Extended rear facing in a small car

[gibberingwreck]

Hello, hoping to get some advice from anyone who's been in a similar position! Or maybe @BertieBotts...

We have a VW polo, my partner drives but I don't so we only really go out in it once a week, or for longer journeys away. Our 98th percentile baby is currently 8 months old and in an infant carrier. We're thinking ahead to what car seat to buy next, as she might outgrow this one soon (for info she is heavy and her back is long).

I would like her to rear face until at least 4, and I would like a seat that has a decent recline as she will be young and sleepy for a while yet (the polo back seat is quite sloping too). I had been thinking of a rotating one like the Joie i-spin (to save my already bad back) but now because of her size, thought it might be better to get one that can rear-face until 125cm. Unless we end up having another baby close together so might need both at the same time anyway... but can't really plan for that.

I thought I had narrowed it down to the Britax Maxway (plus) and the Axkid Minikid (2/4). However, from what I can see online now, the maxway no longer exists and has been replaced by the max-safe or the safe-way. I have also just spotted the Joie i-prodigi which seems similar.

Questions:

1. Would any of these fit better than others in the back of a small car? (My partner and I are both tall so need legroom!) Would love to hear if they fit in a polo.
2. What's the difference between the Britax max-safe and safe-way? (Except price!)
3. What's the difference betwee the Axkid minikid 2 and 4?
4. Why is the Axkid minikid 3 rare? Is it worth buying over the 4 to save money?
5. Can you still buy the Britax maxway plus?
6. Are there any other options I've missed?

Thanks in advance!!

Hi OP, I can’t answer all those questions for you but I have the Besafe stretch in the front passenger seat of my small car and it’s fabulous. Great recline and tons of room, I would really recommend the seat itself, although expensive I love everything about it.
i wouldn’t bother with any kind of spin seat as they only rear face to 18kg then have to FF, so if you have a high Centile child they will reach that limit a lot sooner.

i would always personally go for an ERF seat like the stretch, we also have a minikid 2 for other car which I also love, the stretch beats it in my opinion because the recline can be adjusted while the seat is fitted and even while the child is in it whereas with the minikid and most others you have to uninstall the seat to change the recline then reinstall.

For info, the minikid 2 we have is in the back of a polo and leaves little in the way of legroom for front seat passenger and is fitted with limited leg room for child as well so it’s a squeeze, if you don’t go in the car that often I would definitely recommend fitting in the front passenger seat then any adult passengers go in the back if possible. As stated, my car is smaller than a polo and the Besafe is a large seat and when fitted in the front passenger seat my little one (2.5yrs) has absolutely loads of legroom.

It sounds like your best bet would be to find a local ERF specialist as they could go through all the options with you and try things out in your car. If you look for stockists on the Axkid website, most Axkid stockists will also carry other brands (not all but most).

I am not that up to speed with all of the new models. I understand that Safe Way M is a more basic version whereas Max Safe Plus is the luxury model. Safe Way M is on offer at the moment for £280 which is a good price for a seat like this. I don't know what the actual differences are between them. I think there was a video on the Car Seat Advice UK group not that long ago.

Max Way Plus is gone now. I think all the stock has been sold off too so the only option for that one is second hand.

Axkid Minikid 2 is approved to the older regulation, R44, is up to 25kg and approx 125cm (but no set height). It's suitable from approx 9 months, your 8mo might be a little bit too small. Minikid 4 is the newer version approved to R129, it's suitable from 6 months so should be fine now. Up to 36kg or 125cm, height will come first. It's taller in the shell.

Axkid Minikid 3 was the original version of the R129 update to the minikid. It had some design problems so was not very popular. The 4 is basically the 3 with all the kinks ironed out.

I think the i-Prodigi is said to be not that great - it's worth looking at when it's on offer because of the isofix but it's not in the same league as Axkid One apparently.

@BertieBotts has given you some great advice.
The Avonaut Sky is the most compact ERF on the market currently, with a 25kg limit. The Axkid Minikid 4 will take you to 36kg and has a much taller shell so great for kids with long torsos.
I have a BeSafe Stretch which is amazing but it’s not the most compact of seats.
Definitely try to find your nearest independent retailer and you could try them out and they will guide you with fitting and provide after care too.
I’d avoid the Prodigi as it’s limited to 23kg I think.

Thanks so much everyone, this is very helpful. So I think it's narrowed down to Axkid minikid 4 (which is I think a bit more compact than the 2) or Avionaut sky. We don't have a stockist near us so I may have to just buy online...
Does anyone have experience of a minikid 4 or an avionaut sky in the back of a polo? The sky is more compact I think, but maybe the minikid would last a tall child for longer? Also the recline on the sky is fixed, does this work ok on sloping seats for a young baby and also an older child eventually? And would the sky Q be an option - at what age do most people stop using all the inserts?
Actually I've just noticed one other option too, the Axkid movekid. Seems like it is the same size as the Axkid 4, not quite sure what the differences are except price? It's very new.

If you’re on Facebook the Extended Rear Facing Car Seat Safety group should be able to help. The admins are independent retailers that are able to offer remote support if you’re not local to any of them.

The Avionaut Sky is much shorter in the shell than the Minikids - it's not recommended for very high centile children. I'd stick with Axkid.

Some of the retailers will travel if you have one up to about an hour away. Some also offer remote support online.

Movekid is the new version of the Move. So more basic than Minikid. I think Rear Facing Toddlers just did a little video on this:

Ive DM you.

We tried ERF in the back of a Megane and my husband couldn't physically fit in the car so make sure you check before you buy!

@Headingforholidays It can’t have been fitted right. I’ve got a tiny 3 door Polo and a 6 foot 2 husband and they fit fine.

@YouveGotAFastCar which seat do you have?

He is 6'4'' but I think must have very long legs as my daughter can't even sit behind him in the booster now as her legs won't fit behind his seat...