Oh help - near-expiry M-C Cabriofix and ERF option confusion

[LongTailedTit]

Please can anyone advise me?

DS2 is due in April/May when DS1 will be 3.0.
We had hoped he would use DS's old Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix, and then later move into his Maxi-Cosi Tobi, as hopefully DS1 will be able to move into a high backed booster around the time DS2 starts to outgrow the Cabriofix.

However.... We've checked the base and the Cabriofix will 'expire' in Nov '14, when DS2 will be 6mo. (It came from BIL/DN).

Obviously we don't want to use an out of date or unsafe seat, but we can't figure out if six months over will matter or not?
DS2 would probably outgrow it around 1yo, same as DS did, so if we stopped using it at expiry we'd have to buy another Stage 0 seat, so may as well buy now and use from birth, scrapping the old one.

Cabriofix is the most convenient as we have the EasyBase2 for it, and pushchair adapters too.
New ones are currently about £95, so not too bad but still money I'd rather not spend unless necessary!


Slightly annoying spanner in the works
Tbh if we have to buy new anyway, we're tempted to get an extended rear facing seat that goes from newborn-4yo.
I didn't know they existed when we bought DS's Stage 1 seat and wish we'd got one for him in hindsight.
Downsides would be the vast expense, and the 'waste' of not reusing the EasyBase/pushchair adapters/M-C Tobi.


Complicating factors:
My car does not have Isofix, DH's does but the DC will only be in it at weekends. This limits the choices of ERF seats, as both DSs seats have to be able to fit both cars.

DS1 is small and light for his age (9th centile) so I'm not certain he'll outgrow of the Tobi/be big enough for a high-back booster by the time DS2 needs to move into the Tobi.


Hope that made sense and someone's still here! :)

[IHatePopUpTents]

im not going to lie, we got our maxicosi...thing... second hand, and i didnt even know they had expiry dates, im 11 wks preg and was planning on using it again for dc2, and probably still will without much thought!

the only reason i can think of an expiry might be if your in a crash touch wood, and the car seat fails for whatever reason doubtful? then maybe maxi cosi can say well 'its expired! safer models are out etcetc'..

all i can think of though? :/

[aGnotherGnuletideGreeting]

I didn't realise they had official expiry dates? Do you mind me asking how old the original child it was bought for is?

I am planning to use our maxi cosi Cabrio for DC3, can't check the bottom as my sister is currently using.

I do know that you're not supposed to use over 5 yrs old due to possible degradati

[aGnotherGnuletideGreeting]

Oops degradation of plastics caused by UV. But given where I live and the amount of sunshine mine won't have been exposed to, I wasn't going to worry too much about that part

[yourcruisedirector]

Yes they do have expiry dates as the plastic degrades under stress. To some extent the wear and tear will depend on whether it has been in constant use, but I would not risk an out of date chair. The date also helps to identify batches in case of recall.

We use ERF. Having been in a bad car crash caused by another driver, I know how bad injuries feel even without lasting serious damage. For that reason I would never risk and out if date seat and prefer ERF.

[LongTailedTit]

Thank you for the replies!

DNephew is just about to turn 4, and his seat expires at five years old, so I guess they must have bought it a while before he arrived.
Some 'expire' at six years, others longer, after all some models like the Group 1-2-3 boosters are supposed to last 10 years!

[yourcruisedirector]

They often sit in a warehouse or in the shop for a good while too.

[CluelessMama]

Sorry this comment doesn't help you....but....
Can I ask where on your Cabriofix you found the expiry date? Looked on ours before and couldn't find it!
Thanks!

[LongTailedTit]

No worries Clueless!
DH rang them to find out - you look at the white and orange barcode sticker on the base, there's an 8-digit number with a 4-digit number underneath.
The 4-digit number is the week and year of manufacture, and the expiry is X years hence (5 for the Cabriofix).

Ours says 46 09, so week 46 of 2009, which I believe is November.

Make sense?

[CluelessMama]

Makes total sense, thank you so much! I thought I was missing something obvious, don't feel so daft now as I would never have figured that out by myself. It says 37 07, just as well 15 month old DS is about to move to a group 1 seat.
Thanks again for your help, hope you get kitted out for your growing family!

[LongTailedTit]

Argh - I'm def leaning towards buying new now, the seat's served three DC already (DNephew, DS, DNiece), a fourth within five years is maybe pushing it!

I guess now the dilemma is Cabriofix or ERF.... help!

[captaincake]

On this site there are some seats you can fit with a seatbelt that are extended rear facing and say recommended from 6 months so it would still be good to reuse the old one for the first 6 months??

[LongTailedTit]

Thank you for that link captain, v handy to have the fitting method listed like that rather than having to read the full description to find it!

I find the whole ERF thing really confusing and difficult to figure out - DH always goes for Which recommendations whereas I research stuff online and read a lot of personal reviews - with ERF I can't tell what's best, and if more expensive = better.

Still dithering over it all tho have definitely decided NOT to use the old seat past it's November expiry point.

Option 1: use old seat until it expires, then buy or borrow another Stage 0 seat. Cost £100 or free.

Option 2: buy an ERF seat that's suitable from birth. Cost approx £200-400.

[oadcb]

Borrow an seat again or get an erf at 6mths. However the latter will limit your choices as unless a from birth one the harness slot may be too high.
Hauck varioguard worth considering though as from birth. For longeivity to though for older baby look at Axkid.

Which? Is great for cameras and washing machines but rubbish for erf. They are so bias. They rated the maxway a don't buy even though its passed the strict Swedish pass plus test!