Worried about safety - Chicco Synthesis

[LeoniPoni]

Hi everyone!

I'm 38 weeks pregnant with DC1, and DF and I have bought a Britax Isofix carseat that we have ftted into the car. It feels really sturdy and secure, so we are delighted with it.

A friend of mine has bought us a Chicco Synthesis carseat and as we live with DF's parent's we thought it'd be ideal to use in their cars. We have tried it out, following the instructions exactly and it is so wobbly and unstable feeling, sometimes slipping out of the carseat when wiggled. We've spent a good couple of hours trying to get it right and it never feels any sturdier or secure.

At the moment I would never let LO travel in it, I was just wondering if anyone has this seat, whether we're doing something wrong, it's a bad seat or it simply feels unsteady compared to the Britax?

Trawled the net looking for reviews and can't find 1! Very strange!

[LIZS]

It won't be as rigid as an isofix. You need to make sure it is fitted at the right angle (it may not even be compaitble with the profile of their car seat) and the seatbelt properly routed and tightened. Remember the weight of the baby will help hold it in position more firmly (try with a few bags of sugar or flour !). Go back to the retailer for a proper demonstration if needs be. Having said that Chicco have never rated well in Which ? reviews.

[TruthSweet]

If you pull the seat belt out as far as it will go when you have installed the Chicco does it 'lock'? Some cars have 'ratcheting' seat belts for installing childrens car seats, once they have been pulled out fully they lock in place when they can retract no further (i.e. when the child car seat is in the way). If your DF's parents' car doesn't have this any car seat will have a looser install.

If the seat belt does ratchet then the best way to get a tight install is to have one person pull the seat belt out all the way then hold on to it at the top so it doesn't start tightening whilst the other person routes the seat belt around the child car seat. When the belt is in place let go of the seat belt and push down on the child car seat whilst the belt is pulled through the routing as tight as possible.

This should give the best possible install but if the child car seat just isn't compatible with the car then there will be no safe install.

HTH

[LeoniPoni]

Thanks LIZS and TruthSweet, I really appreciate your input. I will be taking your advice to try and get the best possible install and if it still feels as unsteady I won't be using it, as it must not be compatible. Safety first!

Thanks again!