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

sulli

ThAnks Millem, only problem I see with the britax two way is that there seems to be no head support? We do a long drive of about 4 hours every couple of months to Kerry and he sleeps a bit so I've read the head can flop? I saw max way but for some reason it didn't look as comfortable as the other seats!! Would like one that reclines as its a long spin...obviously we stop a long the way!!!

I like the besafe Izi plus but too big so wondering how smaller the combi is and is it good?

Also, when it says Rearward facing in Group 0+ car seat suitable from 0 - 13kg (approx 0 - 15 months) and Forward facing in Group 1 mode suitable from 9 - 18kg (approx. 9 months –4 years)......does that mean it can only be rear facing until 13kg?

Millem

sulli wrote: »

ThAnks Millem, only problem I see with the britax two way is that there seems to be no head support? We do a long drive of about 4 hours every couple of months to Kerry and he sleeps a bit so I've read the head can flop? I saw max way but for some reason it didn't look as comfortable as the other seats!! Would like one that reclines as its a long spin...obviously we stop a long the way!!!

I like the besafe Izi plus but too big so wondering how smaller the combi is and is it good?

Also, when it says Rearward facing in Group 0+ car seat suitable from 0 - 13kg (approx 0 - 15 months) and Forward facing in Group 1 mode suitable from 9 - 18kg (approx. 9 months –4 years)......does that mean it can only be rear facing until 13kg?

There is a head support accessory that you buy extra for the two way elite. Yes I think it means you turn it forward at 13kg.

Ocean Blue

Moonbeam wrote: »

No direct experience with it but http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britax-First-Class-Toddler-Thunder/dp/B009O1P1YQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420823878&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=ritax+First+Class+Plus it is only 75 pounds on Amazon atm.

Just on this - when you go to purchase the price is actually £81.?? Sterling so about €104. On boots it's available for €99.99 and if you spend over €100 on prams/carseats/carriers there is an extra 10% off so as I was buying multiple I got them for €89.99 each. Great price!

http://www.boots.ie/en/Britax-First-Class-Plus-Car-Seat-Black-Thunder_1291862/?stop_mobi=yes

sulli

so after ringing the crowd in incarsafety cenre in Belfast, come to the conclusion that for us the Britax Max Way is the best option for us!!! Will pick it up the weekend now at Kealys! came down to the Max Way, Hi Way and 2 way elite and from listening to them the Hi Way wouldn't really last to the 25kgs more like 18 whereas the Max Way will. Then the 2 way elite wouldn't have the same side impact protection as the Max Way. There was a third choice the minikid but was informed that as the baby gets older it can be a tight fit getting in and out!!! Decision Made

Millem

sulli wrote: »

so after ringing the crowd in incarsafety cenre in Belfast, come to the conclusion that for us the Britax Max Way is the best option for us!!! Will pick it up the weekend now at Kealys! came down to the Max Way, Hi Way and 2 way elite and from listening to them the Hi Way wouldn't really last to the 25kgs more like 18 whereas the Max Way will. Then the 2 way elite wouldn't have the same side impact protection as the Max Way. There was a third choice the minikid but was informed that as the baby gets older it can be a tight fit getting in and out!!! Decision Made

That is great I would of gotten the max way but it has a supporting leg. I looked into the side impact on the TWE and I wouldn't agree myself in fact I asked incarsafetycentre about it. The TWE is pretty much the same seat as my other one which is the max fix (which passed Swedish plus test). The TWE can't be tested nor can the 2way pearl or dualfix because they have the option of going forward.

It is such a relief getting the car seat sorted.

evolving_doors

Ocean Blue wrote: »

Just on this - when you go to purchase the price is actually £81.?? Sterling so about €104. On boots it's available for €99.99 and if you spend over €100 on prams/carseats/carriers there is an extra 10% off so as I was buying multiple I got them for €89.99 each. Great price!

http://www.boots.ie/en/Britax-First-Class-Plus-Car-Seat-Black-Thunder_1291862/?stop_mobi=yes

I hear mention of a possible upcoming 75% off sale on in boots (theres a thread in bargain alerts at the mo.). Might be worth checking to see if car seats are in there. (Or NAPPPPPPPIEES)

Read the thread carefully though as boots ireland are a bit scatty..
http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057355802/1/#post93704656

sulli

Millem wrote: »

That is great I would of gotten the max way but it has a supporting leg. I looked into the side impact on the TWE and I wouldn't agree myself in fact I asked incarsafetycentre about it. The TWE is pretty much the same seat as my other one which is the max fix (which passed Swedish plus test). The TWE can't be tested nor can the 2way pearl or dualfix because they have the option of going forward.

