Which ERF?

[MrsElEmm]

DD has pretty much outgrown her infant carrier, so we're in the minefield of next stage seat. We're rather strapped for cash - so price is a factor, although I'd rather it wasn't! I know you can't put a price on safety, but the car seat manufacturers are trying their best!
We ideally want isofix as it's safer (in DH's mind especially) and want to rear face for as long as possible.
I think we've narrowed it down to the Joie I-anchor with isofix base. I like that this can be seatbelt too so on the rare occasion DD is with grandparents it can go in their car (my parents car doesn't have isofix).
Or the Hauck Varioguard?
Does anyone have either of these and can recommend?

I have no advice but am leaping in here to try and find out some info.

Our DD is also just busting out of her infant carrier (it's a very slightly larger one and she's petite so she's 14 months).

We have a newer (but I believe not the newest of all) Mercedes A Class, and our DS who's 3 1/2 is in a Kiddy seat with a cushion. He is just about old enough to sit without the cushion and DH suggests getting him a seat without the cushion and putting DD in the seat with the cushion. But I'm keen to find an ERF seat.

When we looked at ERF when DS was small he says that he couldn't find any that were easy to fit and some of them needed to be anchored to the front passenger seat. I essentially lost the will to live and he couldn't find one that he was confident we could re-fit easily after taking it out.

I am checking with him that we actually looked at isofix seats but would love to hear recommendations too.

drspouse when I went into kiddiecare to start my search we were pointed towards quite a few! Most are out of our price range.
I think with the new legislation coming in ERF seats are becoming more common.
The two I'm looking for feedback on are at the lower end of the price range. The more expensive look better but we just can't afford it! Definitely do your research, seats have changed even in the last year since my DD was born!

Oh that's good to know. One of the ones you mention, and the Maxi Cosi 2way Pearl, are both in stock at a shop near us (we are not near a Kiddicare or any of the larger retailers), so we're planning an exciting trip on Saturday to look at them.

We had a couple of weeks of random CM drop offs mainly not in the car and DD has apparently grown about 3" in that time, oops! No more growing this week, DD!

I have the 2 way pearl. It's easy enough to move from car to car and good which rating etc. but...

DC2 is on the way and instead of buying a new seat for them, I'm buying an ERF that pivots for DS1. I find it quite hard to shovel him in and out now (16 months 24ish lb). However in time I guess he'll be able to chamber in and out himself.

Lots of great info here

Isofix isn't necessarily safer - a belted seat can be just as safe, if it's installed correctly. Are you near any of the In-Car Safety Centres? Or Winstanleys in Wigan has a few that can be tried in your car? We tried the Joie i-Anchor but found it didn't have that much legroom past toddlerhood, and went for the BeSafe IZi Combi in the end, which is a brilliant seat - it's nice and high up, so had a great view, and is sturdy and secure in our car. We do have a Joie Stages in my parents' car, which I like but isn't as high up.

We have Joie Stages. It rear faces until age 4 which I think is one of the longest ones. You can also use it forward facing until 7.

Only downside is it's not isofix, but apparently seat belts are just as secure.

My husband doesn't trust seat belt! We can't afford 2 seats, and so it has to be changed between cars at least once a week for DH to do childminder pick up. DH would be more confident doing isofix.
I looked at joie stages, like that it lasts till 7, but it's seatbelt only. Is it easy to fit?
Not bear in car safety centre or Wigan!

It's not the cheapest (same price as Maxi Cosi 2 Way by the looks of it) but we have the Britax Dualfix and it's fantastic.
Isofix, so easy to get in and out, easy to spin around, reclines, from birth to 4. Really recommend it.

It's a shame that ERF car seats are so expensive.

Ideally I would have the dualfix, or the cybex sirona, but it's too expensive really.

The Sirona is a great seat but I wouldn't recommend it for changing cars all the time. It's quite complicated to install and very heavy. Also it's rather cosy so not sure how comfortable it would be longer term.

Have you looked at the other Britax Isofix seats? I can't remember the names but I seem to recall there were a fair few when we were looking. I don't envy you - it's a soul-destroying quest!! I emailed a very helpful guy called Haakan (I think?) who worked for a Swedish ETF company or blog - I'll see if I can find his details.

If you really want little one to rear face as long as possible you'll need to go for seatbelt fitted 25kg seat which should last until approx 6 years (such as Britax two way elite, maxway or multi tech 2, the Axkid minikid, duofix or kidzone, or the besafe izi plus). Isofix seats can only be used until child is 18kg which is approx 4 years.
The seatbelt fitted seats are not really any more difficult to fit and you'll need to practice installation even with an isofix seat.

I'd recommend contacting securatot or the in car safety centre for advice based on your needs.

We've got the Hauck Varioguard and we are really pleased with it. Very sturdy for our big 18 month old, and he's got lots of room yet before I feel I need to turn it around.

Reporting back to say we ended up getting the, not at all cheap, Cybex Sirona. We tried two with swivel and one without, but one of the swiveling ones is really a large 0+ so we went with this one.

We love our sirona! When we went to look for a second seat for dh's car we couldn't bring ourselves to get anything else so we have two! In our defence our first one we got for the absolute bargain price of £215 from kiddicare and it was a sirona plus so should have been £415!