Car seat - how much?!?!

[seamistbythesea]

Went to Mothercare today expecting to buy a car seat for new baby for around £130.... went in and it was a really tight fit to get seat belt round so looked at it with an isofix stand which made it so much easier.... but took total price up to £250.... or the recommended the new ones to meet new regulations for £350 WTAF!!

Are there no other stores that sell car seats where you are? Target, Walmart, and Amazon sell them here in the US. You can get a decent, popular model for under $150 on Amazon. That's around 96 pounds at current exchange rate.

American car seats are not the same spec as uk/eu one, not saying that either is better, just that eg the harnesses are different. Chicco isofix seats should be cheaper, though you may not find them in mothercare. I got ours with the stroller package from an online retailer and then purchased a matching isofix base separately from amazon, I do like the isofix system. I've never used the "new" system though.

Definitely shop around, I got a Gracco display model travel system in toys'r'us which was half price anyway (plus extra off for it being display) for £160!

I know our car seat standards are probably different. I also know prices are higher in the UK than in the US, but I'd be surprised if car seats are THAT much more expensive on your side of the pond.

I would say that's fairly average for an infant carrier with isofix. The base often doubles the price! Why don't you try a few different brands of car seat and maybe they'll fit in your car with the seat belt. There's a maxi cosi cabriofix on the John Lewis website for £99. The EasyFix base is around £90 on there too.

You can buy the isofix base second hand. Obv not the car seat though. Keep an eye on the sales too and check out amazon.

Pram world have a good sale on right now. linky

Phil and teds are a bit cheaper but doubt they fit on to any other brand on pram

Try places online like Kiddcare, they usually have some good deals and if you have tried one out from the store and know it fits well then have a general search around

The joie gemm is about £80 and the isofix base is about £60. I think it lasts up to 15 months.

Found a deal for £100 www.preciouslittleone.com/product-information/35/32732/joie-gemm-infant-car-seat-+-isofix-base-(black)/?gclid=COSV1e-TqcYCFUTKtAodCUsCug

It also fits to other pushchairs using maxi cosy adapters.

Glasgow pram centre has a sale onwww.pramcentre.co.uk/car-seats-and-carriers/isofix-car-seats/2/134#content

I got a Britax first class for £10 from ebay birth to approx. 4yrs...keep your eyes open for deals. Before anyone worries, the carseat has been safety checked and it is still tiptop!!

Sounds as though the OP is after an infant carrier though, JRWREN - the kind that clips onto a travel system. I was quite put out when we went to buy a next-stage car seat and realised you could get ones from birth to 4yrs, but then it was very convenient being able to stick it on the buggy!

We never had an Isofix base for our infant carrier though, and I didn't particularly find it a faff to buckle in and out. We now have an Isofix ERG seat - I daren't tell you the price of that OP!

On a cost-per-use basis, though, it's pretty good value, and when you consider how incredibly important in-car safety is, well I guess you just have to suck it up, to a certain extent. Good luck!

ERG = ERF!

Mothercare price match by the way so if you find what you want cheaper, take the proof along to Mothercare who should sell to you at the same price (we got our car seat this way having found it cheaper on Amazon). Also lots of relatives were asking what we needed so we said vouchers which pretty much bought the base for us.

Thanks for all the advice, will look at some of these other options.