It is such a relief getting the car seat sorted.

Why against the supporting leg? Ah i see around the TWE, but you have to have the seat up against it the whole time whereas the Max Way you need to have a gap when fitted...suited better the latter!!!!

Millem

sulli wrote: »

Why against the supporting leg? Ah i see around the TWE, but you have to have the seat up against it the whole time whereas the Max Way you need to have a gap when fitted...suited better the latter!!!!

My minder has underfloor storage so you can't put a supporting leg on it.

Samsgirl

Does.anyone know if you.can get new.straps for a car seat?

Moonbeam

Samsgirl wrote: »

Does.anyone know if you.can get new.straps for a car seat?

For some of them you can .

Samsgirl

Thanks Moonbeam. Any idea where? I have tried Dr Google but no luck. It's for a Maxi Cosi Axis. Thank u!

Moonbeam

http://www.maxi-cosi.com/ie-en/service.aspx

bean14

Can I have people's advice please? I have a one year old daughter and seven year old nephew that I regularly mind. I would like to buy a car seat for the seven year old while in my car. Ideally I would like to be able to take it out and in myself and eventually use it for my daughter. Any advice appreciated. Thanks

Moonbeam

Most high back boosters should be good.
Does your car have isofix?

maxi cosi rodi
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maxi-Cosi-Group-Highback-Booster-Stone/dp/B001G0N1D6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1425992758&sr=8-4&keywords=high+back+booster+seat

Britax Adventure -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britax-Adventure-Backed-Booster-Group/dp/B00AE2O9XS/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1425992758&sr=8-8&keywords=high+back+booster+seat

Britax Kid Fix -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Britax-KIDFIX-Highback-Booster-Thunder/dp/B00IJQ3HF2/ref=sr_1_44?ie=UTF8&qid=1425993197&sr=8-44&keywords=high+back+booster+seat

We have an STM Ipai -
I bought it in Ireland but can't find it on any sites now -
http://www.recaroshop.nl/stm-ipai.html


SOme car seats have expiry dates and some don't so just remember you are buying a car seat to be used in 4 years time.

bean14

Thank you I bought the second Britax car seat you posted a link for. Thanks for your help. Its safely installed!!

John Mason

Does anyone know where I can find the new guidelines for rear facing seats until two? I am currently in a battle with my mother over it. Thanks

Millem

John Mason wrote: »

Does anyone know where I can find the new guidelines for rear facing seats until two? I am currently in a battle with my mother over it. Thanks

http://www.i-size.org.uk/index-temp.html
http://www.parentdish.co.uk/baby/child-car-seat-confusion-guide-to-the-new-regulations-and-products/#!slide=aol_1003905

John Mason

Was looking for the new Irish legislation

Millem

John Mason wrote: »

Was looking for the new Irish legislation

It is a European law

John Mason

Is there anything on a Irish site? She isn't going to accept anything on a UK site

angeldelight

RSA website hasn't been updated yet but you could try emailing them

robinph

John Mason wrote: »

Is there anything on a Irish site? She isn't going to accept anything on a UK site

Print out the pages and do a copy and paste wherever it says UK, or the Maxi-Cosi site will show you the same information, but with an "ie" in the URL and a bloke with an accent and sat infront of an EU flag in a video as well:
http://www.maxi-cosi.com/ie-en/safe-world/i-size.aspx

Ginny

Thing is isize is going to run along current guidelines for a while. Are you looking to go extended rear facing? Some safety videos might help?
Is the issue that she thinks baby should be turned?

Moonbeam

http://www.maxi-cosi.com/ie-en/service/news/isize-the-new-eu-car-seat-legislation-is-here.aspx
http://mothercarefamilycard.ie/blog/2014/03/24/what-is-i-size/
I can't find anything else in Ireland,maybe show her some of the videos online?

