Looking for advice - our Cybex Sirona involved in crash and would like replacement recs

[Bensonhead]

Hoping someone might be able to give me some advice.

We previously had the Cybex Sirona in my husband's car which was involved in a collision a few weeks ago, the insurance company have finally given us the money to replace it but it puts us in a bit of a quandrary.

My son is 3 years and almost 3 months, about 14/15kg and 98cms. If we were to replace like with like, the Sirona only caters to age 4, so that's 9 months worth of use, which feels a bit wasteful really.

I'm wondering if there is something on the market, even if a bit more expensive, that will last for longer.

He's currently rear facing and we'd like to continue this to age 4.

In John Lewis they recommended the Silver Cross Motion isize 360, which apparently lasts to age 12, but I can't find much safety info. A friend has recommended a company called Axkid (she has done a lot of research and is very pro rear facing) but apparently those seats only rear face, and I would like the opportunity to turn him round at some point.

Is there anything I hadn't considered? Since the cost is being covered shall I just get another Sirona?

I wouldn't bother with the Silver Cross. Seats like that which try to do everything are a bit of a false economy.

Have you come across the 25kg rear facing seats like Axkid Minikid, Britax Max Way etc? These will definitely last you until age 4 and beyond. You would only turn your child around when you get to booster seat age, so you would need a new seat then anyway and honestly you don't really want a rear facing seat which converts to booster because they don't tend to do either job as well. It's not like you have to stop RF at 4, it's safer to continue until you're happy he would be OK in a booster seat.

Or you could look at forward facing seats which convert as these aren't trying to do as many "jobs". I like Britax Advansafix - we have this for 3.9yo DS2 and he still fits in the 5 point harness on the top setting at 15.8kg / somewhere between 100-105cm. (DH and I measured differently ) I'm sure John Lewis sell it so you could try it out.

The Axkid Minikid is brilliant and would definitely last a lot longer. You need plenty of space though otherwise you can’t put the front seat back at all.

Have you looked at the Joie Bold - only forward facing but has a 5 point harness that can be used until you want to swap to adult belt. Isofix and top tether.

Thanks for all your replies - I'll check out the models metioned. The Silver Cross one recommended in JL is also pretty expensive when compared to other models, so definitely not worth it!

I have been looking at the Axkid, but the fact it doesn't pivot for ease of getting the kid in is a bit offputting, and in my husband's car, the seat is behind the drivers seat, so it might not be right for us.

The swivel seats only go up to 18kg/105cm so will be limited whatever you get if you go for one of those. You don't really need the swivel apparently on the 25kg seats as they are older so can climb in themselves plus the sides are low.