Maxi Cosi 2way Pearl and what do I replace following an accident?

[Acathla]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if I need to replace the Maxi Cosi Family Fix base following an accident?

I hit a car at very low speed yesterday with the (luckily!) empty Maxi Cosi Pebble and base in the back of the car. I know I need to replace the car seat, but can't find any information on the Maxi Cosi website about whether or not I need to replace the base. The safety lights are all showing green, which usually indicates it's installed correctly, but I don't want to take any chances. Does anyone have any advice?

Also, my LO will soon be outgrowing the Pebble and I have read very good things about the new Maxi Cosi 2way Pearl and the new base that goes with it. Since I may have to replace everything, I thought it would be a good time to change to the 2way isofix base.

I can't find a price online and when I called Mamas and Papas they would not tell me the price and said I have to come in and have it fitted so they can check the car etc, and only then will they tell me the price. While I can understand this must be a new safety feature, I can't get there with my LO as I can't use the car seat I have and don't want to waste a day (and pay a babysitter) to then find out I can't afford it anyway.

Has anyone been recently to look at one? Would you recommend it, and can you please tell me the price for the seat and isofix base?

Thanks

I think you have to replace the base and the seat if they have been involved in an accident. The safety lights on the base are just there to show you at it's in properly, not that it's 'safe' in the event of another crash. You'd not be able to see any weakness that would make it unsafe, but that weakness is potentially there now that the base has been involved in an accident (even if it was a fairly minor one).

I would definitely go for the 2 way Pearl if you are getting a new seat. That way you can keep your LO rear facing. From looking online it seems to be £200 for the seat unit and £175 for the base.

I was going to recommend that you just check the Maxi Cosi website to see if the seat fits your car and then order it online - Mamas and Papas managed to fit only 1 out of a possible 12 child seats correctly in a recent Which? investigation www.which.co.uk/news/2014/07/major-retailers-fail-to-install-car-seats-safely-374000/
But it seems that the 2 way Pearl can only be sold 'in person' at a shop, so unfortunately you are going to have to rely on their so-called 'trained' staff.

Does anyone have a car seat that you can borrow so that you can get to the shops to try the 2 way Pearl out?

Thanks for your advice.

The insurance will only pay £100 towards a new car seat and base so I was hoping the base would be ok, but won't risk it if there is any chance it is not safe. I was considering the 2way system anyway for the next stage, as keeping my LO rear facing until 4yrs would be my priority, so I guess I will just go for it, albeit earlier than I had intended. At least my LO will fit in it now and I don't have to get a new Maxi Cosi Pebble as well!

Thanks for the price info. The Mamas and Papas customer services rep was adamant that they would only reveal the price once I had the consultation in store. Seems strange for them to do that if other retailers are advertising a price.

A friend has offered her car seat for the day so I will try and get around to a few different shops that stock it. I hope I don't have to have numerous consultations in different shops while I try and get the best price!

Thanks again for your help.

If you want an ERF seat there are loads of cheaper options out there. Try www.securatot.co.uk for an idea of the different seats, then www.rearfacing.co.uk has a list of retailers (sorted by region of the country) on it.

To be honest, I don't see the point of having a Group 1 seat on a separate base. It's not like you can take the child out of the car asleep in the car seat like you can with a Group 0+ seat. The Group 1 seats are too big and the toddlers are too heavy to carry like that!