How old was your baby when you moved them to a next stage car seat

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TryingToStayAwake88 · 09/05/2026 18:51

Best idea is to find a car seat group of Facebook and post a photo as then experts can advise if your baby is ready for the next size

TryingToStayAwake88 · 09/05/2026 18:51

Best idea is to find a car seat group of Facebook and post a photo as then experts can advise if your baby is ready for the next size

BertieBotts · 09/05/2026 20:22

Yes it's probably the slant of the seats in the car. It's a common issue with isofix seats especially when the isofix points are right down at the base of the seat. In some newer cars they raise them up slightly to counteract the slope which prevents it from tipping back so much.

The Maxi Cosi seat is especially bad for it because the insert is so bulky so you only use it for newborns and it gets removed at 3 months. Then they are too small for the seat until they are closer to 1yo - it's annoying. However if your car is less slanted, then she might fit better in it there. I assume you had it on full recline as well?

For a seat which works with the slanted seats, the Joie ones are good or Besafe izi Twist/Turn if you're wanting an isofix seat. For belt fitted seats the Axkid rear facing ones or Avionaut Sky work well.

Original poster

PollyD123 · 09/05/2026 20:29

BertieBotts · 09/05/2026 20:22

Yes it's probably the slant of the seats in the car. It's a common issue with isofix seats especially when the isofix points are right down at the base of the seat. In some newer cars they raise them up slightly to counteract the slope which prevents it from tipping back so much.

The Maxi Cosi seat is especially bad for it because the insert is so bulky so you only use it for newborns and it gets removed at 3 months. Then they are too small for the seat until they are closer to 1yo - it's annoying. However if your car is less slanted, then she might fit better in it there. I assume you had it on full recline as well?

For a seat which works with the slanted seats, the Joie ones are good or Besafe izi Twist/Turn if you're wanting an isofix seat. For belt fitted seats the Axkid rear facing ones or Avionaut Sky work well.

Yes it was on full recline. There was a cyber fix 360 and I’m starting to wish I got that one as it reclines more. She’s too big and uncomfortable in her infant carrier so not sure what to do

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Temporaryname158 · 09/05/2026 20:31

Is her head going above the top of the infant carrier? If not, she’s not too big for it

BertieBotts · 09/05/2026 20:33

You could go back to the shop and ask if they would swap it? Usually they don't like to do this for car seats because of the risk it might have been in a crash but you could get lucky.

I thought the Cybex was a bit better too but couldn't be 100% sure.

The Cybex infant carriers are huge though so she should have no issues staying in that for now while you decide what to do. Sorry in case it is a vv obvious question but sometimes people don't realise - have you moved the headrest up to the right place (in both seats) ? The head flop on sloping seats is common even if it is properly adjusted, but it's worse if not.

Peonies12 · 09/05/2026 20:39

We switched to maxi cosi Pearl at about 13 months, and my daughter is tall! Shes ok sleeping there if it’s fully reclined but we don’t drove much so she rarely sleeps there.

Original poster

PollyD123 · 09/05/2026 20:46

Temporaryname158 · 09/05/2026 20:31

Is her head going above the top of the infant carrier? If not, she’s not too big for it

It’s getting there. She’s very long. I know it’s about safety more than being comfortable but we do a lot of long journeys so don’t want her to be uncomfortable.

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Original poster

PollyD123 · 09/05/2026 20:49

BertieBotts · 09/05/2026 20:33

You could go back to the shop and ask if they would swap it? Usually they don't like to do this for car seats because of the risk it might have been in a crash but you could get lucky.

I thought the Cybex was a bit better too but couldn't be 100% sure.

The Cybex infant carriers are huge though so she should have no issues staying in that for now while you decide what to do. Sorry in case it is a vv obvious question but sometimes people don't realise - have you moved the headrest up to the right place (in both seats) ? The head flop on sloping seats is common even if it is properly adjusted, but it's worse if not.

Edited

Ahh me and one of my friends always thought the cybex were really small car seats. She’s started crying every time she goes in it, never had issues with her in it before. Can’t swap unfortunately, the salesman told me that once out the box they couldn’t accept returns

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prepareforharvest · 09/05/2026 20:49

When we first switched DD into the mica her head slumped forwards when she fell asleep but only for the first couple of journeys, then I think she learnt to put her head back if she wanted to fall asleep. She was around 12 months though so it might be different with a younger baby.

Overthebow · 09/05/2026 20:57

I’d get a Joie 360 or similar, they go back more and we used it from birth with no issues at all.

Original poster

PollyD123 · 09/05/2026 20:58

Overthebow · 09/05/2026 20:57

I’d get a Joie 360 or similar, they go back more and we used it from birth with no issues at all.

I literally had this one out in the shop and then changed to the mica last minute 🤦🏼‍♀️

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BertieBotts · 09/05/2026 21:08

Well maybe you can put the Maxi Cosi in your car for now and get a different one for DH's, maybe a cheaper one? Graco Slimfit R129 is £100 on amazon at the moment which is a great price, it's belt fitted and quite reclined so would probably work better and it's great as a second/spare seat for grandparents or travel or whatever you need. It is a bit annoying to use as an everyday seat because the seatbelt is in the way of getting DC in and out, but it would be fine as a temporary solution.

