Please help me find a car seat!!

[SleepForTheWeek]

I have 2 DDs, 3 and 6 months

DD1 is currently in a Britax Dualfix which does up to age 4. She still fits in it fine and it's been a good seat.

DD2 is in the mamas and papas first size car seat which does up to 13kg (I think). DD1 also used this car seat up until 1yo.

However, DD2 really hates the car seat and always looks quite uncomfortable in it. She's a happy baby but not when she's in there. I live a 5 hour car journey away from family and we often visit, making the journey very stressful.

So, I intend to move DD2 into the Britax Dualfix and get DD1 the next size up - but finding the right car seat for DD1 is proving difficult.

The things it must have are:
Isofix
5 point harness
Recline

As I say, we often make long journeys and the roads are terrible so safely is absolutely paramount.

The one that has caught my eye is the Britax Advansafix III - but it's fitted using a top tether and my car doesn't have one!!

Please - is there a car out there in the world that fits the bill??

Will have a look at that @BertieBotts thanks.

Is isofix not safer than belted? We have a belted one in DHd car and I find there is loads more movement in it regardless of how tight I fit it?

In an accident though the belt would lock up preventing the movement. Isofix no safer than belted IF belted seat installed correctly. Isofix just removes room for error.

Isofix isn't safer than a seat belt .
It just takes away the mistakes you can make fitting with a belt.
If installed correctly with a belt it's the same as using a Isofix Base

Re car seat movement
Do you have leather seats .they move much less on fabric seats . You can buy mats for leather seats

We have fabric seats in both cars.

Interesting, I just assumed isofix was easiest.

So I think the Joie Bold and Advansafix both my best bets but with the complication of the top tether.

I find it all very confusing!

I don't think I could turn DD1 rf now as she's been ff for a year and is SO much better in the car.

Isofix are also less likely to be fitted incorrectly so are therefore regarded as 'safer'. Our belt fitted Minikids are rock solid, much more so than any of the isofix seats we've had so I think it depends on the seat and the shape of the seats in your car.

Pushing down hard on the seat when you install helps to get a tight fit with belted seats. If you can get someone to do it for you it's even easier.

You shouldn't have movement with a belt fit. Are you kneeling your weight into the car seat and pulling the belt tight with every stage? It helps having two people - one to kneel (the smaller one) and one to tighten (the stronger one).

We have fake leather/suede effect and still have a rock solid fit with FF harnessed seat - it's all about the kneel!

Thanks Biscuits! We'll be upgrading to the minikid in due course.

I didn't know you needed to push down on the seat to fit it correctly, thanks, will be doing hat to the one in DH's car tomorrow!!

This is exactly why isofix is safer - because many people believe they've fitted a seat correctly but don't realise about pushing down on the seat itself, or miss parts like belt clips etc. It's actually in the manual of some seats to push/kneel into them (for forward facing obv as you can't with rear facing I don't think.)

There is a This Morning vid on youtube about less tightly fitted seats performing poorly with crash tests which is a bit alarming.