Rear facing car seat for 98th centile 9 month old

[ChampooPapi]

Hi everyone, I'm sure this has been done but I couldnt find the information i was looking for in past mumsnet threads, not up to date ones anyway.

I really want a 9 month to 6 year car seat that is rear facing because of my daughters height/centile. The ones that go up to 25 kilo, but rear facing is a must for us.

I had settled on the Britax Max Way plus, but when Which reviewed the 'max way' back in 2015 they said although it passed safety tests they have put it on the not to buy list as there were just to many variables in the installation process that could go wrong.

I understand that is the older model but the plus is only different in the fact it has side impact protection. The installation to the car is the same

Any help much appreciated, even if its 'but a newborn to 4 year one and just buy another when she outgrows at 2 and a half '

If that's my only option that's fine, safety before budget, but surely there's something out there wise mumsnetters!

@BlazeM - we have the same seat - I find that the button keeps getting stuck down and therefore the seat gets stuck in spin mode - have you had any issue with this at all? Dh keeps having to take it out, spray it with lubricant but it happens again after a month or so which is really irritating!

I had a 98th centile 10mo, who turned into a 91st 2yo. He's 4 next month, and is now just under 17kg, and actually does still fit height wise in our Britax Dualfix (even though that's his little sister's seat).

For a couple of reasons, we ended up turning him ff earlier than I'd have liked, but I just wanted to let you know that not all children stay on the top centiles forever. If I'd have realised that at the time, I'd have bought a RF to 18kg seat.

Get the Minikid! 😍 (Not that I'm biased!!)

It's the most gimmicky 25kg ERF but so worth it!! Like I said we've got the TWE as a spare and we've also had a Be Safe I size seat and a Joie one and the Minikid wins hands down. It also fits in our Fiesta - such a compact seat compared to 18kg ones!

I ordered ours from car-seat.se (I think! Google the name) and found it easy enough to install with YouTube. It's so universal so fits well into most cars.

Also it's Swedish Plus tested - the hardest car seat test to pass!

Very happy with my two Axkid Minikids. Probably my soundest baby/ child purchase yet, they're great and a pleasure to use (day in, day out). There's nothing I don't like about them.

Another one with a very tall child and after a tonne of research we went for the Axkid Minikid and it’s ace. Mothercsre do a 0% finance offer on it so we bought it that way as it is a bit pricey.

The Minikid all the way. The installation is really pretty straightforward, it's super safe, great for a tall child and the self adjusting tethers and straps are great.

We've a joie stages which was very reasonable and supposed to last until 5, but I have very tiny people who'll probably still be rear facing at 25

Iv got a britax romer. Personally its a pain to put child in as the seatbelt has to block the entrance. Not sure if that then means all britax rear facing will be the same.
The britax is now in the kitchen!
Iv just bought a Cuggl Owl 012 from argos.
It for up to 6/7 years and from birth.
It spins 360 degrees so you can spin it to the door to put baby in easily. I use it rear facing but i then when child is over 4 i will probably need to forward face.
My boy is 99th centile too...big n long

We bought 2 Britax Two Way Elitesfrom the in car safety centre online. Both my sons are 91st to 98th centile. I actually didn't put either of them in a different rear-facing until they were one so they were both in their Maxi-Cosi baby one they just squeeze them in. I read up on it and it turns out the providing they aren't too tall for it and that's the best place to be.

Would recommend the Britax Two Way Elite. They really do last long time. DS1 used it till he was 3. DS 2 used it till he was 4 nearly 5.

Surf That's not a problem with the Two Way Elite. Not sure if you've started using your new seat yet but your Britax is a far safer seat. Cuggl is made by a company called Nania and their seats only just pass the minimum legal standard. Also, if your DS is 99th centile (mine is 98th!) he will outgrow the harness at about 2.5 because he'll reach the 18kg weight limit. He won't be old enough to use the seat as a high back booster (ie just restrained by the car's seatbelt) so you would need another seat.

Check out the Facebook group 'car seat advice uk' for really good car seat advice.

@AnotherEmma great, we'll check it out tomorrow and report back

The minikid is looking like the one isn't it?, If it fits the car tomorrow & all goes well I guess it'll be the credit cards lastest hit but the fact it'll actually last beyond babyhood is enough to sway me

Also what's the difference between the axkid minikid & the axkid move?

The Move is (I believe) the same basic seat as the Minikid but without the features e.g. the self tightening tethers and self adjusting head rest. So it's a good option if the Minikid strains the budget but a bit more challenging to fit.

I think the Car Seat Advice UK FB group has a chart comparing the Axkid seats.

Axkid minikids here too. My tall 4.5 year old has another year in it I think. It would be nice to have a swivel (I’m pregnant and hefting kids over the raised side of the minikid isn’t the easiest) but I live with that for everything else it offers

Aha! Comprehensive explanation here

m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1201859009957946.1073741932.282362311907625&type=3

Also - I truly don’t understand why which marked it down as it was supposedly complex to install. It’s a three part install - the seatbelt (with clips to secure), two tethers (lean on the seat to tighten) and the support leg. Hardly more complex than folding most Prams!

Which? seem to hate everything that isn't isofix and put way too much weight on "convenience" with car seats. Wouldn't buy a washing machine without them but I think their approach to car seats is terribly flawed.

YY agree with all that

Sirona was nice but slight DD has near enough outgrown for height at 3.3. She's quite tall though. 2 way elite was vest option for us to get adequate recline in the smaller of our cars (Legacy so not tiny) with cybex behind driver for child 2

We have the Diono radian 5. It’s complicated to install the first time and limits front seat leg room a bit but it’s a lovely seat and very narrow (helpful if you ever end up with three kids!). Ds still happy rear facing in it at 4.5, even though now in a high backed booster in all other cars - he finds that uncomfortable as his legs dangle!

Once you’ve done it the first time it’s very easy to install and you can feel really confident it’s done right as it doesn’t move a millimetre! Did badly with which test because they put the straps on back to front 🤦‍♂️

I mention it because we got it from amazon for £160, so worth looking out for offers.

If I could wing it I’d buy the axkidd though! But think those are from 1 year, Diono is from newborn.

Agree about Which. Also Mumsnet car seat reviews

OP!

It's the same price at Baby & Co, I think OP is going this weekend