JOIE STAGES O+

[Rarfy]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone could help, we were in a car accident last week and need to replace my daughters car seat and isofix base and have been having a quick look at what's available.

Unfortunately we don't have spare cash available at the moment to buy outright so are looking on very, the Joie Stages 0+ car seat looks suitable for us but it doesn't look like the isofix base is included however I can't find what the isofix base suitable for this seat is called.

Can anyone help?

Or if you can suggest any others that would be appreciated too.

Thanks

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

The Joie Stages is seatbelt fitted so no isofix needed. The Joie Stages FX is the isofix version where the isofix base is part of the seat.

[Rarfy]

Ahh I did see the f one and wondered what the difference was, great thank you. Have you any experience with the seat?

DD is 7 months tomorrow so we're passed the stage or carrying her around in car seat now really as I know from a review I read online it doesn't really look upto that.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

I haven't used the Stages myself but it's a very good seat that is frequently recommended by car seat experts like the people who run 'car seat advice uk' on Facebook. It's not a seat I'd choose because 18kg seats aren't a good choice for my kids (they're both taller and heavier than the 50th centile so would outgrow any 18kg seat before 4yrs) but in your case it could be a good choice for a 7mo.

The other option, if your DD is taller/heavier than the 50th centile would be something like a Joie Juva (£40) to get you to about 12-15mo then a Britax Two Way Elite (£185) which rear faces to 25kg. But I appreciate that paying out twice might not be what you want.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

If you were to get the Stages, personally I wouldn't bother with the FX, particularly if there's any difference in price.

[Rarfy]

Thanks so much that's helpful. I'm not on Facebook so don't see all these things. Fortunately we were not at fault in the accident so costs will be recovered eventually we just don't have any free cash at the moment to replace.

DD is only on the 25th centile at the moment so I think it would be suitable.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

If she's 25th centile, the Stages is definitely a good choice at this stage!

[Rarfy]

Thanks for all your help. The new seat should be with us today.

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

I bought the Stages 5 years ago when my DD had just turned one. Still using it now aged 6 (for the past year as a HBB). Height wise she could probably still fit the harness but is over 18kg now. No complaints.

[Rarfy]

Oh thank you it's good to have some feedback. Certainly looks like an improvement on dds current one which was expensive but feels cheap although I'd did do the job when in the accident last week, dd never even woke up!

[Rarfy]

The seat has arrived and u must say I am very impressed but stupidly didn't realise it couldn't be fitted via isofix in baby mode. I assumed the seat would come off the base and turn around and it doesn't look like it does.

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

No the whole unit turns around and you route the seat belt differently depending on the mode. Main thing is whether it fits your car properly.

[Rarfy]

Thank you. We are returning it. Dd looks really uncomfortable in it it doesn't seem to fit her properly. With the straps at the right height her head looked all squished in it.

Back to the drawing board.

Everyone is saying use common sense and keep using the seat and base we already have due to the nature of the accident but I just don't know.

A wheel careered into us on a road where we were doing around 30mph and I'd guess the wheel was travelling a similar sort of speed after coming off a van on the same road coming in the opposite direction. It smashed into the front of our car then we had no option but to go over the top of it. The estimate for damage to our car is well over 1k which leads me to believe that it would be a stupid idea to continue using.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

The official advice is don't use any car seat or base after even the slowest of bumps. Their could be a hairline crack there that isn't visible but if you were to crash again, could mean that the seat doesn't do the job it's there to do. I wouldn't take the risk personally.

I'm surprised she didn't fit the Stages - have you played around with the inserts to get the most comfortable combination? Joie are very good on Facebook if you send a pic of your DD in the seat and asked for advice?

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

The official advice is don't use any car seat or base after even the slowest of bumps. Their could be a hairline crack there that isn't visible but if you were to crash again, could mean that the seat doesn't do the job it's there to do. I wouldn't take the risk personally.

I'm surprised she didn't fit the Stages - have you played around with the inserts to get the most comfortable combination? Joie are very good on Facebook if you send a pic of your DD in the seat and asked for advice?

[Spam88]

Also a bit surprised you didn't think there was enough space for her head given it goes up to around age 7. Can you not just take out an insert?

[Rarfy]

I would take the insert out but the instructions say to use until 9 months and dd isn't even big only 25th centile. I'm not on Facebook unfortunately.

Yes I completely agree about car seat it's just other people trying to sway me. Really I know the right thing to do is replace and we are going to.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

I would take the head support out if that's making her head look squashed.

This post has a link from Joie you could watch?

[Rarfy]

Thank you I will have a look. It did look like a really sturdy car seat a really big improvement on the one she had.

Ive ordered a maxi cosi to try too will see which one suits dd better. The stages would be great in the long run.