Spin seats

[Kcoffecakebubs]

Hi, I've previously asked a question in relation to car seats, but now we're narrowing down to the idea of a rotating seat I'm just looking for any advice on which seats perform better or if there is much difference between them?

We've decided we want a spin seat for now to make getting DS in and out easier, as he is currently a wriggly nightmare who fights being put in his infant carrier, and he's a chunk! We feel the spin option will make getting him in easier facing the door?

Been looking at the Joie 360 and Cosatto come and go. Budget is £200 absolute max. I know both are up to 18kg, but are any bigger to last longer fie height?

I know we'll end up having to buy another seat when he outgrows this, but feel it's the best option for my back at the moment.

And lastly, is it safe to move him into this seat now and stop using the infant carrier?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions or guidance!

We have the joie one and I love it - much easier to get her in and to tighten the straps than one that's fixed backwards facing. My daughter is teeny though so weight limit wasn't a concern so can't help with that query sorry! You don't say how old or heavy your son is, but I believe the 360 is suitable from birth isn't it?

How old is he?

Provided he's big enough for the seat, it's safe to use it but you should use it rear facing for as long as possible.

I'd get the Joie 360 if I were you.

Thanks, he's 8 months old, and was just under 11kg at last weigh in 4 weeks ago. 99th centile currently for weight and 95th for height.

Glad to hear the Joie might make things easier and people like it.

Ok so definitely needs to be rear facing then.

My DS was similar at that age, ~98th centile for weight, and we got a rotating seat which definitely made it easier to get him in and out!

@NameChange30 that's brill to hear it made life easier. I was going to wait a bit as he still fits in the infant carrier, but then thought I might as well change now to make life easier and get more use out of the new seat!

I don't think there's any spin seat that goes over 18kg.

The only issue with the spin seat and a high %ile baby is that they will outgrow by weight before they're 4yo. You then would either have to buy another seat that faces either way and harnesses to 25kg, or face them forward in a HBB - most car seat advisors will say that children below 4yo are usual not physically or mentally mature enough to sit in a HBB with only a seatbelt for restraint. Something to think about.

One thing I will say is that if you are willing to wait until he has outgrown the infant carrier, he might then be big enough for a 25kg seat which would obviously last longer than a 18kg spin seat.

We decided to get a 18kg spin seat anyway because always planned a second child so when DC1 moves up to a 25kg seat we can use the 18kg spin seat for DC2 (if that makes sense!)

Just make sure he's under the weight limit of the infant carrier, some of them only go to 10kg.

Thank you, i think ours is till 12 or 13kg, it's a maxi cosi cabriofix. I know he will need another seat in the future, but I just don't think I can keep getting him in and out of this one the way he is for much longer and still have a working back!!

If you're happy to buy a 25kg seat in the future then the spin could be a good idea.

One thing I would say (especially having had a 98th centile myself!) is that it's not that long before they can climb into the seat themselves. The 25kg rear facing seats are quite low so mine have been able to climb into them from about 18 months. I appreciate that's still a way off and you've still got to get them strapped in but having to lift them into the car seat didn't last anywhere near as long as I thought it was going to.

Depends how cooperative they are. Mine's nearly 3 and he's been physically capable of climbing into the seat for a long time now - but I still have to lift him up and into it most of the time!

We've been lucky enough to have been given money for this seat, so we figure it gives us the option to get this seat as an in between to make it easier now.

Does anyone by chance know if Halfords let you try them in the car before you buy

See if there's a specialist retailer near you:
www.carseatadvice-uk.com/specialist-retailers.html

We have the Joie 360 and I love it! So easy to get them in and out. My lo is 2 and a half and is rear facing with plenty of room still

You might get him in a 25kg seat at 11kg, even though he's only 8 months. It would save you money in the long run. The Axkid move or britax max way are about £200, worth a look.

Out of the two spin seats yoy mentioned, definitely the Joie. It's fairly long (I think it will do my high centile baby until about 3.5) and the cosatto doesn't do as well on safety testing. However, check the Joie seat's fit in your car. In some cars it rattles and moves something awful even though it's on the fit list. In ours it's perfect.

You can sometimes find the britax dualfix on offer for about £200, but check which version, as one of them is quite small.

Yes, Halfords offer a fitting service and let you try the seats. Well worth doing as a good fit is important.

Out of the two you mention I think Joie did better in crash testing.

Like PP I'd get a 25kg seat to last longer - we have an AxKid and love it.

No advice on your ones specifically as my spin one cost £450 however just wanted to reassure you that spin sears are a game changer. I love mine and could never have a normal one

Thanks everyone. I know we'll need another seat eventually, and not planning on any more DC, so it may be an unnecessary purchase, but I think it'll help in the now. Also not sure about how some of the 25kg seats will fit in our small car, as they seem to require a lot of the front passengers room, but we may have a different car when the next seat is needed.

I've had both a spin seat and a 25kg. The 25kg actually took up less room as reclined less

25kg seats are generally much more compact than isofix seats. We have a fiesta and can fit my 3 and 4 year olds in the back in Axkid Minikids or Britax Two Way Elites. I'm 5'7 and DH is 6'2 so we're not small. It's not our main car so we don't do it often but it's definitely doable.

The Joie 360 might be your best bet in that case as it is compact. We have a Suzuki Swift and this was a factor in our choice!

Although a lot of the 25kg seats can be fitted compactly too - don't get a Besafe or a Klippan, because those are behemoths, but an Axkid or a Britax might fit in. There is this ERF blogger who has a whole Flickr album of ERF in tiny cars, I will find it in a minute.

The issue is that if you go for an 18kg seat now, and then end up needing a 25kg seat later, that's £200 you spend now and then another £200 you spend later (or £130 if you get the Joie Bold which is forward facing) and then you'll still need a high back booster after that. Whereas if you go for a 25kg seat now, you know 100% you won't need any more seats after that until you're ready for a high back booster. Plus, I think bigger children tend to be a bit squashed in the 18kg seats after about age 2, so you might end up looking for a replacement by then.

I know they are unconventional but I would definitely, 100% recommend you get on Axkid's website and look for a stockist, just to look at them in the flesh before you discount the idea entirely. I am happy with the Joie for now, but having later got my hands on a Britax Max-Way (not to own, just to look at) I do think it would have given DS2 much more room and space, and I don't think we would have lost that much in cabin space in the car.

Article with link to small cars album:
erfmission.com/you-cant-rear-face-in-small-cars-debunking-myths-4/

Thanks all, that link was great @BertieBotts