12-24 weeks pregnant (part 4)

april87

Is anyone looking at car seats and thinking where on earth do you start? I'm narrowing down the ones that can be put with the buggy we've chosen but even then there are so many choices. I have no idea which one to go for. Reviews seem to be similar across the board, and as with most things peoples preference comes into play on why they do/don't like a certain one. I think I'll get a trial for Which and see what they say but I am stumped.

firebird082

I've had a look - decided so far to go for one that meets the new R129 reg, which is known as i-size. It covers side impact protection as well, which the old ones don't. Other than that, I've read the Which? reviews which are quite helpful, but we won't make a final decision until we've sorted a buggy, and know what might work with it, if we want an interactive one.

I know with newborn car seats, you have to consider what suits your car - angle of the back seat means some work better than others. I guess you need to actually try it in the car?!

snowscreamer

april87, I'm a Which? subscriber and I went from there. Actually I identified a match of travel system - car seat where both were best buy and went for those. I had various criteria, such as doesn't break the bank (out with the likes of iCandy and Bugaboo), and adjustable handlebars for the pushchair. That narrowed it down quite a lot and in the end we're going for Britax B-Motion (3 or 4, not yet decided) plus the Britax BabySafe SHRII which we found at a good price in Mothercare so have already bought. I did spend a few hours choosing and weighing up options earlier on in my pregnancy!

As we have already decided based on my parents' advice that for most of our walking we'll be using baby carriers we didn't worry too much about so-called "all terrain" pushchairs which made life a bit simpler (and cheaper).

cats2012

I found car seats very stressful! We didn't need one to fit our pram though so that helped. Baby will only be in the car once or twice a week as I won't be driving.

We just had big chats in both Mothercare & Babies R Us - we also decided to go for the new i-size regs as although baby won't be in it much it will mainly be for pretty long, motorway journeys to visit family etc. Puts my mind at ease knowing we have the best - although the price did shock me! We've got the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

firebird082

cats2012 wrote: »

We've got the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus

I've heard good things about that range - colleague has one, and was happy to recommend it.

penguingirl

Just popping back from babymoon (Rome is amazing!) to say my friend has recommended Maxi Cosi. Her hubby works for Halfords and has done lots of training in car seats, and that's what he always recommends, so they've also gone for the pebble. When I looked I liked that it can be fitted with seat belt or isofix so there's flexibility if we change our car.

newthrift

We've got a maxi cosi pebble and out friends too had a maxi cosi (April these work with the Joolz and clip straight on to the pram) we've got adapters for it clipping to the pram which stop on even when in an Isofix base.

2weeks Friday until our next scan, can't decide if it's going slow or not.
Glad you enjoyed babymoon Penguin

Sweet - I keep looking at essentials lists and making my own out, then find another and swop stuff on/off!! I agree some of the lists are very full on. I'm finding it a little daunting trying to work out which size clothes to get and take in hospital bag. I'm wondering if to do a mix of newborn and 0-3 as I have no idea how big baby will be!!
Booked on to the NCT essentials course last night which is mid/end May, quite excited.

april87

Yeah Maxi-Cosi was the only brand that I had heard off before looking. I think I was just surprised by the sheer number of car seats out there. So far have been looking at the Pebble and the Cybex (purely because I liked the look of them). I just need to get looking at Which ideally and go from there. I was also surprised by the price of the isofix bases but then again you will get a fair bit of use out of most of them if you get a compatible car seat for the next stage and so on. Next stage is once we've a few narrowed down, try them out in the car and see how they fit. Definitely a job for a weekend.

Penguin glad to hear your having a good time.

Sweet I was looking at some of these lists and was thinking oh gosh, so gave up haha.

New, it doesn't half drag does it. I was thinking a few pieces new born and few pieces 0-3 just to be on the safe side.

sweetbabu

newthrift wrote: »

Sweet - I keep looking at essentials lists and making my own out, then find another and swop stuff on/off!! I agree some of the lists are very full on. I'm finding it a little daunting trying to work out which size clothes to get and take in hospital bag. I'm wondering if to do a mix of newborn and 0-3 as I have no idea how big baby will be!!

april87 wrote: »

Sweet I was looking at some of these lists and was thinking oh gosh, so gave up haha

Haha, I have copied and pasted a few lists and am going to go through and delete half the stuff - they were saying that nappy wrappers and bins were an ESSENTIAL item... a pack of nappy bags will more than suffice :rotfl:

New, I am conentrating mostly on 0-3; however, my daughter was so tiny (5lbs 10oz) that I had to send my mum ad sister to get some early baby outfits for her! So, I am going to buy a few smaller sizes closer to the time and I can take them back if I don't use them.

RE car seats, we are opting for the mamas and papas sola2 travel system. The 6 piece bundle comes with the isofix base and a cybex aton car seat. It's on offer from £800-odd to £549 in the M&P store... but I've found an offer online for £449. We'll be ordering that soon

I have also fallen in love with the range of changing bags in M&Ps... but £120?! :eek:

vanilla8

I haven't even looked at car seats but might take a visit to the car safety centre in Essex for a fitting appointment: http://incarsafetycentre.co.uk

Regarding the mothercare event, i was in collecting an item and the manager told me you do not have to buy on the night - the discount will be valid for a period of time after the event, which i thought was good as you won't be pressurised to buying anything or feel rushed!