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Original poster

car seats and bases

29 replies

CaipirinhasAllRound · 05/01/2014 09:10

What car seat are you going for/have you got and are you using a base or strapping it in with the seat belt?
Thanks

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YoMamma · 05/01/2014 09:51

I have a maxi cosi cabriofix which I used with dd1 and will reuse this time. I have the adapters to fit it to the pram but rarely did so with dd as she would usually wake if I took the seat out of the car. I started out without the isofix base but found it quite fiddly to keep strapping the seat in so I eventually bought the base and I wish I'd got it sooner. I think the only downside of the base unit is that it makes the seat stick out further into the footwell IYSWIM and therefore limits front seat room. My DH is 6'3" so the seat has to be behind the passenger even in my large car (Ford S Max) because there's not enough room for DH to drive if this seat is behind him.

ThereIsNoEleventeen · 05/01/2014 09:54

I think what will suit you best depends on what car you have and what travel system you have.

With DC1 I had a 3 door car so found it easier to strap the seat straight in with the seat belt and not to use the base, I had a maxi cosi and it clipped onto the travel system that I had.

This time I'm going to get a birth to 4 years seat (probably a britax), that way I'll only have to buy once and they can go rear facing for longer. With DC3 I hardly ever took the car sat out of the car so it seemed a bit pointless. I use the sling a lot as it saves me having to use a double buggy.

Only1scoop · 05/01/2014 10:02

We used the maxi cosi pebble on family fix base....then maxi cosi pearl on same base. Loved the pebble as had adapters to just slot it to buggy wheels.

Ra88 · 05/01/2014 11:19

With dd1 we had the graco car seat and base which I found fab ! This time round we have gone for the maxi cosi cabrio fix and the easy base . I 100% recommend using a base as it makes life a lot easier if your in and out of the car a lot. The plus side is that our car seats have been used as travel systems for the pushchairs we have too

canthaveit · 05/01/2014 12:44

definitely recommend the base, so easy just clicking the seat in and out. Most people I know had cabriofix for first seat, seems to be the most popular option

AnythingNotEverything · 05/01/2014 12:49

Isofix is amazing. We have a maxicosi, possibly cabriofix or pebble. I've had a baby since we bought it so can't remember which!

Now, imagine putting your car seat in. You could bend over, have your hair pulled, get a wet back/bum, take ages (with child screaming) because you can't find the hole, have to start again because you find it is twisted etc etc

Or, you can just plonk it on the base and check the lights are green. Quick, easy, safe, and you can move the isofix from car to car. You can check compatibility on the maxicosi website.

It does cost more than a car seat alone but it's worth every penny.

Ilovekittyelise · 05/01/2014 12:58

we had the cabriofix with my son and didnt get the base. it was fine but have ordered base for number two as theres enough faff getting petulant toddler in and out of car! i dont know anyone thats had the base and subsequently thought it was a waste of money, but you can manage easily without.

Doctorbrownbear · 05/01/2014 13:03

Pebble with family fix base... and adaptors to go on pushchair. I could not manage without the base and could not be doing with strapping the seat in every time. I also feel that the base makes the seat feel more sturdy and in place. It doesn't feel as safe with juat seat belts (to me). My older daughter has the pearl which aldo goes on the family fix base and happy with this. . It reclines and is safe and comfy and lasts until around 3yrs old.

oadcb · 05/01/2014 13:04

Do you want one that goes on pushchair? if not look at klippan kiss.

Do you a fixed seat ? hauck variguard. Joie stages. The Britax one is only til 18kg

Do you have storage boxes? check! you can put foot prop on it.

Shellywelly1973 · 05/01/2014 13:06

The bases make it easier & quicker to get the baby seat in & out of the car...

but it also means you lose the use of that seat as the base stays in the car at all times.

oadcb · 05/01/2014 13:07

avoid family fix unless you want to be tied into forward facing. Also second child likely to need base before pearl outgrown!

check out Rearfacing.co.uk imo knowing about next stage informs first purchase.

