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Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here.

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Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here.

Car seats

Joie i-anchor child seat and anchor fix base, reviews please

34 replies

DevonLulu · 04/04/2014 21:03

Does anyone have any experience of the joie i-anchor child seat and anchor fix base please?

DS is currently in the besafe Izi go and we love it. However, he is approaching 6 months and about to go to nursery. I will be doing the drop offs and my DH will be picking up. So I am looking at car seat options as we will need to accommodate two cars. I am looking long term, once we have outgrown the current seat.

Both DH and I are keen to ERF given the safety data. Initially I had assumed that we would move to the besafe izi kid X3 as we have been happy with the izi go, but we would have to buy two rather expensive seats, one for each car.

I have been drawn to the Joie i-anchor child seat and anchor fix base, as we could buy two bases, take the seat out and leave it at nursery, saving us buying two seats. Has anyone tried this seat? I would be keen for first hand reviews please and thoughts re other options. Is it really as portable as the you tube video would suggest!? Is this a good brand - ERF is still rather a mine field to me!

I drive an Audi Q5 and my DH currently a mini, although it is dying and likely will be replaced in the next few months.

Many thanks in advance.

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DevonLulu · 08/04/2014 19:58

How about opinion or hearsay! Someone must know something about this car seat and base.... please!

Many thanks

OP posts:

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Ihateparties · 08/04/2014 21:36

There are some goods pics on the rear facing car seats for toddlers Facebook page... That's as much hearsay as I've got! I think it looks good. You can also apparently get separate bases for the hauck varioguard.

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AliceMum09 · 09/04/2014 17:45

It's quite a new seat isn't it? I expect there are not many people who have actually bought one yet.

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katandkits · 19/04/2014 17:34

Would the nursery let you store the seat there? It appears to be larger than an infant carrier, I can't imagine they have space to store everyone's toddler sized seats?

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Lora1982 · 22/04/2014 20:27

Im looking at getting this kit too. So I hope some reviews get here soon.

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DevonLulu · 30/04/2014 20:03

Just wondering.....

OP posts:

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Demerara26 · 06/05/2014 01:11

Hi, I narrowed it down to this one too as it seems to be the only ERF which can be installed using a seatbelt. I cant find reviews anywhere but its only just come out.

However, I did log on to Which and found that the previous Joie carseat, the Joie Stages has the worst "Dont Buy" reviews for safety!! Major put off but I cant find a better one which can be used with just a seatbelt :-(

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onetwothreefourfive · 06/05/2014 14:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OohQuack · 03/06/2014 19:40

I went with joie stages instead because the i-anchors only til he's. Around four, but stages is upto 7

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bananas4kate · 09/06/2014 13:07

I bought the i-anchor back in March and it really is a lovely seat - very comfortable, 7 recline positions and it is easy to install. The seat is quite a bit bigger than an infant carrier but it should still be light enough to swap from car to car if you have two bases.
The only problem I have encountered is that my DD can reach the button to loosen the straps and has been able to get herself out of the seat.
I am currently in contact with Joie to see if they can come up with any solutions but not having much luck so far.
To be fair to Joie the design of the strap tensioning button is very similar to most other seats so we may have had the same problem whichever seat we bought.
DD appears to be a criminal mastermind at 15 months!

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SqutterNutBaush · 10/06/2014 16:28

Most ERF seats get a which don't buy because they are "difficult" to fit.

This is why which reports are about as reliable as an underwater hairdryer.

There was a recall on the Stages but it was oy because of a strap tensioning issue which was easily sorted IIRC.

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SqutterNutBaush · 10/06/2014 16:28

Most ERF seats get a which don't buy because they are "difficult" to fit.

This is why which reports are about as reliable as an underwater hairdryer.

There was a recall on the Stages but it was oy because of a strap tensioning issue which was easily sorted IIRC.

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lisared · 13/06/2014 15:46

I have an i-anchor too and my 20 month dd is loving being RF. We have a Vauxhall Vectra is there is plenty of room for it in the back and an adult to sit comfortably in the front too.

She seems very comfortable and sleeps at the drop of a hat which I take as a good sign!

We bought it to have as the one seat in our main car but really liked that we could buy another base and then I could leave her seat at nursery if OH needed to pick her up. My nursery are fine with keeping car seats and my DS school sometimes keeps his booster seat so it shouldn't be too much of a problem for you.

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Bodicea · 17/11/2014 20:39

We have just got the joie - so far so great. Contemplating whether to buy a second one or just a second isofix base. One of us does the drop up and the other does the pickup from the childminder every day so wondering I it is just too much of a faff to have just one seat. How easy is it to transfer?

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RedToothBrush · 17/11/2014 21:16

We've just bought one. There seem to be stock issues with it, as the first place we tried had none in, and the place we did get it we had the last one (there was someone in the store buying one at the same time who had similar problems).

