Rear facing group 1+

[mcflumpy]

Hi I've started looking for the next group up for my 10mo DD. From what I can see, rear facing is deemed to be the safest option. Can anyone recommend a few to look at? I'd like to get something that will do for a while and don't mind if it's a permanent fixture in the cars. There really doesn't seem to be a lot on the Market - why if it's the safest way for children to travel?

Had a look at the Besafe Izi but it got a terrible review on which?

TIA

there is currently a big debate on AIBU on rear facing car seats and plenty of links and recommendations. Dont understand to poor review of bsafe. The besafe izi x3 is fitted for my DG it has good reviews from customers on the kiddicare site and I can say its extremely strong and sturdy and protective

Thanks for that, I usually tend to steer clear of AIBU!
I'll check it out.

Should also add that besafe review was for Izi combo x2 the reason the review is so bad as Which? States it's very difficult to install and therefore compromises the safety as opposed to the seat being unsafe.

hi, do you have a large or small car? do you have underfloor storage?

i have a britax two way elite and a KISS(klippan isofox safety system). out of the two seats i think i prefer the twe. the kiss is easier to install as it is isofix but the twe isn't hard to install iykwim. the twe goes up to 25kgs and the KISS only 18kgs. the twe also gives the option of adjusting it to give older kids more leg space. also the twe is cheaper than the ff isofix seat i wanted at £190. i got it from www.incarsafetycentre.co.uk and they have a great range of seats and are also the only company in the uk to stock the twe.

be safe izi is one of only 3 car seats to get awarded sweden safety plus rating thinging. hope mine arrives tomorrow can't wait to get ds in it.

RAIND.

Bsafe izzi 3 is like a mini tank in comparison to the britax I'v got fitted into my car for when DG travels with me. Definately not easily moveable but my daughter and her husband have two cars they can both drive, so it works well. Theirs arrived with tiny plastic bit broken off in transit, so company replaced whole thing to guarantee safety. Plenty of room for DGs legs as big car. He's not bothered sitting backwards, never car sick and is hypnotised by view from back window.
Kiddicare customers found it easy to fit mostly, according to the reviews, and the peace of mind is priceless.

I fitted my besafe izi combi today. It was quite easy i followed the instructions on you tube from Securatot. It is solid and not going anywhere. Fits really well in the middle of my volvo V70 between a britax highliner and a booster cushion. plenty room for front seats to be fully back.
DH thinks the tethers etc make it look untidy but apart from that really pleased with it.

raindrop... how is the besafe in the middle of the volvo? we wanted to put one in the middle of ours, but were advised against it by the ppl at the in car safety centre in milton keynes, because the support leg didn't straddle the lump in the middl eproperly

they said that might be ok, but we'd need to check with volvo first that it was strong enough

just wondered if you'd done that or if you'd been given different info? cos i'd quite like to put ours in the middle if i can!!

we love our two way elite!

it says in the fit finder thing from besafe it is compatible and it certainally doesn't move now it is all tightened up.
volvo handbook also says rearfacing carseat with tethers and footsupport can be placed in middle seat.
hth.

Two way elite here too!

Just another non safety related query. Does your seat back get dirty from the LO's feet?

we have these Only we put them so they hang over frount of back seat. Ds 2.5 like to put his flask and a few cuddlies and books in the pockets. They can be removed and washed. U can also get clear plastic covers too.

i have a grip mat thing mainly to protect leather seat from car seat but will also stop muddy feet in the future.

DGS has a toy type thing with a mirror and fish that he can kick to make float around. Its an in car amusement rather than a seat protector but does same. hes 19 mo old so not babyish toy - still prefers looking out of back window tho.

They're great suggestions thanks, now just considering between 2WE and the besafe izi. Going to call the in car safety centre during the week to see if they can advise as we have a couple of cars and wondered if they're compatible with both and how easily transferable they are.

Both DH and I have researched ff vs rf this week and are completely sold on rf.

Really do think Which? should be reviewing these seats (properly) to give parents a better understanding of safety criteria as the current review is really light on information and as I far as I can see, they have reviewed the 2we.

Thanks again for all the help!

i would say given your car situation you'd be better with the 2 way elite.
it's much lighter than the besafe (we have both), quicker to install and thus easier to transfer between cars.

What kind of car do you drive? Testers at Which! are generally considered being high/drunk and/or with extremely poor experience with RF seats by people who work with the seats...

Izikid is a nice seat which will last longer with the new expandable head support. DOwnside is that installation is very upright. Both Isofix and non-Isofix model don't need much room when installed in normal position. But most parents end up using "sleep position" all the time since a child's head otherwise slump forward when sleeping. This is not dangerous but can be a little uncomfortable. Using the sleep position adds another 10 cm which makes the seat large even in a big car.

TWE needs less space and is an older model which is very strong. Good bang for the bank for tall kids. We usually joke and say it would withstand a nuclear explosion:-)

/Håkan
www.carseat.se

We have a Renault megane and a Chrysler 300c so both should be big enough to take them. I thought the 2we looked a little roomier on the leg front (from what I've seen on the net) thought it also looked a little more compact when installed?

mcflumpy, whereabouts are you? i['d be happy to show you my besafe and TWE if you're in the vicinity? we're in the south east

TWE would be a better fit in both seats IMHO. Izi in the Megane will be ok when upright but in sleep mode, used very often, front sat will go quite far forward.

TWE needs about 60-65 cm of space. Izi needs 75 cm in sleep mode. TWW only weighs 7.1 kg so it's easy to handle and is more compact than Izi although that depends a bit on the angle.

/Håkan
www.carseat.se

Thanks thisis...but I'm in Scotland! Bit far I think.
Definitely think TWE is better choice for us just not sure if the Chrysler is too big. I'll measure it tomorrow see what the dimensions are.

mcflumpy, have a look on the rearfacing.co.uk site- there is a forum on there, and you might find people in scotland who have the seats for you to look at in person.

on that note, if anyone wants to try/ visit some seats in the SW (near Exeter), I've got the besafe and the KISS (or acto graco duologicII as it's called in sweden)- both of which are two of the only three seats to pass the ultra tough swedish plus test. I love em both- when I rock my besafe, it actually rocks the car, it's that secure As someone said to me, it's the cost of 2 tanks of fuel

mc flumpy i am in scotland sw and have a besafe izi.

def check out the rear-facing forum

there are certainly a couple of people in scotland who have the britax 2 way elite