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

Millem · 25-06-2018 03:31PM

Whirl_wolle wrote: »

At this stage I may need to take my eye of an isofix seat and go for a group 2/3 seat that will be installed with the seat belt but I will wait until I hear from incarsafety.

In car safety are great. I found the main guy in Belfast really pushed me for a harness rather than the HBB. Another lady in the Essex store said both were as safe.

TBH the seat you are looking at didn’t suit us as my son has a long body so harness would barely close on him at 3!!! The main guy to great lenths with measuring it.
Anyway they are the experts and will sort you out

fits · 25-06-2018 03:33PM

Mumnme in waterford are excellent also.

Whirl_wolle · 25-06-2018 05:53PM

Millem wrote: »

In car safety are great. I found the main guy in Belfast really pushed me for a harness rather than the HBB. Another lady in the Essex store said both were as safe.

TBH the seat you are looking at didn’t suit us as my son has a long body so harness would barely close on him at 3!!! The main guy to great lenths with measuring it.
Anyway they are the experts and will sort you out

It's a good thing I'm asking loads of questions here. That seat won't be suitable for us because I'm buying for a tall child.

Millem · 25-06-2018 06:32PM

Whirl_wolle wrote: »

It's a good thing I'm asking loads of questions here. That seat won't be suitable for us because I'm buying for a tall child.

At the time incarsafety have an 2 old ones which harness’ go up to 25kg! Anyway it wasn’t a runner

I am sure it is on this thread maybe a year ago! If your child has a short or normal size body it might be ok?

They are so so good and literally measured crotch straps and distances for me. The radian5 was also not a runner.

I have two old harness two way elites and wanted another harness seat up to 25kg for granny. I ended up getting a HBB for occasional use.

Whirl_wolle · 25-06-2018 06:33PM

Thank you so much for the incarsafety recommendation.

I got a reply back with two recommendations. One of them being the Britax envola SL sict. I watch a YouTube video of installation and this is exactly what I'm looking for. It has isofix but not like other seats. This isofix comes in a strap system which would make the seat lighter. The cars seat belt is threaded through the back too. It has a 5 point harness for the child. It converts to a booster once child is 18kg.
The Britax envola is what I'm looking for in a seat.

I would prefer a seat up to 25kg but from what I've seen online, they are few and require a top tether so I can't be fussy.

Reading a reply above about the Britax advanasfix, someone had a problem with the harness because their child was tall. I wonder would this problem exist in the Britax envola? Does anyone have experience of this seat and a tall child?

Millem · 30-06-2018 02:49PM

Had a look at a few isofix car seats 0-18kg today for Granny’s car.
I think she probably needs a swivel tbh.
So my options are:
dualfix (old one) £240 amazon
dualfix isize (new one)
joie spin €232 smyths, cheaper from uk?
cybex sirona m2 £228 amazon
reverso but not happy with shield FF
joie i anchor £170 pramsworld
joie everyday isofix

Am I missing any?
I have a maxfix already but want the option of FF if needed down the line.
Anyone got the sirona?

jlm29 · 30-06-2018 06:01PM

You’re missing the nuna rebl plus, and the cost and safe (?merlin). Are you looking for a swivel specifically, or just a seat that can front or rear face?

Millem · 30-06-2018 06:06PM

jlm29 wrote: »

You’re missing the nuna rebl plus, and the cost and safe (?merlin). Are you looking for a swivel specifically, or just a seat that can front or rear face?

Tbh I don’t know she complained about max fix 2 on older boy when he was 3!! I defo want one that goes in either direction though

Saw that merlin online but never heard of cozy and safe!!!!

Also I looked up reverso....no mention of a shield? mothercare told me you have to use a shield??

jlm29 · 30-06-2018 06:41PM

Obv you know that the I anchor doesn’t swivel, but can face either way. I didn’t think the recaro needed a shield!
I think, but am not certain that the joie spin has the biggest shell of the swivels!
There’s a klippan seat that can rear or forward face but it’s super expensive, and it’s not a swivel.

FurBabyMomma · 30-06-2018 06:43PM

lazygal wrote: »

Due number three and there's no combination of car seats that will fit across our Skoda Octavia without a squeeze I'm not happy with. Can anyone recommend a car that fits three across the back comfortably (we will have new one in extended rear facing until four once they outgrow baby seat) or any seven seater cars?

