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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be having a car seat crisis?!?

62 replies

NotAnAmazonAlexa · 27/11/2019 13:32

Hello fellow wise mumsnetters...

I am currently driving my self mad trying to find a car seat for 1 year old DD. Our car doesn't have ISOFIX, but also has apparently unusually short seat belts. I've tried a few car seats at Halfords but they can't get the belt round extended rear facing car seats, the Joie every stage is apparently compatable but I'm not holding my breath it's going to fit if I'm honest.

My other concern is trying to get a wiggly baby in an erf car seat with the seat belt going across, it looks like a logistical nightmare tbh. Does anyone succeed with this ?

Ideally I don't want to have to have ISOFIX retrofitted, neither my parents or in-laws have it in their cars so it would be a problem if DD ever wanted to go with them and there wasn't a car seat suitable for their car.

Does anyone here forward face younger than recommended and have good car seat suggestions ?
I like the look of the cosatto moova and zoomi, the woman in Mothercare was a bit useless in offering any real advice though. And then it turned out that they had neither in stock anyway to try.

I realise it's not an AIBU, however DD is now pretty much on the brink of out growing her car seat and I'm tearing my hair out trawling the internet for car seats...

OP posts:
Original poster
NotAnAmazonAlexa · 27/11/2019 14:41

I do like both the Joie ones, and for the price they looked great value. The only thing that concerned me was trying to get a toddler into them with the seat belt in the way but if others are managing it seems a small price to pay for increased safety. We do quite a bit of motorway driving so I didn't really want to forward face unless there was no other options but mumsnet has saved the day !

OP posts:
MadeinBelfast · 27/11/2019 15:41

If you ring the In Car Safety Centre linked to above and tell them your car model they can give you great advice. I've got all my car seats from them and they have a really good range.

Granny6435 · 27/11/2019 16:55

I use a Joie car seat for my grandson. I find it easiest to get him into it by sitting on the backseat with him on my lap and then lifting him in on the non seatbelt side. Easier than threading him over/through the seatbelt and a great car seat for moving from car to car.

Sandals19 · 27/11/2019 17:06

Sorry to sound patronising but are you absolutely sure neither your nor your relatives cars have isofix? I use taxis a lot and I've come across so few cars that don't have isofix, including quite old cars. They're usually just buried in the seat cushions and you have to hoke around to get at tgem. You can use isofix guide things (just plastic doofers that you push in between the seat and back cushion to open up the gap and push the car seats isofix "clips" in.

Worth a v thorough check.

Autumndaysarehereagain · 27/11/2019 17:12

Axxkid are highly rated. We have a britax maxway which is ERF To 25kg and the seatbelt is hidden. The advantage of it over the 2 way elite is it has a leg so doesn’t brace on the front seat- we were a bit concerned about this as the seat is electric.
In car safety centre have a helpful website.

56Marshmallow · 27/11/2019 17:29

Britax 2 way Elite is fab! Plus, you can forward face when your child is older. The most recent one rear faces to 25kg but only forward faces to 18kg.
My one FF to 25kg. My dd sat rear facing in it until 7 but then found it uncomfortable so I turned it around to forward face until she was 9.

lyralalala · 27/11/2019 17:30

I’d second or third the recommendation to speak to the In Car Safety centre. They’ll be able to give you good advice based on your specific car model

Original poster
NotAnAmazonAlexa · 28/11/2019 20:03

Turns out my MILs car does have ISOFIX, but no, no one's else's does, they all have fairly old cars though apart from mine, which is a 09 Focus and still doesn't have ISOFIX.

Unfortunately we are too far really for the in car safety centre.

I've bought a car seat, a joie every stage but I think I've made a mistake. Bought it from Smyths toy store as they have car seat fitting certificates on their wall, so I presumed they would be good at fitting. They didn't have the axkid or britax ones suggested to try, the only belt fitting extended rear facing car seats were the joie ones. The woman fitted it and it looked ok, base flat to the cars seat etc and she was happy with the fit so I bought it. Put DD in it today, who wasn't with me when I bought it yesterday, and it's not very sturdy.. I can move it at least 6 inches side to side with little effort.... I've already had DD in it now though so they're unlikely to take it back are they... ?

OP posts:
Jeds55 · 28/11/2019 20:08

We thought that our Joie seat wouldn't fit due to short belt length but googled it and there's a trick to it (something along lines of buckling it up first, partner fitted ir can't remember) May work on yours too if you can take the one you purchased back

Original poster
NotAnAmazonAlexa · 28/11/2019 20:25

It's the joie every stage that we got. We've used the short seat belt trick to get it to fit, as did the woman who fitted it. The issue is once it's fitted it moves A LOT.

