Extended rear facing 25kg

[sauchiehall]

DD is 2 and is currently rear facing in a Joie Spin 360. She is on 98th centile though so is already around 16kg and will probably outgrow this seat within the next few months. I’ve been looking at ERF 25kg seats but I’m finding mixed reviews and wondered if anyone has any recommendations or advice.

I have the Axkid Minikid and the Britax Two Way Elite, we have no issues with either of them. DD prefers the Minikid though and says that it's comfier which I don't doubt! She's 2yr 9 months and has plenty of space in both

Ask incarsafteycentre

Love ds axkid minikid, can only fit it behind the passenger seat because of my car and where I can get the tethers and my husbands height (ie I could drive with it behind the drivers seat but dh couldn't)

Join the facebook group Car Seat Advice UK and do a search for the seats you want to compare, I find really good info there (though a lot of generic "I love this seat" as well). The A-Z of Rear Facing is another group though that one is public so lots more posts, but again the search function is helpful.

Do you have an ERF specialist located anywhere near you? That's usually the absolute best thing to do because they really tend to know the different seats they sell (it's not a money maker so tends to be a labour of love) and they will usually try several seats out in your car to see which one fits the best. If you're happy to give a rough geographical location I can have a look on the group for you.

This is also a useful quick-glance comparison.

csftl.org/european-car-seats-25-kg-weight-limit-seats/

erfmission.com/ Is also a useful blog with some handy little everyday details in it such as sizes and so on.

Lastly I find video reviews on youtube to be surprisingly helpful although these are few and far between on 25kg ERF seats.

Thank you all. I’ll have a look at the Axkid and the Britax. BertieBotts I’m in Ayrshire, Scotland so I don’t know if there are any ERF specialists nearby? When I’ve tried to look I haven’t found any but maybe I’m looking in the wrong places! I’ll join those groups now and have a look, thanks.

We have the minikid. It takes less space behind a seat than a maxicosi pebble on an isofix base (6’6 husband and 5’11 me so we are clued up on how much space things take!!). I’ve a nearly 3yo and a 5.5yr old in them and they’re ace, and very easy to install despite what which say. If I was being very very picky I’d find maybe two small things that annoy me (headrest can stick meaning if takes two attempts to tighten, and the waist straps (rightly) come from so low at the top of their thighs that they easily get twisted) but in a multitude of car seats over the years these are very minor for the knowledge that they’re super safe and comfy with it

@GookledyGobb thank you, I’ve just watched a video of the Axkid being fitted and it doesn’t look too complicated. Did you fit it yourself or did you get someone to fit it? I haven’t managed to find a specialist nearby yet so thinking I’d need to fit it myself.

It is harder to find in Scotland unfortunately. You've got Glasgow Pram Centre who stock the Besafe seats and the Diono Radian 5, but no other 25kg ERFs. (Also a comment a year ago says only the Diono in physical stock in store, and that the staff aren't ERF specialists).

www.pramcentre.co.uk/

Then there is only Little Peas in Dunfermline, which is quite far away, but is supposed to be very good.

However there are a few people in each group who are in the Ayrshire area (whether they are still active on the groups, I don't know) who are not ERF retailers but own various models of seat and are happy for people to contact them and come and have a look, if that would be helpful?

Personally I think if I was looking at a 25kg ERF I'd look at one of the Axkid or Britax seats. I am not keen on the Two Way Elite or the Diono Radian 5. I just think that the TWE is too old fashioned, and the Diono is very American and I'm not convinced by US car seat design (their boosters are fantastic though.) But I know that people have both these seats and love them.

@BertieBotts thanks, I’ve requested to join the groups so hopefully I’ll be able to find someone there who can help! I’ll definitely look into the Britax and the Axkid then - I’ve been put off the Diono a bit by some of the things I’ve read so I think I’ll avoid it!

Minikid / I was shown how to fit it by a specialist but have since fitted them myself numerous times. It takes approximately 1 minute to install

I'd second making the trip up to Little Peas in Dunfermline OP.
Apparently the Glasgow pram centre sell brands like AxKid but don't keep them in stock.
The guy who runs Little Peas is a secret shopper for car seat retailers like Halfords, so knows his stuff.
I bought an AxKid from there a couple of months ago.