Graduated Elderberries

[HazleNutt]

It's time to move to Post-Natal clubs.

Haha cav that made me smile.

Me and H are having a lazy morning too. He had his 2nd jabs yesterday, he was clingy and whingy for a few hours but then just slept for ages. Between 5pm and midnight he was probably awake for an hour and a half. Then put him to bed at midnight, he woke at 4, 5.30, 7 and is still asleep now. That's a crazy amount of sleep in a 12 hour period! I'm not complaining though, at least he's not awake and whingy like last time.

I was just checking what Swedish websites recommend, as scandinavia is really big on ERF seats - put an under 4-year old in forward facing there and people will look at you like you only feed them fruit shoots and greggs.

Interestingly the Volvo Convertible is recommended as best buy.
www.bst-i-test.se/Bilbarnstol

Other recommended seats are
Maxi Cosi Mobi
Concord Transformer T
Britax Hi-Way
BeSafe iZi kid X3
Brio Zento
Akta Graco Cosmic Comfort S

As the BeSafe Izi is on both lists, I can translate what Swedish equivalent of Which says:

Seat is deep, very soft and supportive, so even small children sit comfortably. With a handle under the seat, the seat can be adjusted to 5 different positions, 1 more than MaxiCosi Mobi. Seat is luxuriously ventilated and high enough for the child to have a nice view. X3 has a new headrest that can be adjusted to 8 different positions depending on child's size. Shoulder belt follows the adjustment automatically, smart! There are magnets in the side, meaning that the belts remain open when getting the child in and out, which is very helpful.

Installing is advanced, but very stable, so the seat is rock solid. At 14 kilos, it is heavy, but otherwise relatively small and compact, but requires a lot of room lenghtwise (passenger seat must be adjusted forward quite a bit). Due to the heavy weight and complicated installation, it is not easy to move the seat between different cars. The fabric is easy to remove and wash, but a bit of a pain to put back, so this can be an issue when your child gets carsick. In some cars, stays very upright. Unfortunately is this seat only approver up to 18 kilos, which is definitely not good compared to other seats in our test, especially considering the high price.

And 2 other Swedish testing websites voted the iZi Kid X3 as the best, so you might want to take a look at that.

When you stop using the Group 0+/1 Besafe Izi Kid X3 Isofix as an infant carrier, your child can remain facing the rear until they reach 18kg (about four years old). Travelling rear-facing means your child should be better protected in a front crash. We find out whether the Izi Kid X3 achieves this.

Travelling rear-facing means your child should be better protected in a front crash. This seat is secured using the Isofix mounts to secure the seat rearward facing. This seat is virtually identical to the Izi Combi X3, but unlike its stable-mate, the Kid X3 cannot be used forward-facing and cannot be secured using the adult seatbelt.

Safety
Protection in a front crash is good at four stars, and this score is matched for its protection in the side impact test.

Fitting and using the seat
The instructions are clear and installation is very easy using the Isofix mounts. Overall ease of use is good and the chances of getting it wrong are low.

The large shell makes this seat very bulky, so you might struggle for space in the average medium car. And as it is a rear-facing seat, a tall three-year-old may struggle for leg room. This seat weighs a hefty 16kg, so it isn't well suited to moving from car to car on a regular basis.

Overall rating
This seat scores strongly in most areas, but falls short of the overall requirements to earn our Best Buy recommendation.

Updating our tests
We changed the car body we use for testing in 2011, to more accurately reflect the current typical family car seatbelt layout and design. We carried out some repeat testing, to ensure that previous tests shown online are broadly comparable to the current ones. However, such a significant change means we can't make absolute comparisons.

This result is from our 2011 tests.

Do you already own this child car seat? If you do, click the customer views tab - above the picture - and tell us what you think of it.

Pros: Excellent front crash protection, good side crash protection, easy to use, rearward-facing right up to 18kg

Cons: Misses the Best Buy grade, bulky and heavy, expensive

The Britax Max-Fix is an extended rearward-facing child car seat for children up to four years old. This can protect them from more severe head and neck injuries in a crash. Extended rear-facing child car seats can be a bit uncomfortable on a child's legs, so how does the Max-Fix compare? We sent it to our lab for crash testing to find out.

This is a satisfactory child car seat, but as with other rear-facing seats the mediocre leg support and view from the seat let it down a bit. It provides good protection in a front-impact crash but its side-impact protection is only rated as satisfactory, not high enough to make it a Best Buy.

What is it?
A Group 0+/1 child car seat for children from 9-18kg (nine months to approximately four years old).

The child is restrained by a five-point harness with a one-pull adjustment strap to make it easy to tighten.

It's an extended rearward-facing seat, that's installed using the car's Isofix points and two support legs, one to position it on the car seat correctly and another that braces the child seat against the floor and prevents it pivoting in a crash.

The support leg may make this seat unsuitable for use in some cars that have underfloor storage compartments or limited back-seat leg space.

How safe is it?
The harness sits in the right place on your child, the head support is excellent and the Max-Fix sits firmly on the car's seat.