Ardent

Ocean Blue wrote: »

I am finding choosing car seats so stressful It's just a nightmare. There are so many (presumably perfectly good) seats but I'm tying myself up in knots with the pros and cons of each. I think this is likely to top the time I ordered my travel system in M&P in Dundrum and then sat crying on the bench outside the shop in case I'd made the wrong decision!!

I shouldn't laugh at this but I got a good guffaw out of that! I know how you feel - currently looking for seats for 10 month old twins and it's a complete head wrecker!!

wrt40

Has iSize become legislation in Ireland? Shops don't seem to be selling iSize standard\branded seats?

Does iSize mention anything about expiry dates? Want to reuse a 5 year old baby seat but naturally worried, what if. These manufacturers really know how to pull on parents strings. I wouldn't be too quick to take the manufacturers word on this as obviously they want people to buy more seats.

Ginny

Afaik car seats only have expiry dates in the US. I'll go dig out a link.
I size isn't law here yet afaik, even when it does come in it will run alongside the old regulations too.
Tbh they need to just promote Erf and the increased safety more, while ensuring stockists are actually stocking erf seats.

Ginny

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=212097

kitten_k

This one looks great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQPf9nWzA0k

Ginny

God that looks awful. Babies are only supposed to be in a size 0 car seat for a certain lenght of time a day. Making it a complete travel system on its own could eventually be dangerous if some idiot didn't check restrictions of the seat.

shortstuff!

Anyone know of a company who give a decent discount for multiple seats? I think we need 4, we're sharing drop off & pickups so 2 for us, one for childminder & MIL will be collecting sometimes also. 3 are ISO fix, one isn't.

I'm thinking of the Joie Stages as it's extended rear facing to 18kg & last until child is ready for a booster seat. It's €175 in halfords & they'll give 10% off for multiple buys. Anyone with experience with it, is it sturdy?

Love the britax dual fix, is it worth €470, I assume it wouldn't be feasible to swap between cars?

Millem

shortstuff! wrote: »

Anyone know of a company who give a decent discount for multiple seats? I think we need 4, we're sharing drop off & pickups so 2 for us, one for childminder & MIL will be collecting sometimes also. 3 are ISO fix, one isn't.

I'm thinking of the Joie Stages as it's extended rear facing to 18kg & last until child is ready for a booster seat. It's €175 in halfords & they'll give 10% off for multiple buys. Anyone with experience with it, is it sturdy?

Love the britax dual fix, is it worth €470, I assume it wouldn't be feasible to swap between cars?

Incarsafetycentre in Belfast gave me 10% off plus a free headrest for my ERF seats. I have a britax max fix 2 (I guess it weighs the same as the dualfix) and it is soooo heavy!! So I wouldn't be changing it from car to car!! The supporting leg and ISO fix points have bashed into me many a time! It is very similar to the dual fix except it cannot turn and is rearward facing only. I find it a great seat.

Would you consider the britax two way elite....it is sooo easy to move from car to car and it is an ERF until 25kg but can go forward facing either. You could share this seat but buy an extra pair of tether straps and leave them in the other car. Kealys sell them for €25.

If you want to try out seats first and don't want to go up to Belfast kealys sell the britax May way.

mirrorwall14

shortstuff! wrote: »

Anyone know of a company who give a decent discount for multiple seats? I think we need 4, we're sharing drop off & pickups so 2 for us, one for childminder & MIL will be collecting sometimes also. 3 are ISO fix, one isn't.

I'm thinking of the Joie Stages as it's extended rear facing to 18kg & last until child is ready for a booster seat. It's €175 in halfords & they'll give 10% off for multiple buys. Anyone with experience with it, is it sturdy?

Love the britax dual fix, is it worth €470, I assume it wouldn't be feasible to swap between cars?

I'm looking at the joie too, we need at least two if not more car seats. I'd love to hear if anyone has it!

