Car seat recommendations

[clc14]

Hello, I'm seeking advice / recommendations for car seats.

Our current inventory includes the Nuna Pipa Lite LX, Joie i-Spin 360 iSize, and Cybex Pallas M-Fix SL.

We have a 12-week-old and a 3-year-9-month-old (weighing approximately 15.8 kg and measuring 101 cm).

Is the Nuna Pipa still a safe and relevant option? While it's convenient for transport and compatible with the Nuna Mixx frame, would opting for the Joie or another seat be safer?

Currently, our oldest uses the Joie in one car and the Cybex in our second car (with a seatbelt). Should she transition to a harness-equipped car seat for added safety?

If we move the new child to the Joie, we'll need another seat for the oldest. What recommendations would you suggest?

[BertieBotts]

At 12 weeks the Nuna Pipa is a good option.

Your 3yo is right at the very threshold for legally being allowed to use the Cybex; they would likely be safer in a harness.

I think what I'd probably do for now would be to buy a seat such as Britax Evolvafix, Maxi Cosi Titan i-size or Silver Cross Balance. These all have good limits and good safety. You need isofix and top tether to fit them. You can use the harness in them until outgrown and then remove it and use them as a high backed booster seat.

Store the Cybex for now, somewhere in your house away from sources of mould/damp.

Keep baby in the Nuna seat. You can keep using this probably until your baby is over a year old. If it gets too heavy to carry, just leave it in the car and take the baby in and out.

If your 3yo is rear facing in the Joie seat, keep this in the main car, and put the new seat in the second car.

If your 3yo is forward facing in the Joie seat, use the new seat in the main car and the Joie in the second car.

Later, when the baby has outgrown the Nuna seat, move them into the Joie in your main car, and buy a second rear facing seat (e.g. Graco Extend R129) for the second car. You can then bring the Cybex out of storage for your older child as they will be older and more suited to it by then. If they still fit safely in the harness on the "new" seat, keep them in it. If not, convert that seat to high back booster mode too.

[PlantsAndSpaniels]

Are you wanting to keep them rearfacing? If you did you could look for a 25kg seat which are fitted with lower tethers and have a higher height limit of 125cm.
Your youngest should fit in the nuna for a long while yet.