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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

Can anyone advise me on my sirona car seat in forward facing?

33 replies

nhssecretary · 31/08/2018 09:39

Hi there
I'm a bit confused by all of the information out there.
I have a sirona for my son. He is 17 kg
He is very tall and has forward faced for about 9 months now.
I have been using the pillow to restrain him in it facing forward.
My question is, can I use the 5 point harness on him forward facing or do I need to use the pillow?
He is big now and I think it would be more spacious with the belt on instead

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littledinaco · 01/09/2018 17:28

You can get high back boosters that isofix in but it’s the seatbelt that is restraining the child, not the isofix. The isofix is used to hold the seat in place so you don’t have to belt it in when you don’t have a child in it (otherwise it’s a loose object in the car).

Isofix is only tested up to a combined weight (child and seat) of 33kg so a seat held in place by isofix without use of the seatbelt does not exist past this weight.

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teaandbiscuitsforme · 01/09/2018 17:25

Pallas is no good for a child following his height and weight. You can only use the impact shield to 18kg and then it's just a high back booster.

Isofix isn't safer than belt fitted. As has been explained, it just reduces the chance of human error on installation. I've had 3 isofix seats and now 3 belt fitted and I can honestly say that the belt fitted are far more secure than any of the isofix were. You can get a much better fit with a seatbelt than you can isofix because it's not rigid.

You need a 25kg seat or your child will not be safe. Rear facing is best (look for Axkid Minikid or Britax Two Way Elite). If you are happy to compromise on safety, your only choices are the Joie Bold, Cosy and Safe Excalibur or the Diono Radian 5.

There is no more advice you can be given without testing seats in your new car.

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nhssecretary · 01/09/2018 17:19

What about the Pallas

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littledinaco · 01/09/2018 17:11

The reason isofix is said to be safer is it reduces the risk of incorrect fitting. A correctly fitted seat with the seatbelt is just as safe as a correctly fitted isofix seat. It’s not really a matter of opinion, it’s something that has been tested and proven.

You are right to be concerned though as incorrect fitting is common. This can be avoided by having somewhere like the in car safety centre fit your seat.

If you need a 25kg harnessed seat though you won’t have any option other than to seatbelt and tether it as isofix seats to this weight don’t exist.

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nhssecretary · 01/09/2018 16:58

I just don't feel that metal rods locked to a car and a pole to the floor to secure are as as secure as a belt !!

It's only my opinion

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NapQueen · 01/09/2018 16:56

Isofix is only to 18kg anyways. Correctly belted is equally as safe as correctly isofixed.

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nhssecretary · 01/09/2018 16:56

I checked that when I bought the seat as I had just ordered the car and didn't want to have to buy a new one!

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littledinaco · 01/09/2018 16:55

Just double check with the car seat manufacturer that your particular seat is approved to go in the front of your car as not all seats are compatible with all cars regardless of isofix or the age of the car.

There is usually a list on line or in the manual that came with the seat or you can call them and ask.

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nhssecretary · 01/09/2018 16:50

Air bag will be off for sure
I have isofix in the front
The car is a 65 plate it's new.
I will be swopping it in October

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littledinaco · 01/09/2018 16:45

I’m not sure on multi Mac, the f/b group would be able to advise in terms of safety but it won’t be as safe as rear facing.

Rear facing on the front seat is a good option, just check whatever seat you use is compatible with the front seat of your particular car and that you switch the airbag off.

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nhssecretary · 01/09/2018 16:32

I wonder about Multi Mac?

I will put him rear facing in the front for now.
That is probably my very safest option
Then I will join the groups on Facebook
And then I'll go to the car seat specialists and get advice

:( the idea of my boy suffering anything

I cant cope

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timeisnotaline · 01/09/2018 14:40

Car sickness can’t necessarily just be fixed. I was sick in everything that moved growing up (except planes thank god given we did long haul several times a year). My poor parents. First day of Disney land - Mum staying with me to recover. Uncles wedding - drying my rinsed off dress in front of the fire. Etc etc.

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littledinaco · 01/09/2018 14:29

Everything teaandbiscuitsforme said, particularly woth going to the in car safety centre to look at seats.

Isofix will not go up to 25kg so if you need a 25kg seat, you will need to get seat belt fitted (either top or bottom tethers depending of FF or RF).

Just in case you weren’t aware, you can put him rear facing in the front with the airbag turned off as a safe option.

Lots of the 25kg rear facing seats are quite different to the 18kg ones so he may not be car sick as he’ll be in a more upright position. My sister had her DS forward facing for sickness and has just moved him rear facing in the Britax 2 way elite and has no sickness now.

Well done for looking into this as so many people have their DC in unsafe seats and don’t do proper research.

I notice you said the most important thing is his safety. The safest thing for him is rear facing. Have a look at some of the videos on you tube which show the difference in ff and rf in the event of a crash.

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NameChange30 · 01/09/2018 14:26

That must have been really scary

Have you discussed the travel sickness with your HV? Just wondering if they might have some advice on dealing with it.

