Decided on Travel System but unsure of car seat

[SpeedMattersNot]

Hi,

I'm going to become a Dad in October and my wife is incredibly busy with work (as a teacher) and so I've been doing research into travel systems and prams. I'm almost certain I am most interested in the Concord Neo Travel System. I have seen a few on eBay and one is quite local to where I am now. However, it doesn't come with the Ion car seat. Do you think it is worth waiting until one more locally shows up with the car seat included, or should I buy separately?

Also, I've tried to find information, but how does the car seat fit into the car? My little Clio has isofix but my partners Civic does not. Will the Concord Ion fit both of our cars ok?

Sorry for being vague,

Ian

I'm no expert, but I believe most car seats will fix on an isofix base or just secured with a seatbelt, although the method of fixing into the vehicle will probably affect the seat's safety rating.

For example, I have bought a Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix seat to go on my travel system. According to independent safety testing by Which? when used on an isofix base it scores 82% and is a 'Best Buy,' but when it is used just secured with a seatbelt it only scores 58% so is nowhere near as safe.

If you are buying a car seat and/or base second hand you need to be absolutely sure it has never been in an accident, which I don't think you will ever be if buying on eBay, so I would recommend you buy a new one.

I would absolutely buy one that best fits the car it will be used in, that's the primary purpose after all. More current research suggests it isn't good for babies, for various reasons, to be in carseats longer than necessary. There are also now a number of options that offer much flatter lying positions, which is believed to be preferable. This would be for an infant car seat, if you are in the car a lot then I would probably go for something as flat as possible.

If I was buying again (we are in the car infrequently and for mostly short journeys) I suspect I would probably go for something like this that is suitable birth to 4 and allows the child to rear face for much longer. Car seat regs are changing and there is going to be a requirement for rear facing up to 15months minimum and a particular length/height of child as oppose to weight, there is info here.

I would buy a NEW car seat. You don't know the history of a second hand one and they get lots of hard use

Thank you for the replies.

I've tried to discuss it with my wife (she's not too interested) but I know her very well and she's better at lifting heavy things than she is at being patient, hence the thought the travel system would be better for her.

Back to the drawing board, as I don't think I would be able to find a brand new car seat that would fit the Concord Neo.

It might be worth mentioning to my parents in law too, as they have already bought a travel system for £12 from a charity shop!

Halfords sell the Concord Air Carseat for about £130. We've always had concord car seats for ours and have found them to be very good. According to the Concord website it will fit the Neo.

Forgive me if I am speaking out of turn, but a £12 travel system can't be that new. May I suggest you check the date the car seat / travel system was manufacturered and find the expiry date on the seat, and thus decide if the car seat is still safe to use. Just a suggestion but I would be concerned the seat is too old at that price.

Thanks for all your help, we decided we liked the look of the Concord Neo and the Uppababy Vista.

After finding a second hand Vista near to us on eBay, we bid for it and it sold for over £400! With that in mind, we decided buying new wouldn't be such a bad thing due to the good resale value (should we choose to sell) in the future.

John Lewis were selling the Vista for £629 without a car seat but we found last years model online with a car seat, for £572 delivered.

I've been practising with a cuddly monkey :)

Very happy with it! Can't wait now...

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Glad you are all sorted!