Child Seat Advice

Author
Discussion

Joe M

665 posts

244 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
quotequote all
Good info, thanks. Think I'll go for a kidfix sl. About 80 at halfrauds but there doing a 20% trade in for old booster cushions.

havoc

29,928 posts

234 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
quotequote all
SL = Soft Latch - it's a fabric-strap retained ISOFIX variant (rather than the usual solid-bar). Some people aren't that taken by it, but I'll leave Boobles to advise on whether it's actually any less safe or just consumer-psychological worries.

We've the KIDFIX II SICT, which feels overkill, to be honest, but has a few very neat touches (the crotch-pad/hook feels like a great idea coming out of 5-pt Gp-1 harnesses, while the shoulder-pad seatbelt shroud seems a little gimmicky but also looks effective in load-spreading). It is twice the price of the SL you mention, though...

sjj84

2,390 posts

218 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
quotequote all
We're currently looking for a new child seat, ideally one that spins to make access easier. I see a few on here have got and recommend the recaro zero.1, we had a look at one in mothercare the other day and it seemed like the headrest was a good 2" further out than the backrest making it visibly uncomfortable for my son. We were wondering if there was a piece missing on this particular display seat or if that is genuinely how they are? The experts in store had no idea.

Joe M

665 posts

244 months

Saturday 27th May 2017
quotequote all
havoc said:
SL = Soft Latch - it's a fabric-strap retained ISOFIX variant (rather than the usual solid-bar). Some people aren't that taken by it, but I'll leave Boobles to advise on whether it's actually any less safe or just consumer-psychological worries.

We've the KIDFIX II SICT, which feels overkill, to be honest, but has a few very neat touches (the crotch-pad/hook feels like a great idea coming out of 5-pt Gp-1 harnesses, while the shoulder-pad seatbelt shroud seems a little gimmicky but also looks effective in load-spreading). It is twice the price of the SL you mention, though...
The seatbelt still gets used with the sl, for me the benefit of the soft latch will be purely to hold the seat in place when there's no one in it. If it adds to the safety that's a bonus, but I cant see it.

havoc

29,928 posts

234 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
quotequote all
Agreed - we've gone for 'normal' ISOFIX, but at least in part for the same reason.

StevieT735

103 posts

141 months

Monday 29th May 2017
quotequote all
Hi Guys,
I'm in Saudi Arabia, driving an old Lexus which doesn't have ISOFIX. Buying a newer car is not an option.
Are there any seats which have a base that can be secured to the car via seatbelts, but where the seat itself can be clipped in and out with baby in situ, saving the hassle of strapping baby in, while at the car (often in 40 degree heat)

Thanks in advance.

Joe M

665 posts

244 months

Monday 29th May 2017
quotequote all
Check out the maxi cosi easy fix base, works with isofix or seat belt.

wilbo83

1,535 posts

164 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
Currently browsing for a combination car seat (Group 1,2,3) for my daughter and wondering what recommendations meet me needs? I was set on something from Britax or Maxi Cosi, but it appears Maxi Cosi dont do group 1/2/3 combination seats and the Britax Evolve looks a right PITA to recline as you have to remove the seat and flip something underneath.

So any recommendations of group 1/2/3 combination seats that you can recline without removing the seat from the car? The Recaro Sport Hero seems a popular choice but then read lots of comments of people saying it didn't fit well / securely so would need to try it out.

Hackney

6,811 posts

207 months

Thursday 13th July 2017
quotequote all
Davie said:
R E S T E C P said:
Question for anyone that knows...

I can't see anything in the Cybex Sirona's manual saying how much space there should be between the child seat and the front seat. The lady at Mothercare (where we tried it out) said it should be 3 inches - which seems like an awful lot and it was a struggle even in the Mondeo.

What's the truth here? Do we need a limo or is it safe to have just a few millimetres between the seats?
Don't get me started!

She's due in the next couple of weeks so after much research and debate, settled on a Maxi-Cosi Cabrio-fix infant carrier and the new Carlos Fandango 2-Way isofix base. Went off to Mothercare to test it in her car (Mk5 Astra) and the lady who fitted it insisted on being able to put her hand, flat between the passenger seat and the leading edge of the seat. Great, but to do that the passenger seat was somewhere up by the headlights.

I then bought a Volvo V70 and had the isofix brackets retro fitted (dealer supplied so all ok) and off we went, back to bloody Mothercare for test fir number two and again the lady was insistent on having a relative gulf between the baby seat and the passenger seat. Again, passenger seat was now rammed in to the glovebox.

The baby seat isn't going anywhere so not entirely sure why there is a need for such a massive gap, frankly I can't see one unless they think in a rear shunt the seat back will buckle backward but if said impact is severe enough to do that... the gap between the seats will be the least of our worries. In the end I went for a minimal gap, about 10mm and now the front seat passenger has room to breathe in both cars however the seats are slightly further forward than "normal" which is proving to be a challenge for my OCD!

