Ok, time to buy the next stage car seat soon. Which extended reaer-facing is really the best?

[MyDogShitsMoney]

I've hear really good things about the 2-Way Elite but not sure I like it now I've seen the pictures. Doesn't look very comfortable and looks very open at the sides.

I like the look of Kiss 2 but can't find any reviews for it.

Long shot I know but does anyone have one? Or one similar?

I still have some time, DS still no where near the top of his infant seat and it's suitable til 13kg (ds only 9kg a month ago). Also it's going to take me a while to save up yet, on an eBaying spree but only up to £110 so still a ways to go!

Anyway, any advice gratefully received!

We had something looking like the Britax Multiway for DS - and, yes, kept DS rear facing much longer that way. It did have good sides and lasted until he was about 3.5 - he's always been tall though. It also had a good tilt on it for sleeping.

Thank you!

It's all so flipping confusing. Have managed to download the user guide for the Kiss 2 and my car is on the list of ones it will fit in so that's something!

Not too worried about height tbh, he's average length but really short legs so not antcipating any leg-room issues!

Was just concerned about the side inpact protection. Did yours look like the 2-way? Maybe it's just the pictures giving me the wrong impression

No, mine looked as though it had a lot more at the side tbh - if you look at the Britax Multiway, more similar to that, which looks to have more than the 2 way elite. Really rated the chair we had though.

Can't find a Multi Way. I've found a Max way which I really like the look of.

Did yours look anything like this one?

Yes, the seat bit was much closer to that than the 2-way - much deeper sides.

Thank you! Will go on a hunt for supliers

The Max-Way has a head rest which limits the use of the seat (you can use rfing group1/2 seats until the tips of the ears reach the top of the seat back - the Max-Way's head rest stops this). The Hi-Way II is the seat that the Max-Way replaced in Britax's line up (still manufactured though) and in my opinion is much better (I have a Hi-Way II which I chose over the Max-way after seeing both together).

It's also £100 cheaper!

Really good to know, thank you!

DD2 who was about 4.4y & 110cm/18kg when we tried out the Max-way / Hi-Way II wouldn't have fitted in the Max-Way yet had growing room in the Hi-Way II (the seat was actually for DD3 who's 2y but I wanted to see how big a child I could get in it!).

Can't find details for the Hi Way II, I'll get googling!

I've found the Maxi-Cosi Mobi which I think is the front runner so far.

Will keep looking though, yours sounds exactly what I want because although safety is obviously the primary concern the cost means that I really do need it to last as long as possible.

We've got the 2 way elite.

I'm not sure what to say about it as I have no other chair to compare it with! I'd agree it has a good position for sleeping. DS still in it at 3.5.

Asked DP and he says he thinks on the whole it's pretty good. The best thing about it is that it's easy to move it on occasions when you need the car seat in a different car.

Cons - child's straps a bit fiddly to adjust (i.e. move up a level) as they grow.

Also I find the straps a bit awkward to do up sometimes (but are all car seats lie this? I don't know!).

Other than that we've had no problems with it.

We got a fish-eye mirror for the back seat so the driver can see DS in the rear view mirror, that's been really worth it.

Here - it's a really old pic though - our one is in the Billy fabric (black with black circles embossed and black supersoft fabrics) which is very modern looking. DD3 loves it as it's so comfy (DD2 seemed a bit put out it wasn't going to be hers!)

We have the maxi cosi mobi and love it, DD2 is just 3 and above average height and will have plenty of room for a long while yet. Good side protection and very comfortable, has options for sitting up and reclining. Only thing is its huge, takes up a lot of space and limits positioning of front passenger seat. Would love another for DD2 who is 12 months but would be hard to drive with it behind drivers seat. And my car is big, Citroen C5. So trying to find a rear facing seat that is as great but a bit smaller.

Thanks Truth that is definitely one to look at.

Three, if you don't mind my asking are the sides really as flat as they look on the photo or is it just the angle? I've got a feeling it's just bad pictures because I've heard loads of good things about it but it doesn't look very padded from what I could see.

Bollocks, thanks Grey that could have been a costly discovery!

Don't live anywhere near any stockists so having to do it all online. That's why I'm so keen to get as much info as possible.

I'm a bit limited as I drive a car far too old to have isofix points so need one that fits with just seat belt. It's an Astra though so on the list of compatible cars for all the ones I've looked at so far.

Not too bothered about leg room in the front, I'm an LP so it would only be the occasional passenger. Just need to know it will definitely fit!

I have the TWE as well (DD2 rides ffing in it) and the wings aren't quite as 'flat' as pictures make them out to be. It wouldn't be my first choice for a smaller toddler/older baby but then I am lucky in that my DC are all pretty close in age so I have had the luxury of being able to have erfing/ehing seats for different stages.

