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Car seats

Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here. For Mumsnetter-approved essentials, sign up for Mumsnet Swears By emails here.

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Original poster

Any advice?

15 replies

tethersend · 20/09/2009 23:29

I need to buy a car seat for dd (10 months) and I have literally no idea where to start.

I do not drive or own a car- up until now, the only one she has used was given to us; she has now outgrown it.

I just need a seat which will fix easily into most cars, as it will only be used for occasional journeys.

I have heard it's best to have a rear-facing at this stage, but I would like not to have to buy another for a few years, so I'm not sure if you can get one which changes direction as it were?

Have also been advised not to buy second hand- is this so? I am on a budget, so the cheaper the better really; but absolutely do not want to compromise on safety, so will pay what I need to IYSWIM

As if it weren't apparent by now, I haven't got a clue.

I require your expert advice, if you have any...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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differentID · 20/09/2009 23:30

what weight is she? and is her head over the top of her current seat?

LadyOfTheFlowers · 20/09/2009 23:38

I've got a Mothercare (MaxiCosi) one.
Can't remember what it's called so not very helpful, but we were in the same position - not wanting to fork out again as on a tight budget.
It faces backwards, then turns around when child is older and can then be reclined for sleeping. It does not recline while facing backwards which does not please DS terribly, but he does manage to go to sleep in it.
Our other 2 both had the basket types that click in and out which were slightly reclined so they could sleep, but our kids tend to be so long, they grow out of them long before we get much use out of them.
I will try to find out what it's called as it is an excellent seat, in our car it is so solid you would think it's aprt of the car - I always check it but it never needs tightening up. The Mothercare woman who fitted it couldn't believe how well it fitted and she really went to town on - she was shaking the whole car when she was testing it - litterally hanging off it!!
She also said though, that they tend not to fit all cars very well and tried to put us off initailly without even trying it, then was pleasantly suprised.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 20/09/2009 23:39

Apologies for double 't' in literally! lol

Original poster

tethersend · 20/09/2009 23:39

Thanks differentID...

She is 9.2kg and yes, her head is over the top of her current seat- she looks ridiculous. I haven't used it for three months.

OP posts:

Original poster

tethersend · 20/09/2009 23:42

And thanks Ladyoftheflowers too! x-post

OP posts:

LadyOfTheFlowers · 20/09/2009 23:43

www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Seville-Stars/dp/B001NLJ6XW/sr=1-3/qid=1253486451/ref=sr_1_3/280-50062 26-4343608?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=44451031&mcb=core

this one if that's any use?

LynetteScavo · 20/09/2009 23:44

The Maxi Cosi Priory will fit most cars, but it is forward facing.

The trouble with car sets is that you get what you pay for most of the time.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 20/09/2009 23:47

I agree you get what you pay for - that's why I went for the Mothercare one as it is made by maxicosi and does excatly the same as the maxicosi one does, but without the price tag. Guess they still make them for Mothercare now? Maxicosi is printed in the plastic on the back of ours?

differentID · 21/09/2009 07:58

or you could go for something like this
that way you can use it after she has outgrown the harness. it isn't the quickest to fit though.

kellyatbabyguds · 21/09/2009 10:14

You need to go and speak to a store which fits car seats and can see what fits your car as not all car seats fit all cars. They will advise what is best for you

nicm · 21/09/2009 10:16

hi tethersend,
rear facing is 5 times safer than ff. we have have the britax two way elite for ds 16months from www.incarsafetycentre.co.uk. it will last ds until he is 25kgs(approx 6yo) and can be either rear or forward facing. it is easy enough to fit, fits in small cars(clio/fiesta/207) and fits in most cars.

for more info on rear facing seats look on www.rearfacing.co.uk

Original poster

tethersend · 21/09/2009 22:01

Thanks all for great advice... I am off to research the ones you have suggested, and possibly to sell a kidney in order to pay for it

I will be back to ask more advice, no doubt!

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 25/09/2009 13:59

I would recommend the Kiddy Infinity Pro - it's much lighter than other FF seats and easier to get into different cars, and it uses a different restraint system which means safety-wise it is probably between standard FF seats and RF seats, with the advantage of portability! The RF seats are not practical to move between cars as they are so large and heavy (and most are isofix and also very expensive)

I don't drive and this is the seat I am getting for my DS when he outgrows his infant carrier.

BertieBotts · 25/09/2009 14:00

Oh and it's very reasonably priced as well - it's the perfect carseat in my mind, ticks all my boxes, I am so happy they have brought it out in time for me to get one!

nicm · 25/09/2009 17:54

BertieBotts i have the britax two way elite(rf) and it was a lot cheaper than the ff one i was going to get before i heard about rf. the priorifix was £250 and my twe cost £186. it is also as heavy as my priori sps i had in the past. most people are put off and i would have been too with all the negatives people say about them had i not seen it for myself but i had somewhere not too far away that sold them. also it doesn't take me much longer now i have done it a few times to put it in different cars than it did the priori sps.

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