Car seat

[FirstTimeMum0]

Hi can anyone recommend a good car seat? I have a one year old (14months) and he’s just outgrown the baby one. I don’t drive myself but still needing one for when we go out with family members and holidays we are going on. Many thanks

This is a very good deal if you don't mind that the rear facing limit is only 13kg.

https://www.kiddies-kingdom.com/birth-4yrs/31186-britax-first-class-plus-group-0-1-car-seat-moonlight-blue.html

If you would prefer to rear face up to 18kg (which is safer) Graco Extend R129 is the best option.

Thank you

Will it be living in one car? or are you going to have to drag it up and downstairs with a toddler running rings around you? Do all the cars have iso fit?

If no iso fit and or draging it around go for something from halfords or argos gracos are good and cheap, because once she fits a size 2 car seat (kid uses the seat belt) you can swap it for a booster <£50 and they are light weight even built into backpacks for easy transport.

I hate dragging my size 1-3 from back to the front of the car and she uses it in the size 2 were its a booster and we are replacing that one with a 2-3 now and are ones live in one car. Basically because of the weight.

rear face maybe more safe but if your going to be swapping cars with the seat make sure it will fit in all the cars, my old car barely fitted a 0 a 0,1 car seat did not fit and will your child be happy sitting cross legged in the car seat for how ever long the car trip is

On other thing to think of will you end up with 3 child seats in the back of a car if so go for something narrow to help fitting it in

Both of the seats I suggested can fit rear facing or forward facing if it is an issue, and they are very compact so will fit into most cars. The Britax even has three possible belt routings, so very universal for fitting. I had it myself several years ago as a non driver and it routinely used to be recommended as one of the best seats for fitting into multiple cars, or any cars which are notorious for short belts or long buckle stalks.

With going into the Group 2 seat, just beware not to do this too early, although they can legally go into these from 15kg (100cm for newer ones), they do not protect children really at all before 3 years old, and between 3-4 years it's iffy whether they offer enough protection or not compared with a 5 point harness. Ideally, you want to wait as close to the end of the Group 1 stage before moving though I do get they are bulkier and more impractical - waiting as close to age 4 as possible is a good idea.

I agree that the 123 type seats are bulky, it doesn't normally make sense to get one with a booster mode built in as once you are in a high back booster type seat, the actual high back boosters are much lighter and less of a pain to move around. For this stage after the baby seat it is also beneficial to get one with a solid one-piece shell if you can, rather than the ones which are designed more like the booster type seats with a harness in them.

I only have one child the majority of the time will be living in a family members car as she has my child once a month. I will only be using it for holidays as like I said I don’t drive. Thank you for your advice you’ve given me a lot to think about.