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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want a replacement car seat

59 replies

Mrsgogginsthe3rd · 11/08/2019 00:53

I was wondering if anyone could help. We’ve had to take our MC Axisfix back to M&P as the strap has become twisted and one side won’t tighten. We haven’t been very savvy about this and just accepted what they said which was that they couldn’t refund it, fine we need a car seat but they would need to send it to Maxi Cosi as they can open it up and find out what the problem with the strap is and fix if possible. Ok DC was screaming as we waited bloody ages so we accepted this and the loan of a car seat. They would only offer us the Joie Stages 0,1,2 car seat as a loan - none Isofix. I wasn’t happy with it not been Isofix but the whole thing was so stressful I just wanted to get out. Anyway on getting home and googling exactly what we’ve been given we’ve seen that the loan car seat has a Which Safety alert on it and a Don’t Buy. Obviously this is very distressing, I wasn’t happy that it wasn’t ISOFIX and now this. The latest which safety alert talks about front impact (which is most common) and high speeds, given I do a lot of motorway driving I found this quite alarming. Also thinking about it further I’m not sure I want a car seat that’s been taken apart this just doesn’t feel right - especially not when we’ve spent £350 on one. I also don’t want to be driving around with a loan one that has a safety alert on it. Where do I stand?!? Anyone had a similar experience. I’ve had a look at consumer rights gubbins and it seems to be I can ask for a replacement but they can offer you a repair. Surely it’s not safe to go messing around with a car seat. How do we know it’s been put back together properly, it’s not going to be crash tested is it again is it?!?

OP posts:
CottonSock · 11/08/2019 09:11

I had to send a seat back to maxi cosi for a similar issue. They sent it back saying it was fine and passed inspection! I think you are being unfair about the loan seat though. I just had to borrow one.

Original poster
Mrsgogginsthe3rd · 11/08/2019 09:14

@FenellaMaxwell Thanks for this, there just doesn’t look to be as much room in to do either with it fitted in my car it seems much more awkward with less space around the belts to manoeuvre them through had to go head first as he was waving his feet around so it was impossible to get him through that way.

OP posts:
bouncingraindrops · 11/08/2019 09:20

You cannot put the child in this seat then fasten it into the car seatbelt, it’s not possible. The lap part of the belt goes over the seat where the child sits, then the diagonal goes around the back.

That's literally how all the baby seats strapped in before ISOFIX. We all put baby in seat, seat in car, seatbelt on.

NotDoris · 11/08/2019 09:21

What about putting the joie seat in the middle (if it fits well) then you can put your baby in from the side without the diagonal belt in the way? I’ve never really had any difficulty getting my little one into it, but all cars are different.

BikeRunSki · 11/08/2019 09:22

Unstrap the seat
Put the child in
Strap in the child
Strap in the seat

NotDoris · 11/08/2019 09:24

bouncingraindrops, that’s exactly how I used to use our baby seat when isofix wasn’t available. This isn’t s baby seat though, it’s an all-group seat from newborn to age 12. It doesn’t strap in like baby seats do, so has to be fixed to the car before placing a child into it.

itsboiledeggsagain · 11/08/2019 09:25

That may be so, it doesn't mean it is possible with this seat.

Op you are being a bit dramatic. It is a perfectly good seat and very commonly used across all age ranges.

NannyR · 11/08/2019 09:25

bouncing this seat isn't an infant carrier type seat that you put in and take out of the car with the baby in it. It's a bigger, multi stage seat that's designed to be belted in and left there.

NotDoris · 11/08/2019 09:26

The child sits ON the lap belt, it doesn’t go over the child.

Lazypuppy · 11/08/2019 09:27

OP you are making this into such a big deal.

Thats how all car seats were fitted before isofix. Strap child in and then fix it into the car.

They have given you a loan one which works fine, its only hard because you're not used to it.

Shantotto · 11/08/2019 09:27

Surely you strap baby in then put it into the car?! And yes you do it each time! I don’t drive but when I have been in a car that’s how I’ve always done it with my joie car seat.

Shantotto · 11/08/2019 09:28

Oops cross posts!

JanewaysBun · 11/08/2019 09:36

The stages is a great and safe seat. I actually chose a seatbelt for both of DS' seats (one erf other so easier to take on a plane) and have the stages as his second one. Watch the video to see how to install/get child in.

Ds is 10kg and my MIL gets him in and out with ease (into her teeny car!)

