Which swivel car seat?

[user1471383602]

Hi,
We're looking to get a swivel car seat for our daughter. She's currently 4.5 months but weighs just over 9 kg/20lb (the ave weight of a 9 month old!) so I'm struggling to get her in and out of our current car seat.

We've been looking at swivel car seats but are unsure which one to go for. Does anyone have any suggestions for features that we should look out for / things to ensure that it has/doesn't have, or recommendations for specific models ones to avoid for particular reasons etc. We're hoping to get one that will last a while as they are quite pricey.

Many thanks

We have the Maxi Cosi Axiss. Brilliant seat, really handy for my bad back. No complaints here (although was a bit more pricey than I was used to paying but well worth it).

If she's only 4 months old I'd definitely be looking at one that can stay rear facing for now. While she's legally old enough to face forwards in the car, her neck muscles won't be developed enough yet to support her head I'd you were unfortunate enough to have a crash.

I think there are only a couple of 360 degree swivel ones so that should narrow down the search. Unfortunately they are the pricier ones on the scale too! If you're set on swivel and set on changing car seat now though I think it's a must. Otherwise see if you can hold out until she's over a year.

Sorry, legally heavy enough (there is no age limit in law unless you get an isize seat).

Nuna Rebl. Will last to 19.5kg in weight and can stay rear facing that whole time.

It is pricier but it's such a lovely seat. It was the only erf seat that would fit in our car leaving enough leg room for 6ft 2 OH. it's lovely and compact compared to most erf seats.

We have the Britax dualfix, got it when DS was 1 he's still rear facing at 2yrs 10 months. I wanted a swivelling one to make it easier to get him in and out and it's really great. It should last him till he's 4.

Definitely one that is rear facing and suitable from birth. Maybe check the Britax Dualfix and there's the Nuna Rebl that would be good.

Maxi cosi axxis fix. It's excellent.

Oh, sorry, didn't see your DD's age OP. She's a good way off using a forward facing seat. Mine were all rearward facing for at least a year.

http://www.emmasdiary.co.uk/sale/Joie/709 Joie spin is on offer on Emma's Diary.

Forgot to add my tall 3.5 year old still rear faces comfortably in the Nuna Rebl

Yes, I second the Nuna rebl. My 19 month old ds fits comfortably with loads of room and is still rear facing. One of the selling points for me with this was the spare seat cover!

Cybex sirona. We used from birth to 4 1/2 years rear facing

I think it doesn't necessarily need to be a from birth one because she's over 9kg, but rear facing is important.

Yes ideally you want her rear facing until 4.much safer. None of my recommendations swivel though!

You need to look in your daughter's red book and follow her centile line along to see roughly when she will weigh 18kgs. This is important because ideally a child will be at least 4 1/2 years old when they move to a high backed booster and if you buy a seat with an 18kgs weight limit you are then going to have a problem when your child outgrows the seat but is too young for a high backed booster.

Is your daughter tall/long for her age too? The Cybex Sirona and Britax DualFix swivel seats have short shells, and won't get a tall child anywhere near 4 years old rear facing. The Nuna Rebl does have the slightly higher 19.5kgs limit, but it's an I-Size seat so it is outgrown as soon as the child hits 105cm standing height. I don't know much about the Joie 360 swivel seat, but that also has an 18kgs weight limit (it's not I-Size so there is no height limit).

I would continue with your current seat for as long as possible, then look into rear facing seats with a 25kgs weight limit. If you go for a seat with low sides like the Axkid Minikid, Britax Multi Tech II or Britax Two Way Elite it's incredibly easy to get the child in. My 4 year old has the Multi Tech II

Alice - mine were both tall and used the Cybex sirona until both around 110cm tall and fitted in well still.

The Cybex Sirona is absolutely brilliant. Easy to instal, the swivel function is excellent, reclines fully and can stay rear facing for ages. The only disadvantage is that it is heavy so not suitable for holidays or moving between cars.

Alice the Sirona moves back in its shell allowing plenty of room for a taller child's legs.

My mistake, I was under the impression (I don't have the seat, this is just from what I've read) that the problem with the Sirona is the length of the seat up the back. So perhaps it's more of an issue for children who have long bodies, they are the ones who are going to outgrow it before they are 4. I know legroom isn't a problem, we have a Joie Stages as a spare ERF seat and DD2 is happy to sit cross-legged and doesn't notice that it has less legroom than her regular seat.

The back is adjustable in 11 positions up to 105cm which is not too bad. Obviously it depends on how quickly your child grows but most 4yos will still be under 105cm.

Just looking at the same options as 19mo will soon have outgrown her Pebble. AliceMum09 I like the look of your carseat but do you know of any similar with Isofix? Otherwise looking at maybe the Nuna Rebl or the Joie 360 but need convincing that there will be space for legs closer to 4yo (esp if we don't change our tiny car!). It all seems very expensive given that the cost per use is necessarily higher as it's for a toddler rather than newborn...