Car seat help!

[gigi556]

We live in the UK and do not own a car. We have an urban kanga for short taxi journeys/travel. We have a Britax that's much bigger that was given to us by a friend which we've been using for longer car journeys or when we hire a car etc. I've just realized it's expired

I guess we don't technically need this second car seat as we have the urban kanga but DP and I feel better about using a sturdier rear facing seat for longer journeys. Son is 12kg and 22 months.

We are going to the USA next month for 2 weeks. Urban Kanga not legal there.

So basically we are thinking we should get a new seat. Maybe buy one in the states?

It's frustrating that they are so expensive and we rarely drive. I've seen ones online that are multistage so good to 12 years, but am I right in thinking they'd expire before my son turned 12 anyway?

I guess I'm just looking for tips advice on what kind of seat would be good for us. I feel kind of clueless.

I don't know about ease of installation, hopefully PPs can advise or you could do some research, there is plenty of info and advice to be had in the FB group I mentioned.

Thanks I've joined that Facebook group but it's not open for new posts at the moment.

My head is spinning from reading all about these car seats! What the heck is the difference between stage 2 and stage 3 other than size??? It sounds like they are both hhb using a seatbelt although some stage 3 are backless...

Sadly we are no where near an ICSC.

I can't imagine having to buy another seat in 18-24 months time! I've already bought 2 seats in the last two years (maxi-cosi pebble and urban kanga) plus we were given two seats 🤦🏻‍♀️.

I'm not comfortable with the urban kanga for more than short journeys on main streets (we rarely use it) and I'm not overly comfortable with the Britax our friend gave us as its so old. One of the straps is really wearing down.

It's crazy how confusing it all is and also seems crazy there aren't more harnessed options for forward facing longer than 18kg weight...

The TWE use to be both rear and forward facing up to 25kg but the harness changed so it can now only forward face to 18kg (18-25kg is rear facing only) which I do think is a shame... I choose to rear face to 25kg but I also recognise that it is also good to have the option to forward face at 18-25kg if required.

The group does have files with info about different seats and you can also search past posts. So you can get some info while you're waiting. And they have a list of ERF retailers somewhere, with any luck there might be another one near you.

No difference essentially between groups 2 and 3. It's just a weight class so manufacturers have guidance to test against. The group system was dreamt up in the 80s (70s?), so is quite outdated now. I suppose originally group 2 was a high back booster and group 3 was backless, but certainly since I've had DC (11 years now) Groups 2 and 3 have been synonymous. In fact it's only been the last couple of years that backless boosters have been classed as Group 3 only. Previously you could legally have a 15kg child (who might be as young as two!) on a backless booster

I suppose the distinction is useful when you have a group 2 seat which can be harnessed rather than being a booster. Otherwise the companies would have had to make a seat which was up to 36kg which is almost impossible to imagine. It just gives you a reasonable step between 18kg and 36kg.

The only Group 2 harness I know which can be both rearfacing and forward facing is the Diono Radian 5. I know Which? slammed this one for being hard to install and having confusing instructions, so if you're looking for something simple to use it might not be the best. But the other harnessed group 2 seats are all either rear facing only or forward facing only. I've never installed the Diono myself so I don't know how complicated it is. I bet there would be a youtube video you can have a look at.