Car seat help please

marcarm

Looking at buying a car seat.

My car has the Isofix fittings in the back (Saab 9-3). However, my wifes car does not have these fittings (Seat Cordoba).

My question is, if we but an isofix car seat, can this be used with the seatbelt as a normal car seat as well, as we will be using the seat in both mine and my wifes car.

We don't want to have to buy a seat for each car, so would need something that will fit in both.

Thanks

forgotmyname

Depends on the car seat. So many different ones for sale, Some may some may not.

Shape of the seats may also be an issue for how secure the seats fit.

sarahg1969

Rear-facing is the way to go, for as long as possible. It is much, much safer than forward facing. Here are some examples:

http://www.groovystyle.co.uk/sections-new/travel-car-seats-rear-facing.php

I don't know if you use the isofix ones with belts, though. But you could always buy a non-isofx one and use the belts in your car.

fannyadams

if possible and there is one in your neck of the woods take both cars to an 'in car safety centre' that have specialist trained people who's job it is to fit car seats for children. you can then be absolutely sure that the car seat you ahve chosen will do the job whichever car your child(ren) travel in.
The price for my children's car seats was no more expensive than that in Mothercare and the like. Plus I had the peace of mind knowing that it had been professionally fitted for my car.
HTH

forgotmyname

Professionally fitted by muppets though?

I would much rather i fitted the seat and KNOW its been properly fitted, Than some so called professional that had to have a brain storming session with 2 other experts on howto open the box the seat comes in.

Watch their puzzlement when they open the bag of fixings.

claireyrosey

forgotmyname wrote: »

Professionally fitted by muppets though?

I would much rather i fitted the seat and KNOW its been properly fitted, Than some so called professional that had to have a brain storming session with 2 other experts on howto open the box the seat comes in.

Watch their puzzlement when they open the bag of fixings.

I just wanted to stick up for the In Car Safety Centre store, I have only visited the Milton Keynes store, (so i can't vouch for the other store in belfast) It seemed like a family business to me, certainly not muppets. They are experts in extended rear facing seats and seats for children with a range of special needs. The sort of seats you just can't buy elsewhere.
We traveled a 4hour round journey (with a 9mth old) to visit the milton keynes store and we were very impressed with the knowledgable owners who helped us. It seemed that they had devoted they lives to car seats
It was certainly a different league to buying a car seat from a "muppet" in a high street chain

fivetide

We had a similar problem. The isofix unit is generally a base unit that the seat clips to. It will fit a seatbelt only car too so don't worry about that.

Rear facing is a must until the child is 6 months old, then they'll probably need a forward one because they'll be too big to be squashed up against the seat (our wee man was).

Anyway, we took my car and the mrs' car down to Halfords on our local retail park and tried loads in both cars. Some seats fit one car better than the other so do try a few in both cars before you buy one!

We did the same thing again at Mothercare but eventually settled on a Recaro seat as it had good head protection that fitted round our boy very well.

5t.

alinwales

the seat we bought had iso and non-iso versions. There was £100 difference between the two. (the cheaper non-iso one was £90)

fivetide

alinwales wrote: »

the seat we bought had iso and non-iso versions. There was £100 difference between the two. (the cheaper non-iso one was £90)

Hmmm quite right actually. Some offer isofix only so no use but others are still adaptable and of course others still need the seperate base unit.

Hae a look through the Mothercare website, maybe buy online for cashback but do go and try a few in both cars first.

5t.

sarahg1969

fivetide wrote: »

Rear facing is a must until the child is 6 months old, then they'll probably need a forward one because they'll be too big to be squashed up against the seat (our wee man was).

They are much safer with their legs bent up against the seat than forward facing, for as long as possible. So long as their head is belowthe top line of the seat, they can remain facing backwards.

You can buy rear-facing seats that are suitable up to the age of 4 now.

Infinitely safer than forward facing.

My son was rear facing until he was 22 months old, and if a car seat had been available then, I'd have bought one. I hate to see tiny babies of 6 or 8 months old turned round, when their necks will simply not support their head in a collision, or even sharp braking.

fivetide

sarahg1969 wrote: »

My son was rear facing until he was 22 months old, and if a car seat had been available then, I'd have bought one. I hate to see tiny babies of 6 or 8 months old turned round, when their necks will simply not support their head in a collision, or even sharp braking.

We went on age/weight and he was happy holding up his head at by the time he moved up.

This was what we went with http://www.recaro-seats.co.uk/child-seats/young-sport.php because I agree about wanting the best head protection. A lot of seats seem to be quite open at the top so their head can move side to side in an impact, that I wasn't happy with. This is almost a seat within a seat and whilst he could turn his head there was little option for sideways movement.

5t.