Child seat 12 months plus
Discussion
Minefield
Lots to consider be it weight if the child, shape of the seats, general bulk of the thing etc etc... but at 1yr old, I'd be looking for one with a frame that stays put but lets the seat recline and on that note, one that reclines as much as possible as I assume small human still likes to fall asleep.
You really need to set aside a couple of hours, take a massive patience pill and go to the likes of Halfords or John Lewis or some sort of independent and try a few out, bearing in mind not all sales advisors are created equally either.
Lots to consider be it weight if the child, shape of the seats, general bulk of the thing etc etc... but at 1yr old, I'd be looking for one with a frame that stays put but lets the seat recline and on that note, one that reclines as much as possible as I assume small human still likes to fall asleep.
You really need to set aside a couple of hours, take a massive patience pill and go to the likes of Halfords or John Lewis or some sort of independent and try a few out, bearing in mind not all sales advisors are created equally either.
I've got 2 Recaros.
One of them is this one
https://www.mamasandpapas.com/products/recaro-youn...
The reason I went for it was basically you do have to buy a seat at different stages of the kids growing up.
With the above, its a stage 1, 2 and 3 seat so you can use it from 1 year to 12 years by stripping the padding away and it belts into the seat rather than isofix.
It's not that heavy either and I can get it in and out of the car in less than a minute.
One of them is this one
https://www.mamasandpapas.com/products/recaro-youn...
The reason I went for it was basically you do have to buy a seat at different stages of the kids growing up.
With the above, its a stage 1, 2 and 3 seat so you can use it from 1 year to 12 years by stripping the padding away and it belts into the seat rather than isofix.
It's not that heavy either and I can get it in and out of the car in less than a minute.
I'm a fan of the swivel type:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8844567?storeID=41...
la-653516960838%7ccrid:588974626951%7cnw:u%7crnd:8304627739677152367%7cdvc:m%7cadp:%7cmt:%7cloc:1007225&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=16626818127&utm_term=8844567&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=133482972654&utm_custom2=629-618-1342&GPDP=true&gclid=CjwKCAjwkYGVBhArEiwA4sZLuMz4A1N4uL5AJ_NiXo0jMX1vHHBYvgj3cGhp3VjI36ZBO1_wvZRjLhoCR0cQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Saves your back and you can make sure the harness is secure etc while the child is facing you is much easier IME.
Just read re the lack of iso and wanting to use to travel. The one of above is a bit of a nine starter then!
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8844567?storeID=41...
la-653516960838%7ccrid:588974626951%7cnw:u%7crnd:8304627739677152367%7cdvc:m%7cadp:%7cmt:%7cloc:1007225&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=16626818127&utm_term=8844567&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=133482972654&utm_custom2=629-618-1342&GPDP=true&gclid=CjwKCAjwkYGVBhArEiwA4sZLuMz4A1N4uL5AJ_NiXo0jMX1vHHBYvgj3cGhp3VjI36ZBO1_wvZRjLhoCR0cQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.dsSaves your back and you can make sure the harness is secure etc while the child is facing you is much easier IME.
Just read re the lack of iso and wanting to use to travel. The one of above is a bit of a nine starter then!
Dannbodge said:
They are belted in rather than isofix as it's actually safer.
How is belted safer than Isofix? Isofix was invented because too many car seats weren't installed correctly, and our son has managed to unclip the belt on at least one occasion.I wouldn't worry about a car seat for an aeroplane, under 2s travel free so you'd just want them on your lap, over 2s will get a little lap belt anyway. I looked into a little lap sling thing for ours but ended up we didn't need it, they just slept on us when they needed to.
Having fairly recently got rid of the last of that size of child seat - youngest is now 4, the most important parts are:
1. The seat cover is easily removable - it will need cleaning regularly, particularly if the child gets car sick.
2. The strap padding is one solid piece, not one with "ventilation" holes which fill up with a horrible mix of food remains and vomit and are really difficult to clean.
3. The seat has a decent amount of padding so is comfortable.
In terms of safety, my view is that if you buy something new from a reputable manufacturer (Britax, Maxi Cosi etc.) safety will be covered to an adequate level anyway so less of a specific requirement to compare seats between.
1. The seat cover is easily removable - it will need cleaning regularly, particularly if the child gets car sick.
2. The strap padding is one solid piece, not one with "ventilation" holes which fill up with a horrible mix of food remains and vomit and are really difficult to clean.
3. The seat has a decent amount of padding so is comfortable.
In terms of safety, my view is that if you buy something new from a reputable manufacturer (Britax, Maxi Cosi etc.) safety will be covered to an adequate level anyway so less of a specific requirement to compare seats between.