I don’t mean to bang on about rear facing (i don’t know what you mean by your “martyrs” comment ) but if the vomit incident happened recently that was when he was forward facing, wasn’t it? So FF hasn't fixed it.

Anyway I hope you can get some advice from ICSC or the FB group a PP mentioned (which I agree is very good). Hopefully they can persuade you that isofix is not safer than belted, it’s just easier to fit. Even if we can’t!

IIRC i don’t think isofix goes beyond 18kg anyway. There is a limit to the weight it can safely bear.

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nhssecretary · 01/09/2018 14:17

I know about the sickness but the thing is
He got sick in the car 2 weeks ago
And he couldn't get the vomit out
His lips went blue
I slammed on the brakes and ran around the car to pull him out of the seat
It terrifies me.
I don't want to drug him to stop vomiting
I had him in the front so I could supervise but it made me even more anxious
I will get a 25kg seat for him
I want an ISO fix as I feel they are more firmly fixed to the car
There is no problem for the price or buying another seat. It is a priority
And I accept the points about rearward facing but people are like martyrs when they explain their reasons for wanting to do it.
I also have my reasons for having my huge child face forward
all I wanted to know what can you use the belt without the pillow in forward face? The answer is no. He will soon be too big in his seat. I will replace it for one that fits a bigger child.
I drive an Audi A6 avante and in October I will have an Arteon. Both are safe cars.

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timeisnotaline · 01/09/2018 13:35

@teaandbiscuitaforme actually I only have a 3yo 😳, he’s not even close to 4.

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NameChange30 · 01/09/2018 12:33

Also, you say you put him forward facing to make him more comfortable, but you also say that safety is the most important thing. Which is it? Comfort or safety?

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NameChange30 · 01/09/2018 12:32

“Regards the car seat I want him to be in a safe one. That is the most important thing to me.”

Well, the safest seats are rear-facing. I know the Sirona is a safe seat - when it’s in rear-facing mode. That’s why I have one and only use it in rear-facing mode.

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teaandbiscuitsforme · 01/09/2018 12:19

Sorry just realised he's 2 now not 19mo. FWIW my 3.5 yr DD is also very comfortable in her Axkid Minikid!

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teaandbiscuitsforme · 01/09/2018 12:17

*now he's bigger

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teaandbiscuitsforme · 01/09/2018 12:17

Isofix is not safer than a belt fitted seat, there's just less room for human error in the installation.

If you want the safest seat, you need a 25kg rear facing seat. Rear facing is not slightly safer than forward facing, there's no comparison. I understand the travel sickness but now he's not bigger and more upright, he could be fine. Especially as they get a much better view of the road rear facing.

My advice would be to go to an independent car seat retailer, an In Car Safety Centre or join to Facebook group and search for your car type to see what other people have successfully installed. Unfortunately you've got little time left in your Sirona so you will need a new harnassed car seat rather than a high back booster. FWIW, my 19mo DS loves his Axkid Minikid.

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nhssecretary · 01/09/2018 10:20

@NameChange30
I put him forward facing because I am his mother and I made that choice to make him more comfortable. He has travel sickness.

Thank you everyone for the information on other seats.
I've just ordered a new car which has special tethers in it.

Regards the car seat I want him to be in a safe one. That is the most important thing to me.

The sirona has a special camber on it and he sat tipped in it until yesterday. It's one of the safest car seats.
I want him in ISO fix and as a first time mom I am un sure of where to head next with his seat.

@timeisnotaline I know, it seems so far off when they are born but then it's actually not so heavy as they get bigger.

I'll see what else is around.

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timeisnotaline · 31/08/2018 23:09

No you need the cushion. My 4yo is in the sirona , forward facing once we couldn’t squish his legs in. ( annoyingly the latest model has a harness instead of the cushion ). I didn’t realise it had an 18 kg limit- had better alert dh we will need a new car seat soon!

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NameChange30 · 31/08/2018 22:41

Why did you turn him forward facing? 9 months ago he was only 19 months old
Rear facing is five times safer in the event of a crash, and is recommended until at least 4 years old

I suggest you put him back to rear facing and use the Sirona until he outgrows it (18kg or head over top of seat)

If you live anywhere near any branches of the in car safety centre they’re excellent

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teaandbiscuitsforme · 31/08/2018 22:37

He's far too young for any high back booster where you'd only be using the seatbelt. You really need to look at a 25kg seat because seats like the Pallas still only use a harness or impact shield to 18kg.

Rear facing is still far safer and in a 25kg seat, he'd have a lot more room. As would you because they're much more compact than the Sirona. The Axkid Minikid and Britax Two Way Elite are good ones to look at.

You could look at 25kg forward facing seats like the Joie Bold and cosy and safe Excalibur. Both of these require top tether though so check your car has that.

I wouldn't go to John Lewis for car seats. They certainly can't help with 25kg seat and will just suggest a high back booster which is so unsafe. Try to find an independent car seat retailer or go to an In Car Safety centre if you're close.

Also join the Facebook group 'Car Seat Advice UK'. It's the best source of car seat advice around.