to want not want to fork out 350 quid for a rear facing toddler seat

[chairmanofthebored]

I have looked at the scare mongering youtube videos about the dangers of internal decapitation, resulting from car crashes where the toddler was in a standard forward facing care seat. I then did a quick bit of research into the cost of the recommended rear facing seats. IT turns out they are bulky, difficult to fit in smaller cars, and also around the 350 quid mark.
Does anyone know of one that might be a bit cheaper? I am in danger of being either an over protective parent or a skinflint and I have to decide which!

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

MrsRosie you think a forward facing seat is too dangerous but are willing to risk a rear facing seat that is 2nd hand from ebay

[mrsrosieb]

My health visitor knows of one case of a toddler paralysed from the waist down due to a front facing seat.
I am going to get a rear facing one 2nd hand from eBay when my son is old enough to need one.

[youngblowfish]

Sorry, Sockreturningpixie, I only just saw your message.

This is the carseat DH bought about a week ago from our local Mothercare in Manchester. I think it was cheaper, but I don't know exactly what the ticket price was. I can find out and PM you if you like?

A word of warning though, the staff did not fit it correctly and it was only after DH got home and had a read through the instructions that he was able to fit it properly himself. That is very important, because Which? reports that some of the rf seats are so difficult to install correctly that they can be less safe than ff seats because of incorrect fitting. I am sure you would do so anyway, but if you do end up getting a rf seat, just make sure it is fitted according to instructions.

As for the discussion on the merits of ff and rf carseats and their benefit to cost ratios, it is a parenting decision like any other. As long as it is within the law, one should do what one deems the best choice at the time. Personally, I thought it was a good idea because:

1. We could afford it.
   
2. Road accidents are the lead cause of spinal injuries in children.
   
3. There is overwhelming evidence that rf seats are much safer in dangerous collisions and particularly good at preventing spinal trauma because of the way they help to redistribute the force of a crash across the back of the seat.
   
4. DH had two serious RTAs (sober, driving within the speed limit) and I am weeks away from taking my driving test. I realise things can go wrong.
   
5. My DSis used to work as a personal carer for a wheelchair-bound university student, who suffered a spine injury in a car accident as a toddler.
   
6. I am suffering from severe PFBitis.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

yep i am but its probally due to the few years that have passed as im looking now.

[bagofholly]

Best price I found for besafe izi combi (rf, and isofix or belt) was thatcuteage.co.uk

[Zimbah]

Easily what part of the country are you in? If you post in the Car Seat section on MN, and put your location, you may well find someone with a RF carseat who lives close to you who'd let you try their seat in your car.

[MTBMummy]

@Sock are you UK based?

I only ask as we could only find 2 manufacturers that did rf seats after 9 months, and neither of those offered a isofix version (this was a few years ago - so I don't know if that changes anything) we had a Peugeot 407, and only one of the seats actually fitted, but that was with the front seat all the way forward so that it was unsafe for anyone to be in that seat (head on windscreen - and I'm not tall)

The lady that served us did say it was a common problem with RF seats - shrugs

[IneedAsockamnesty]

no you havent but lots of people who do drive lots prefer to get the extended rf seats (rf up to at least 4) because they are a lot safer but they are also more expensive because they are inported from scandinavia and other places

[Orenishii]

Have I completely missed something? We don't drive so our baby/child will rarely be in a car - a handful of times a year, I expect. I got a car seat from Kiddicare that should have been £100 but was £55. It starts out rear facing and you can then turn it to front facing. From birth to 4 years. It has adjusting neck/head rests and foot rests that extend out, a strap that weaves in and out of the seat and clips into the car, and then the seat belt that comes around and through the back of it.

Have I completely missed something not spending £350?

[IneedAsockamnesty]

thats weird because they claim most of them fit nearly all cars and over half of the ones ive found are isifix

[MTBMummy]

We were very prepared to fork out for a rf one - but couldn't find one that would fit in our car (a farily decent sized family saloon) - we also were told that you couldn't get iso-fix rf seats, so we went for the isofix ff one instead.

[NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown]

Easily bored Yes it is but if you call them and tell them what car/s you want to use it in they will talk you through your options of what fits/is easy to install. They are very knowledgeable. I ordered both car seats online as we don't drive and chatting to them about all the cars we travel in really helped us make a decision.

lljjk I guess it would be if they kept them folded up but by the time their legs are long enough for it to be an issue they can either cross them, put them up on the seat or hang them either side. Plus what migril said

[MigGril]

yes we got ours from Milton Keynes. was an 2 hour for us but well worth it. easily the rf website has sockets on it. there maybe some where closer to you.

As for the leg room my DS at almost 2 doesn't have to fold his legs and as he gets bigger you can reduce the incline on the seat so they have more space between the seat and the back seat of the car. He's slightly taller then average so not small.

[lljkk]

If I sat with my legs folded up for 3 hours in the car I'd get serious leg cramp, probably before I went to stretch them out again. Is that not an issue for small people, too?

[EasilyBored]

Isn't the Incar Safety Centre in Milton Keynes? That's over three hours from me. Not going to happen. And buying online means you can't try the seat in your car to see if it even fits first. It's frustrating.

[NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown]

Not going to get into the debate of ff vs rf. If you want a rf seat for less than £300 try the in car safety centre - we got a Britax two-way elite for around £200 (which can turn ff at 18kg or remain rf sitting upright) - the other place to try is //www.carseat.se - we got a Britax hi-way 2 for £239. This fits from birth so no need for a separate infant seat. Spread over 5 years I don't think that's a huge amount to pay for your child's safety in the car. We use both in small cars (mostly a 106) with no problem at all.

[maddening]

Securatot is where we got ours - can't remember if there were any non isofix ones there as I was looking for isofix

[IneedAsockamnesty]

miggril where do you get it from?

[MigGril]

easily, the two way elite isn't isofix and is around £200. we don't have isofix in our car either.

[DoodleAlley]

It's difficult buying online but we have had plenty of car seats be fitted and told they weren't right for the car. Which is far more of a safety concern that whether rf or ff. in fact reading uP on these follOwing this thread they do say they are generally harder to fit correctly so I'd exercise a note of caution for those buying online without seeing it or having it fitted properly.

[gemma4d]

doodle : Legs fold, just like when you had to sit on the floor at assembly.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

thats fair enough piglet.

easily they have loads of none isofix ones in sweden but i cant seam to find any uk ones.

[pigletmania]

That's fine for our situation as we don't use the car much, I don't drive, dh does but only if he has to which isent a lot so not worth it as likelihood of an accident is nt very much.

[EasilyBored]

I can only seem to find ONE that isn't Isofix either - the BeSafe Izi Combi. We don't have Isofix, so are pretty much left with the option of FF or spending £294 on a car seat.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

it wouldnt much surprise me if the legal minimum requirement changed again at some stage in the future.

given that the legal requirements for car seats are the minimum they have to be.