Just had this exact problem and had to get rid of our beloved Octavia! We got a 7 seater and chose the Peugeot 5008 as it has 3 full across the back. We were finding the majority of 7 seaters are actually 6.5 seaters, meaning one child would always be in the boot, so basically you lose the use of your boot which was a no-go for us. Think the Alhambra has 3 full seats too but it was out of our price range.

Millem · 30-06-2018 06:56PM

jlm29 wrote: »

Obv you know that the I anchor doesn’t swivel, but can face either way. I didn’t think the recaro needed a shield!
I think, but am not certain that the joie spin has the biggest shell of the swivels!
There’s a klippan seat that can rear or forward face but it’s super expensive, and it’s not a swivel.

yeah know i anchor doesnt swivel. gosh car seats would melt your head!!
I am thinking maybe reverso plus...it passed swedish plus test and goes to 23kg or the cybex one?
The baby was say 11kg at 8.5 months....don’t know is that heavy?

bee06 · 30-06-2018 07:41PM

Millem wrote: »

yeah know i anchor doesnt swivel. gosh car seats would melt your head!!
I am thinking maybe reverso plus...it passed swedish plus test and goes to 23kg or the cybex one?
The baby was say 11kg at 8.5 months....don’t know is that heavy?

You can check the percentiles using the HSE growth charts using the link below (it’s the 2nd file for both boy and girl). I can’t remember if you have a boy or girl but a boy @ 8.5 months that is 11kg is just under the 98th percentile. So assuming he held the same growth rate would outgrow the standard 18kg limit seat at around 3.

Just to add, the reverso still has a height limit of 105cm (same as the 18kg seats) so if you have a tall child it won’t last any longer despite the higher weight limit. And I don’t think it can ff because one of the requirements of the Swedish plus test is the seat is rear facing only (but maybe I’m wrong on that)

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/child/growthmonitoring/#charts

Millem · 30-06-2018 08:41PM

bee06 wrote: »

Millem wrote: »

yeah know i anchor doesnt swivel. gosh car seats would melt your head!!
I am thinking maybe reverso plus...it passed swedish plus test and goes to 23kg or the cybex one?
The baby was say 11kg at 8.5 months....don’t know is that heavy?

You can check the percentiles using the HSE growth charts using the link below (it’s the 2nd file for both boy and girl). I can’t remember if you have a boy or girl but a boy @ 8.5 months that is 11kg is just under the 98th percentile. So assuming he held the same growth rate would outgrow the standard 18kg limit seat at around 3.

Just to add, the reverso still has a height limit of 105cm (same as the 18kg seats) so if you have a tall child it won’t last any longer despite the higher weight limit. And I don’t think it can ff because one of the requirements of the Swedish plus test is the seat is rear facing only (but maybe I’m wrong on that)

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/child/growthmonitoring/#charts

I remember that (about swedish plus test) years ago when buying erf seats for my older boy but it must of changed? Hakan has on his website it has passed it!

I am not really concerned about height too much....isize it is what it is! I have 2 tall erf seats that go to 25kg and tethered but I really need isofix for Granny.

jlm29 · 30-06-2018 08:42PM

Millem can you still get the rekid? I know you can only use isofix to 18kg, but at least you can belt it after that if you need to, and the shell is very tall

bee06 · 30-06-2018 08:51PM

Millem wrote: »

I remember that (about swedish plus test) years ago when buying erf seats for my older boy but it must of changed? Hakan has on his website it has passed it!

I am not really concerned about height too much....isize it is what it is! I have 2 tall erf seats that go to 25kg and tethered but I really need isofix for Granny.

Maybe it has or maybe I’m misunderstanding the section where it talks about it on the axkid website.

https://www.axkid.com/plus-test/

Millem · 30-06-2018 08:56PM

jlm29 wrote: »

Millem can you still get the rekid? I know you can only use isofix to 18kg, but at least you can belt it after that if you need to, and the shell is very tall

Great thinking!
I remember posting it maybe 2 years ago on bargains they had reduced them heavily. Can’t find any...,,they took up alot of space though....

Found one that can be delivered here £259....from a scottish company “little peas”. Never heard of them though.

