Advice needed: Non-driver query on car seats

[bookemdanno]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on the best car seat to get?

I'm a first-time mother-to-be, I don't drive and don't own a car, but I want to get a car seat for when my mother-in-law or friends (or a taxi) picks me up to take me and baby somewhere.

Baby isn't due until September, so I have some time, but I need a car seat that is quick and easy to fit, yet still safe, and ideally if possible is part of a buggy system (ie I can then take the car seat out at the destination and connect it to a buggy base to transport baby)

Can anyone give me recommendations? Or am I dreaming here?

I'd get a maxi cosi. I've got a cabriofix which does all the things you say (compatible with a lot of prams). I think there a newer models now though.

Alternatively you could just get a travel system and get whatever car seat goes with that.

Most car seats go with most travel seats but you may need adapters. Keeping baby in a car seat for a long time is not ideal for their breathing and development of back muscles.

I would visit somewhere locally that has a good choice of prams and give your requirements. We bought a travel system so 2 parts could be used as car seats plus it gave us a buggy. It's great for the car however I wouldn't have picked it if I was regularly using public transport as it's heavy and I need two hands to fold it down. We got a good deal on buying it as a travel system versus buying all the parts individually but I would focus on your product requirements first then see if it's has a corresponding suitable car seat.

Usually Stage 0 car seats are the highly transportable car seats that can be clipped onto your wheels to use as a pram. After that car seats tend to be heavier & are not pram compatible as the child is older/heavier. My son is in a size 0/1 car seat so will be rear-facing until 4 (i-size approved) but it can't be used as a pram so it stays permanently on the car

HTHs

I would agree you're best going into a shop and looking. I would just suggest that if you're only going to use the car seat occasionally you may want one you can use for years - like HiMy mentions above. Otherwise although the early ones are really convenient you may begrudge spending £££ on something you don't use much. And they done really have a resale value as the advice is to buy new.

I would recommend a lightweight/easy fold buggy to go in car boots/on buses etc (try to get one where baby can lie flat to start with) and then a long-term car seat for reasons above.

don't really have a resale value

Also should say you can buy an ISO fix car seat so easy to put in almost any modern car (obviously check with family/cars you might go in regularly that it fits)

Brilliant, thanks everyone for your advice!

I think it's definitely worth us going into a shop that sells a good range and asking for their advice, as at least I can see the buggy/car seat in person and give it a test drive, haha :) I will ask about the maxi-cosi range, as well as others, and see what they think.

Thanks again!