Advice needed - baby car seat questions (merged)

Ticklemouse

I bought the Britax Kid for DS2, from Boots as worked out cheapest with points/vouchers off etc (just over £50, using Greasypalm too) For those of you who are interested, I did a lot of research and decided this was one of 2 I wanted. Went into Mothercare and was told that they no longer made them, because customers thought they were too expensive and the head restraint bit was too tight around child's face. I was told it had been replaced by the Britax Hi-Liner.

A larger Mothercare told me this was rubbish - it's just M/C have stopped selling them. The headrest is exactly the same size. I still hadn't seen one to examine before I decided to order, so nice M/C man told me of a shop that sold them. IMO, they are a far superior seat, feel much firmer and more secure. DS2 fits in it well and I should get many years of use out of it. Also, it converts to a decent booster seat too.

Laura032004

Hia,

I'm looking for a cheap decent carseat for my parents second car. Ideally ISOFIX, but they don't really come cheap! Any ideas? My little boy is 16 months old, and the car seat would be going in a Landrover Discovery.

Thanks

Viz_2

Have you tried Mothercare ?
If you goto a big store they will have a large selection of chairs. Will also help you check and fit any seat for size.

katiepops_2

The thought of a 'cheap' carseat makes me nervous, when you think it is to protect your precious little man, though I do of course know what you mean.

Kate

Laura032004

What I mean is what is the cheapest carseat, that is still good safetywise. Don't really want to spend £190ish on another ISOFIX seat, but looks like we're heading that way. Best value for money might have been a better phrase?

Fleago

I happened to notice in Lidl today that they had car seats for £29.99. I don't know if it is any good, it being a very long time since I had a wee rug rat, but it did say on the poster that it was extensively tested to German standards or somesuch. No idea if it is of use to you but maybe worth a look

Fleago

Gingham_Ribbon

I got my son's Isofix car seat for £120. I'll try to look out the details and post again. If you don't get the Isofix, try checking out the which report on car seats. They tested several with some worrying results. You can join Which online with a free month's trial to read the report or read it at the library.

Generally, it seems the cheaper seats are often less likely to cope in a 40 mph crash. So it's worth going for the most expensive one you can afford at the best price you can find.

Also, you really have to make sure that you get the right one for the car. One of the main problems with car seats is that they don't fit properly or are incorrectly installed. If you buy it on the net, you can go to Mothercare, Halfords, babyworld and they will show you how to fit it with no obligation to buy. This is difficult with someone else's car but is just as important.

I'll try to find that link.

http://www.kiddicare.com/invt/carbriduoisfpinspl

You may find it cheaper elsewhere. It's £130 with free delivery, depending on where you live. I couldn't find it cheaper anywhere else at the time.

Also, it's really easy to take in and out which is a bonus in another car especially as a car seat, especially heavy ones like that, use up unnecessary petrol when not in use! :money:

MissSunshine

Both boys have/had the Britax Eclipse, £100 at Mothercare, in our Disco and we've got one in UK at my mum's for when we come over. They've both done well, did have a new one last year thanks to BA (who paid for it), the foam got broken in the hold :mad: It can be fitted by the lapbelt only, which is great on an aeroplane when travelling on my own with the boys :j

Shame your not supposed to buy second hand carseats, cos we've also got a Britax Club Class extra, plus a mothercare baby one and a Graco booster seat :rolleyes:

HTH

Gingham_Ribbon

Actually, I'm looking for a cheap booster seat for the occasional trip with my 6 year old niece. She doesn't use one in her own car but I don't like driving her as the seatbelt crosses her neck so she's not been in our car for a while.

I presume they don't need to be fitted?

bonvonnie

They say that anyone under 5foot, should really use a booster seat, as the seatbelt isnt correctly positioned.

As for car seats, the price you pay is what you get, and they do say, dont save on the price of car seats, as it is there to protect your little 'un