Which car seat should we buy

[OneTidyPearlFawn]

Hi everyone. We’ve been searching for car seats for a while and have been to mammas and papas as well as Halfords, and we will also be going to smiths.

we have a newly 7 month old who’s quick outgrowing the newborn/baby car seat (the one you get with the pram) we have tried a cyber, Graco and my babiiee car seats and she hates them all. The second we put her in them she start crying and screaming and want to get up and be picked up.. we have no clue what to do and where to go to be able to try more seats and make sure we get the right one. Anything anyone could suggest to do? Or anywhere we can go that have a wider range of car seats instead of the most expensive ones in shops as we cannot buy to try at home and then send back every seat until we find one.

our daughter sits on her own with the occasional tilt however she does sit on her own.

From you post it sounds like your child is coming out of a rear facing newborn seat? It also sounds like your "trying" the seats is sitting your 7 month old in them for a few seconds in a shop. You need to buy a seat, install it properly in your car and get her used to it. I wouldn't like being put in something I'd never sat in before, in a strange place, probably not set up for me, in a position it isn't meant to be used in, and you could explain to me what you were doing. Buy a seat, get it in your car, and get the baby used to it.

First of all, try a reputable independent car seat seller who will sell you a seat which is highly rated from a safety perspective. If there is one locally they may also be able to fit it into your car properly. Safety is the key factor (otherwise what's the point of the seat). Some of the ones sold by Halfords etc do not score well in crash tests, and the people in Halfords aren't trained properly half the time. If you go on Facebook and search for car seat safety groups you should find some good recommendations on those groups.

Secondly, your baby will probably scream in most car seats. It's not a question of whether the baby likes it. They will get used to it and it will be easier as they get older.

Also unless your 7 month old is massive / your car seat is unusually small, he/she probably fits fine and from a safety perspective you may be best to keep to the baby carrier for a while longer rather than moving to a bigger seat (I say "may" only because it depends on your current seat!). Babies often fit in the baby carrier seats until 12/13 months. Again the car seat groups on Facebook can advise you on this.

John Lewis is usually good. You can book an appointment for extra help.

Do you know what her weight and height is and what seat you have now? They do vary (both car seats and babies!) so while she could well be outgrowing it at 7 months, it might be that you have loads more time left in it and don't need a new seat yet.

Have you moved up the shoulder straps and taken newborn inserts out of your current seat? And what are you using as a marker for her outgrowing it?

It looks like the seats you've tried might be around the £150-200ish mark, is that the budget you're looking to spend?

Agree John Lewis are generally the best chain type store if you have one nearby. Halfords are not great and Smyths don't tend to have a great selection.

Another thing to do is go to Cybex (or any other brand)'s Stockists page and put in your postcode and see if you can find any which is NOT a chain. Independent stores tend to have more knowledgable staff who will invest more time in helping you, especially if you ring and make an appointment. Not always, but often - as it's their livelihood and some also have a passion for nursery goods in particular, rather than it just being a boring Saturday job which can sometimes be the case in chain stores.

I would be really surprised if she’s grown out of it yet. I’d look at Axkid Move, which is a very reputable extended rear facing seat which could see her through to age 6/7 potentially. The only thing is, they don’t tilt back as far as a more “infant” carrier, which could be an issue at this age if she tends to sleep in the car. Have you tried an In-Car Safety Centre if there’s one near you?

Agree it’s highly unlikely she’s outgrown it - my 7mo boy is over 90th centile and still 3kg under the max weight and no where near the height (and my 10th centile girl still fitted in this seat until almost 2 😂). That said, we have moved him in to one of the spin toddler seats which is suitable from newborn, as his shoulders looked a bit squished and he looks comfier in the bigger seat. It’s more upright though which isn’t ideal as his head tilts forwards when he sleeps.

OP unfortunately some babies hate car seats. Choose a safe one within your budget and get her used to it, you may never find one she doesn’t dislike!