Any tips for a car seat?

Js_Other_Half

We had a swivelling car seat for DS from about 18 months I think (we had 0+ up to then). They have been rebranded to the Maxi Cosi brand now:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maxi-Cosi-Axiss-Group-Total-Black/dp/B004CFBS6E/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1309379340&sr=8-5

Pisces

If you have Isofix, we had the Maxi-Cosi Priori Fix which came very high in the Which report for forward facing seats. Our son's been in it for nearly two years, it's worn well and he looks very comfy in it. We found kiddicare.com the cheapest. Get the best you can afford, somethings aren't worth skimping on.

Britwife

At 9 months, baby still needs to be rear facing. I have the car seat that pigpen has and love it. My dd is 2.5 and has been using it since she was 1 and still has tonns of space for her feet. They are very heavy but they are solid seats and well worth the money. I'm expecting another baby and acutally bought the infant version of the seat.

Whatever you choose though, please keep baby rear facing....way too young to turn forward. I actually hope laws get passed here to keep babies rear facing longer.

dean2oo6

As you say you want it to be easy to move between cars the group 1 rear facing seats may not be the option. I reckon stick a little longer in your infant carrier then go for whichever Maxi-cosi or Britax seat fits your car and child best. Tobi, priori or King may worth a look.

purplegirluk1

Shar46y - we have the same car seat, I love ours. I use if forward facing now and it fits perfectly, like you say it can be used as a booster seat as well meaning that it is cheaper in the long run.

Logan112

We have a Kiddy seat which is a Group 1 - 3 seat. Looks unusual - no harness but a special cushion that goes across the tummy and is held in place with the seat belt. The cushion is supposed to distribute force / pressure in an accident in a way that is better for the child than a harness. Came out very well in safety tests (e.g. Which?), that's why we bought it.

rachbc

Another vote for leaving them rear facing as long as poss. We moved dd from 0+ maxi cosi cabrio at 11 months to a rear facing stage 1, left it rear facing til she was 2ish then turned it round, she stayed in that with a full 5 point harness seat til she was 4 and is now in a high back booster used with a seatbelt. I have freinds who have put 1 year olds in front facing high back boosters just using the seatbelt and there is no way I would risk that.

money_honey

We have the Maxi Cosi Priorifix which comes with an attached isofix base, at the time I bought it it was recommended as the safest forward facing car seat for that age group. The only downside is due to the base being permanently attached it is quite heavy. The Maxi Cosi Priori is the same model but without the isofix base so is a lot lighter. The covers are easy to remove for cleaning which I have been very glad of!
We moved DD when she was 1 but she was small for her age (a lot of friends moved their children at around 9 months old) - we had a stage 0 car seat, I believe the advice is to switch to a bigger seat once they've reached the maximum seat weight or they are taller than the top of the seat. There's more info on this site:
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/types/index.htm

lolly_896

We could keep DS1 rear facing in his group 0 car seat until he was 2 but he was a premmie. DS2 on the other hand at about 13 months used to have a head fit in the car seat screamed the whole journey. We have 2 x britax 1-2-3 Evolva seats which in theory should last until 11, DS1 is 6 now and his covers are looking really grubby (i have washed them) So i am considering buying another one from ebay and just using the covers to see if we can get a few more years from it

Bunny

we have a britax multi tech, that rear faces until 4 and can be used as a high back booster seat, forward facing until around 6, Volvo do them for £200, it's not the easiest to move from car to car however!
But we decided to keep rear facing as it's just safer and makes so much sense.