Car Seat Help

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Hoping someone can help because I'm having no luck with google!

We'll be looking to buy a new car seat for our baby in the next few months when she's around a year old. I'd like one where the five straps are separate, and ideally would like one that turns to the side to put her in. Does anyone know of any seats that meet both criteria, or just the straps? Thanks!

Is there a reason you want 5 separate straps?

I just find it a pain at the moment either having to squeeze her arms in or loosen the straps off and re-tighten them every time, especially if I'm putting her in when the seat is already in the car.

As she becomes more of a toddler and starts resisting everything you may find 5 separate straps very difficult.

I think some countries have brought in rules requiring five part harnesses that don't come apart, obviously with the exception of unfastening to let arms in.

I wish I could remember where I read that! It might be on Spanish brand Jane's website.

You need to loosen and retighten every time to make sure it always fits properly. Different layers/thickness of clothing will change how tight the straps are.

Ok so the next car seat up will stay in the car. I don't know any that have 5 part straps. You will always have to tighten them when you put the child in or they are not protected properly. In face just having two straps that click together into the buckle bit is dead easy and as another poster said much easier when you have a toddler who doesn't want to be in the car! We have the Maxi cosi axiss which is fab as it turn sideways. DH has the Tobi which diesntbturn and I find that harder to get him.into although DH manages fine. You will need the axiss 360 though as they have to face backwards for longer now.

Theres a really good group on facebook "Car Seat Advice for Mummies & Daddies!". They really helped me, it may be worth a look. Alternatively I'd suggest speaking to Mothercare or Halfords for advice.

Thanks everyone :) our current seat is just so flipping difficult to tighten, but maybe a more expensive one will be easier. Just I saw someone the other week with a baby carrier with separate straps so I thought there might be some hope!

If you loosen the straps really loose then it’s easier than separate straps.
You need to tighten every time she sits in as different clothes or if she’s positioned slightly differently in the seat will affect how tight the straps need to go. If you have the straps at the correct tightness then it’s really difficult to do them up again without loosening anyway.
Most seats you just pull the piece at the bottom to tighten.

Was it a 3 point harness on the infant carrier? The concord reverso plus has one of those for an older child.

The Maxi Cosi Axiss turns to the side, but it has a traditional five point harness. I've honestly never seen a five point harness that comes apart like you describe.

Blue it was definitely a five point harness, but I'm beginning to wonder whether I just imagined it coming apart in my sleep-deprived haze 😬

We have a joie 360 spin as our spare car seat for grandparents as the side swivel really helps. I have to say it’s a lovely seat and will last him until he’s 4 or thereabouts. We have had lots of wear out of it and I’d thoroughly recommend. Straps are easy to tighten and loosen.

It is useful to check the growth chart in the red book to see when the child is likely to outgrow the seat, as we bought one that was meant to last until 4 but had to be replaced at 2 because DS is tall and heavy.

Agree with blue as my giant 2 year old was the same. A to Z of rear facing page on facebook is really helpful.

Another who has the jolie 360 spin (2 of them!) - spin feature is great - especially as I’m pregnant and trying to get a wiggly toddler in. Normal 5 point harness but very easy to loosen/tighten and at 18 months my daughter can put own arms in out when unstrapped (and being reasonable).

Oh she's tiny so she'll probably be in this bloody carrier for ages. Thanks for all the help everyone, the Joie and the MaxiCosi ones suggested are ones I'd briefly looked at so will have a better look at those two.

I've just picked up DD's GB Vaya and am really pleased with it.

In know what you mean about some car seat straps being too stiff to pull tight as I've had trouble putting friends' babies in their car seats. The Vaya straps are really easy to tighten and the button to loosen them off is easy to operate. Great swivel function too and little magnets at the sides to hold the straps out of the way while you get baby into the seat. It's a pricey seat but I think it's worth it!

I have both a Maxi Cosi Tobi and a joie stages in the car (2 children 17 months apart) and although those models don't swivel there are marked differences with the straps.

The maxi cosi is great as the straps are on springs so automatically jump up as soon as you take child out so there's no digging them out from underneath them when getting back in. But I find the straps REALLY difficult to loosen and tighten proper

Joie is my favourite seat. The straps are very easy to use as there is a small button to press when loosening and then just pull to tighten. They don't spring up but they do have small strap hangers to stop child sitting on them.

If I'm honest I wish I had bought the joie first as I would have two of those and not the maxi cosi. It's a great seat but I just find the Joie so much easier

Shoes, we have the Vaya too and are very happy with it. The magnets are brilliant! I always loosen the straps and pin them up when I take DS out of the car so it's all set up for when I need to put him in. Plonk baby, plug in straps, pull, done!