OP posts:
FrankRattlesnake · 28/11/2019 20:36

If you’re in Hampshire, i can highly recommend the place in Petersfield. They are specialist trained and would probably give advice over the phone too.

Try and rf as long as possible, it is so very much safer. We are putting our 3.5 year old forward facing fo two journeys at the weekend and I’m dreading it!!!

MadeinBelfast · 28/11/2019 20:39

Honestly, if you have the receipt take it back and explain its not secure. Pho e in in car safety centre, they are brilliant and can give advice over the phone. They'll post you a suitable seat and have online videos showing you how to fit them properly.
If you have to keep the one you bought them try and climb onto it yourself. This should press it tighter to the seat and allow you to take some of the slack out of the seatbelt to make it fit better. Good luck Flowers

HelloCanYouHearMe · 28/11/2019 20:42

OP, I retrofit an ISOFIX bar in our 09 Focus - buy the bar from Amazon, drop the backseat and screw it in. You might need to buy a set of keys in order to do it, but it really isnt difficult to do, I promise you

stucknoue · 28/11/2019 20:44

If it moves it's not secure. A badly fitted rear face is not as good as a properly fitted forward face! Doesn't matter how many pounds it cost or what theoretical rating it has if it doesn't fit your car. My parents old car couldn't take any seats or high back boosters because of the molding, was a nightmare

Original poster
NotAnAmazonAlexa · 28/11/2019 20:47

I've pretty much sat in the car seat whilst my partner pulled the seat belt to tighten it as much as possible, but there's still so much movement.

Interesting about retrofitting ISOFIX yourself, I thought you could do that, and we went to Halfords thinking we would maybe just buy a kit like you say, but the guy said ISOFIX had to be welded to the car and we would have to take it to a Ford dealership to have it retrofitted ?

Car seats will be the death of me I'm sure.

OP posts:
HelloCanYouHearMe · 28/11/2019 20:50

Not at all OP. If you have a feel about between the cushions, you should be able to feel the holes for the bracket to be screwed into. A bracket cost about £20 from Amazon and there are videos on YouTube showing you how to fit it

Original poster
NotAnAmazonAlexa · 28/11/2019 20:56

I've seen the videos on YouTube, and I've moved the seats and I can see the holes your on about, it all looked pretty self explanatory until I spoke to the guy at Halfords who was adamant it would have to be welded and specifically at a Ford dealership.

OP posts:
LionelRitchieStoleMyNotebook · 28/11/2019 20:57

We retrofit isofix into DHs ford, it was easy and cost about £20. Also the brand new cosatto seats are extensively tested and designed in conjunction with the RAC, can't comment on older ones.

PastTippingPoint · 28/11/2019 20:58

We bought a Joie Steadi for our 2010 Focus (definitely non-isofix and definitely very short seatbelts!). It's been good for us and fits nicely in the car. I taught my daughter to climb into the seat herself instead of lifting her in, although this isn't ideal when she's being stubborn or cheeky 🙄 but saves my back.

I'm looking to get a Axkid move soon, it's currently on discount online.

AnotherEmma · 28/11/2019 20:58

You can easily retrofit Isofix in an 09 Focus (we did it ourselves in an 03 Focus!)

For the car seat, join the FB group "car seat advice UK", lots of experts there.

You could also ask @BertieBotts who knows loads about car seats!

What centiles is your DD for height and weight?

AnotherEmma · 28/11/2019 21:01

Anyway, once you've got some online recommendations, you should retrofit the isofix and then go to your local specialist retailer, as nothing beats face to face advice.
www.carseatadvice-uk.com/specialist-retailers.html

Original poster
NotAnAmazonAlexa · 28/11/2019 21:07

I've found a kit sold online, from Ford them selves and it appears to bolt on and not require welding. I've also emailed smyths toy store and asked if I would be able to return the car seat which hopefully they'll allow me to do so.

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 28/11/2019 21:09

👍

welshweasel · 28/11/2019 21:13

Really there’s no need to install isofix. Get an axkid move. Currently on offer for £190. Excellent seat. Swedish plus tested (safest seats you can buy). Will do most children til the age of 6.

AnotherEmma · 28/11/2019 21:21

Not necessarily the best fit for the OP's child or car, though.

We found that there wasn't much room in the Focus for a 25kg ERF car seat - not with enough recline for our 1yo and enough leg room for the passenger.

The thing about 25kg seats is that they are BIG, and when your child is still only 1, they need to recline.

So the Axkid Move may or may not be the best option in this case.

(If the child is

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