car seat for age 9 months - 4 years

[Detta]

We're in the process of trying to buy a car seat. At the moment it seems the Maxi Cosi Priori XP is the favourite (although expensive!). Can anyone recommend this one? Or any other? And can anyone explain why all the fabrics are so dull these days? Thanks in advance.

I have a question on 9 month car seats - DS is only 5 months and is already starting to really fill out his first stage seat - Im not planning on moving him anytime soon but what do you do if the baby has got too big for little car seat but isnt yet 9 months? I cant imagine being able to lift him in his car seat in another few months!

I have a maxi cosi priori and thoroughly recomend it, we will be buying another one soon for DS who is currently 6 months ( or to be exact possibly another 3, one for DH car, one for mine and one for grandparents!!) don't ask- swapping them around just doesn't work for us! Although DH has got a M&P surico (not exactly sure of the name) and he really like that one too. The only thing I was considering is possibly buying a seat suitable for DD as she gets older and let DS have her seat(s) but she won't be 3 until August so I'm not sure what to consider - any ideas or recommendations? Also does anyone know where you can buy spare maxi cosi covers, I haven't found any yet and don't know where to look.

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We've got a Britax Trio, and it's great. We've also got the Renaissance, but dd1 (3yrs) is quite tall, and weighs 17.5kgs, and she looked a bit squashed in it (now dd2's).

I like the Trio because it's got the 5-point harness, (dd1 terrible for wriggling out of lap-belt on the britax Cruiser), and it can also be used with just a diagonal lap-belt, and then the back comes off and it's a booster seat. We've done a couple of 6-hour runs and she was fine and comfy in it. It isn't too pricey (£90?) and it says in the brochure that it should last until dd1 is 11 (although I seriously doubt she'll need a booster seat at that age!!)

Blimey, I've just realised how many car seats we've got!!

We've always liked the maxi cosi priori we've got in DH's car. Currently we've got a Graco Sterling in my car which I also like. It might be of interest to you Bosworthbear because we got it when DS was 2.3. It is a high back booster - it has arms on the booster bit and a removable high back but also integral straps (ie not just using the car seat belt). When DS is a bit older we can remove the straps and use the seat belt for him and then at a later stage remove the back so he just has a booster cushion.

Beccarollover, we had the same problem with ds. He's a huge 6 months (now 24lb) and was fast growing out of his maxi cosi carseat.

After some research we've just bought a Britax First Class which is suitable from birth to 4, so it can be rear-facing until he is 9 months, and then it can be forward facing if we want. We got ours from Kiddicare cos they were doing a deal on it. I had thought 'oh, shouldn't we buy a carseat which will last until he's older than 4 so we don't end up buying three', but from what other mums have told me children are happier in booster seats when they start going to school (embarrassed in front of their friends otherwise...?)

Britax Eclipse - brilliant and got it on sale at Halfords as it was last years patter in fabric - brilliant - so easy to fit when swapping from one car to the other. Also so easy to recline - one handed when driving....

britax rennaisance - fab

Here Here - I agree with Popsycal - Renaissance is great and v. v. secure.

Britax First Class, suitable from birth to 4 years. Can be used forward or rearward facing, ideal if you have a young baby who has outgrown theit first stage seat but isn't yet strong enough/old enough to sit forward facing. We paid £120 for ours, which is expensive, but I'm pretty sure that mothercare do their own version which is significantly cheaper. I think a birth - 4 years seat might be the answer to your probs becca.

Totally agree with WSM, have had Britax First Class for ds and it's great since you only have to get one seat from birth. They're £99.99 incl delivery at kiddicare.com

dd has Britax Eclipse which is great, same shape as the fc really but only forward facing.

Another vote for Britax First Class. We moved ds over at seven months as the top of his head was higher than the top of his Rockatot. We felt that the First Class was the price of three tanks of petrol and would last considerably longer...

We've gone for Britaxs both times, as the Road Safety Officer we consulted said that they are the best-tested seats. He also said that the change to forward-facing is about when the baby's ligaments are strong enough to tolerate being thrown about, not about head-control or being able to sit up.

I wanted to ask if you got any further on the question bosworthbear raised about whether to buy another maxi cosi priori (or similar) for a younger sibling or whether to buy a trio (or similar) for the older one (now 2 yrs 3 months but on the smallish side) and give the priori type to the baby? At what age/size do they start using the booster style seats anyway? Can my older child go from priori type (we've got a Britax but I can't remember the model name!) straight to one of those nice small booster seats (base only, no back) in a while?

Thanks for any advice!