DD1 used to ride in a Nordic Secura (very similar to the Hi-Way just an older Britax model), then when DD2 needed a erf seat we got DD1 the TWE (she would have been about 3y then) so DD2 could have the more cushioned/reclined NS. DD1 rode rfing in the TWE until just after 4y then rode ffing in it to 5y when she went into a HBB.

DD2 then rode in the TWE rfing (she would have been coming up to 3y) and DD3 rode in the Nordic Secura (she would have been about 1y). When the NS expired, we got a Hi-Way II as then DD4 was on the way so when she is born she'll ride in an infant carrier until 15m or so. By then I should be happy to have DD2 in a HBB (she has hypermobility so I want her ext.harnessed as long as possible - pref to 6y) and DD3 can have the TWE and DD4 can have the Hi-Way II.

Terribly complicated I know but there is a method to my madness!

No no, I see your strategy exactly!

That was exactly the impression I got from looking round. The twe does look great but ds will only be about 1 so to me it just looks a bit old for him.

I want something that looks a bit more cocoon-y looking if that makes sense.

Hiya, it is padded. I can see the padding on the picture though so maybe I'm looking at the wrong bit. (But then I know what it's like in real life so maybe we're interpreting the picture differently IYSWIM!)

Could you post a link to a picture to one that is well-padded so I can see what you mean?

I think it might be the angles of the pictures but onthis one the sides seem wider and more cusioned. (if you hover over it it zooms in)

Not sure that makes any sense but I know what I mean!

I think I'm over-thinking every little detail because I can't actually see them. It's such an important decision and such a lot of money I'm really nervous about having to do it just based on pictures.

OK, I see what you mean. I do think that one probably is more cushioned and so possibly more comfortable? I think you're right that the TWE isn't as cushioned as some of the others.

However DS has sat in our one on a 12 hour journey (south of England to Scotland in snow!) a few times and the chair hasn't been uncomfortable as far as I can tell. I'm guessing the positioning is possibly also very important when it comes to comfort too, and the TWE is good for him to sleep in.

The foot rest on that one you linked to puzzles me. Where does it actually go when it's rear-facing? Is it adjustable when they get big? I'm sure they've thought of that, just it's a new one on me!

The bottom bit of our one comes right up to the back seat. So when he was little he sat with his legs straight out, as they didn't reach the back seat. Now he's bigger he sits with crossed legs or up on the back seat of the car, and he seems perfectly happy like that.

"I think I'm over-thinking every little detail because I can't actually see them. It's such an important decision and such a lot of money I'm really nervous about having to do it just based on pictures."

No worries, I was exactly the same! Why not ring those Milton Keynes people from your first link? We found them very helpful. Especially when we got the seat. DP fitted it (and it was very easy in the end), but they talked him through every step[ over the phone, which was great.

I wasn't sure if I could pester them for info over the phone but there is a genuine chance I may well buy from them so not completely wasting their time I suppose.

From what I can gather the thing that looks like a foot rest is the tilting thingy.

The reason I like the TWE is that it can be turned around later on, the Mobi is rear facing only, so may be able to squeeze an extra 6 months to a year out of it depending on his weight at 4/5.

I just want to be sure it's going to be cosy, he's my ikkle biddy baba and he needs to be enveloped in pillowy softness at all times! (He really isn't, he's fecking huge. I fear this car seat business has turned me into a neurotic mess!)

Hi, don't know if it is a contender, but if you are considering the Britax Multitech you can see it in the flesh at your local Volvo dealership. If they don't have a display model they can order it as a part (but you don't have to buy it).

It has a 'Volvo' sticker on but comes with a Multitech manual. You don't have underfloor storage do you?

We've got the kiss and love it. Has option of seat belts or isofix. I went to Milton keynes after doing full online safety & review research...I agree it's a lot of money so you want to get it right. Most of the two way seats aren't very safe when switched to front facing if you compare to other front facing so it can be a bit misleading. I tried them all in my Mazda 3 ( poor woman at Mk place certainly earned her wages that day!). I had pros & cons explained to me of each and was able. to see space in front seat as they do take lots room. Kiss won hands down for me . V cosy, ds loves it and falls asleep easily. Can recline which I wanted as I sometimes do long journeys and feel bad him sleeping upright. I would recommend. Good luck !

Hi, interesting about the multi-trch, didn't know Volvo sold them. Will have a look where my nearest dealer is, has to be closer than Milton Keynes!

Really good to hear that about the Kiss. TBH leg room in the front is a non-issue for me luckily. As long as it fits that's all that matters.

Thank you everyone, the search goes on!

That's really interesting Mydog. We made it to Milton Keynes yesterday and tried various car seats - the only rear facing one which fits is the twe and that just seems to have so little side impact protection. It also looks like it wouldn't give much protection if it's forward facing.

We're really not sure what to do now, whether to go with the twe or whether to buy the best ff seat going. Dd is light so likely to fit her carrier until she's at least 18 months...