I probably can't give you a lot of helpful feedback though. DS is only 11 weeks old. He seems to be very comfortable and happy in it though! My car is a Kia Picanto - so about as small as you can get. Its fine with the exception that 6'2" DH can't quite put the seat back fully. We are pleased with it so far.

It was easy to install according to DH. I've not attempted it myself.

I think we will eventually get another base for DH's car but we haven't at this stage.

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thfdave · 16/03/2015 21:44

@bananas4kate, did you have any joy with Joie? We have the same problem with our little escapologist!

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BubGal13 · 30/04/2015 11:46

Hi all we have just bought this as wanted rear facing for as long as poss- but now very very worried as read some reviews about lack of recline when rear facing with babies/toddlers being sat straight upwards, so when falling asleep end up with head slumped forwards... anyone have any experience on this please?

read here- www.thedadnetwork.co.uk/2014/07/joie-i-anchorsafe-system-which-car-seat.html

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odi1 · 03/05/2015 22:21

I have this seat but I only used it from eight months rather than birth. It is quite upright and I am not sure how I would have felt putting a new baby in it. I have found it to vary depending on the car as it was a lot more reclined in my sister's car.
We had head flopping issues but joie sent out a new insert and it has sorted the problem for us. I still think it is a good option for the price.
Hope that helps

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Bababing1 · 06/05/2015 21:15

We have had this car seat for about 6 months. We like it a lot. Easy to get little one in and out, feels very sturdy. Fits very easily in our VW golf.
The max recline is still quite upright, but she sleeps fine without head lolling.

I was keen on isofix installation, but this one does both isofix and seatbelt. This was excellent when we broke down and had to be towed by AA, as their van did not have isofix, so would not have been able to transport us home if we had just a purely isofix seat.

We have now also bought a Britax 2 way elite as a "travel" Erf seat for when we go abroad for hols or to see my family, and to have a spare seat for when visitors fly in. Will also use as main seat when she outgrows the Joie and figured cheaper to buy one than hire each time. This is a very nice seat, and I would actually be happy with this as main seat, just I couldn't try locally at the time and was keen on isofix.

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deebee83 · 22/06/2015 15:32

Hi RedToothBrush. How are you getting on with your Joie I-Anchor. My daughter has one and just putting her 11 week old into it, but the baby's head seemed to big for the headrest so she has taken it off, but now feels that her head is too far back.

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monkey2014 · 24/06/2015 16:39

Bubgal I think they have sorted that now, they've altered the newborn insert.

Our boy is 11 weeks today and we've just taken the newborn head part out at the weekend. It says you can do that over 60cm which he was at 8 weeks but his head was not lolling at that point. We don't go in the car a lot at the moment so it wasn't until this weekend we put. Him in and it looked uncomfortable and hi head tipped Downes. With the head part out he looks super comfy! I don't know his exact height or weight now though

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monkey2014 · 24/06/2015 16:40

Aargh autocorrect!

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Laquila · 25/06/2015 10:50

We had a BeSafe IZi Go infant carrier same as you, OP, and after MUCH research, bought the BeSafe IZi Combi Isofix, which we love. It's high up so has a great view, and there's loads of legroom. We did try the Joie i-Anchor at the same time, and I liked it, but someone I emailed asking for advice (I think it might have been a lady at the In-Car Safety Centre?) said that she'd probably advise against it vs the BeSafe, as the recline wasn't great and neither was the legroom (for a toddler, obviously).

We also have a Joie Stages for my parents' Vauxhall Astra (nothing fits in that stupid car!! Stupid weird sloping seats) and I like to, but it doesn't feel quite as sturdy as the BeSafe and isn't as high, so the view isn't as good and he gets more restless on long journeys. Also legroom not quite as good as it's not got a brace pushing it back from the back seat and creating legroom.

I wouldn't set too much store by the Which review - I ised to love Which but since having a baby I've become much more cynical about their motives and expertise - they are the Baby Bjorn carriers very highly and they are absolutely definitely not the best option on the market.

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Lucybear1987 · 27/07/2015 22:05

Hi

My little boy is escaping from the Ianchor so much so we have had to stop using the seat. Over £200 wasted!! :( Joie are ignoring us completely even deleted my post and video of my boy escaping. They sent us a fabric lock which hasn't stopped the problem!

Joie i-anchor child seat and anchor fix base, reviews please

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lccoolh · 27/08/2015 13:49

Hi, I am just about to buy this seat as my wife wants an i-size seat but she doesnt have isofix points and I understand this is the only one availible? I have isofix so am getting the Nuna Rebl which is a great quality seat. Im a liitle concerend with the Joie though as out 9 month year old can get out of his Bebe Car seat now so im sure he will be working out the Joie in no time!

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