Suucee

I have 2 joie stages. Tbh i didnt know anything about erf and wanted to switch my 2.5yr old back to rf but needed a new seat for the baba too. Budget was very tight so went with the joie.
Bought 2 in halfords and got the discount. The lady fitted the ff (to show us how its done) and rf and then left them rf.
She was very good. Checked the kids in them too.
Told us what to look out for if ever switching our car.
So the seat it self is great. Very quick and easy to move from car to car.
Very comfortable by the looks of my 2 kids.
And can easily remove covers to wash (not as easy to put back on)
The only down side ia the seat belt ia in the way but you get used to it. my 3 yr old climbs in herself and climbs over it. While i easily lift my heavy 13mnth old over it.
We have the 13 mnth old behind driver seat as OH has seat further back when driving and he never really sits in passenger seat. We do need to watch that he is not moving driver seat back too far though.
I have fitted it ff on occasion for my 3 yr old in my parents 3 door car. (No way would they manage to climb in to the back to strap her) and it was fine then too.

Millem

Suucee wrote: »

I have 2 joie stages. Tbh i didnt know anything about erf and wanted to switch my 2.5yr old back to rf but needed a new seat for the baba too. Budget was very tight so went with the joie.
Bought 2 in halfords and got the discount. The lady fitted the ff (to show us how its done) and rf and then left them rf.
She was very good. Checked the kids in them too.
Told us what to look out for if ever switching our car.
So the seat it self is great. Very quick and easy to move from car to car.
Very comfortable by the looks of my 2 kids.
And can easily remove covers to wash (not as easy to put back on)
The only down side ia the seat belt ia in the way but you get used to it. my 3 yr old climbs in herself and climbs over it. While i easily lift my heavy 13mnth old over it.
We have the 13 mnth old behind driver seat as OH has seat further back when driving and he never really sits in passenger seat. We do need to watch that he is not moving driver seat back too far though.
I have fitted it ff on occasion for my 3 yr old in my parents 3 door car. (No way would they manage to climb in to the back to strap her) and it was fine then too.

Succee how is it installed when it's rearward facing....is it just a seatbelt? Or are there tether straps? Does it feel secure?

CaoilfhionnM

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering could anyone recommend a safe car seat for a newborn? I am trying to decide whether or not to purchase a rear facing car seat and I'm still not sure which is the safest option? Would love some advice on this.

Thanks,

Caoilfhionn

robinph

Went for the Maxi Cosi Pearl Pebble Plus. Meets the new isize regulations, and pretty much every buggy will work with Maxi Cosi car seats. Has extra bit of padding in it to make it snug around a newborn until they grow.

Bit expensive seeing as you might only get a few months use out of it though, but also works with the car seat base, so I can be sure it is fitted correctly in one car, and also works with just the regular seatbelt so that I can fit it in other cars where we cannot fit the base in.

Should be testing it with the passenger in the next few days.

mirrorwall14

CaoilfhionnM wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering could anyone recommend a safe car seat for a newborn? I am trying to decide whether or not to purchase a rear facing car seat and I'm still not sure which is the safest option? Would love some advice on this.

Thanks,

Caoilfhionn

Absolutely rear facing for a newborn. It's five times safer to be refacing and its recommended til age 4 and their hips fuse.

Maxi cosi is the most common one but most travel systems include either the maxi cosi with adaptors or their own car seat (all rear facing usually) eg beep twist

Read up on this website http://www.carseat.se/swedish-car-seats/ for more info

CaoilfhionnM

Thanks so much for that. I'm doing a bit of research today and was wondering do you know is it against the law now in Ireland for a newborn to be in a front facing child seat?

mirrorwall14

Not sure if it's against the law but most 0+ car seats seem to be rearfacing and http://rsa.ie/Documents/Road%20Safety/Safety%20for%20kids/Child%20Safety%20in%20Cars%20English.pdf has the infants rearfacing

neacy69

I'm looking for a rear facing seat for my 14 month old....Any reviews of these two options would they be any good?

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9109304/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CNursery%7C14417537/c_2/3%7C18793869%7CCar+and+booster+seats%7C14417572/c_3/4%7Ccat_14417572%7CCar+seats%7C14417573/Trail/searchtext%3EBABY+EVENT+OUT+AND+ABOUT.htm#tabrev

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3459342/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CNursery%7C14417537/c_2/3%7C18793869%7CCar+and+booster+seats%7C14417572/c_3/4%7Ccat_14417572%7CCar+seats%7C14417573/Trail/searchtext%3EBABY+EVENT+OUT+AND+ABOUT.htm

Millem

neacy69 wrote: »

I'm looking for a rear facing seat for my 14 month old....Any reviews of these two options would they be any good?