If DH's car is your more often used one you might be able to swap back to the Maxi Cosi when she gets a bit older. As they get past about 12/18 months their head isn't quite so big in comparison to their body so they seem less prone to getting head flop. In terms of comfort long term though, the Maxi Cosi has less leg room when rear facing than other spin seats because it doesn't have a rebound bar. (The Joie/Graco spin seats have the same issue).

Which Cybex do you have? The Atons can be shorter lasting but the Cloud seats are some of the largest on the market. But all infant carriers are low down and some children start to get frustrated and want to see more at this age.

One more tip to try with the Maxi Cosi is that sometimes at this age they are very keen to sit upright when you put them in the seat, it can help to strap them in with really loose straps first, as they want to see what you're doing and try to grab the buckle. Then don't touch the long strap yet, but pull the slack up through on the hip straps to get those snug and then hold a toy or wiggle your fingers up above DC so she looks/reaches up and lies back with her shoulders in contact with the seat. At this point, position shoulder straps properly and pull the long strap to tighten everything up. If you tighten them when they are in the sitting up, leaning forward position then it can make a kind of gap behind their shoulders which pushes them into a slumped position if they fall asleep rather than lying back and resting into the headrest. I did it with DS2 the first time he went in a seat like this.

How old was your baby when you moved them to a next stage car seat

potentialdogowner · 09/05/2026 21:20

We had a Cybex carrier for my son who is 90th centile and he was in it til 16 months. Never thought he looked uncomfy! In infant carriers you fit the baby ‘nappy to buckle’ so you can pull them down a bit in the car seat if their head is getting near the top, if that makes sense.

Original poster

PollyD123 · 09/05/2026 21:22

potentialdogowner · 09/05/2026 21:20

We had a Cybex carrier for my son who is 90th centile and he was in it til 16 months. Never thought he looked uncomfy! In infant carriers you fit the baby ‘nappy to buckle’ so you can pull them down a bit in the car seat if their head is getting near the top, if that makes sense.

Yeah I do that, she’s always been fitted correctly in it. She looks very squashed and cries every time we put her in it now, which she never did before. We tried her in her new seat and she didn’t make a sound, I’m just not happy with the head slump especially when it’s just us two doing long journeys.

OP posts:

Original poster

PollyD123 · 09/05/2026 21:25

BertieBotts · 09/05/2026 21:08

Well maybe you can put the Maxi Cosi in your car for now and get a different one for DH's, maybe a cheaper one? Graco Slimfit R129 is £100 on amazon at the moment which is a great price, it's belt fitted and quite reclined so would probably work better and it's great as a second/spare seat for grandparents or travel or whatever you need. It is a bit annoying to use as an everyday seat because the seatbelt is in the way of getting DC in and out, but it would be fine as a temporary solution.

If DH's car is your more often used one you might be able to swap back to the Maxi Cosi when she gets a bit older. As they get past about 12/18 months their head isn't quite so big in comparison to their body so they seem less prone to getting head flop. In terms of comfort long term though, the Maxi Cosi has less leg room when rear facing than other spin seats because it doesn't have a rebound bar. (The Joie/Graco spin seats have the same issue).

Which Cybex do you have? The Atons can be shorter lasting but the Cloud seats are some of the largest on the market. But all infant carriers are low down and some children start to get frustrated and want to see more at this age.

One more tip to try with the Maxi Cosi is that sometimes at this age they are very keen to sit upright when you put them in the seat, it can help to strap them in with really loose straps first, as they want to see what you're doing and try to grab the buckle. Then don't touch the long strap yet, but pull the slack up through on the hip straps to get those snug and then hold a toy or wiggle your fingers up above DC so she looks/reaches up and lies back with her shoulders in contact with the seat. At this point, position shoulder straps properly and pull the long strap to tighten everything up. If you tighten them when they are in the sitting up, leaning forward position then it can make a kind of gap behind their shoulders which pushes them into a slumped position if they fall asleep rather than lying back and resting into the headrest. I did it with DS2 the first time he went in a seat like this.

I’ll give it a go thanks!

I did have the cybex next stage seat in mind and I asked the salesman (at smyths) if it were any smaller as I heard they were meant to be smaller than other car seats on the market, he checked and said they were. I probably will have to look at another but will see how she goes in my car. Hopefully the less tilted seats sort the problem.

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BertieBotts · 09/05/2026 21:26

Oh right yes sorry - the Sirona has a bit of a shorter shell than other spin seats. Although I think that's not as big of a difference with the current model, it was a problem with the previous one.

Flamingowigglesworm · 09/05/2026 23:04

join bump to booster on fb. There are so so many other car seats that are good. And the out the box thing you can dispute.
Axkid and Besafe are the best seats