Car Seat Mega Thread! Please post all your car seat questions here!

Speedy2009 · 16-01-2017 10:13AM

Thanks for all the replies above
It seems crazy that there is such a limited choice !
No wonder families have got smaller...
We had a mondeo in the past so might have a look at the newer models
Will take a look at those seat recommendations too

Can you share some of the Facebook group names and I might try there too

Thanks!

jlm29 · 16-01-2017 02:39PM

Speedy2009 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies above
It seems crazy that there is such a limited choice !
No wonder families have got smaller...
We had a mondeo in the past so might have a look at the newer models
Will take a look at those seat recommendations too

Can you share some of the Facebook group names and I might try there too

Thanks!

Are your older kids rear or forward facing? The most active fb car seat group I know is an extended rf one

Weyhey · 16-01-2017 02:54PM

Tried out the Axkid minikid in an Opel Astra but it was so upright even in fully reclined mode. Sales person in Tony Kealy’s said there was a wedge you can get and they would ring me back when the car seat expert was in as he would know if it helped. They never rang back. I googled it and some people said the Minikid was just too upright for them.

Anyone any views on using the minikid with the wedge and how much extra the front seat will need to be pushed forward?

What other ERF should I look at for my nearly 2 year old in our small car? I have a Britax TWE but don’t like it (head rolling when asleep and too easy to move out of place) and was considering the Concord Reverso Plus but because of loosening harness / strap issue I ruled it out.

jlm29 · 16-01-2017 03:12PM

Weyhey wrote: »

Tried out the Axkid minikid in an Opel Astra but it was so upright even in fully reclined mode. Sales person in Tony Kealy’s said there was a wedge you can get and they would ring me back when the car seat expert was in as he would know if it helped. They never rang back. I googled it and some people said the Minikid was just too upright for them.

Anyone any views on using the minikid with the wedge and how much extra the front seat will need to be pushed forward?

What other ERF should I look at for my nearly 2 year old in our small car? I have a Britax TWE but don’t like it (head rolling when asleep and too easy to move out of place) and was considering the Concord Reverso Plus but because of loosening harness / strap issue I ruled it out.

You could email hakan in car seat.se, he's very helpful with questions like yours. FYI, he did tell me that the minikid is one of the most compact, in terms of front passenger space. I have heard from others that the maxway is quite compact also.
The rsa guy who fitted my minikid told me that the wedge would give me 10deg extra recline. You might be able to work out from that how much further forward you would need to put the seat. In my car it was the whole way, which would have made that seat unusable

Millem · 17-01-2017 08:23AM

Weyhey I have my twe in recline position (it takes up more space) and head not flopping forward.

Maxway is sold in kealys....it's fab and takes up no space

max fix2 but it is isofix so only good until 18kg. Axkid have a new seat out....more compact than minikid. Can't remember the name and cheaper

You can get a wedge/angle thing for radian5 too but I found that seat too confusing.

Shefwedfan · 04-03-2017 09:09AM

Looking for recommendations, have Leaf out on test drive. I currently have 2 car seats installed and they fit in perfect, but we have another one on the way

No point buying the car if I cant get 3 car seats in. Does anyone know which car seats would fit into a car this size?

Any recommendations? Thanks

Anne_cordelia · 04-03-2017 09:15AM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Looking for recommendations, have Leaf out on test drive. I currently have 2 car seats installed and they fit in perfect, but we have another one on the way

No point buying the car if I cant get 3 car seats in. Does anyone know which car seats would fit into a car this size?

Any recommendations? Thanks

Are you in Dublin? Just go to Tony Kealys

Shefwedfan · 04-03-2017 09:19AM

Anne_cordelia wrote: »

Are you in Dublin? Just go to Tony Kealys

They sent around email before saying something about 25 euro for car seat testing?

I just want to know if possible, only 48 hour test drive

Anne_cordelia · 04-03-2017 09:29AM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

They sent around email before saying something about 25 euro for car seat testing?

