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What car seat?

8 replies

Mumtobearcub · 10/06/2023 01:55

I have a 9month old daughter and it seems you can buy forward facing car seats for that age, but people say it’s illegal and they have to be 15 months old. My daughter is currently 10.1kg if that makes any difference.

What is the law? Everything I read says different things!

I need to buy a new car seat for our main car and I’m struggling to work out which one is best. I would like it to be isofix and rotating to help me as I’m slightly disabled.

Does anyone have any ideas on one that’s suitable?

I’ve found one suitable for travel (maxi cozy nomad) to make going in other cars easier but it is forward facing so I’m unsure if I’m legally allowed to use it yet. It states 9months! I don’t drive so if I’m going anywhere when my partner is working it’s in other peoples cars so wanted one that’s easy to transport.

OP posts:
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Sugarfree23 · 10/06/2023 02:05

Are you sure she no longer fits the infant carrier?

Legally she can forward face in a R44 car seat but really she is much safer rear facing which is why the i-size seats say 15mths.

I'd look for a seat that rear faces a bit longer mine was rear facing in a britax duofix until about 3.

Some on here will push RF a lot longer but trying to get hold of the seats isn't easy

BertieBotts · 10/06/2023 08:14

There are two safety standards for car seats at the moment, one is older and allows forward facing from 9kg, the newer one is often called i-size, the safety of them is a bit better and the minimum age for forward facing is 15 months.

You are best off rear facing as long as possible for safety. If you really really have to forward face, I'd stick to the 15 month guideline as an absolute minimum.

The Nomad is really intended for situations like taxis or countries where nobody uses car seats, where your other option is nothing at all. I wouldn't personally use it as a main car seat. It meets the older safety standard so it's legal to use it from 9kg even though it's forward facing. It might be suitable for you to use for lifts etc but it is quite minimal in safety. The problem is this in between stage is a bit of a pain because the seats are so huge and bulky. Would people pick you up from your house and be able to help you install the seat? Would you be able to install a standard belt fitted seat, like Graco Extend R129 for example, or Joie Stages? (You can see fitting videos for these on youtube). This would be safer as it has a rear facing option and meets the newer safety standard.

Are you looking for one seat to do both the isofix + rotate and being able to easily move to other cars? That's a bit difficult to do in one seat. The isofix, rotating ones are big, bulky and heavy. I think it would probably make the most sense to get an isofix, rotating one for your main car (most of these are the newer safety standard and they have both rear facing and forward facing capability) and then a cheaper, lighter one for using in other people's cars, perhaps the travel type one if you need it.

There are some which come as two parts - isofix base + the seat module which clicks in on top, like Joie i-Harbour. This can end up an expensive way to do things, though.

Another option which might work for you would be to look at impact shield type seats, like the Cybex Pallas seats. This is what I had when I was a non driver and I found them really good for swapping between cars, though honestly with my later DC I just got public transport everywhere. Most of these are suitable from 9kg, some are i-size so from 15m onwards, and supposedly they have lower force on the neck so possibly less risky for younger children, though this seems to be balanced with higher chance of the baby coming out of the seat in a crash and higher force on the abdomen area, so some people don't like them.

I do second checking if your LO has definitely outgrown your baby seat as they can last longer than most people assume. It's OK if their legs hang over the end as long as their head is contained in the shell of the seat.

Jfb23 · 10/06/2023 08:21

For safety reasons, you should rearface them for as long as possible. My 3 year old still rear faces and we have no plans of changing them any time soon. We have the axkid minikid 2, but now there's there minikid 3 and the axkid 1 etc. If you use social media, look up pages such as extended rear facing (ERF) Car Seat Safety.

User478 · 10/06/2023 09:11

If I was getting one now I'd get an Axkid SpinKid which should last you until your child is 4-5.

hulahoopqueen · 10/06/2023 09:14

We have the Joie ispin 360 for DD and it's fab. Rotates completely round, 5 recline settings, and has good safety reports on Which.

Mumtobearcub · 10/06/2023 10:24

Yes I’m looking at getting 2 car seats. One main one that’s isofix and rotates for our main car. Then the nomad for a spare in case I go on any short journeys with someone else.
She can legally use the nomad then?

I still have her in the baby baby one. And plan to keep her in that for a little longer until she outgrows it. I just don’t want to leave getting the next one until she has outgrown it and then it be a rush and not have time to work out what one is best suitable for us.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 10/06/2023 15:13

Yes that makes sense.

Legally she can use the Nomad yes. I probably would not use it when she's so close to the minimum weight boundary.

You might want to look at other portable options too like RyRy Scallop or TinySeats, if you don't like the idea of the Joie/Graco seats.

dkedm15 · 10/06/2023 15:42

hulahoopqueen · 10/06/2023 09:14

We have the Joie ispin 360 for DD and it's fab. Rotates completely round, 5 recline settings, and has good safety reports on Which.

Second this! It's brilliant and our 9 month old is much happier in it, you can spin it one handed and it will forward face when she's ready

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