ScotHill said:
How is belted safer than Isofix? Isofix was invented because too many car seats weren't installed correctly, and our son has managed to unclip the belt on at least one occasion.
I wouldn't worry about a car seat for an aeroplane, under 2s travel free so you'd just want them on your lap, over 2s will get a little lap belt anyway. I looked into a little lap sling thing for ours but ended up we didn't need it, they just slept on us when they needed to.
Because the belt on these wraps around and is clipped, so it can't be undone.I wouldn't worry about a car seat for an aeroplane, under 2s travel free so you'd just want them on your lap, over 2s will get a little lap belt anyway. I looked into a little lap sling thing for ours but ended up we didn't need it, they just slept on us when they needed to.
Isofix is for convenience and as you say because people can't belt things in properly.
In this case, its a safer seat than an isofix one. Not saying it goes for every belted seat
For exactly the same reasons as this:
https://www.britax-romer.co.uk/car-seats/toddler/e...
Highly reccomended from me - my lad is nearly 4 and this will last him till he needs nothing.
Mum has an ISOFIX in here car but I deliberately chose belted in as its much, much slimmer, smaller, lighter and it gets moved between cars a lot.
This particular model I purchased after reading lots of reviews and I reccomend if you want to use it in a sporty car - Its got a rounded, slim 'bottom' and it fits in the back of a 911, a C class coupe, or in an MX-5, and now spends most of its time in the passenger seat of my Lotus Elise - which is a tiny slim bucket seat.
Radec said:
The reason I went for it was basically you do have to buy a seat at different stages of the kids growing up.
With the above, its a stage 1, 2 and 3 seat so you can use it from 1 year to 12 years by stripping the padding away and it belts into the seat rather than isofix.
It's not that heavy either and I can get it in and out of the car in less than a minute.
I bought the following:With the above, its a stage 1, 2 and 3 seat so you can use it from 1 year to 12 years by stripping the padding away and it belts into the seat rather than isofix.
It's not that heavy either and I can get it in and out of the car in less than a minute.
https://www.britax-romer.co.uk/car-seats/toddler/e...
Highly reccomended from me - my lad is nearly 4 and this will last him till he needs nothing.
Mum has an ISOFIX in here car but I deliberately chose belted in as its much, much slimmer, smaller, lighter and it gets moved between cars a lot.
This particular model I purchased after reading lots of reviews and I reccomend if you want to use it in a sporty car - Its got a rounded, slim 'bottom' and it fits in the back of a 911, a C class coupe, or in an MX-5, and now spends most of its time in the passenger seat of my Lotus Elise - which is a tiny slim bucket seat.
a311 said:
I'm a fan of the swivel type
Remember this makes the seat bigger/chunkier for no benefit at all if your going to use it in a 3 or 2 door car. They tend to sit so high up and far forward compared to the fixed type you can lose a lot of space. My sister has one in the back of a Seat Leon and when swivelled back to forward, nephew is practically sitting behind the headrest of the front pax seat. Conversely the fixed one in my partners Mazda3 (so same size as the Leon), is low enough that our 3yr old boy can now climb up and into it and put his belts on himself. SkodaIan said:
the most important parts are:
1. The seat cover is easily removable - it will need cleaning regularly, particularly if the child gets car sick.
2. The strap padding is one solid piece, not one with "ventilation" holes which fill up with a horrible mix of food remains and vomit and are really difficult to clean.
Only if you let people eat in your car... 1. The seat cover is easily removable - it will need cleaning regularly, particularly if the child gets car sick.
2. The strap padding is one solid piece, not one with "ventilation" holes which fill up with a horrible mix of food remains and vomit and are really difficult to clean.
Dannbodge said:
In this case, its a safer seat than an isofix one.
In what way is it a safer seat, if both are installed correctly?--
I agree with some of the other posters, we had an isofix lift-out seat plus separate base when ours was a baby, which slotted into the buggy which was great, but 6 months plus we went with a belted seat that could face forwards and backwards and last until he's well into primary school: https://uk.joiebaby.com/product/every-stage/
We were given a rotating one-piece Isofix seat for our second baby and it weighs a ton, takes up more space and the rotating bit doesn't even work that well as you have to sit the chair up as far as it'll go before rotating it and the mechanism can be a bit sticky, I don't even bother any more.
Wow thanks for all the replies a lot of food for thought.
We want one 9 months to 12 years. Stage 1,2 and 3. Missus is saying should have one which can do forward and rear facing but from 15 months they can go forward facing. Hes nearly 14 months now so may just go forward.