Incidentally, the Astra measures 72cm from the rear seat backrest to the rear of the passenger seat in it normal position... ie, matching the drivers seat in terms of position. The Volvo which you'd assume (as I did) would eb considerably bigger, it measures 73cm.

I can now understand why people feel they need massive brat carts... it's to fit the massive child seats in!
I hadn't heard this "rule" until just now. No wonder cars are getting bigger and bigger.
We have a Golf Estate (previously had a Saab 9-3, the VW has more space) and the rear facing seat has to go behind the passenger as I would be too close to the wheel, but even then we only have a finger's gap between front seat and rear facing baby seat.

My son's front facing seat goes behind me as it allows more room.

Cudd Wudd

1,084 posts

124 months

Sunday 31st December 2017
quotequote all
Hi boobles

I wonder whether you can help me with your views on a Group 3 seat (I am not expecting a response this year smile ).

My son has just turned 3 and is about 105cm tall and weighs about 17kg. Our family car is a 2012 Nissan Note.

My preference is for a Group 3 isofix seat, ideally with a recline function, and I have been viewing the following:

(1) Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Air Protect Highback Booster ISOFIX Car Seat, £150;

(2) CYBEX Solution X-Fix, Toddler Car Seat Group 2/3, £145 down to £100;

(3) CYBEX Solution Q3 Fix High Back Booster, £190;

(4) CYBEX Solution M-Fix Booster Seat, £160 down to £130; and

(5) RECARO Monza Nova 2 Group 2/3, £120.

We've had the 2-way Maxi Cosi Pearl up until now and have been very happy with it.

The Recaro one doesn't appear to recline, but otherwise seems decent.

I have tried Cybex's website to narrow down the 3, but haven't found it the easiest to navigate.

Do any of the above stand out to you as being better than the rest, or are there any others you may think are better?

Many thanks for your time and help with this. And Happy New Year!

skip_1

3,459 posts

189 months

Monday 1st January 2018
quotequote all
We went for the Cybex Solution M Fix over the Monza Nova due partly to the ADAC results and over a Britax due to the seatbelt not returning well on the Britax model. It fits our small 4 year old perfectly and reclines both the back depending how far the base is pushed back on the isofix frame and on the headrest. Our boy sleeps with his head in the head protection zone and not leaning forward. The quality seems good.

Google Chrome will automatically translate link

https://www.adac.de/infotestrat/tests/kindersicher...


Cudd Wudd

1,084 posts

124 months

Saturday 6th January 2018
quotequote all
Many thanks for your reply, skip_1. Really very helpful and most appreciated.

I saw it yesterday but couldn't log in to reply for some reason. I did, however, source a good deal on the same cybex one you chose (having gone through the test results) and got it last night, so hopefully now sorted until my little one reaches the height limit.

Thank you again smile

Steve7777

235 posts

148 months

Friday 24th August 2018
quotequote all
Hi, I'm sure this has been asked before, but can anybody recommend a narrow seat for a 3.5 year old (14kgs, roughly 100cm tall)?

We are shortly going to have our 3rd child, so will have an infant, 1.5 year old, and 3.5 year old, which we would ideally sit 3 across in the middle row of either an XC90 or a Q7.

This new seat would ideally fit in the middle between the seats we already have, a Maxi Cosi Pearl (front-facing) and a Maxi Cosi Pebble (rear-facing). Once the infant is old enough the Pebble would be switched out for our other Pearl (initially rear-facing, then front-facing), so it's going to be a squeeze.

If we end up getting a Q7 it has isofix mounts in the middle seat, but if we get an XC90 it doesn't, so ideally we're looking for a narrow seat that could be mounted either with isofix or the normal 3 point seat belt. I'd prefer a seat where the child is held in with a 5 point harness than just a booster using the adult seat belt.

If anybody has any recommendations that would be fantastic. Thanks!

HKP

192 posts

158 months

Friday 24th August 2018
quotequote all
Hi Boobles,

We are currently driving a Mk7.5 Golf GTD estate with the omnipresent Maxi-cosi Cabriofix. Our 15 week old (17lbs, 91st centile whopper) has good neck control although doesn't sit up himself yet. He's in the Cabriofix with the sponge bum insert removed but the infant neck insert in.

Mrs HKP would sorely like to go back to a BMW i3 (I'm keeping the Golf), but a rear facing seat is a no go due to the door design. I'm quite tall too at 6ft 2in so I need a car where I can sit in front of junior with him behind if she's driving.

So what we need (if the i3 is a go-er) is a 360 spin type seat that is as short as possible front to back. i3 has ISOFIX and Top Tether. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

HKP

192 posts

158 months

Saturday 25th August 2018
quotequote all
EFA: when I say rear facing above, I mean in terms of loading him into it. I will of course be travelling with Jnr. Rear facing.

