. Go into John Lewis / Halfords where they have Recaros is stock. Using your hand, push down on the seat cushion and note the thickness. Then do the same on every other seat. Then ask yourself which you'd like to sit in for a long time
Where's that not sure if serious... As previously stated, Recaros don't score particularly well in tests. Maxi-C, Kiddy and Britax seemed to me to be the most consistent brands when I was researching. We went for Kiddy for our slightly older children.
We also liked the fact that the Recaro was light enough to easily transfer between cars and being Group 1,2,3 would grow with the kids.
As for tests, we haven't subscribed to Which for a long time so I can't comment. Hopefully we'll never find out how good the seat is in a crash!
Forgive me if I misunderstood the point you were making, but as I read it you were praising the depth of the Recaro cushions and suggesting this as a selection criterion. If not, ignore the following:
If a material is easily compressible "comfy" if you will, then that material won't play any significant role in a crash situation.
Compare and contrast with the approach of the brand we chose which has surprisingly modest levels of padding, but in which our children are comfortable (they also extend as the children grow). When crash tested from front and side they perform very well by providing the type of hard to the touch but compressible in extremis protection that a child needs when the unthinkable happens.
If a material is easily compressible "comfy" if you will, then that material won't play any significant role in a crash situation.
Compare and contrast with the approach of the brand we chose which has surprisingly modest levels of padding, but in which our children are comfortable (they also extend as the children grow). When crash tested from front and side they perform very well by providing the type of hard to the touch but compressible in extremis protection that a child needs when the unthinkable happens.
Bonefish Blues said:
Forgive me if I misunderstood the point you were making, but as I read it you were praising the depth of the Recaro cushions and suggesting this as a selection criterion. If not, ignore the following:
If a material is easily compressible "comfy" if you will, then that material won't play any significant role in a crash situation.
Compare and contrast with the approach of the brand we chose which has surprisingly modest levels of padding, but in which our children are comfortable (they also extend as the children grow). When crash tested from front and side they perform very well by providing the type of hard to the touch but compressible in extremis protection that a child needs when the unthinkable happens.
Comfort and crash safety are not mutually exclusive - a seat can be both pleasant to sit in and have good crash performance.If a material is easily compressible "comfy" if you will, then that material won't play any significant role in a crash situation.
Compare and contrast with the approach of the brand we chose which has surprisingly modest levels of padding, but in which our children are comfortable (they also extend as the children grow). When crash tested from front and side they perform very well by providing the type of hard to the touch but compressible in extremis protection that a child needs when the unthinkable happens.
It may be helpful to share the test results to which you refer.
I didn't say they were, I don't think. Our kids' seats are very lightly padded, but clearly comfortable on the "no whingeing" scale 
Quid for a month sub. to you guv' (mine's not long expired). Or lots of tests on youtube, too.
https://www.which.co.uk/signup
Quid for a month sub. to you guv' (mine's not long expired). Or lots of tests on youtube, too.
https://www.which.co.uk/signup
DJ_AS said:
Comfort and crash safety are not mutually exclusive - a seat can be both pleasant to sit in and have good crash performance.
It may be helpful to share the test results to which you refer.
Nor are comfort and crash safety directly related, as you imply they may be.It may be helpful to share the test results to which you refer.
The seat we use seems lightly padded to me, but then I weigh five times as much as the kid - it's relatively new and she says it is very comfortable. That's a good enough review for me.
O
KrazyIvan said:
We have this for our littler girl, whose nearly a year old now.
http://www.mothercare.com/Maxi-Cosi-Axiss-Car-Seat...
I cannot tell you how much of a good idea the 90 degree swivel thing is, makes it very easy to get her in and out. Only down side is its not from birth (4 or 5 months on a think). Go have a look at one in mother car. As for the Recaro ones......there rubbish.
Another vote for this. http://www.mothercare.com/Maxi-Cosi-Axiss-Car-Seat...
I cannot tell you how much of a good idea the 90 degree swivel thing is, makes it very easy to get her in and out. Only down side is its not from birth (4 or 5 months on a think). Go have a look at one in mother car. As for the Recaro ones......there rubbish.
blugnu said:
Nor are comfort and crash safety directly related, as you imply they may be.
The seat we use seems lightly padded to me, but then I weigh five times as much as the kid - it's relatively new and she says it is very comfortable. That's a good enough review for me.
I have not claimed at any point that comfort and crash safety are directly related. Or related at all. Because they're not. All I said was that the Recaro's feel nicer than the other seats I've seen in shops / been given / friends own.The seat we use seems lightly padded to me, but then I weigh five times as much as the kid - it's relatively new and she says it is very comfortable. That's a good enough review for me.
happychick said:
Please don't send me to the Net of Mums! I've been on there and it's a scary place 
My Boyfriend and I are expecting our first child in Feb and are looking at baby seats.
Being petrol heads we went straight for the Recaro ones but are curious as to what you guys would recommend.
All advice would be much appreciated
Congratulations. My Boyfriend and I are expecting our first child in Feb and are looking at baby seats.
Being petrol heads we went straight for the Recaro ones but are curious as to what you guys would recommend.
All advice would be much appreciated
Depends on the size of your car.
We went Recaro Sport purely as the age range is much larger and they are smaller.
However, the strap mechanism is smarter on others.
You'll be trying to do stuff with one hand and from awkward angles ( like a teenager getting past first base).
My advice would be first of all start with isofix base for the bucket. It makes life so much easier.
Then when you come to move them to a chair go to Halfords or wherever there is a big range and genuinely look at the belt mechanisms. You want a system which firstly clips easily and secondly is adjusted easily.
The Recaro system needs two hands to clip and the tensioning isn't individual and pulls from the top. The latter tends to wake sleepers up when you get home at night as they feel the straps moving over their shoulders.
We've got a pair of Akta Graco Duologics that we bought from Sweden (www.carseat.se) and they've been great. They're rear facing and are intended for use up to the age of 4. Apparently the laws regarding child seats and testing processes are more rigorous in Sweden but whatever the case the seats have been easy to use and appear to be very comfortable too.
They've also got a nice feature in that the seats have wheels in the base and an extendable handle; good if the occupant is asleep so you can leave them in the seat and wheel them around B&Q!
They've also got a nice feature in that the seats have wheels in the base and an extendable handle; good if the occupant is asleep so you can leave them in the seat and wheel them around B&Q!
s1962a said:
Does the Recaro young sport come in an isofix version?
No. It's a good seat but it's singular advantage is it is the most compact on the market and it will see your child through from 9 months to 12 years.
On all other fronts there are better options out there for less money.
groomi said:
O
What cars are you using them in? I thought it was so bulky it would obstruct the opening of many cars such that the sideways swivel is almost a neccesity as otherwise it would be a struggle to get a child into the seat!KrazyIvan said:
We have this for our littler girl, whose nearly a year old now.
http://www.mothercare.com/Maxi-Cosi-Axiss-Car-Seat...
I cannot tell you how much of a good idea the 90 degree swivel thing is, makes it very easy to get her in and out. Only down side is its not from birth (4 or 5 months on a think). Go have a look at one in mother car. As for the Recaro ones......there rubbish.
Another vote for this. http://www.mothercare.com/Maxi-Cosi-Axiss-Car-Seat...
I cannot tell you how much of a good idea the 90 degree swivel thing is, makes it very easy to get her in and out. Only down side is its not from birth (4 or 5 months on a think). Go have a look at one in mother car. As for the Recaro ones......there rubbish.
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