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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Anyone seen the Which? car seat report?

32 replies

phdlife · 15/03/2007 11:27

Am just about to purchase first car seat and found out Which? published a comparative report last week - wondered if anyone knew what their 'Best Buys' results were?

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nearlythere · 15/03/2007 11:30

not sure about the new which guide but the new fisher price one seems to be raved about at the moment!

phdlife · 15/03/2007 11:40

aarrgh! can't keep up?

where's that retailed, nearlythere? and where's it raved about?

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TheBlonde · 15/03/2007 11:45

in the meantime last years

phdlife · 15/03/2007 11:50

Thanks TheBlonde that's most helpful.

I was also trying to weigh this against the importance of having newborns lying flat - remember sexymadscientist going on about this on a travel systems thread.

Not sure how to balance safety performance against recline?

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TheBlonde · 15/03/2007 11:52

The whole lying flat thing - what matters is how long you are leaving them in the car seat for - will you be driving for hours and hours?

fruitful · 15/03/2007 11:59

Best Buys for stage 0 carseats were

MaxiCosi Cabriofix with EasyFix base
Britax CosyTot Isofix
Britax CosyTot Premium

The Jane Matrix (lie-flat) carseat is a "Don't Buy". Which is a shame cos when they tested it 5 years ago they recommended it!

phdlife · 15/03/2007 12:04

Mmmm, guess the most we'd do in the early months would be about 1.5hrs...?

Fruitful that's brilliant thank you - if it's not too cheeky what were the 0+ ones? that should take us up to when we're ready to leave the country.

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JillyBaby · 15/03/2007 12:10

Did the Recaro Isofix Young Profi plus get a decent rating?

I was going to buy the Maxi Cosi Cabriofix, but now thinking of getting the Recaro one as I discovered that the Isofix base can be re-used with the next stage seat, which Britax and Maxi Cosi can't. It would save us about £100, and if the safety is comparable.......

AitchYouBerk · 15/03/2007 12:13

why do they have the jane matrix as a don't buy? do they say? i really, really think it's a great seat.

MrsBadger · 15/03/2007 12:16

Last year's one in full is downloadable as a pdf from here - the Recaro Young Profi Plus only just missed beign a Best Buy then.

MrsBadger · 15/03/2007 12:17

The Jane Matrix was only a Don't Buy if you used it flat like a carrycot - it was ok used like a nromal rearfacing carseat.

phdlife · 15/03/2007 12:22

which would of course be the main reason for buying it in the first place!

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AitchYouBerk · 15/03/2007 12:23

is that in the new one as well, mrs b? i've got to say that i thought it was great as a lie-flat. it was totally solid, couldn't move anywhere and the baby was completely strapped down. i know i'm not an engineer but you can imagine what would happen in a crash scenario and i just couldn't see how it could have been bad to be lying down, tightly strapped in to a heavily padded environment. i remember enquiring about it at the time and being told that the Which tests had penalised the Jane for something peculiar. i must find out what it was...

fruitful · 15/03/2007 12:23

Sorry, lunch time!

Right -

Recaro Young Profi Plus - easy to use, safe, comfy. Not as good with the belt as with the isofix, but still ok. Only gripe was the seat cover needs handwashing (yeah right, stick it on 30 gentle wash, it'll be fine!). It got good or excellent for all their categories.

KezzaG · 15/03/2007 12:24

I have just got a free subscription to Which so thought I would make some use of it here! these are the 3 top newborn ones from Which? on 7th March 07 report.

Best Buys.
Britax Cosy Tot Isofix
Price: £190
Score: 74%
The Best Buy Britax Cosy Tot Isofix was the first seat for newborns to use Isofix mounting system. It?s designed for babies from birth to about a year (13kg) in rearward or forward facing modes and it uses a support leg onto the car floor rather than a strap for the third mounting point. The support leg needs a flat, solid floor, so it won?t suit all cars - always refer to the manufacturer?s guidelines before buying.

It?s easy to install and offers excellent stability ? protecting children well in front and side crashes.

Britax Cosy Tot Premium
Price: £95
Score: 71%
This is the seat-belt mounted version of the rearward-facing Cosy Tot Isofix, so its shared design means it also has many of the same qualities. It?s designed for babies from birth to about a year (13kg). It offers excellent comfort and safety is good.

It has a high quality finish and it provides for your child to travel in comfort with a good-sized, well padded shell to give adequate head support and an adjustable harness to accommodate taller babies.

Maxi Cosi Cabriofix (with Easyfix base)
Price: £200
Score: 75%
A seat designed for newborns up to about a year (13kg), this has a separate heavy base, designed to be left in the car, and the removable seat which clicks into the base and can be used as a baby carrier outside the car. It can use Isofix mounts (with a support leg) or the three-point seat belt to locate the base in the car. The support leg needs a flat, solid floor, so it won?t suit all cars - always refer to the manufacturer?s guidelines before buying.

It?s easy to install with clear instructions and there are colour coded safety indicators to show it?s properly engaged in the base. Crash stability is excellent and it protects children well in front and side crashes.

AitchYouBerk · 15/03/2007 12:25

not necessarily phdlife, the matrix is also the carrycot. so you could use it in both settings no problem. (although i loved keeping the sleeping baby in it from car to pram without having to worry about her airways).

phdlife · 15/03/2007 12:26

three cheers for Kezza - just the info I needed, thanks! Have some cake

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KezzaG · 15/03/2007 12:27

this is what they said about the Jane Matrix:

Jane Matrix Pro
This seat is designed for babies from birth to about a year (13kg). It is quite unusual in that it can carry very small babies both rearward-facing and lying flat, but in this latter mode it achieved just one star for overall safety and the risk of serious injury to a baby in a crash is far too high. Don?t buy this model.

Cons: Risk of serious injury in a crash.

It scored poor and very poor in side and front crash tests, and very poor overall safety.

KezzaG · 15/03/2007 12:28

Thanks phdlife, I am just thinking I need some chocolate and now I have permission to do so

phdlife · 15/03/2007 12:29

ah - Aitch we do so little driving during the week (and have such a teeny flat) I wasn't going to bother with a carrycot option.

I just thought if we do go for long weekend adventures (DH frequently has to take me out for scenery or I go mad) it'd be good to have lie-down facility in early months.

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fruitful · 15/03/2007 12:32

Right the 0+ ones. They tested the Britax First Class, got a "Poor" for Front Crash.

Stage 1 Best Buys were

Maxi Cosi PrioriFix
Maxi Cosi Tobi
Britax Duo Plus (Isofix)

I don't know which Recaro is the next stage up one. The Recaro Young Expert and the Recaro Start both got a "poor" for Front Crash.

AitchYouBerk · 15/03/2007 12:34

hhhhmmmm, that just makes no sense to me. i'm going to have to find out what they mean, cos it's just so at odds with what i feel to be the case. dd always looked utterly safe and snug in the matrix, and totally protected by 5 inches of velcro around her abdomen. whereas in a five-point harness it always seemed like she'd get terrible whiplash in a crash. or worse obvioulsy.

fruitful · 15/03/2007 12:34

Bit slow there then!

I'd be interested to know what the Jane Matrix got penalised on. As I said, last time Which tested it they liked it! I've got one, used it for my first two and loved it. I'd only be able to use it again when one of the older ones isn't in the car though.

AitchYouBerk · 15/03/2007 12:37

phd, funnily enought that's why i got it. we don't do much driving here either.

phdlife · 15/03/2007 12:40

hmmmmm my brain hurts. think I'll have some of that choccy, Kezza!

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