In our crash tests front-impact protection is good but the side-crash protection is only average.

Is it easy to fit the seat?
The instructions and warning labels are very easy to understand and there is little danger of installing the Max-Fix incorrectly.

But the seat is very heavy and takes up a fair bit of space in the back seat.

Is the seat comfortable?
Yes and no; the seat has excellent padding, is spacious and creates a good seating position for comfort and safety for the child.

However, the leg support is uncomfortable, particularly for older children and the child's view out of the car is limited.

Is there anything else I should know?
The finish quality of the seat is excellent and the covers are easy to remove and machine washable.

In 2011, we changed the car body we use for testing to more accurately reflect the current typical family car seat belt layout and design. We carried out some repeat testing to ensure that previous tests shown online are broadly comparable with the current ones. However, such a significant change means we can't make absolute comparisons.

These results are from our 2013 tests.

Should I buy it?
As with all rear-facing seats there are some issues with comfort for your child. Crash protection is reasonable but not as good as our Best Buys.

Pros: Good front-crash protection, good harness position and head support, easy to install, spacious seat with good padding, easy to clean

Cons: Average side-impact protection, some comfort issues. Pricey

The Volvo Convertible child seat is secured using the adult seat belts and aims to cater for children between nine and 25kg (from about one to seven years old), travelling rearward-facing up to 18kg (around four) and forward-facing thereafter.

Its design comes from Britax's Nordic range, and it was subsequently launched as a Volvo seat available through UK Volvo main dealers. For group 1 it is installed rearward-facing or forward-facing, and for group 2 use, it fits forward-facing.

Safety
In rearward-facing Group 1 mode, it scores an acceptable three stars for front and side crashes, while for forward-facing Group 1 and 2 modes, the front crash score drops down to a poor two stars.

Fitting and using the seat
Unfortunately, in trying to cater for different uses, it makes too many compromises. The Volvo Convertible is really difficult to install, and even the best seats at protecting children in crashes can be compromised if they are incorrectly installed. In this case we believe the risk is unacceptably high.

If you do manage to install it correctly, buckling the child in the seat is relatively straightforward, but the seat takes up a lot of space which can cause problems in smaller cars.

The seat is nicely finished and offers good head support, but leg support could be better, particularly in rear-facing mode. The seat cover is handwash only.

Overall rating
The seat scores 41% and 45% in its two forward-facing modes, but achieves just 29% overall in rearward-facing Group 1 mode.

The strong likelihood this seat will be incorrectly installed, particularly in its rearward-facing mode, and its poor front crash performance in forward-facing modes, even if installed correctly, mean we have no option but to recommend you Don't Buy this seat.

Updating our tests
We changed the car body we use for testing in 2011, to more accurately reflect the current typical family car seatbelt layout and design. We carried out some repeat testing, to ensure that previous tests shown online are broadly comparable to the current ones. However, such a significant change means we can't make absolute comparisons.

This result is from our 2009 tests.

Do you already own this child car seat? If you do, click the customer views tab - above the picture - and tell us what you think of it.

Pros: Buckling up easy, good padding, good finish quality

Cons: High front crash loads, unacceptable risk of incorrect installation, takes up a huge amount of space, removing and cleaning the seat cover is complicated

Love the sleep we got after the vaccs too! Although I'm taking the rough with the smooth as S has been really refluxy since Tues. When did yours stop being whingy after vaccs? S cried lots yesterday and she was doing loads of the choking/wheezing and cottage cheese sick.

Thanks a million cav, and thanks hazle for the translation. Bottom line is I have no clue still!! Might weir until you two start using yours and see if you like it as I reckon we still have a couple of months at least in our current seat. Mind boggling!!!!
It's official. L will not sleep alone. If with us and our bed she is an angel. If not she is a little terror. Currently sleeping next to me!

sorry the link didn't copy correctly, you need to google Bst i test bilbarnstol
They say about Volvo (interestingly no mention about being difficult to install):

Britax Multi-Tech, also sold under the name Volvo Convertible

Britax Multi-Tech is an excellent child seat and our best in test. It is maybe not so deep, but offers excellent sitting comfort, as headsupport is very good and side supports are adjustible. An important advantage is that the head support can adjusted to give an extra 5 cm height compared to other seats - meaning that even tall children can sit rear facing for a longer time. This means the seat is also your best choice if it is meant to be used by several children.

It takes quite a lot of space, in some cars the seat will be quite upright and in others will not leave too much room for child's legs. You can only adjust the angle during installation and not during driving.
It is installed with anchoring belt, seat belt and support leg. Cover washable, but a little difficult to get back on. Fits perfectly into most medium sized cars. Volvo sells the same seat under its own brand mane, with a lot higher price.

Alex E was a bit grumbly for a couple of days after each set of jabs.

Lol do you want any reviews or scores for forward facing Group 1 seats?
Our Sirona has just been delivered so will let you know how we get on with it after I have made DH install it later.

