Advice on car seat wanted!

mrsberries

My sister has kindly donated her car seat to us - we are due the end of March! Its a Graco and she used it 5 years ago. She has assured me she had no tips in the car or anything that would create a fault with the seat and I trust her on this.

Im just wondering should we be looking for a base for it (if available!) to ensure its extra secure. Our car is too old to have an isofix but i believe you can get bases the seats click into? Im pretty clueless about this stuff so any advice very welcome - thanks!

How Strange

mrsberries, we were advised at the intro ante-natal class to get a car seat and base (if necessary) to fit your car and don't just buy any seat or take a second hand one. Apparently 70% of car seats are fitted incorrectly or are not suitable for the cars they are installed in.

You can bring your car to any reputable baby equipment store and they will tell you what seat suits your car.

We bought lots of things second hand but the one thing we spent money on was getting the correct seat and base for our car.

Acoshla

How Strange can I just ask in what they said car seats mightn't be suitable for a car? I just ask because I used to work in a store selling car seats and as there are really only two types (isofix and non-isofix, easy-base I think it is sometimes called) I'm just wondering how they explained it? Because from what I was told at work as long as it is secured correctly into the car, be it by a base or by the seat belt, most car seats work in most cars, as in the bases are the only difference.

Mrsberries just to answer about the base and to kind of repeat what How Strange said, if you brought your car and car seat to any store that sold Graco carseats they could tell you A. If they had a base it would fit into correctly and B. If you would be better off with a new car seat. I'm not sure about Graco but Maxi Cosi and Teutonia car seats have a non isofix option for cars that don't have the isofix fittings, some new cars still don't have them so it can still be an option.

LordSutch

Most car seats are just fine (if properly belted in), some are sturdier than others, some wider fitting, but I suggest you also consider if it fits in with 'your' travel system (pram)! If you buy a Maxi Cosi car seat it will click into the Quinny & Mothercare travel systems, suggest you bear this in mind, otherwise you might be carrying the car seat with baby round Tesco for months, without wheels

Different brands, compatible with different travel systems.

How Strange

Spadina, we have a 11 yr old focus and the easi cosi with iso fix base (not the welded in one) is the only option for us. I asked if we could use the same seat in my mothers car, a primera, and was told no because of how the seat belts are desinged in that type of car. We went to Tony Kealys. They gave us the advice, fitted a demo model with no obligation to buy from them.

Apparently some cars are better than
others but the focus and primera are notorious for being incompatible with most car seats. You live and learn!

Das Kitty

It's not only car accidents that can damage car seats. Being dropped can too, or it taking a hard knock against a wall or somesuch.

OP, unless the cat seat is specifically designed to slot into a base, it can't be used with one. We got a belted one and after a bit of initial mithering getting it in and out it was just as quick. More trouble now unstrapping him from his larger seat!

Redpunto

I think the plastic can warp over time as well, if you can afford it Id buy a new car seat. I wont be using my 5 years olds old car seat for this new little one.

mrsberries

thanks everyone, think new car seat it is so. Cant take any chances with this precious one

January

I think some car seats have use by dates? Because the plastic deteriorates over a certain period?
www.epinions.com/content_4753956996

kezimus

Hey Mrsberries, I'm sure you've already sorted yourselves out by now but I just wanted to drop a line to say that it's probably a Graco Junior Baby that your sister gave you and the base that goes with that is a Graco AutoBaby Base, it's non-isofix, belt fastening and really makes life a helluva lot easier than strapping it in and out every time! It's usually around €40, I work in a place that sells them but I don't want to be touting the wares!

mrsberries

Thanks Kezimus - only seeing this now. Ended up buying a maxi cosi Pebble as we'll be using a Quinny. Turns out only theres only an isofix only base that suits the Pebble so wont be getting a base as its an old car. Was a bit disappointed but happy i didnt go with the old car seat in the end and asked you wise folks here!!!

Thanks all for the advice

Turbulent Bill

For anyone who gets donated a car seat, I'd recommend getting the fit checked in your car by a specialist. We went to Tony Kealy's in Walkinstown, did a great job free-of-charge. As it turned out the donated seat didn't fit properly in either of our old non-Isofix cars (they explained why, obvious when pointed out), and we ended up getting a base and new seat that fits perfectly in both cars.

I don't buy having a use-by date for car seats, at least in Ireland. Plastic usually becomes brittle due to excessive UV light exposure, not likely to happen here. I might be more worried if we had Californian weather, but if the history of a 2nd-hand seat checks out I'd be happy to use it.