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9109304/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CNursery%7C14417537/c_2/3%7C18793869%7CCar+and+booster+seats%7C14417572/c_3/4%7Ccat_14417572%7CCar+seats%7C14417573/Trail/searchtext%3EBABY+EVENT+OUT+AND+ABOUT.htm#tabrev

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3459342/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CNursery%7C14417537/c_2/3%7C18793869%7CCar+and+booster+seats%7C14417572/c_3/4%7Ccat_14417572%7CCar+seats%7C14417573/Trail/searchtext%3EBABY+EVENT+OUT+AND+ABOUT.htm

I am guessing both of these seats are rearward until 13kg only then then the turn forward?

CaoilfhionnM

They both appear to hold up to 18kg and up to until the child is 4 years old.

I wonder is there anywhere in Ireland you can purchase the Swedish style rear facing car seat? Or does it have to be ordered online?

I was reading an article which says it is better to stay rear facing until the age of four OR LONGER and most Swedish style rearward seats hold up to 25 kg. Maybe that would be a good option to go with. I cannot post this article as I'm a new user however I'm sure you could find it by typing in the title "What’s so special about Swedish car seats?"

mirrorwall14

CaoilfhionnM wrote: »

They both appear to hold up to 18kg and up to until the child is 4 years old.

I wonder is there anywhere in Ireland you can purchase the Swedish style rear facing car seat? Or does it have to be ordered online?

I was reading an article which says it is better to stay rear facing until the age of four OR LONGER and most Swedish style rearward seats hold up to 25 kg. Maybe that would be a good option to go with. I cannot post this article as I'm a new user however I'm sure you could find it by typing in the title "What’s so special about Swedish car seats?"

Yes but both say forward and rearward facing and a bit more digging says they turn forward after the 0 group age is passed. The major hint is in price as I've never seen a rearward to age 4 for that price. Cheapest I've come across is the joie from halfords for 175 which is rearward to age 4. Most of them are 250+

Lots of places stock them but it can be harder to source. Most popular is probably tony Kealys and the incarsafety centre in the north. And as stated halfords have the joie, most places will have one at least though it might be the top of range incredibly expensive ones. There's also tons of them online obviously

All in all

http://www.boots.ie/en/Hauck-Vario-Guard-Car-Seat-Black-Grey_1291808/

I recently purchased this seat - was about the cheapest extended rear facing seat that I could find, boots had an additional 10% off then for their baby event. No complaints with the seat so far.

mirrorwall14

All in all wrote: »

http://www.boots.ie/en/Hauck-Vario-Guard-Car-Seat-Black-Grey_1291808/

I recently purchased this seat - was about the cheapest extended rear facing seat that I could find, boots had an additional 10% off then for their baby event. No complaints with the seat so far.

Bah, thought it was the bomb until I got to the bit where it's only rearfacing to 4 with isofix. One of our cars is isofix, the other isn't-this looked awesome

All in all

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Bah, thought it was the bomb until I got to the bit where it's only rearfacing to 4 with isofix. One of our cars is isofix, the other isn't-this looked awesome

We had the same problem re. isofix but it was possible to retrofit the isofix bars. Not sure if this would be an option - cost approx €50.

mirrorwall14

All in all wrote: »

We had the same problem re. isofix but it was possible to retrofit the isofix bars. Not sure if this would be an option - cost approx €50.

Really? My cars an old one. I just assumed it couldn't be done/wouldn't be safe?

All in all

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Really?. I just assumed it couldn't be done/wouldn't be safe?

My car was already drilled for it, so it was a bolt on job, so perfectly safe. I just contacted the main dealer and they were able to tell me what to do and supply the parts. They said it is a regular request.

I would say if you contact a main Honda dealer that would be able to answer you pretty quickly if it is possible or not.

mirrorwall14

All in all wrote: »

My car was already drilled for it, so it was a bolt on job, so perfectly safe. I just contacted the main dealer and they were able to tell me what to do and supply the parts. They said it is a regular request.

I would say if you contact a main dealer that would be able to answer you pretty quickly if it is possible or not.

Ah that makes sense. If they aren't drilled already I probably wouldn't do it tbh!