Craikeybaby

10,369 posts

224 months

Sunday 26th August 2018
quotequote all
As people are asking for recommendations...

Are there any seats that would suit a 2 year old that take up less room in the car? He currently has a Britax Eclipse, but that needs the passenger seat to be too far forwards for me to sit in it.

Davie

4,733 posts

214 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
Been a while...

Mine was in a Maxi-Cosi Pebble infant carrier but out grew that alarmingly fast and thus left us looking for the next step slightly sooner than anticipated.

To confuse matters, we had the 2-Way Fix base in her car and the Easy-Fix in my car, both using the IsoFix brackets and both compatible with the existing seat... upside was that the Easy-Fix base also works with a 3 point belt.

The plan was to buy the Maxi-Cosi 2-Way Pearl seat (£225) as it would a) fit with the 2-Way Fix base and b) was rear facing which I was keen to continue with. We then discovered that it's not compatible with the Easy-Fix base (as the seat itself has a recline mechanism built in) and so started looking at alternatives.

Mothercare suggested a Joie something-or-other and fitted it to the car but such was the design that in order for the isofix base to be snug against the seat back, the leading edge of the baby seat (rear facing) was rammed so hard in to the seat back it just wasn't happening... so they suggested extending the Iso-Fix arms, ie so the seat base could easily be lifted up and pivoted on the mounts... seems that was fine and in fact recommended in the event of a crash. We politely declined and left.

Halfords were offering a Joie seat, similar design but with the Iso-Fix base with an extended back plate that rests against the seat back in the car, same design as the existing Maxi-Cosi 2-Way fix and due to a point of sale error, the base and seat were offered at £175 (buy the seat, get the base free) and Halfords reluctantly accepted this and honoured the deal. Test fit completed minus child and it was job done.

That was up until it came to actually getting him in the seat... not only was the seat itself so massive that trying to post him in it in via the small gap left was a challenge but then so was wrestling the harnesses from under him and then trying to adjust. It took all of two hours before my patience expired and I went back to Halfords to exchange as it was just a complete ballache... and that's before you factored in rain, a child having a tantrum and one of those people that likes to park 6" from the car beside in a car park.

Changed said Joie seat for the Max-Cosi and paid the extra £50.00 and thus, could retain our original 2-Way Fix base... which to be honest, as far as bases go is utterly brilliant and once in and pushed back in to the seat back, is very secure and indeed compact. I suspect part of the issues with the other brands is that whilst they were perhaps very good, they just weren't as good as the Maxi-Cosi efforts. But I digress... anyways, Maxi-Cosi 2-Way Pearl bought.

Not only is it quite a compact seat but it has a couple of design features that are frankly brilliant... first being the over the should straps / pads are spring loaded so when you unclip, they spring up and out which makes getting them on to a wrestling child easy. Second is the buckle is also spring loaded so again, flips forward once unclipped which also releases the shoulder straps., thus adjusted in and releasing is a one hand operation. The smaller size also makes it easier to put him in to it.

Only downside is we either need to buy a second base for the other car or continue to do as we are and swap the entire seat, base and all the crap with it from car to car as and when the need arises but it's not the end of the world. I have also been gifted a second Maxi-Cosi seat, similar in design but it's not Iso-Fix and is forward facing which, whilst not ideal is proving very handy for the odd trip out in the other cars in the extended family that don't have Iso-Fix and whilst I'm not a fan of him facing forwards, it's only ever been a miles or two around town... 99% of the time he's rear facing in the 2-Way Pearl.

Jury is out on how long he'll get out of it, it says up to 4yrs but I can't see that given he's 14 months and the hear rest / straps are already only two notched from the top setting but we shall see.

Definitely very impressed with the Maxi-Cosi range thus far...

Adrian E

3,248 posts

175 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
Have always liked the Maxi-cosi seats too, at least up till group 2 stage. They no longer make the one we used when our son was younger. If you're looking for similar quality for when yours comes out of a harness, have a look at the BeSafe iZiUpFix seats - ours has been in his since he was under 3, as he hit the weight limit for a harness restraint! He's now over 8 and still using the same seat.

PomBstard

6,729 posts

241 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
Timing of thread resurrection is timely...

A trip to the UK looms and we’re not sure of the child seat requirements for older kids. We’ve got an 8-y-o who is about 135cm tall - various advice says OK to not need a booster, can anyone point me to the definitive advice please? Ta

essayer

9,011 posts

193 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
quotequote all
PomBstard said:
Timing of thread resurrection is timely...

A trip to the UK looms and we’re not sure of the child seat requirements for older kids. We’ve got an 8-y-o who is about 135cm tall - various advice says OK to not need a booster, can anyone point me to the definitive advice please? Ta
https://www.gov.uk/seat-belts-law