Advice needed - baby car seat questions (merged)

angela72

Morty_007 wrote:

I can't help feeling the OP was only trying to get some advice about using what she had rather than just going out and buying a new car from the outset!! This is a money saving site after all and buying 3 new seats has to be cheaper than a new car...and a lot more ethical...Nothing to do with wanting to stuff the kids into the cheapest available option regardless of thier safety.

Thank you. I have no problem with buying a new car if we have to. My children are the most precious things to me and their safety is of utmost importance. If I can keep them safe with 3 new seats, fantastic. If it needs a change of car, which is the route it sounds like it will be!, then that is what we will do.

Thanks to everyone else for their comments as well. I am very surprised that there isnt a car seat manufacturer that has thought of this problem and designed a car seat to fit in the middle.

Our scenic is a 2003 model with front airbags. I thought I was told you could switch these off, but on enquiring recently, apparently you can't.

Angela.

BrandNewDay

crutches wrote:

until we got a 7 seater wehad baby in front 2 car seats in rear(either side) and me squashed between them whilst DH drove.
not fun,not recommended for yr hips but at least children all safe and strapped in.however if you have a passenger airbag this is NOT an option.

Airbags can be disabled.

code-a-holic

BrandNewDay wrote:

Airbags can be disabled.

Not on a scenic! or hondas! or VW's!!! The manufactuers and garages wont allow it.

Theres a history of disabled ones still going off ina accident and causing huge damage - i dont know if thats the reason behind it but what i've been told by garages when i tried.

BusyLizzie_3

We have a 2003 scenic (with front airbags) and have three car seats in the back - twins aged 4 and a singleton aged 2 are all in the second-stage Maxi Cosi Priori XP seats. They are butted right up against eachother with no room to manoeuvre, and we were concerned about their safety when we switched our singleton from the forward-facing seat - so we had them checked by an independent road safety expert from our local Council who conducts car-seat safety checks across the county, and she confirmed that they were correctly fitted and safe.

angela72

Just been to our "local" mothercare (20+ miles away). Basically the Graco Junior will fit in the middle and outer seats and a Britax cosytot premium for the baby. We didnt have room in the car to buy all these seats today so will have to go back! At least we now know.

Thanks for all your help.

Angela.

Gingham_Ribbon

http://ladybugsbaby.easywebstore.co.uk/contentitempage~ContentID~269034.aspx

It's on sale now. Here's the cheapest place I've found so far.

Flimber

Not entirely relevant but we bought a Britax Duo Plus Isofix seat last week. Last one in stock at Halfords in last year's colour. Was less than half-price at £86.99. The one on the shelf was £189.99. Just wanting to point this out for anyone else who might be looking instore for one. Maybe they'll sell you the demo model (i.e. it's probably just sat on a shelf for 6m+) or the last one in stock with a hefty discount.

Mike.

swizzle_2

Hi

I have just bought a new car with ISOFIX points and have been reading some threads re car seats-my mind is now all of a muddle.

Have read that just the botton bit- a booster cusion is not much good at all in a crash, best to go for 1 with a back and sides-but then no good if used with normal adult seat belt as this can fail!

I have a 5 year old and a 7 1/2 year old and want them to be as safe as possible, but don`t want to waste my money.

So do I go for something like the Britax Hi-Liner-a best buy in the which crash tests- but it is used with a normal adult seat belt at about £40. or go for the Jane Indy plus or Britax Evolua 23 for around £100 both are ISOFIX seats, but due to ages of my children looks like I would still have to use the adult seat belt.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Gingham_Ribbon

Britax have come up with the goods again. I'm ordering this one.

I would always go fir britax isofix given the choice.

hollydays

This is a big improvement on seat belt only,as it stops the seat from sliding around.Thanks for bringing this to our attention,I never knew such things existed.Booster seats without a back do tend to have to be moved back into position each time the child gets in,just the convenience of having it locked in place is a big plus.
But cant make up my mind if this can make it any safer,having isofix and seat belt,as surely its the seatbelt that is holding the child in,whilst the isofix is holding the seat in ?