Car seat/Booster seat advice needed please!

[BosworthBear]

Can anyone help please. In the next couple of months I need to buy some car seats and need some up to date advise/recommendations. DD is 3 in August and DS is 1 in July. DD is in a Maxi Cosi Prior(?) and it has been great the only problem is that DS will need to come out of his travel system seat soon and I was going to move him into it. The seat is supposed to be suitable until 4 but it seems a waste to buy the same again when DD will only remain in it for a year.

I want to get a full booster seat for everyday use and a small booster for occasional/grandparent use.

1. Which full booster would you recommend?, from previous threads Britax and Maxi Cosi Rodi seem to be liked, but has anyone tried the new Maxicosi Rodi (SPS?) that tilts? and whats good about the Britax? do they just seat on the seat and have the adult seat belt around them or is the seat also secured? Are any others recommended?

2. Which small booster do you recommend, doesn't have to be the cheapest going because it will get used twice a week for 2 children.

I'm sure you'll get some good advice here, but in the meantime you may want to check out \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/CarSeatPage.html\car seats

The latest updated version will be ready in the next couple of months, but this should have some useful pointers.

Good luck

Whoops bit of a failure on the link front, not sure why which is rather embarassing as a mumsnet co-founder........

whoops again should have been

Try again - have a look at

this

Message withdrawn

Think the weight recommendation on the Rodi is minimum 15 kg and ds didn't reach that until nearly 4. Friend of mine still has her almost 5yr old and 3.5 yr old in Prioris.

Haven't seen the new Rodi that is supposed to tilt close to, but the older one we have reclines anyway to fit seat profile so possibly not much different. ds (6) is comfy in his and they have amended the headrest to be more enclosed since we bought ours. Unless they use ISOFIX and you have a car with it, boosters sit on the seat, only restrained by the weight of the child and the adult belt.

As regards a booster cushion , make sure it has a clip to keep the shoulder belt lowered across neck and chest as well as a guide for the lapbelt.

oh gawd, in quandary now...should I go for the britax kidd because of washable covers? on kiddicare it's £15 more expensive than maxi cosi rodi....hmmmmmmmmm

unless you can ban the kids from eating, vomiting, tracking in mud etc I'd go for washable covers!

I know you're right...I'd fallen in love with the rodi

hi

you can buy summer covers for the rodi. they look like they slip over and i think would be easier to wash than the covers.

hth

What is the point of a car seat without machine washable covers?? What were the manufactures thinking of?

FWIW, DS1 has had a Graco high back booster with removable 5-point harness since 2y 9m. He still uses the 5-point harness aged 5 as I feel it's safer than just the adult belt (the seat is securely fastened with the seat belt and DS is more evenly secured with the harness). My only complaint is that the crotch strap is too short and non adjustable which makes the harness a bit trickier to do up.

summer covers? where?

hi bundle

just did a quick google search and found them on a site www.firststepsltd.co.uk, either that or i have ordered accessories for my priori through my local baby shop.

hth

you're a star, nicm

I've seen the summer covers over here - in white or navy, towelling material, I think. tbh never washed the covers on our Rodi after 2 yrs of use - just wiped over when needed.