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Parenting

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Original poster

What Carseat does a 3 year old need?

38 replies

WhyTheHeckMe · 04/02/2018 22:15

Just planning ahead. Ds is 2 and has used the Joie 360 spin since he outgrew his group 0 seat. We love it, it's a brilliant seat but quite pricey. By the time my baby needs to go into this next stage seat I think ds will be around 3. He's still rear facing.
I'm trying to work out if I should invest in another 360 for baby despite the fact that my eldest will potentially only be in it for a few months? Or at this point would he move to a different type and if so, what kind?
I've googled it but the different group numbers just confuse me to be honest!
He's currently about 13kg and only just 2.
Thanks!

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Smellyjo · 05/02/2018 17:57

Another vote for axkid minikid, love it and also bought on the Swedish site mentioned.

KTD27 · 05/02/2018 17:59

The lie flat seats that I’ve seen aren’t lie flat in the cars though - one like the cybex cloud q has a lie flat mechanism but that’s only for when you’re out and about in the car seat attached to the buggy. Or are there ones which claim to lie flat in cars whilst travelling!? I’d have thought that was really unsafe?

ODog · 05/02/2018 19:20

We had a very similar sitautaion and bought a TWE for DC1 and DC2 went into the joie I size seat. Just note that TWE are now only harnessed up to 25kg if RF. FF the limit is 18kg. DC1 gets car sick travelling backwards so we turned him when he was 2 but we have an old style one that still harnesses to 25kg FF.

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FleurWeasley · 05/02/2018 19:29

The Diono radian 5 is another car seat that can be harnessed rear or forward facing to 25kg.

BertieBotts · 05/02/2018 20:05

Yes or at least there were a few years back - they're actually okay safety wise, there were only two - the Britax Babysafe Sleeper and the Jané carrycot which was actually crash tested unlike other carrycots which were (believe it or not!) still legal to use in the car at the time! Just looked and neither is available for sale any more and Britax's page states no successor, ie, they didn't replace it with an updated model. No idea when they stopped now. Perhaps not very popular, as they were hugely expensive - but there was a movement at the time and lots of car seat sites raved about them being the future of infant seats.

They are a pain because they go sideways across two seats, and they also tend to be group 0 only rather than group 0+ so they are only usable to 9 or 10kg and then you have to get a new seat. Of course with ERF that isn't a huge issue but at the time these were popular ERF was much more niche and so they had the extra issue of encouraging parents to FF really early, because the baby would outgrow the carrycot type seat at about 6-8 months, max, if they didn't scream blue murder at being forced to lie down by then(!) and they'd already be 9kg so people would just forward face them, or they'd be annoyed at having to buy one of the convertible seats which I think there was only a couple out at the time. One was the Britax First Class which was quite good but a pain to use in RF mode, and the other was a hugely expensive one, and then you might as well have gone ERF anyway!

Original poster

WhyTheHeckMe · 05/02/2018 20:11

So to clarify - did britax actually change the seat so it can't be used Forward facing after 18kg, or was it just the guidelines that changed?
Gosh it's so annoying. I really wanted a seat that would last till 25KG where we could choose between forward or rear facing! Do the ones that are rear facing up to 25KG take up a lot of room in the back of the car?
The Joie 360 is already touching the headrest of the drivers seat!

OP posts:

teaandbiscuitsforme · 05/02/2018 20:21

The seat parts have changed (the buckle) so it's definitely only FF to 18kg. But as another poster pointed out, you could look at the Diono Radian 5.

Both the TWE and Minikid are compact seats despite being the longest lasting.

FleurWeasley · 05/02/2018 20:31

Don’t forget the Diono seat!

Original poster

WhyTheHeckMe · 05/02/2018 20:55

Oh yes thanks! Just looked at the Diono it looks good and isnt hugely expensive (less than the 360).
2 questions -

How bulky would this be in a medium sized car? We have a BMW 2 series but I just worry it'd not fit and again, nowhere seems to stock this seat. Online only

What's the difference meaning this one can be ff up to 25kg and the britax is only upto 18kg? What did britax change and why?

Thanks so much for all the advice I really appreciate it. Just want to make the right choice :)

OP posts:

DonaldWeasley · 05/02/2018 21:27

We have the Diono, I think the difference to the two way elite is this one has a top tether for forward facing, the Britax one doesn’t. It IS quite bulky front to back (although very narrow), we bought the Diono angle adjuster, which gets you a few more cm in the front passenger seat. I can sit in the passenger seat in front of it, dh can’t, but that’s in a small car. Or you can have it forward facing as soon as you are happy for dc1 to front face. It’s also approved for use on a plane (forward facing).

Should add that which/ADAC didn’t rate it very highly, this is partly because it loses points for being complicated (its very complicated compared to our maxi cosi, but easy once you’ve done it once), also the crash test was actually done with the pads on the wrong way so not providing the proper protection.

KTD27 · 05/02/2018 21:55

In car safety centre stocks the diono

thefutureisours · 05/02/2018 22:02

Diono is very big. If you are looking for a compact seat then the twe or minikid are the way to go.

FireflyGirl · 05/02/2018 23:59

We have the Diono, and it's not as bulky width-wise as the joie stages we have in the other car. We also have the angle adjuster, in a Peugeot 308, to give more room in the front. 6ft DH can get in the passenger seat, but it's not comfortable for him.

We bought it specifically because it is extended rear facing, and we live rurally so national speed limit roads to get anywhere. I'm a personal injury solicitor, and have seen first hand the injuries that can be caused to young children in forward facing seats, even models with a high safety rating which were properly secured. DS is 2.11 and quite tall but only 13kg so will be in it for a long while yet. He has to cross his legs, but that's just normal to him.

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