My friend's first DD would not sleep anywhere other than her parents bed pretty much as soon as she was born, so in the interest of actually achieving some sleep they just went along with it. Then one day when she was about 11 months my friend said she 'just knew' she was ready to sleep elsewhere, tried her in her cot and she slept soundly and has been happily sleeping there ever since.

lol whatever works - if you get some sleep co-sleeping then go for it. They will all move out of parents' bed at some point.

I think we will try to put V in his own room this evening, wish me luck.

Good luck hazle This baby whisperer programme I watch in the early hours keeps banging on about PUPD, a million times if necessary, and they soon sleep better.

Reflux is such a bastard. S is crying because she's hungry, then drinking a bit, gagging and legs going rigid, then screaming in pain because it hurts, and we're both covered in cottage cheese

Just read that back and it sounded like I was one of those idiots people who give you the answers to baby probs in a matter of fact way as if it's simple! Was just mentioning PUPD as I wondered if it's worth trying as a technique during the night and during the day for naps to encourage them to sleep on their own. Looks like it takes the patience of a saint though.

Alex what is PUPD???
Thanks cav but I will get rear facing as well. It looks like the only downside is lack of view so I will just have to buy a few more toys!!!
I worry about co-sleeping cause dh is a very heavy sleeper and I'm always worried he will crush her. But I'm slowly getting better at it and started having her on the other side of the bed - and leaving 3 pillows on the floor in case she rolls over!
Mil says we've spoilt her from birth and that's why she is such an attention seeker. She also says L is manipulating us. Seriously

It's Pick Up Put Down Lol, also known as common sense. We have always done loosely similar with E. When baby is upset and refusing to sleep pick her up until she calms down and then put her down when she is calm. If she gets upset again repeat as many times as necessary.

Ahhh another sound nugget of advice from a MIL. Do you think they all attended the same talking-out-of-your-arse classes?

yes my MIL sometimes makes comments like that - she's crying for attention, just wants sympathy, be careful because they're smarter than you think etc.

PUPD is pick up, put down. cav isn't that how you encouraged E to sleep on the bouncy seat during the day? It's where when they cry, you simply pick them up, pat gently, put down. And keep repeating as they cry. In the programme she makes the dad do it so the baby doesn't think milk is coming and sometimes they have to do it a hundred times the first night! I just don't get how they know the baby doesn't need more milk it it's waking at night? The baby in the programme was waking ten times though.

I believe Hazle's perfectly normal baby problem is similar to ours though in that we don't have any trouble getting them to sleep on their own, it's getting them to stay asleep that's the issue.

Cross post cav but I always offer S the boob rather than PUPD!

I think that's the right approach Alex. S will change and probably feed less as she gets older - even if she wakes a million times I rarely feed E more than twice per night as I can tell the difference between a hunger waking and a PITA waking where she just wants some hand holding to get back to sleep.

Afternoon all.

Update on the being knackered bloodtests - apparently all normal... apart from a Vitamin B12 anomaly that I need an appointment to find out what it is. Appt not til Tuesday so trying not to worry and not google 'pernicious anemia'.

Seems fairly straightforward to sort out tho so fingrrs crossed.

Sorry about your grim night (s) Hazle H has been difficult lately but nowhere near as bad as V! Really hope having his own room starts easing things.

Mother what on earth is a post-natal class?! Am intrigued!

The car seat talk is interesting - I take it that you need to buy the base on top? Need to start saving I think! :)

brave depends, the Sirona comes with base.

lol actually the view is better from rear-facing, they can see out of back window and also sides. With forward-facing, they pretty much only see the back of the headrest.

Babies crying for attention - who would have though! Um, they are babies, if there's something bothering them then of course they cry. What exactly do your MILs expect them to do, send an email with a list of complaints?

As cavort says, no issues with going to bed here, touch wood. We put him down, he moans and grumbles a little and falls asleep. Does not care if we're not in the room. Just that he then wakes up again soon.

Was he always like that (just going to bed alone after being put down awake I mean) or did he grow into it? Can you think of anything you did the encourage that?

A man came to fix a problem with our shower today and told me his two babies slept 8 hours straight through from two months in (same age as Sophia). I really must stop asking random strangers about their baby tips and routines, it's too depressing. And besides the poor guy was only there to do his job, not give me baby counselling.

He was always like this, I just have to watch for cues that he's sleepy and down he goes.
On the other hand, and I have complained about this before, if he is not sleepy then I cannot put him to bed. I was wondering if I'm damaging my baby, as all baby books claimed that a x-month old should not be awake for longer than y hours and should then be put to bed - well, good luck with that. With V, if he's not sleepy I can rock and pat an shush til I'm blue in the face and he would just look at me like .

No matter what cues Sophia gives, she still won't go down awake and settle to sleep. She could be yawning, stretching, rubbing her ears, putting on pyjamas and fluffy slippers...no matter what she does, I still can't get her to sleep in her bed without a feed and usually dummy! Still that I can live with, it's the reflux and screaming that get to me.

Off to her first swimming lesson now!

Lol hazle I wish I had the guts to ask mil if she thinks L should send an email instead