Child Seat Advice

[boobles]

To be fair, we have know for some time that rear facing is safer for smaller children.

This is why our Scandinavian neighours have their children rear facing until the age of 6.

[boobles]

special0ffer said:

Hi,

I am looking for a FF 9kg-18kg seat for a MK3 golf gti.

Going to halfords later today, but based on my experience on buying the cabriofix for the car, none of the shops I went to were any good (chains and independants)! All tried the seat and all others and concluded my seat belt was to short and would not go round any seat. I went home thought about it and googled went back out to car and found it was on the highest shoulder setting, so moved it down and that gave enough belt to go round the seat. Now surely this is not uncommon, but NO ONE checked and all said sorry no seat fits.
SO before I go want some sensible advice

I am looking at the Maxi Cosi Tobi the thing with the older car that I am concerned about is buckle crunch as the seat buckles sit higher out than a new car, I could get an easy fix base due to this. Is your buckle allowed to touch the seat/frame at all? I am not 100% sure on what "buckle crunch" is defined as.

Tks

Hi,

Really suprised they didn't check you're seat belt height to rule that out.

No part of the buckle must be touching any part of the child seat or base, it must be secured with the webbing only. Buckle crunch is a massive no no.

[boobles]

Zarkingfardwarks said:

Hi boobles....I need to pick your brain.
Our wee boy is 7 months old, not quite 8Kg yet (he is a skinny chap - between 25 and 50th percentile for weight) but he is long - in the 98th percentile for height.
To date we have been using a Jane Matrix which has worked very well in our cars. However, he is too long for it he has to have his legs folded in, if we fold it into "regular seat" shape, just as with our Maxi Cosi cabrio fix, his legs just dangle out.
Have you any recommendations - we really like the lie flat (good for sleeping!) nature of the Jane but he isn't fat enough! we been given a Mamas and Papas seat but its for 9Kg plus?

thanks!

I can fully understand you're problem but it's vital that he stays rear facing until he is over 21 lbs in weight, or can sit up un-aided & support the weight of his neck. I appreciate that his legs look "uncomfy" but unless he cries every single time you put him in the seat, it's unlikely that he is uncomfy & it probably looks alot worse than it actually is. Britax do a fabulous "layflat" seat which has won numourous awards for it's safety etc. Might be worth taking a look here.

http://www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/full-lay-flat-sy...

[boobles]

Zod said:

boobles said:

15kg is only a guidline or 4yrs of age. If she is way below 15kg then you must keep her in a harnessed seat until she is ready.

Just weighed my two year old (25 months) yesterday and he tipped the scale at 14.8 kg. He's staying in the harnessed Group II seats until he exceeds 18 kg. His big brother is in Group 3 seats, 21 kg, hits five on Tuesday and he's staying in proper seats, rather than on a booster cushion for a very long time. Their nearly four month old sister will stay in a rear-facing Group 0 seat for as long as possible.

The great thing is that they never complain about being strapped in. The only time we've ever driven off without securing the four year old he screamed for us to stop and strap him in.

Fantastic news. I love it when I hear about children telling the parents off for not strapping them in! Well done to you're four year old.

[boobles]

Kawasicki said:

Hello Boobles

Thanks for all the advice.

I currently have two kids (there is another on the way!), my son is two and 13kg, my daughter is 4 and 17kg. I change lease cars regularly, so I need seats that are a secure fit in many different cars. I currently use 2 Maxi Cosi Priori XP seats. I think they are great, mainly for three reasons.

a. The kids never moan!
b. The belt tensioner really secures the seat in place.
c. The recline mechanism means the kids are well supported (their heads don't flop forward) as they sleep.

So, what can I do for my daughter, she will soon outgrow the seat, and most boosters seem rubbish in comparison.

Thanks!

Hi,


Booster seats may seem rubbsh & just like a lump of plastic but they are vital in positioning the lap belt in the right position on the child. Booster seats have minimum protection but they are crucial in sitting children higher up which eliminates what we call "gut penetration" & reduces internal injuries to the child. I would recommend a "high back booster" these have backs to them which adust as the child gets bigger & they offer the same protection as a standard booster seat but they also offer side impact protection & are generally more comfy for the child to sit on.

Halfords have easter deals on at the mo as do other child seats stockists, so perhaps worth having a look.

[boobles]

voicey said:

Hi Boobles,

Can you recommend a seat for me? Our daughter is 8 months old and about 9kg. She is currently using a Mamas and Papas Primo Viaggio on an isofix base in the back of an '06 Honda Civic. We think it is time for her to graduate into a larger seat.

We'd like something that will go in the back of the Honda (so isofix) but I would also like to be able to put her in the front seat of my Ferrari 360 on occasion. The 360 doesn't have an airbag switch so it would have to be forward facing in that instance. In the Honda am I right in thinking she should be rear facing as long as possible?

Can you make a recommendation or point me in the right direction as to what I should be looking at? If the seat will last a couple of years then cost isn't too much of a worry.

Cheers,

Voicey.

Hi Voicey,

The Honda is an easy one but finding something to also fit the 360 may be difficult whilst she is this age.
Try either of these two sites. I have already typed in your car details etc, so just open the links.

The problem with finding something to fit the 360 is due to the shape of the car seats but I will look into it, but I feal you may struggle whilst she is so young. I know once children become approx 4, such seats as "high back boosters" tend to fit sports/super cars.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&am...