I just want to know if possible, only 48 hour test drive

No way! I've been to them a few times and was never charged. To be honest, I would get professional advice though as it's just a huge purchase you don't want to get it wrong. It depends on the ages of your children and some kids literally don't suit certain car seats so it's impossible to get this advice on the internet.

jlm29 · 04-03-2017 09:59AM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

They sent around email before saying something about 25 euro for car seat testing?

I just want to know if possible, only 48 hour test drive

They won't charge if you're looking at seats to buy one there. What they're charging for is installing rear facing seats that weren't purchased there. Previously they fit any seat for free, no matter where it was purchased, which was incredibly generous, but a lot of people were buying seats online and going in for fitting, leaving actual customers in the shop waiting and getting annoyed. So now they charge for installation of seats not bought from them

Moonbeam · 04-03-2017 02:15PM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Looking for recommendations, have Leaf out on test drive. I currently have 2 car seats installed and they fit in perfect, but we have another one on the way

No point buying the car if I cant get 3 car seats in. Does anyone know which car seats would fit into a car this size?

Any recommendations? Thanks

In reality there are very few cars that you can get 3 car seats in to the back safely, How old are the children?
3 kids normally needs 3 full size back seats.

jlm29 · 04-03-2017 02:47PM

The diono radian 5 is one of the narrowest seats, and the britax adventurer is one of the slimmest high back booster. They'd be your best bet to try, Tony Kealy should stock both

Shefwedfan · 04-03-2017 03:23PM

Moonbeam wrote: »

In reality there are very few cars that you can get 3 car seats in to the back safely, How old are the children?
3 kids normally needs 3 full size back seats.

It will be 4, 2 and baba

For the car it might be 1% of the time I would need all 3 in it, is it possible or do I need to look at putting into front?

Currently have Axiss and something similar to below
http://www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/baby/c-586/car-seats-booster/p-13760/spider-man-beline-group-1-2-3/

jlm29 · 04-03-2017 04:40PM

Shefwedfan wrote: »

It will be 4, 2 and baba

For the car it might be 1% of the time I would need all 3 in it, is it possible or do I need to look at putting into front?

Currently have Axiss and something similar to below
http://www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/baby/c-586/car-seats-booster/p-13760/spider-man-beline-group-1-2-3/

It's fine to have one in the front so long as they're on an appropriate seat. If rear facing, turn off the airbag.

Cunning Stunt · 06-03-2017 07:47PM

Hi everyone - I have a quick question

We have a Recaro F1000k carseat for our 3 year old and the 5 point harness does not fit him anymore. Looking at the manual, it says to remove the harness and use the normal car seatbelt with the seat instead. I watched a video of it on youtube (link below for anyone interested).

I am just wondering if its correct now that the carseat just sits on the backseat, not secured at all - I mean the car seatbelt used to hold it in place at the back, but now that goes around the child in the seat instead, so basically the seat can move around until you put the child in? wouldn't this mean that if I jammed on the breaks, both the child and the carseat would be pushed against the belt? Do you know what I mean? Just seems a bit unsafe to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g82BsDXmNEE

sillysocks · 06-03-2017 09:10PM

Don't know that exact seat but guessing you mean now you're using it as a high back booster. But yes that's how the seats are once they're turned into boosters. They're only secured by seat belt when closed. The one thing about those is if you're driving without the child you're meant to close the seat belt anyway so the seat can't burst forward into the front in an accident, makes total sense but I wonder how many people actually do (guilty of not doing it here anyway!)

Cunning Stunt · 07-03-2017 05:25PM

Thanks for that and yes - Totally guilty of not buckling it up when it's empty now that you mention it!! :O

sillysocks · 07-03-2017 05:48PM

If you bring the car to the Nct they fail it for that! I did it and when guy came out and said I failed I wasn't happy.... then he told me the reason and thankfully he was decent and said 'but if you were to go out now and fix it and I come back out in two minutes and it's sorted then you'll pass'!

