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Am I being irrational about the car seat?

44 replies

greipfaa · 05/01/2023 19:26

Dc 6 weeks. Not yet left the house other than a local walk. I’m going mad. Have a car and a car seat but scared to go out as I worry their head will go forward and won’t be able to breathe. Can anyone tell me when they used theirs? Am I worrying unnecessarily?

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PeachyMama · 05/01/2023 21:51

Further to my message above silver cross simplicity is the same one I had! The head slump on it is TERRIBLE. It is known for how bad it is. Get rid and get a maxi cosi one x

greipfaa · 05/01/2023 21:55

@PeachyMama would I need a new Isofix base for it too?

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greipfaa · 05/01/2023 21:55

@PeachyMama ps thanks!

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greipfaa · 05/01/2023 21:56

@PeachyMama just googled maxi cosi and there’s loads…?!

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greipfaa · 05/01/2023 21:58

www.johnlewis.com/maxi-cosi-cabriofix-i-size-infant-car-seat/essential-black/p6090166

would that work with the isofix base I have for the simplicity?

also can I use the simplicity in the meantime? I’m worried even more now! 😂

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BanoffeeBoat · 05/01/2023 22:00

I have that Silvercross one too - it's awful isn't it?! We were given it second hand for DC1 and are using it again for DC2 just because we'd have to change our while travel system, pram etc if we changed the car seat. DC2 is 10 weeks old now and fits in it a bit better but for the first 2 months or so we only went on very short journeys, tried to have someone sit in the back if possible, and if ever I felt at all worried I would pull over, get out, and check she was ok.
We thought about one of those mirrors but I know I would have just spent all my time checking the mirror instead of looking at the road and probably would have been even more dangerous!

greipfaa · 05/01/2023 22:03

Making me so stressed, I don’t get the isofix base? John Lewis seem to suggest there’s a specific isofix base for the maxi cosi?

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greipfaa · 05/01/2023 22:03

@BanoffeeBoat i thought that about a mirror too!!

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20viona · 05/01/2023 22:03

Totally irrational. Get out in the car tomorrow.

MotherOfLunatics · 05/01/2023 22:55

I was exactly the same, don't worry it will be fine. I did have the mirror which helped reassure me but honestly isn't necessary.
I used maxi cosi and an isofix, they're really convenient, if your car has the isofix clips.

The only thing worth mentioning is that isofix bases are not universal so you need to check compatibility. A maxi cosi isofix base isn't compatible with all maxi cosi car seats (due to size, weight etc). Check the website before buying, they list the compatible seats/bases. It probably worth considering the Group 1+ seats with the isofix too, or you could end up needing another isofix in 12 months time.

Mostwonderful · 05/01/2023 23:00

Silvercross simplicity is terrible. I was so happy when ours broke at 5 months and I could buy another.

There are tonnes out there, you will need another isofix base if you go with a different brand. I’d recommend getting one that stays in the car though, we had the Cybex Sirona S for our girl and it’s amazing, lies back when they’re sleeping so no head slump. Does them until 18kg too.

PatientlyWaiting21 · 05/01/2023 23:47

greipfaa · 05/01/2023 20:10

Yes fine from hospital. Just haven’t since.. how do you stop the head from slipping?!

Their head shouldn’t be slipping so if it is you need to look at your car seat and set it up properly.

PeachyMama · 06/01/2023 09:30

greipfaa · 05/01/2023 21:56

@PeachyMama just googled maxi cosi and there’s loads…?!

Yes you would need new isofix base for it unfortunately. I got the car seat and base for like £50 on Facebook marketplace. I kept my silver cross pram and bought adapters so I can put the car seat on the wheels. The adapters I bought on eBay. I think all of the maxi cosi ones are designed well as they are more at an incline angle, the one I have is cabriofix I think x

PeachyMama · 06/01/2023 09:32

@greipfaa this is one I have https://www.maxi-cosi.co.uk/car-seats/cabriofix-i-size?colorswatchh_id=5517

BertieBotts · 06/01/2023 16:22

Hi OP

Please don't stress about this.

If your car seat is too tilted on the base, simply take it off the base and fit it with seatbelt. The instruction manual will show you how to do this or there might be a video online.

When fitted with a seatbelt, you can tilt the seat back much more to accommodate any tilt in your vehicle seats. If your back seats are very slanted, and the isofix points are low down then you'll have this problem with most isofix rear facing seats, for this stage and the next. It's worth being aware of this issue as it does affect a significant minority of cars.

You don't need to buy a new seat, as your baby's head and neck control will improve and so they won't have head slump any more as they get older and you may even be able to use the base again. You might even find that at 6 weeks this has already improved from when your baby was newborn. Plenty of newborns fit poorly in car seats, the smallest model that the car seat manufacturers work with is based on an average 6 week old baby. They grow a lot in the first few weeks so 6 weeks is often much much better than newborn.

In addition, even if your baby's head does slump, it is not dangerous when this is for a short amount of time. It is recommended for babies to spend no longer than 2 hours in a car seat for this reason, but up to 2 hours at 6 weeks is considered safe. If you want to be even more cautious, you could keep journeys as short as possible and transfer to a flat surface such as pram carrycot when you have stopped the car.

Some further tips to avoid head slump are to check that the shoulder straps are in the right position, not too low and not too high. The straps should be level with your child's shoulders or the bottom of the headrest level with the bottom of the chin. You should be able to get this checked via email with Silver Cross or at the store where you purchased the travel system. And ensure that you're placing the baby as low as you can in the seat. It's OK to spend some time sitting with the seat at home, get your forearms under each side of the baby and practice moving them up and down to see which position is right. The seat will be less upright when placed on the floor and so you can monitor your baby's position. Lower in the seat tends to help with head flop. It's OK if that means that their bum isn't right back in the "seat" - infant carriers are designed to be laid down in rather than sat in anyway. There is also an extra insert for the Simplicity Car Seat, which can be purchased, if yours didn't come with this, that may help.

It is important that the straps are tight and snug to your baby's body, for safety reasons. Tight straps also help prevent head slump by keeping baby correctly positioned in the seat. Babies are not uncomfortable in tight straps; they actually tend to find this comforting - think about how swaddling is soothing to newborns. If you can slip one finger under the straps this is OK - to be able to slip more than one finger between strap and baby means it is too loose.

Isofix bases tend to be brand specific and sometimes also model specific, so if you did get a different seat then you would need a different base if you want to use it with a base. If it's that your seats are slanted, then a new seat might not solve the problem anyway, you'd want to seek out a model that is specifically designed with sloping seats in mind.

seasidemum1 · 06/01/2023 16:33

The Joie I level recline is brilliant, lies almost completely flat so no worries about head slump, my DD fit in until almost 18 months. It comes with an isofox base, worth it for peace of mind.

Lockdownmummy · 06/01/2023 16:41

Just to say I've had the simplicity for both DC with absolutely no problems. I would check the great fit guidance above before forking out on a new car seat.

Batbatbatty · 06/01/2023 16:55

Fab, informative post from @BertieBotts above👏(as always!!)

Soontobe60 · 06/01/2023 16:56

greipfaa · 05/01/2023 19:26

Dc 6 weeks. Not yet left the house other than a local walk. I’m going mad. Have a car and a car seat but scared to go out as I worry their head will go forward and won’t be able to breathe. Can anyone tell me when they used theirs? Am I worrying unnecessarily?

How did you bring the baby home from hospital?
IMO you’re being very over-anxious. Pop baby in the car and nip out for a bit.

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