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Car seats

Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here. For Mumsnetter-approved essentials, sign up for Mumsnet Swears By emails here.

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Original poster

Britax Dualfix or Cybex Sirona?

39 replies

TobyLerone · 05/10/2014 22:32

Which one should we buy and why?

We're leaning towards the Britax at the moment, but there could be something dreadful or fantastic about either one that we're missing.

Our other option was the Recaro Polaric, but I think we've discounted that on account of it being less versatile. Obviously we want to keep DD rearfacing for as long as possible, but if it becomes unworkable when she's 2+ (due to her discomfort/sudden hatred of RFing), at least we would have the option to forwardface in the same seat.

We only have one car and it's huge, so no worries about space or moving it between cars. DD is 9mo at the moment.

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AliceMum09 · 05/10/2014 23:54

I don't have either (my rear facing seat is a Britax Multi Tech II, which can also forward face if you want it to), but based on this community.babycentre.co.uk/post/a23939253/cybex_sirona_-_issues_when_baby_sleeps?cpg=1&csi=2140449045&pd=-2 I would go for the DualFix.

I am a bit biased towards Britax though, I have no connection to them but all 7 of the car seats I've had for my three children have been Britax! They've all fitted nicely (with the seatbelt, the only ISOFIX one I have is a KidFix high backed booster) and are really good quality.

Original poster

TobyLerone · 06/10/2014 08:12

Thanks :)

I'm quite biased towards Recaro as a rule, and the one after this will be Recaro, but I don't think the Polaric is right for us this time.

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FlipFlopWaddle · 06/10/2014 19:31

Dualfix every time! I tried the Sirona and dd hated the impact cushion for when it faces forward (I'm not convinced they are as safe as a harness either to be honest). The shell is shorter too. I love our Dualfix, it's really comfy and easy to use. The covers come on and off like a dream and it looks so secure.

Curiouslygrumpycola · 06/10/2014 20:30

I have the sirona and find that if my 16 month old isn't in the recline position, whilst sleeping, his head falls forward. As he always falls asleep in the car he has to be reclined just in case.

I'm not impressed with the impact cushion so will only ever use this seat as erf.

I also find the button for swivelling the chair really annoying if you have longer nails.

I don't know anything about the other seat, but wouldn't recommend this one.

Original poster

TobyLerone · 06/10/2014 20:41

This is so helpful. Thank you!

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Velvet1973 · 07/10/2014 19:23

We've just bought the sirona but are yet to use it. All I can say is for us we were seriously impressed with the quality and the features, it just seems such a well designed seat. I've spoken to a couple if other sirona owners and they love theirs.
In regards to the impact cushion if and when we change to forward facing it certainly won't be without an impact cushion even if it's not the sirona. For us the safety reports on the difference between harness and cushion are indisputable.

TeaandHobnobs · 07/10/2014 19:27

We have the Sirona and I love it. Personally I wouldn't use it ff with the impact cushion, as I think DS wouldn't stand it (he doesn't like having things like that against his chest/front). I chose it over the DualFix because I found the Britax mechanism for swivelling the seat really stiff, and the Sirona was much easier for me.
We've had it for a year now (DS now 2.5) and I'm still really pleased. Its cover is really easy to take off and put back on for washing too!

Curiouslygrumpycola · 07/10/2014 20:09

Velvet, what sources did you use? I'm researching at the moment as my 3 year old has outgrown his car seat, height and weight. The thought of just a seat belt worries me. The impact cushion doesn't have a good record if the car rolls. A forward facing harness has the internal decapitation video

Original poster

TobyLerone · 07/10/2014 21:21

I'm also interested in actual sources regarding safety of either seat.

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FlipFlopWaddle · 07/10/2014 22:07

This is what Britax have to say about impact shields www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/why-five-point-harness-britax/five-point-harness-facts-figures. They also released a video showing what would happen in a rollover crash but I can't find the link - it's on YouTube though if you search.

