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Next car seat after spin seat?

9 replies

Pumpkinbumkin200 · 06/07/2023 21:11

My son will be 4 in a few months. He is quite petite - 100cm and 15kg. We want to use his current Joie i spin seat for his baby brother soon so are looking at a replacement for him.

We have a Joie Stages in our other car for him so wondering if we should just get another one or if there's a better one now? He currently rear faces and I like that the Stages rear faces and forward faces. I want the option to forward face eventually and if possible still rear face for a while yet. Any suggestions of a safe, decent car seat for him?

OP posts:
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HiCandles · 06/07/2023 21:17

I have an Axkid Minikid 2 which rear faces until 25kg so about age 6. Once my son outgrows that he'll be big enough for a high back booster I think. I think quite a lot of the standard rear and forward facing seats stop at 18kg so it's probably better value for you to buy a 25kg now than risk him outgrowing a brand new 18kg quite soon.

BertieBotts · 07/07/2023 07:35

After this stage you basically have three (four) choices:

Extended rear facing seat up to 25kg+ - as HiCandles says for example Axkid Minikid. This is the safest choice and if you are happy RF, then it's a really great one as you'll be able to hand down to your younger child in time as well. They take up less space than the 360 or the Stages, the belt isn't in the way, basically an all around upgrade if you're used to other types of RF seat. However due to a shift in the legislation they are a bit pricey at the moment and the older, cheaper models are hard to find. If you have time to keep an eye out for sales that's always a good thing to do.
Axkid Minikid/Move/One
Besafe Stretch/izi Plus
Britax Max Way/Multi-Tech (Apparently a new Britax one coming soon).

123 type seat - these seats are forward facing with a harness which you remove at the point the child hits the limit (which is usually 18kg/105cm but some go up to 25kg). Then it turns into a high backed booster seat. These are a good choice if you're already FF / want to FF but you don't need the harness for a long time. You need top tether points in your car to fit the majority of them. However they can be cheaper than an ERF seat.
Britax Advansafix/Evolvafix
Recaro Tian
Joie Bold
Silver Cross Balance

High backed booster seat - the final stage in car seats. Forward facing, just uses the car seatbelt to restrain the child. I wouldn't suggest this for you because at 100cm and 15kg your DS is only just barely at the minimum and it's better to wait until they are closer to 105cm and/or 18kg. But this is what you'd get later e.g. after the ERF seat.

In order to continue RF now and FF eventually when you're ready, I think you'd be best off going for an ERF 25kg+ seat and then buying a separate HBB later on. Don't try to do both in the same seat, as it's generally a compromise on safety.

Although there are seats out there which are "all stages" and do from birth to 18kg rear facing then turn into a booster, most of these are bulky and less well rated for safety. However I'll mention two as a kind of "bonus mention" - Joie Every Stage R129 and Graco Slimfit R129. These are RF up to 22kg/105cm, have no forward facing harness stage, convert to high backed booster seats. There's no independent safety testing on them yet, but having passed the R129 testing is a good sign. These are similar in design to the Joie Stages with the belt in the way and the reclined position. They're worth looking at simply because the Graco in particular is very budget friendly, perhaps for second cars etc.

Pumpkinbumkin200 · 07/07/2023 08:07

BertieBotts · 07/07/2023 07:35

After this stage you basically have three (four) choices:

Extended rear facing seat up to 25kg+ - as HiCandles says for example Axkid Minikid. This is the safest choice and if you are happy RF, then it's a really great one as you'll be able to hand down to your younger child in time as well. They take up less space than the 360 or the Stages, the belt isn't in the way, basically an all around upgrade if you're used to other types of RF seat. However due to a shift in the legislation they are a bit pricey at the moment and the older, cheaper models are hard to find. If you have time to keep an eye out for sales that's always a good thing to do.
Axkid Minikid/Move/One
Besafe Stretch/izi Plus
Britax Max Way/Multi-Tech (Apparently a new Britax one coming soon).

123 type seat - these seats are forward facing with a harness which you remove at the point the child hits the limit (which is usually 18kg/105cm but some go up to 25kg). Then it turns into a high backed booster seat. These are a good choice if you're already FF / want to FF but you don't need the harness for a long time. You need top tether points in your car to fit the majority of them. However they can be cheaper than an ERF seat.
Britax Advansafix/Evolvafix
Recaro Tian
Joie Bold
Silver Cross Balance

High backed booster seat - the final stage in car seats. Forward facing, just uses the car seatbelt to restrain the child. I wouldn't suggest this for you because at 100cm and 15kg your DS is only just barely at the minimum and it's better to wait until they are closer to 105cm and/or 18kg. But this is what you'd get later e.g. after the ERF seat.