Spam88 · 11/08/2019 09:40

Of course it's designed for backwards facing OP. As others have said, you just slide your child in over or under the seatbelt. People do this with up to 4 year olds so I'm not sure what the issue is? If you're really struggling you could just put them in from the other side of the car where there's no seat belt in the way? I can't see the point in isofix myself once you're past the infant carrier stage so you're not taking the seat out of the car - they're just more expensive without offering anything extra. Personally I think the Stages is a great seat, my DD looks so comfy in hers.

As for your seat being repaired, of course it's fine. They put it together in the first place so they know what they're doing. And the car seats you buy don't get crash tested because they wouldn't be safe to use then - they test seats of that model (which then don't go on sale) to test the design, but not every single seat.

NoParticularPattern · 11/08/2019 09:50

Jesus. There’s no wonder belted seats get a bad rap when people are giving out advice that they must be strapped in each time you use them. This is ONLY true of infant carriers- the same as you remove them from an isofix base and carry them into the house. Once you are using the next stage seat it should be belted in (or isofixed if you’ve got that version) and left in the car. The diagonal part of the seat belt will frequently be in the way with an 18kg rf seat, but there is not need to tip your child upside down or strap the seat in every time you use it.

Please dear god would some of you look at the fit video for this seat?

To set your mind at rest the which don’t buy thing is because it has performed poorly when in forward facing harnessed mode. In rear facing or as a booster it has performed well. It is not subject to a safety recall otherwise it would not be on sale or loaned out anywhere. The stages is a great 18kg rear facing seat if you can cope with the slightly annoying belt path (most people just tuck the diagonal part of the belt out of the way whilst they strap child in and then release it before shutting the door and setting off).

bouncingraindrops · 11/08/2019 09:50

The child sits ON the lap belt, it doesn’t go over the child.

Sorry, my misunderstanding, I didn't pick that up from OP description. Surely if the child sits on that part that makes it easier to get them out though?

BeanBag7 · 11/08/2019 09:52

What are you looking for here? Someone to say "I cant believe they gave you an unsafe seat, go back to M&P and demand a better loan seat!"...?
The seat you've been loaned isn't one you would have chosen, but it's safe and fit for purpose. You only have to use it for two weeks. Apart from buying another seat theres nothing you can do so what's the point of whingeing?

NotDoris · 11/08/2019 10:02

Bouncingraindrops, it’s the diagonal bit that’s a pain, it does get in the way. But, it’s a reasonably priced and safe seat, and it’s not really that difficult to get round the belt, I’ve managed it with my little one from 6 months up to now aged 3.5 and a chunky little thing!

FenellaMaxwell · 11/08/2019 11:34

OP is not wrong there - you can’t belt the seat in with the child in it as the belt has to be threaded through under the seat where the baby sits, but you still don’t need to turn them upside down.

OP - do you have the seat set to the correct recline?

HiJenny35 · 11/08/2019 11:56

Totally agree with you op. Your seat is faulty, mot your fault, you've returned it and they will be fixing it, again you shouldn't be put out by this, yes lots of people have the seat you were giving as a replacement and that's their choice, you decided to spend more and get a seat made to higher safety requirements, you should get a replacement of that standard whilst yours is fixed. I'd also not be happy with a fixed item, you paid a lot of money, it was faulty, I wouldn't be happy with it being messed around with and would want a new one. I'd contact customer services online or by calling and explain how this isn't what you expect. I think a lot of people are being nasty because they haven't spent as much on their seats and are just being cruel. It would be exactly the same if I had spent that on a tv or camera, if it was faulty I want a new replacement not it opened and fixed.

RedCowboyBoots · 11/08/2019 12:52

I fail to see why they couldn't refund it. How long since you purchased it?

ScottishMummy12 · 11/08/2019 13:02

Can you not go in the other side of the car and just place the baby in the seat that way? So then the belt isn’t in the way because it’s on the other side.

user1471530109 · 11/08/2019 13:12

I use this seat with my v small 6 year old. Can someone link or explain which 'mode' is deemed less safe?

And have I just read that I can use this seat as a high backed booster too? So without the harness?

NotDoris · 11/08/2019 13:40

The forward facing harnessed mode is ‘less safe’, but that’s the case with all car seats actually. It’s far safer to harness rear facing, then move on to a high backed booster once they are 4 and 18 kg. Although, there are rear facing seats available which have a 25kg limit which is around 6 years old.

user1471530109 · 11/08/2019 14:45

Thanks. She is in forward facing with the harness on. She is 6 but just less than 18kg. She certainly won't read face now. I had planned to read face her until 18kg but her dad (we are divorced) turned her round when she started school and then she got upset etc.

Can I use this seat as a high backed booster? And would that be safer with a DC around 16-17kg? I know rear facing is most safe btw. Her dad moved her into a high backed booster before she was even 15kg. We don't get on. At all. So he won't be told.