Velvet1973 · 07/10/2014 22:59

The manufacturers of the seats with impact shields have not disputed the britax video. However roll over crashes are rare and with car safety technology such as abs, esp and traction control they are becoming even rarer. Currently they account for 3% of crashes so for 97% of crashes they will be safer.
There are also examples of babies coming out of harnesses in crashes as well so it's not as clear cut as britax would have you believe.
In the which best buys driven mainly by safety results there is only 1 seat that is in the recommended section of the forward facing seats that does not have the impact shield.
As a manufacturer that does not sell seats with impact shields I would not trust the information to be without bias, but as I said earlier the other manufacturers have not disputed the video.

Velvet1973 · 07/10/2014 23:16

Interestingly the britax video seems to have vanished off the face of the earth - a challenging task in today's media as the video has been quoted on a lot of different websites and even embedded in some but it is no longer there. Also on there website it still mentions the video but again it has been removed, in their write up about why a 5 point harness there is no mention of their earlier claims in regards to impact shields. Make of it what you will. As the crash test was conducted by britax themselves I wonder how reliable it would have been? Not exactly independent test results.

OfficeNewGirl · 07/10/2014 23:24

I have the britax dualfix

I love it, would buy one again if needed

FlipFlopWaddle · 08/10/2014 07:59

I don't think Britax have a hidden agenda - they used to manufacture and sell seats with impact shields, why else would they stop if not for safety reasons? There is clearly a market out there for them otherwise Cybex and Kiddy would have stopped selling them too. I've had my issues with Britax in the past (Babysafe SHRs - 2 of them that developed a fault almost immediately and Britax denied that there was a product fault) but I trust them on this one.

Curiouslygrumpycola · 08/10/2014 08:20

It's very confusing. Tests are as accurate as can be, but have obviously led to a difference in opinion on shield versus harness with the different companies.

I like things to be more clear cut!

Artandco · 08/10/2014 08:26

I think both are good.

One think with the dualfix is it can be belted or isofix, if I'm correct? This could come in handy for the odd times it needs to go in other peoples car which may be more as they grow ie trip to farm with friends and you take just one car, or you can even take on holiday to use in hire car.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 08/10/2014 08:34

Happy to stand corrected but I am certain Britax seats dont have a life expectancy either, unlike other brands who print an expiration date on their seats of about six years

Curiouslygrumpycola · 08/10/2014 08:57

Op, it might be worth considering with your purchase that my just turned three year old has outgrown the sirona. Not the four years expectancy I was hoping for!

Original poster

TobyLerone · 08/10/2014 09:13

I've heard that as a frequent complaint, curiously.

Now if only I could find a stockist of both...

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AliceMum09 · 08/10/2014 09:40

You're right ThinkIveBeenHacked, I've had email confirmation from Britax that their seats do not have an expiry date.

I have a very petite 2 1/2 year old, who has a Britax Multi Tech II seat in our car but because it's a faf to move (we only have one car, I never bought a spare set of tethers) I use a Britax First Class or Britax CosyTot (same infant carrier as the current BabySafe) in other people's cars. These two seats were bought when I was expecting DS in 2005.

SweetPeaPods · 08/10/2014 09:46

We recently upgraded ds1s car seat and went for the britax dual fix. We are really happy with it.

FlipFlopWaddle · 08/10/2014 09:57

The Dualfix is isofix only.

FlipFlopWaddle · 08/10/2014 10:00

And regarding stockists Mamas and Papas sell the Sirona and Mothercare sell the Dualfix (don't expect much product knowledge though - I had to look up videos on YouTube because the sales assistant was clueless about how to turn it from rf to ff. They also refused to let me try it in the car because it's an Isofix seat so she would have had to touch the points in the car )

Original poster

TobyLerone · 08/10/2014 10:17

Thanks, flipflop. My local Mothercare is tiny and won't stock the Britax, but there is a larger one not too far away which might. I'll look at that first because it's still the frontrunner, then do the trek to the nearest M&P store if need be.

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fairnotfair · 08/10/2014 10:23

I saw this thread title on the "Most Active" list, and assumed somebody had lost the plot big time with regard to Baby Names...

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