The reclining tip and solid belt tip are good to know. We did do John Lewis for the original seat but wondered if there were any online comparison sites (with or without meerkat!)
I did look at Britax a while ago when looking for a t4 camper. I think they still do a model lap belt approved. Not sure I'd want baby on my lap for 23hr flight think we would purchase separate seat but suppose can just do the lap thing for take off, landing, what about when seatbelt light comes on?
We want one 9 months to 12 years. Stage 1,2 and 3. Missus is saying should have one which can do forward and rear facing but from 15 months they can go forward facing. Hes nearly 14 months now so may just go forward.
The reclining tip and solid belt tip are good to know. We did do John Lewis for the original seat but wondered if there were any online comparison sites (with or without meerkat!)
I did look at Britax a while ago when looking for a t4 camper. I think they still do a model lap belt approved. Not sure I'd want baby on my lap for 23hr flight think we would purchase separate seat but suppose can just do the lap thing for take off, landing, what about when seatbelt light comes on?
jimwilli said:
Not sure I'd want baby on my lap for 23hr flight think we would purchase separate seat but suppose can just do the lap thing for take off, landing, what about when seatbelt light comes on?
I would forget the flying thing for now, thats a seperate issue. Get a seat for your car/s.Ref flying - think carefully about taking a baby on a 23hr flight. And yes, having them on your lap is exactly what happens. Or rather, on your lap, crawling round the floor, under the seats, pulling the hair of the person in front, etc. For take-off and landing or for when the belt signs are on they sit on your lap and a belt extension goes around them.
I'm looking at the graco slim fit which seems to tick the boxes. I notice for reward facing you have to have the child out of the seat when belting them in but I'm guessing that's the same with all these combination rear facing seats? We like to put him in sideways in current baby seat then twist and belt in.
Quite heavy at around 8kg but probably won't be out and in much.
https://gracobaby.eu/uk/slimfit-combination-car-se...
Quite heavy at around 8kg but probably won't be out and in much.
https://gracobaby.eu/uk/slimfit-combination-car-se...
snotrag said:
I would forget the flying thing for now, thats a seperate issue. Get a seat for your car/s.
Ref flying - think carefully about taking a baby on a 23hr flight. And yes, having them on your lap is exactly what happens. Or rather, on your lap, crawling round the floor, under the seats, pulling the hair of the person in front, etc. For take-off and landing or for when the belt signs are on they sit on your lap and a belt extension goes around them.
I think you're right about keeping the 2 things separate. Like I said was when I was looking at lap belt campervans. Ref flying - think carefully about taking a baby on a 23hr flight. And yes, having them on your lap is exactly what happens. Or rather, on your lap, crawling round the floor, under the seats, pulling the hair of the person in front, etc. For take-off and landing or for when the belt signs are on they sit on your lap and a belt extension goes around them.
Unfortunately needs mist with the long haul travel. Got family in oz who we want to see at Xmas so can't really get around that. Will be 18 months then
Once a seat is fitted you don't really want to be undoing and redoing it all the time, adds more risk of doing something wrong or getting complacent about it. Any seat we've had you have to climb halfway into the car to belt it in so you may as well just lean in to strap the child in anyway.
All modern child seats from the major manufacturers are very good, and quite a few group-1 seats can be used with lap belts. I know as a parent it's natural to want the safest thing you can get for your child, but we're well into diminishing returns when it comes to child seats these days.
The key thing, as others have eluded to, is to make sure the seat is always properly fitted and adjusted. Various studies have found that the vast majority of non-isofix child seats are incorrectly fitted. The big advantage of isofix is not that it's actually safer, but that it's harder to get wrong.
The key thing, as others have eluded to, is to make sure the seat is always properly fitted and adjusted. Various studies have found that the vast majority of non-isofix child seats are incorrectly fitted. The big advantage of isofix is not that it's actually safer, but that it's harder to get wrong.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 9th June 17:23
Another vote for Recaro Young Sport Hero. Got ours from Halfords with a 10% discount code through work.
We had isofix for our newborn as it was just plain easier but as they get a lot bigger and heavier I just let him climb in and out and just buckle him up.
Our son is 95th percentile in height so he quickly outgrew his baby seat. The Recaro will last him untill he doesn't need a seat anymore.
We had isofix for our newborn as it was just plain easier but as they get a lot bigger and heavier I just let him climb in and out and just buckle him up.
Our son is 95th percentile in height so he quickly outgrew his baby seat. The Recaro will last him untill he doesn't need a seat anymore.
Edited by BricktopST205 on Thursday 9th June 17:41
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