Advice needed - baby car seat questions (merged)

Jimble

Hello,
Mrs Jimble has left me with the problem of sorting out a forward facing child seat for our 9 month old who has outgrown his backward facing one. Ideally today!

Any recommendations, offers etc would be really appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Sarahsaver

As a nine month old can usually sit unsupported, one of the basic ones from Argos should do the trick. They are made from high density polystyrene with a fabric cover. Last time I got one a couple of years ago they were about £20. Or if you get one at Halfords they will fit it for you.

Jimble

Thanks Sarahsaver.

Does anyone have any particular model they would plump for, or conversely any to avoid?

nickinoo

there is loads of really good info on car seats on the Which site (you can register for a free trial). Also check out this site for info http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/ it has links to various organisations & I found it invaluable when choosing my daughters car seat. https://www.britax.co.uk has a fitfinder so you can check which seat SHOULD fit your car (best to check in the actual car though).

I opted for the Britax Isofix seat RRP £180 but can be found for around £150. It may not be a moneysaving seat but lifesaving was far more important to me.

Personally I would not touch a £20 seat with a bargepole but I know lots of people who have them & are perfectly happy with them.


Just make sure your little one is ready for a forward facing car seat, you may feel he is too long for a rearward facing seat but they are far safer than forward facing if the child is unable to sit unsupported, as I read on another site a broken leg is far better than a broken neck. Also they need to be heavy enough for a forward facing seat.

An option if you little one is not ready for a forward facing seat is one of the 2 way seats such as the Britax 1st class which can be used rear & then forward facing (wish I'd seen this when I bought my 1st car seat).

Good luck with your hunt, there's a lot of choice out there.

Glad

there is a report HERE about car seats, and by joining Which for a free 30 day online trial HERE you can view the results of their tests on carseats, we bought large comfortable seats for both of ours, which were the safest at the time, cost was around £95 11 yrs ago but they lasted about 5/6 yrs

Jay-Jay_4

I'v got a Britax Renaisance which I love. It's a big heavy thing so not ideal if you're swapping it from car to car all the time but once it's in it's solid and sturdy. It's the second one I've had as the first one got nicked and I've been really happy with both.

The cheaper polystyrene ones are great for 'Dads car' or grandparents but for long journeys a solid one that reclines is IMO best.

A lot of shops will fit the seat in your car for you and check that it fits and is secure.

mrcow

Jay-Jay wrote:

I'v got a Britax Renaisance which I love.

Ditto

I've never found it a problem to swap from car to car, and I like the fact that it has a "foot" which secures the seat right into the car.

I think it cost around £120 or so, which isn't the cheapest on the market, but it's good from around nine months to four years or so, so you get your money's worth over time.

Jimble

http://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1002211&classificationid=1033739&slmRefer=000

(this was linked from rpoints, so has a refer thingy, i dont know how much to take out and still get the link to work - if anyone knows let me know i will edit)

This looks quite a good deal then! Shame its not a triple points day!

Thanks to all for their input.

mrcow

But you'll get 1000 bonus points.....;)

Sarahsaver

If the cheap ones were not ok they would not be allowed to sell them. They have to pass stringent safety checks.

Edinburghlass_2

I thought it was to do with size and weight rather than age? My daughter at nine months would have slid out of a more grown up car seat