Car Seat for Newborn

[Wowthisisreal]

Hello,

Just after a little bit of advice really.

I'm 36 Weeks pregnant and we have already purchased the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus and two way isofix base (which can go on our pram) and also the 2-way pearl as it was part of a bundle deal which SHOULD in theory see baby until they are 4.

DH and I are wondering what do we do if he takes baby out in his car? Do we:

A) move the isofix base?

B) buy another isofix base and then move the pebble between cars (but then eventually have to buy another toddler seat?) or

C) buy a 0-4 year 360 seat which stays fixed in DH's car

I've heard so many people tell me since we bought the 2-way pearl that once you get to toddler then a swivel seat is a must. Is is worth just buying one as an option?

I've also had someone tell me that the 360 aren't really suitable for newborns and due to the recline position - does anyone have any experience / thoughts on this?

We are thinking of buying the Joie 360. I'm not keen on buying another isofix base for now AND then having to buy another car seat for later. Equally not enamoured by the idea of buying the base and THEN buying the 360. In theory now is the time we will have the money! But if those are the best options then obviously happy to do it.

Why would you eventually need to buy another toddler car seat?

We have the combination you describe with our 2.5 year old and I expect it to last him until booster seat.

While on maternity leave I just swapped cars with DH when needed. After then we got a Joie every stage for DH car.

Toddlers are capable of climbing into car seats themselves so you need need one that turns.

@Cookit my understanding is that the toddler seat is not that easy to move between cars? Or is that not the case?

I wouldn’t want to be taking between cars every day but it’s not that hard.
Can’t you just try putting the isofix in one car, adding the Pearl and seeing how long it takes? It’s been a while since we’ve taken it out of the car but I don’t remember it being much more onerous to remove than the Pebble, other than obviously the Pebble is lighter and you can carry the Pebble whilst the baby is still in it.

For the swivel thing, I don’t know as my child is forward facing now. I guess if you are rear facing until 4 maybe a swivel is better, but I’m not sure it’s necessary at all.

An infant carrier is the safest for a very young baby. The two way pearl isn't great for tall kids as it has a short max height so is often outgrown early.

If you'll swap the seats between cars regularly then I'd get a second toddler seat. But I'd wait until baby is close to outgrowing the infant seat do you can buy one that will genuinely last until 4. A swivel seat isn't necessary and if you have a large child then you are better off with I've that lasts to 25kg, none of which swivel.

*so not do.

We used the same combination with DD1 and now using for DD2. I'd stick with the Pebble Plus for now (it's really quick to transfer the base between cars) and wait and see what works for you when baby arrives and when you get to the next stage. I bought loads of stuff in advance that I didn't need or didn't use. Incidentally we planned on moving eldest daughter up to the Pearl but then found DD2 was on the way so bought a Cybex sirona 360 swivel seat to save my back whilst pregnant. It's been amazing. My parents have the Joie equivalent and it's also good but wouldn't suitable from birth (despite the packaging saying so) as you can't remove the seat - essential in the early days imo. Best of luck x

We had one baby car seat and one isofix base, which was fitted in my car as I used it most. We mostly just used my car for short joint trips, and for long drives just moved the isofix base into DH's car (his is much bigger).

On the odd occasion we ended up using his car otherwise, we just seat belted the Baby seat in. It's not as convenient, but just as safe - is there a reason you don't want to seat belt it in?

As others have said, I'd hold off buying another toddler seat until you know more about what size your child will be - some kids are well over 18 kg well before 4 so would grow out of an Isofix spin seat too early and you'd need a 25 kg seat instead.

For now all you need is the pebble plus. Leave the base in whichever car you use most then if you use it in the other car then belt it in. Just as safe and v easy and quick to do. You definitely don’t need another base. Once baby grows out of infant carrier, at around a year or so, then the 2 way Pearl is a great seat. At this point you may wish to consider a second seat for your other car as toddler seats are more of a pain to move between cars. By that time you’ll know what centile your child is on and if an 18kg or 25kg harnessed seat will be more appropriate. No point buying a 360 spin now and finding your child is above the 50th centile therefore making it a bad choice of seat. And I don’t think a spin seat is necessary.

The pearl isn’t any more difficult to move than the pebble, just that you can’t move it with the child in - but I doubt you’d want to when they’re that weight anyway. The isofix base takes seconds to uninstall and reinstall.
I wouldn’t buy anything else right now. You’ve got what you need in the short term - moving either the pebble (and belting it in) or the pebble and the base, or the pearl and the base, aren’t difficult or time consuming. I’d wait and see what you want once you start using the pearl - (my two both had pearls, but when my 3.5 year old got too tall we bought them both axkid minikids)

We have a seat in each car, just makes it easier and we don’t have to worry about one going off with the car seat and leaving the other stranded.