Which extended rear facing car seat? I'm confused

[KiwiBanana]

So I've read a lot of positive things on here about extended rear facing car seats but I'm still a bit clueless about them. Can you use them from birth? Can they be attached to most pushchair chassis? Are they very very expensive?

Just trying to weigh up whether it's worth shelling out on. Can't decide!

[shoom]

I used a standard rear-facing intent carrier from birth. The next stage seats aren't portable whether you buy FF or RF- both will stay in a car whereas an infant carrier can be attached to a pram chassis. I bought my next stage seat from securatot . They will give you advice by phone or email if you can't visit in person. They were very good.

[Clargo55]

I wouldn't spend too long focusing on wether they attach to a pushchair or not. Babies should not be sat in a car seat for too long at a time anyway, much better for them to be lying flat in a carrycot.

Rear- facing is 5 X times safer than forward facing so to me is really worth the expense.

Are you looking for an isofix seat or belt fitted?

Britax Dualfix is rear facing from birth to approx 4years old.

[Clargo55]

Also take a look at rearfacing.co.uk. Really useful info. Sorry I can't do clickable links on my iPad.

[pyrrah]

I have the BeSafe Izikids Combi.

DD is nearly 5 and still happily rear-facing. She is a titch though - smaller kids might have to be turned earlier.

It's next step up from the birth ones - although BeSafe does do a baby one.

[pyrrah]

Also got mine from Securatot - they were brilliant.

[KiwiBanana]

What's the difference between isofix and seat belt? Sorry if I sound stupid!
So if I just try and get an infant car seat as part of a package with pushchair and then go for extended rear facing after it grows out of that one?

[KiwiBanana]

Ooh will have a look at that link, thanks.

[KiwiBanana]

DS was a chunk so can't see it lasting till it's 5 if it's anything like him!

[Clargo55]

Isofix clicks directly onto metal anchorage points which are attached to your car. You will need to check if your car has these. Some experts think they are safer as belted seats are not always fitted correctly. Also isofix are easier to use IMO. No fussing around with seat belts, just one click and you can remove the seat.

It's up to you which way you would like to go.
Personally i will be going for a birth to four years seat as I will not be attaching it to a pushchair. It will be left in the car, so not worried about it being heavy. Personally I stick to the advice of not leaving the baby in the car seat for longer than a hour at a time. So when we finish our car journey I'll either pop baby into a sling or a carrycot attached to the pushchair.

Or you can get a light seat that will attach to a pushchair and rear ward face until roughly 9months and then buy the next size seat.

[AliceMum09]

An ISOFIX ERF seat only has a weight limit of 18kgs. A seatbelted one has a weight limit of 25kgs. So you might want to consider that info if you have a heavier than average child who might hit 18kgs whilst they are still 3.

There is no safety difference between ISOFIX and using the seatbelt. I have a Britax Multi Tech II for my DD2, it's a seatbelted ERF and I really like it. It doesn't take up too much room, and sits quite low down in the car so it doesn't block my view (when reversing, or checking the blind spot on the motorway) out of the rear passenger side mirror. My DD2 is a petite 21 month old, but I have also had my older daughter in there (when she was almost 5) and she was comfortable too.

[bronya]

We had a normal infant rear-facing seat from birth (cost about £40, did the job well and wasn't too upright). Now DS is too big for that (16 months), we have a Be Safe izi plus (seatbelt not isofix, so goes up to 25kg and he can use it for longer). DS LOVES it. It's comfy, reclines, and DH said it was relatively easy to fit. It also comes in a nice red colour :).