Please help me understand baby car seats

Tigsteroonie

brazilianwax wrote: »

Also, apparently ford focuses have short seatbelts in the back which can make it hard to strap a baby seat in. I don't have a focus but lots of people do so it's worth mentioning

We've not had any problems with our 02 Focus.

Andrew had a Graco Junior baby seat (0+). We bought the base for this to make it easier to lift him in and out of the car, you just squeeze a trigger to release the baby seat rather than having to unstrap it. The base was fixed in with the seat belt. ETA - I also used this seat, without the base, in my parents' Audi.

He's now moved onto a Britax First Class (0+to1). This straps in with the seatbelt, and we leave it permanently in the car. I know babies are meant to stay rear-facing for as long as possible, but the seat belt routing means the belt gets in the way of lifting baby in and out; so we installed it forward-facing as he is now sitting up confidently.

teasleym

Congratulations on becoming a Grandma soon!

One of the most important factors in choosing a car seat is checking it will be safe in your car! When I had my first child I wanted the Mothercare travel system but the car seat would not sit in the seat safely, and this led me to buy a Britax system so I could use ISOFIX. Grandma didn't have a car with ISOFIX but luckily the car seat fitted in her car.

When we bought the next stage car seat we actually bought a different one for Grandma's car as it was the only one that would fit. And now my oldest daughter is in the largest seat, Grandma actually changed her car so she could get an ISOFIX seat as we were struggling to find a seat that would fit safely in her old car (a Ford KA).

It would be a good idea to go onto the websites for all the car seat manufacturers and check that the seats are compatible for your car as this is the most important factor I think when choosing a seat.

As for the bases being expensive, they are, but I have just had a second daughter and needed an extra base for Grandma's
new car, and I managed to get a base on EBAY for £20, much cheaper than when I bought my one new for £100.

MrsE_2

money_saving_diva wrote: »

Hi, I don't think anyone has mentioned this and you haven't confirmed - have you actually got isofix fittings in your car? You can only use isofix if you have a fairly new car..

All cars are new (oldest is 4 years old) & all have isofix.
The other grandparents don't, but they will be in parents & my car much more.

MrsE_2

brazilianwax wrote: »

The 2 bases are a godsend for me, and worth every penny. Mind you, I did buy a new car to go with the baby :rotfl: I also bought a cot top changer and the tallest travel system on the Market to reduce the bending. Makes a real difference when all they do is get heavier.

Also, apparently ford focuses have short seatbelts in the back which can make it hard to strap a baby seat in. I don't have a focus but lots of people do so it's worth mentioning

I got a 4x4, so won't have to bend down to get seat in. Parents will.

MrsE_2

pinkshoes wrote: »

I use version 3, as my KA doesn't have ISOFIX points, but I like the convenience of being able to click the maxi-cosi into the base, then straight onto my Quinny pushchair, without having to wake/remove DS!

My DD has a KA - hers is the new shape, but they are still VERY small cars.
I guess you choose the Quinny because of the car, she looked at them.
The Babystyle Oyster is the smallest fold & lightest system that has a carrycot - hence why she has choose it.

Tallet

Maxi Cosi have brought out a new range - the Pebble and Pearl (stage 0 and stage 1) fit onto the same base, so you're not paying twice for the isofix piece.

MrsE_2

money_saving_diva wrote: »

Our silvercross car seat didn't come with the option of a base. Not all of them do. I assume though that the ones in the op do. If I was a grandparent I would wait until the baby is here before deciding what car seat to use in your car. You might change car or anything between now and July??

The Maxi-Cosi & the Britax do, the Oyster doesn't (but it does match the rest of them system exactly & come in a pearl colour:o

Won't be changing cars anytime soon, all new, all still being paid for!

MrsE_2

Nicki wrote: »

For second stage seats, I checked out the ones with the best safety ratings, and these didn't include isofix ones, so his current seat is fitted with a seat belt. That's not a big deal though as I never remove his second stage seat from the car. If we had more than one car, we'd probably have secured the maxi cosi with the seat belt only in the car used less often for baby, and would have had a second stage seat for each car.

Hope that helps

When my DD was a baby, her seat (9 months-4 years) was fitted into the car by Halfords, secured under the seat & bolted to the car frame, I'm surprised they don't do this anymore.

Nicki

MrsE wrote: »

I got a 4x4, so won't have to bend down to get seat in. Parents will.

We have a 4x4 too but the base was still a lot easier than using the seatbelt

brazilianwax

MrsE wrote: »

I got a 4x4, so won't have to bend down to get seat in. Parents will.

Me too. I still wouldn't be wanting to lean over her every time I put her in or took her out