Flip though the rekid could turn forward? I would like that option as had to turn older boy when I was pregnant...couldn’t lift him.

mjj · 30-06-2018 09:05PM

Hi all!! Due first baby at the end of September, confused about which car seat to go for. Was looking at Maxi Cosi Cabriofix and BeSafe izi go x1. I was leaning towards the besafe because of the 5 point harness but when I was doing a bit of research online I see that neither of them are isize. Does this rule them out? What would people recommend? I know maxi Cosi are popular, is there another one I should look at in the range?

bee06 · 30-06-2018 09:15PM

mjj wrote: »

Hi all!! Due first baby at the end of September, confused about which car seat to go for. Was looking at Maxi Cosi Cabriofix and BeSafe izi go x1. I was leaning towards the besafe because of the 5 point harness but when I was doing a bit of research online I see that neither of them are isize. Does this rule them out? What would people recommend? I know maxi Cosi are popular, is there another one I should look at in the range?

You don’t have to get an i-size seat. At the moment I-size regulations and the older ones are running side by size. http://www.madeformums.com/reviews-and-shopping/shopping-guides/i-size-child-car-seats---what-you-need-to-know/37718.html

I don’t have any experience of the seats you mentioned but have read that the cabriofix performs very well in testing. I have the Joie I-Gemm which is I-size. It’s a great seat but the only downside is it’s quite heavy (over a kg heavier than the cabriofix). My little boy is 6 months now and I’m struggling to lift it in and out of the car.

Millem · 30-06-2018 09:20PM

mjj wrote: »

Hi all!! Due first baby at the end of September, confused about which car seat to go for. Was looking at Maxi Cosi Cabriofix and BeSafe izi go x1. I was leaning towards the besafe because of the 5 point harness but when I was doing a bit of research online I see that neither of them are isize. Does this rule them out? What would people recommend? I know maxi Cosi are popular, is there another one I should look at in the range?

I had/have both! Besafe on first boy and maxi cosi on second. Getting much longer out if maxi cosi. Besafe has a 5 point harness....maxi cosi 3 point.
I had to move first boy from besafe at 7 months....this fella is 10 months and still in maxi cosi.

Also have a bugaboo cameleon....the adapters are a NIGHTMARE for besafe.

If I planned to leave seat in car I would look into a lie flat one? Bella baby have them half price at mo. They are heavier than normal seat.....hence the leaving them in the car!!

jlm29 · 01-07-2018 12:27AM

Millem, sorry, it can’t turn forward, but neither can the concord??
It’s such a minefield!

I have a cabriofix, I feel it’s much roomier than the be-safe! My little guy is one, but had plenty space in it, and he isn’t small! I’d also get one that can either be belted or isofix personally!

Millem · 01-07-2018 12:35AM

jlm29 wrote: »

Millem, sorry, it can’t turn forward, but neither can the concord??
It’s such a minefield!

Omg!!! They told me in mothercare it could!! They are so so so bad in there

They told me you have to use a shield FF!!! Desperate

I just want the forward option in case I can’t lift him if I am pregnant!!

jlm29 · 01-07-2018 01:18AM

When you’re talking about the reverso, are you mixing it up it the recaro? Sorry, I’m your original post about swivels I didn’t cop this!
The reverso is plus tested, 23kg isofix, and only rf. The recaro zero is an 18kg swivel seat- I didn’t think it needed a shield, but I know that some recaro seats do, so could be wrong on that!
Tbh, if it’s not going to be used lots and lots, and you really want one that will also ff, I’d just buy the joie spin, as it’s the most reasonably priced. People seem to like it when they get it!

Millem · 01-07-2018 08:16AM

jlm29 wrote: »

When you’re talking about the reverso, are you mixing it up it the recaro? Sorry, I’m your original post about swivels I didn’t cop this!
The reverso is plus tested, 23kg isofix, and only rf. The recaro zero is an 18kg swivel seat- I didn’t think it needed a shield, but I know that some recaro seats do, so could be wrong on that!
Tbh, if it’s not going to be used lots and lots, and you really want one that will also ff, I’d just buy the joie spin, as it’s the most reasonably priced. People seem to like it when they get it!

No it was the reverso as it went up to 23kg. It came down to 3 seats......reverso, dualifix or sirona. They were all a good €400+ in mothercare.
Just shows you how bad they were!
She said all seats were isize so you need to turn them forward at 2!!! I knew that was wrong but didn’t waste my time arguing!!

Seat is for Granny but she goes on m50 so I would like a safe seat!

jlm29 · 01-07-2018 11:28AM

Oh great, I didn’t know they had started doing the reverso. It’s great that they have started doing more rear facing seats. But it’s a pity they don’t train their staff. None of the ones you’re looking at are plus tested as they can ff, they’re probably all as safe as each other really!