Cunning Stunt · 08-03-2017 01:27PM

Yes I can see that it makes total sense - just wasnt used to doing that since it used to be strapped to the seat.... Have to try to remember now anytime he gets out of it, to buckle it again straightaway.

jelenitza · 15-03-2017 01:35AM

Hi everyone, a quick question.

Our little one is 10 months old now and we're looking for a new rear facing seat, preferably i-Size one. He is very tall (98%) - around 80cm at the moment so I guess we would like to get something that would last till he's 4. We tried Cybex Sirona but it seems there is not enough room for growth, although he looks very comfortable in it. Joie Spin 360 looks comfy enough, but I'm worried because it's not an i-Size seat..

Does anyone have any experience with Jané Gravity? I can't find any decent reviews, just a few YouTube videos.. The company seems to have a lot of crash testing going on and the seat is 340 euro so much better than other more expensive alternatives..

Thanks!

Millem · 15-03-2017 07:27AM

jelenitza wrote: »

Hi everyone, a quick question.

Our little one is 10 months old now and we're looking for a new rear facing seat, preferably i-Size one. He is very tall (98%) - around 80cm at the moment so I guess we would like to get something that would last till he's 4. We tried Cybex Sirona but it seems there is not enough room for growth, although he looks very comfortable in it. Joie Spin 360 looks comfy enough, but I'm worried because it's not an i-Size seat..

Does anyone have any experience with Jané Gravity? I can't find any decent reviews, just a few YouTube videos.. The company seems to have a lot of crash testing going on and the seat is 340 euro so much better than other more expensive alternatives..

Thanks!

If your child is tall i would avoid any seat they only goes to 18kg. Look at one that goes to 25kg. It won't be isize or isofix but will last you. There is one seat though the rekid that is isofix up to 18kg then tethers up to 25kg.

For future proofing for a tall child your best bet is the two way elite or minikid.

rainbow kirby · 15-03-2017 10:32AM

If you have a tall kid (we do - 98th percentile height) then avoiding iSize seats can be worthwhile. A boy on the 98th or higher percentile will hit 105cm just after his third birthday, too early to go into a HBB!

jlm29 · 15-03-2017 11:18AM

I'd recommend the axkid minikid, its belted, but fab, and it (along with the two way elite) has the tallest seat shell of any erf. It's Swedish plus tested, so very safe. My 5 and a half year old, who is 98centile for height can fit in his little brothers, with growing space.

scarepanda · 16-03-2017 10:52AM

Ok, so we're looking at stage 1 carseat for our little one. she's 7 months and keeping small, but won't stay asleep anymore when the car stops and we rarely carry the car seat anywhere any more, so we don't get the benefits (other than safety of course) from using the stage 1 seat. And as it's a borrowed one, I'd like to return it asap.

So, we've been looking at the maxi cosi axiss plus and the Joie spin. I want a seat that i can swivel and these are the two that seem to be good. So, I'm wondering if anyone has any opinions on which is better/they prefer etc? Any other swivel seats that you can recommend?

Anne_cordelia · 16-03-2017 12:17PM

scarepanda wrote: »

Ok, so we're looking at stage 1 carseat for our little one. she's 7 months and keeping small, but won't stay asleep anymore when the car stops and we rarely carry the car seat anywhere any more, so we don't get the benefits (other than safety of course) from using the stage 1 seat. And as it's a borrowed one, I'd like to return it asap.

So, we've been looking at the maxi cosi axiss plus and the Joie spin. I want a seat that i can swivel and these are the two that seem to be good. So, I'm wondering if anyone has any opinions on which is better/they prefer etc? Any other swivel seats that you can recommend?