In order to continue RF now and FF eventually when you're ready, I think you'd be best off going for an ERF 25kg+ seat and then buying a separate HBB later on. Don't try to do both in the same seat, as it's generally a compromise on safety.

Although there are seats out there which are "all stages" and do from birth to 18kg rear facing then turn into a booster, most of these are bulky and less well rated for safety. However I'll mention two as a kind of "bonus mention" - Joie Every Stage R129 and Graco Slimfit R129. These are RF up to 22kg/105cm, have no forward facing harness stage, convert to high backed booster seats. There's no independent safety testing on them yet, but having passed the R129 testing is a good sign. These are similar in design to the Joie Stages with the belt in the way and the reclined position. They're worth looking at simply because the Graco in particular is very budget friendly, perhaps for second cars etc.

Thanks for all the info! So what about the Joie Stages we have in our other car - or do you not recommend it because he will grow out of it rear facing soonish?

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 07/07/2023 08:32

The Joie Stages is fine to keep using, you could get a second one of those if you wanted, but it won't be much use to you longer term because the booster mode is only up to 25kg so you'll need to replace it then anyway. And because it's only an average booster, I'd probably not bother to use the booster mode at all unless it's as a second/temporary seat. I would buy a separat high back booster once you change to that stage. I probably wouldn't want to use the Stages as a forward facing harness seat, because the Every Stage did quite badly in Which testing in that mode, and the Stages is very similar in construction.

However, it does look like it's cheap in Argos at the moment so might be a good pick if budget is a priority.

Namechange828492 · 07/07/2023 08:41

I have a stages as a spare seat and HATE it.
Its wide
The straps twist easily
It's not as spacious as the minikid
You have to adjust headrest manually unlike the minikid
The seatbelt is in the way.
I only really use it on holiday but it gives me rage whenever I get it out

The minikid is SO much better.

Pumpkinbumkin200 · 07/07/2023 08:43

Ah ok thanks so there's not really a car seat that would rear face for a while longer then we could turn forward facing next year or so. Then buy a separate HBB in the future.

OP posts:
Ribeebie · 07/07/2023 09:02

My ILs have the every stage for DS for occ use. He's nearly five and still fits RF as he is only 16kg. I dont like it though as it's bulky and hard to get him in/out with the seat belt position.

We have axkids - a move and a minikid and love them for both our boys. For me it was important to be able to RF to 25kg. I would highly recommend an axkid and then get a separate HBB later. The move is cheaper than the minikid but still great. Main thing is it doesn't have the self adjustable headrest and less premium fabrics.

Car seat safety UK FB group is really helpful for advice on this. They will likely advise a 25kg seat as your little one is only just 4 so quite young to FF, and they tend to recommend better to RF for as long as poss then go straight into a HBB not a FF harnessed seat.

BertieBotts · 07/07/2023 09:02

No. Once you get over 18kg you have to choose - RF only or FF only.

The ERF seats would do what you want though - rear face for another year or two, with no worries about weight/height limits. Then you can buy a HBB when you want to forward face. If you like, stay RF until your youngest needs the bigger seat so ~3 years.

I think the cheapest currently is Axkid Minikid 2.0 or Besafe izi Plus both of which seem to be on offer at £265 in old colours at certain places.

Oh or Little Peas look to have stock of the Max Way Plus for £220:

https://littlepeas.co.uk/product/britax-max-way-plus-car-seat

Britax MAX-WAY Plus Car Seat - Little Peas

This Britax Car Seat enables extended rearward facing travel from 9 kg to 25 kg – the safest way to travel. Plus, it features advanced side impact protection (SICT) adjustable to use on the side closest to the door. The multi-position recline and adjus...

https://littlepeas.co.uk/product/britax-max-way-plus-car-seat

avocadotofu · 07/07/2023 09:12

HiCandles · 06/07/2023 21:17

I have an Axkid Minikid 2 which rear faces until 25kg so about age 6. Once my son outgrows that he'll be big enough for a high back booster I think. I think quite a lot of the standard rear and forward facing seats stop at 18kg so it's probably better value for you to buy a 25kg now than risk him outgrowing a brand new 18kg quite soon.

We have this too and are really happy with it.

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