Millem · 01-07-2018 12:45PM

jlm29 wrote: »

Oh great, I didn’t know they had started doing the reverso. It’s great that they have started doing more rear facing seats. But it’s a pity they don’t train their staff. None of the ones you’re looking at are plus tested as they can ff, they’re probably all as safe as each other really!

omg their staff are so so so bad!!!!!!
Mothercare even have minikid and twe!!! Great selection in fairness!!

I emailed incarsafety to see what they suggest! Have to keep Granny happy you know yourself

J.pilkington · 01-07-2018 12:54PM

Millem wrote: »

omg their staff are so so so bad!!!!!!
Mothercare even have minikid and twe!!! Great selection in fairness!!

I emailed incarsafety to see what they suggest! Have to keep Granny happy you know yourself

That’s large uk chains for you. Aside for disinterested staff i always found mothercare useless for things like car seats because of their location, either high street or buried in large shopping centres. Try an Irish chain and you’ll get more passionate hands on staff, there are plenty of them about who are either similarly priced or will match. Where are you located?

Millem · 01-07-2018 01:17PM

J.pilkington wrote: »

That’s large uk chains for you. Aside for disinterested staff i always found mothercare useless for things like car seats because of their location, either high street or buried in large shopping centres. Try an Irish chain and you’ll get more passionate hands on staff, there are plenty of them about who are either similarly priced or will match. Where are you located?

I am in Dublin! I was just in carrickmines by myself (rare occurrence!!) so said I would look at the seats!
I think it was a summer job for the girls!!
I find kealys good but hate the walkinstown roundabout!!!

Lazygal this might help you on 3 seats across the back!! We are in the early stages of looking.....husband tells me apparently there is a mercedes estate with two seats in the boot?

http://erfmission.com/car-seats-3-across-in-the-backseat/[\url]

chocfan · 03-07-2018 09:20PM

Hi Millem

Just to let you know in case you're still looking that we got a Concord Reverso Plus for our now 3 year old and love it. Nowhere in Ireland was selling it at the time but I just spotted that you said Mothercare have it for €400. We got it from the Concord site on Amazon from the UK and it came to €250. They had a sale at the time but I just looked there and it's definitely cheaper than Mothercare etc

It had to come via ParcelMotel and had to be collected at a depot so there is that fee too but way cheaper overall. Really well padded etc when it arrived. Really happy with it, would recommend

Millem · 03-07-2018 09:47PM

chocfan wrote: »

Hi Millem

Just to let you know in case you're still looking that we got a Concord Reverso Plus for our now 3 year old and love it. Nowhere in Ireland was selling it at the time but I just spotted that you said Mothercare have it for €400. We got it from the Concord site on Amazon from the UK and it came to €250. They had a sale at the time but I just looked there and it's definitely cheaper than Mothercare etc

It had to come via ParcelMotel and had to be collected at a depot so there is that fee too but way cheaper overall. Really well padded etc when it arrived. Really happy with it, would recommend

Oh Brill thanks a million that was super value! The best price I found was £229 online! Incarsafety said it takes up too much space?? I do think it is probably the best as it has higher weight limit. What car do you have it in?

Incar (not the men I usually deal with) recommended dualfix or sirona m2.

Joie spin is not approved in Granny’s car!! Don’t think i anchor is either but not 100%! Reading some very dodgey things about it anyway

chocfan · 03-07-2018 10:02PM

Millem wrote: »

Oh Brill thanks a million that was super value! The best price I found was £229 online! Incarsafety said it takes up too much space?? I do think it is probably the best as it has higher weight limit. What car do you have it in?

Incar (not the men I usually deal with) recommended dualfix or sirona m2.

Joie spin is not approved in Granny’s car!! Don’t think i anchor is either but not 100%! Reading some very dodgey things about it anyway

I did lots of research at the time like it sounds like you're doing and I decided it was the seat I wanted most as it seemed to tick all the safety features I wanted and the higher weight limit etc. I also think the fact it's i-size is handy. I know it's not a mandatory requirement for cars yet but my thinking when I was buying was it might be down the line and if there's any more kids, I don't want to have to fork out for another seat when I could just get it now!

I have a Peugeot 508 which is a decent size saloon I suppose. Trying to picture is the back seat in it bigger than other cars but I don't really think it is. There's definitely plenty of room for a passenger in front of it. We have a baby seat in the back as well with an isofix base etc and you probably wouldn't fit a seat in between them but I think there's very few cars you'd manage that with (and I don't know your situation but it mightn't even be something you'd need)

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

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