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Car seats

Why can't I find a car seat to fit?

18 replies

exhorsted · 31/03/2016 13:13

So my Mum has a Renault Megane Cabriolet 2006. She will be having my DD twice a week so we have been trying to buy her a car seat for her car. The problem is that her back seats are ridiculous - they are like bucket seats, so they have a sloping seat (towards the boot) and quite a steep back. We bought a Britax Eclipse as the fit finder on the Britax website said it would work...but there is a massive triangular gap between the Britax and the car's seat - surely this can't be right. And if I move the Britax seat to make the bottom fit along the cars seat, there is a triangular gap at the back. So we are back to the drawing board - she almost needs a seat and a back that is hinged but I'm not sure this is safe. Can anyone help? It's not as if her car is that unusual (although I do accept not many parents would choose a 3 door cabriolet...!)
DD goes to nursery next week so we are under a bit of pressure to get this sorted and I don't know what to try next - help!!

OP posts:
GeezeLouiseBelcher · 31/03/2016 13:15

Take the car head rests off. Does that help?

almostthirty · 31/03/2016 13:15

Can you visit a big mother care /John Lewis /Halfords with the car and try lots of different makes to find the best fit?

Gizlotsmum · 31/03/2016 13:15

Can you go somewhere that offers a fitting service, so you can see how it fits? Kiddicare, halfords and mothercare I think offer the service

LemonBreeland · 31/03/2016 13:18

I was going to suggest the Britax eclipse as a good seat for bucket seats. I agree with others that you need to try some out in store.

LittleNelle · 31/03/2016 13:20

Can she go in the front seat?

exhorsted · 31/03/2016 13:56

Thanks for your replies already. No, the car head rests don't get in the way. The annoying thing is that she's only going to have her for a max of 30 mins in the car in total twice a week so I didn't really want to spend as much on that seat as we are about to for our car.

The front seat is an option I guess, but forward facing in the front seat doesn't sound very safe (I'm not basing this on any evidence, just sounds less safe).

I'm going to have to spend this evening doing research - maybe phone Renault? - otherwise yes, I need to get the car to a big seller this weekend. I'm not even sure where to go - the Halfords nearest us in Surrey is rubbish. So irritating. I wonder if many places will do FF, seatbelt seats? I know they're not the safest (ours is an ERF seat), but rear facing seatbelt seats seem to all need top tethers?

Any other ideas/people with experience would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
IAmAPaleontologist · 31/03/2016 14:01

How old is she?

shiteforbrains · 31/03/2016 14:05

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shiteforbrains · 31/03/2016 14:06

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Dalmatian2017 · 31/03/2016 14:08

How old is she and do you live near Essex or Milton Keynes?

exhorsted · 31/03/2016 14:15

She's 11 months old and weighs 10.5kg. I could get to Essex or MK if I had to!

Shiteforbrains - that's good to know re top tether. I will have a look at that - as you refer to a base, I assume it's isofix?

OP posts:
IAmAPaleontologist · 31/03/2016 14:21

11 months, have you tried the Britax First Class Plus? Not a full on extended rear facing seat but will last rear facing a good while before turning forward facing and has a couple of different options for ways to fit, I have found it fits most cars well.

Janecc · 31/03/2016 14:23

We have the same problem with Volvo seats. The head restraints are fixed in place and I enquired at the local garage about removing them. They advised against it because removing them would make the rear seat unstable in the event of an accident. I think car seat manufacturers sometimes advise to do this but I would check first with the car manufacturer. I emailed Volvo as to whether the kiddy car seat we have is ok. They emailed me back with a yes. Although the fit is not great - seat wobbles a bit. I would only put DD in the front if your mother can deactivate the air bag as the force I have read can break a child's neck. You can usually find lists online of compatible seats. Alternatively the local dealer should be able to look at compatible seats in their internal system.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 31/03/2016 14:25

Not all rear facing need top tethers. Ours has a leg and tethers to the seat in front. It is a seatbelt fitted ERF. Not suitable for the car you describe though as didn't fit in PIL's bucket style rear seats.

I'd call Britax about the Eclipse too.

TrixieBernadette · 31/03/2016 14:30

We had the britax first class years ago and it was brilliant. Fitted in our Volkswagen, Vauxhall, Peugeot, even with weird seats.

Dalmatian2017 · 31/03/2016 15:41

If you can get to Essex or Milton Keynes, there's a company called the in car safety centre. They are very skilled in fitting car seats. Don't go to halfords or mothercare, it's hit and miss whether they have even a tiny clue as to what they are talking about! Obviously you will need to take your mums car with you to see which seats fit.

shiteforbrains · 02/04/2016 12:27

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shiteforbrains · 02/04/2016 12:28

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