Just realized that you will have to type car details etc into the link below.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&am...

Edited by boobles on Thursday 16th June 10:18

[boobles]

Zod said:

If you put a child in a high-back booster in the front seat, set as far back as it will go, is that safe enough, despite the presence of an unswitchable airbag?

So long as the "high back booster" is as far away from the airbag as possible as you say, then yes.

[boobles]

Why? ^^^^^

[boobles]

voicey said:

Another question if I may? What is the difference between Group 1 and Group 1-2-3 seats?

My daughter is 9kg and has been sitting up unaided for a couple of months - I like the idea of the seat lasting a long time so can I consider a Group 1-2-3?

Cheers!

Not a problem at all.

We train Mothercare staff & some Halfords & always worth bringing your car along. I would ask for somebody who has been on a "child seat training day" to install them considering the car in question. (don't want just anybody fitting them in)

With regard to the group 1, 1-2-3, this basically means that a group 1 is specifically for children from 9 months to approx 4yrs. Group 1-2-3 means that the product can be used from 9 months to approx 11yrs as the seats will be adjustable & can grow with your child.

[boobles]

Always a pleasure to help if I can Voicey.

[boobles]

5678 said:

Boobles (I think we met at the PH Twingo test day?!)

We're currently using a Cabrio Fix seat and switching between a rear ISO fix mount and a front seat belt mount with the airbag off in my 6 series.
Our baby is only 4 months old but approaching 9kg already. So the Cabrio Fix isn't going to last for too much longer. I'd like a seat that:
- Will last for some time
- That can be mounted in the front with the seatbelt
- Can also be mounted in the rear with ISOfix (either a base or directly in the seat.)

Does such a thing exist?

We certainly did....

There is something called the Britax BabySafe Isofix Base/BabySafe Plus SHR, this is a seperate base & child seat but can be used in either conditions.. There is also the Romer Duo Plus which is for older children, approx 9 months to 4yrs & this can also be used as Isofix or belted as it has both fitted.


http://www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/car-seats/baby-s...


http://www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/car-seats/duo-pl...

[boobles]

Just been informed that we are conducting a "live" crash test on TV next Tuesday morning at around 06:30am.

The programme is called "day break"

[boobles]

DBSV8 said:

why is this bad advise ?

the airbags are switched off hence they will not deploy in an accident

Don't worry about this idiot. He only ever contributes on PH once in a blue moon & when he does, he replies to any of my posts & tries to make himself look clever. He was formally know as boost4me2 & changed his username because he upset a couple of genuine posters. He will not post again for probably another month & when he does, he will find all my posts & act like a prat as usual.

He was also kicked out of another car forum for basically being a troll. The mods have been notified.

He also claims to be a police officer, (which I am looking into because he lives in Basingstoke) if this is how they behave, god help us all. He is more likely to be a spotted nose little chav.

Edited by boobles on Thursday 16th June 19:13

[boobles]

Hi Voicey,

Nothing wrong with this seat, apart from being rather expensive & is no safer than others.
If the wife has already decided that this is the one, nothing you or me will say that will change that.

Isofix can give us better results depending on the seat & vice versa, some belted seats perform better. Isofix does help eliminate "in-correct" instalation though.

Edited by boobles on Thursday 16th June 22:02

[boobles]

5678 said:

Thought so! You had an Elise iirc?

Thanks for the suggestions. Spoke to the wife about it some more last night and she now wants to look for a rearward facing seat if possible. What are your thoughts on seats like the Britax MultiTech 2? Can this also be fitted in the front with the airbag off?

I had the blue Clio 182 on the day but was just about to but my second Elise.

I can't remember the car you came in?
The multi-tech is also a great seat but can be difficult to install. We only really advise older children on booster seats can sit in the front so long as the passenger seat is as far back as possible & if the airbag can be switched off, it must be.

[boobles]

5678 said:

I had the White & Black R26 (in my profile!) at the time. Still really regret selling that car!

Difficult to install how? Is it just very particular in the belt routing?
Are rear facing seats for older children generally recommended for the rear only then? Wife was reading a site called carseat.se or something like that.

I remember now.

Because the seat is what we call a combination seat, another words rearward or forward facing, it can be a compromise installing it either way because it has to cater for both directions. In sandinavien countries such as Sweden, they have these seats rear facing until then child is 6yrs old but we don't seem to adopt the same attitude hear in the UK.

If it's carseat.se, I have recently answered a question for them regarding the Multi-Tech.
Also try hear. Lena is a member on hear & can also give great advice & I am sure she won't mind giving her site a mention.

http://www.sikkerautostol.dk/

[boobles]

them photos are old!

Your advice is always welcome Lena.
Any news on the visit?

[boobles]

Keep me informed then as I also plan to have a week of in August aswel as July. I need a holiday!

[boobles]

Probably back to Greece but unsure yet. Somewhere bloody hot would be nice but also quiet with no children!

I have checked my email & havn't recieved anything from you?

If you like camping, bring a tent as we have a campsite just up the road.

[boobles]

Thats our live crash test done for daybreak tv. All went well.

Check it out.

http://www.itv.com/daybreak/lifestyle/familiesandp...

Edited by boobles on Tuesday 21st June 10:10