Ok firstly at 7 months the safest place for your baby is in the infant car seat so I would urge you to keep using that for another few months at least particularly if your baby is small. The Swedish Plus tested seats are the safest seats on the market. Rear facing until age 4 is 5 times safer than forward facing. Swivel isn't necessary with extended rear facing seats as it's easier to get baby/toddler in and out.

jlm29 · 16-03-2017 01:01PM

If you definitely want swivel, you have a few options once your car has isofix. The axisfix isn't a true extended rear facing seat, if you want to rear face for longer, if only goes to about age two. I'd be inclined to avoid that one!
the britax dualfix is popular, but has a short enough seat shell I think. There's also the recaro zero one, and the nuna real plus. There's a couple of others too, but those ones are quite popular!

Millem · 23-03-2017 09:47PM

Hi all,

Have been very sick (still am) so still haven't managed to order new seat. The new advansafix only goes to 18kg harnessed now.

So I need to either buy old advansafix (very hard to track down) or radian5.
Incarsafety are a bit apprehensive on the advansafix as they don't think I will get long out of harness due to height not weight. Price on both is very similar.
Does anyone have a radian5 ff? I found it a nightmare in rearward mode. If so how do you find it?
Any idea on predicted weight of kids? On 3rd birthday my son was 19kg.....radian5 goes up to 25kg.

Thanks

jlm29 · 23-03-2017 11:34PM

Millem wrote: »

Hi all,

Have been very sick (still am) so still haven't managed to order new seat. The new advansafix only goes to 18kg harnessed now.
So I need to either buy old advansafix (very hard to track down) or radian5.
Incarsafety are a bit apprehensive on the advansafix as they don't think I will get long out of harness due to height not weight. Price on both is very similar.
Does anyone have a radian5 ff? I found it a nightmare in rearward mode. If so how do you find it?
Any idea on predicted weight of kids? On 3rd birthday my son was 19kg.....radian5 goes up to 25kg.

Thanks

I have nothing too useful to tell you Millem, I've only ever glanced at the radian 5 in TK. It's on special offer on amazon at the moment though, so if you go with that you might be able to
save a few €€.
According to the growth chart on the hse website, your boy is between 98th and 99th centile (if I'm reading it right, I'm on my phone, so squinting a bit!!). If he continues to track on the same line, he would be around 22kg on his 4th birthday, but his growth could start to slow down. My 5 year old was around 99th centile for height and weight, and he weighs about 22kg now, and has done for a good while. The hse growth charts online are only for 0-4yrs though, so no info beyond that!

Millem · 24-03-2017 07:41AM

jlm29 wrote: »

I have nothing too useful to tell you Millem, I've only ever glanced at the radian 5 in TK. It's on special offer on amazon at the moment though, so if you go with that you might be able to
save a few €€.
According to the growth chart on the hse website, your boy is between 98th and 99th centile (if I'm reading it right, I'm on my phone, so squinting a bit!!). If he continues to track on the same line, he would be around 22kg on his 4th birthday, but his growth could start to slow down. My 5 year old was around 99th centile for height and weight, and he weighs about 22kg now, and has done for a good while. The hse growth charts online are only for 0-4yrs though, so no info beyond that!

Thanks jlm! I saw those charts but couldn't see anything past 4yrs!
I am put of loop with bargains as have been so sick!! It was apparently only £158 in jan on amazon

I turned the twe ff the other day. It keeps sloping to the right rearward and driving me crazy. Can't lift him out as am pregnant. Was trying to let him out other door but can't in a lot of scenarios!!!

Shefwedfan · 26-03-2017 09:09PM

jlm29 wrote: »

A diono radian five is one of the narrowest group one seats, btw! And I think a britax adventurer is the narrowest hbb.

Thanks, from what I can see the Britax is 44 x 44 x 67

I was recommended by a friend Kinderkraft Expander Booster Isofix Car Seat, I checked and the size is 66cm(H) x 41cm(W) x 43cm(L)

Anyone have experience of it?

Car Seat Mega Thread! Please post all your car seat questions here!

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