K8eee · 05/01/2014 13:29

We've gone for the besafe car seat & isofix. Dh has a ds from a previous relationship and doesn't understand why I'm so eager I have the base; 1. Less like to strap/put child into car, 2. Quick & easy to get baby in and out of car and 3. Besafe are a Scandinavian company and their testing standards are a lot higher than ours as they have the crappy icy wearer to deal with. Obviously every other company's car seats are jus as safe though but we really liked how it felt on our arm too and how compact it is compared to maxi cosi & britax. Oh and it's compatible with or icandy pushchair

Doctorbrownbear · 05/01/2014 16:50

There is a rear facing pearl that goes on the family fix now...

greentshirt · 05/01/2014 16:54

Oh I'm glad you said that dr brown, I thought I'd read that! It only works with the new base though apparently so some people might have to replace it to get a rear facing pearl.

We've got a pebble with the family fix base, I liked the idea of not messing about with the seatbelt and I don't tend to go far so it will be great for me to clip the car seat into the pram

oadcb · 05/01/2014 17:18

Sorry that's not correct.

The normal forward facing pearl only fits on the existing family fix.

To get rear facing for longer you have to have a two way fix base and then a two way pearl. Both new products.

I'm fairly disgusted that maxi cosi couldn't come up with a product that let existing family fix uses rearface. Of course this is extra money for them. The new two way pearl also has rather small shell. For the money there are better seat's.

redcarrot1 · 05/01/2014 17:38

We already have isofix points in our car and got a Maxi Cosi Milofix. Its quite new and lasts from birth to around 4 years. I can't be bothered with transferring devices from car to pram. It seems like a marketing ploy, but then I'm a first timer.

oadcb · 05/01/2014 17:42

Milofix is a good seat but remember it's still only rear facing til 13kg not 18kg.

oadcb · 05/01/2014 17:48

Oh and halfords sell it under another name....safety first primeofix £130 which is cheaper but same seat. Even has the dorel (maxi cosis name) stickers
On it

MrsCharlieD · 05/01/2014 18:21

Maxicosi pebble with family fix base. Not had my baby yet but looking forward to using it. It's compatible with my silvercross pram as well as i envisage being in and out of the car a lot x

Ilovekittyelise · 05/01/2014 18:29

redcarrot1 have you had your baby yet? i dont know how anyone could not find it useful to move sleeping baby in seat rather than moving him/her. with my first son we rarely used the carrycot bit of travel system (other than local walks etc) just used the maxi cosi car seat. i imagine it will be the same with this one.

Only1scoop · 05/01/2014 18:35

Agree prev post. So easy to slot that little pebble onto buggy chassis for short trips. Really missed it. Also used actual carry cot out only a handful of times.

CommanderShepard · 05/01/2014 18:39

We had (DD is now 19mos) a Britax Babysafe SHR something or other with an ISOFIX base in DH's car and the belted equivalent in my pre-ISOFIX car. I really do recommend the bases if you can get them. I really struggled with getting the seat safely done up with just the seatbelt.

Interestingly I only know one other person with this seat. Well, and Wills and Kate, but I don't actually know them

CommanderShepard · 05/01/2014 18:42

Sorry - DD now has a Britax Dualfix which does birth-18kgs rearfacing. I'm very very pleased with it and had it been out on the market when she was born we'd have probably bought it at that point. I cannot tell you how useful the swivel function is!

Misty9 · 05/01/2014 18:49

Just bought the besafe izi go and isofix base. Had maxi cosi and easyfix base for ds, but was borrowed. Really like look of besafe, all snug and protected, and it fits on the oyster max too. A lot for isofix base, but so much easier to plonk seat into.

ThereIsNoEleventeen · 05/01/2014 20:20

I'm glad you mentioned your seat comanderS I've just googled the Dualfix, I didn't realise the birth to age 4 ones came with a swivel base. The baby will be in the sling most of the time so that would make life a lot easier.

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