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Original poster

I really HATE our M&P car seat - but what to do? Any advice

26 replies

twocatsonthebed · 19/03/2007 12:51

We have a Mamas and Papas car seat that was handed down from a friend (she didn't actually own a car, so used about twice). Now it's really starting to get on my wick - but am I being unreasonable or will all baby car seats be the same?

Firstly, DD is almost looking too big for it already- her feet are almost over the edge, and the straps are on the highest setting already. And she looks really squashed into it. She's only four months old, and so it really doesn't look as if it will last for another eight... Plus, it's made of horrible fabric and every time she comes out of it, her back is really sweaty.

But I've never used a baby car seat before, so are they all horrible/cramped etc, or can I/should I get something better? And if I do that, what kind of something better should I get. Or are there other M&Ps users who can tell me that I am wrong and that it is a complete waste of time to get another baby car seat?

OP posts:
nailpolish · 19/03/2007 12:54

i had a m and p car seat and i hated it too

couldnt wait to get a front facing one

i agree they are squashy, but i dont know if others ones are any better

only advice i can give you is dont put big coats on them in the car

nailpolish · 19/03/2007 12:55

i got a front facing one when they were 10 mths - britax trio one and i really like it

dither · 19/03/2007 12:56

at 4 months, she still needs to be in one of the group 0 or 0+ seats... so still one of those baby ones... but you can prob find a nicer one if you want to. is cost the issue?

theyre not all the same. one you click onto a base for eg is much less hassle than faffing with seatbelts... but i presume with a 'long' baby, finding one shes most comfortable in is the primary factor for you...

can you make it to a big mothercare world or halford or something and quiz one of their highly trained (ehem) people about it all?

nailpolish · 19/03/2007 12:57

actually they werent 10 mths, they were just under 9 mths

hth

dither · 19/03/2007 12:57

fwiw, i hated my M&P one too! (one fo those faces backwards then turns round to face forward at 9months jobbies... kerrrrap. imo)

Original poster
twocatsonthebed · 19/03/2007 12:58

dither - cost is an issue in that I really resent getting another car seat when we've got one already, but we can afford to if there is no choice.

I think you're right, I just have to face up to the trip to Mothercare and the expense!

OP posts:
nally · 19/03/2007 12:59

i am using my m&p one atm as have 6 months dd2. really dislike it (as with dd1 and ds). can't wait to get dd2 into a better seat.

MadameWeb · 19/03/2007 12:59

ive got a maxi cosi cabrio one i dont need anymore,

we dont drive so its only been in a car about 8 times,

lemme know

tinkerbellhadpiles · 19/03/2007 13:00

Our mothercare one also looks too small (dd is 21 weeks/20lb/2 feet something long). She's also too big for her bumbo. I reckon they make all baby things for the 25th percentile!

ChocolateTeapot · 19/03/2007 13:00

I had a nightmare with my M&P car seat and DS. He out grew it at 5 months, when their head reaches the top it's no longer safe according to Mamas & Papas (it doesn't matter about their legs I was told). He obviously had to go rear facing still so I got him the Britax First class I think it was, which was much much better

dither · 19/03/2007 13:22

does sound bloody awkward if they are too long for the baby seats, but not ready for the next type/size up... lucky mine were all fairly short!

i vaguely think ive had that britax first class one on my shortlist at some point... did look good.

i moved all 3 of mine into the forward facing ones at about 9months or just before... the priori XP seats are really nice and comfy, fit really securely and easily and can recline dead easily ... was v happy with those.

Original poster
twocatsonthebed · 19/03/2007 15:13

Nice to know I'm not alone in hating it, even that makes me feel better.

ChocolateTeapot - I've been told that it's also not safe if their shoulders are higher than the top of the shoulder straps, and that's going to happen well before her head reaches over the edge. Grrrr.

MadameWeb - are you on CAT. If not, I will get myself onto it and contact you>

OP posts:
amidaiwish · 19/03/2007 16:01

i think there's a britax one which can be used from about now through stage one...
great for big babies as it can still be rear facing.
will try and find a link

amidaiwish · 19/03/2007 16:03

here

Original poster
twocatsonthebed · 19/03/2007 16:28

Oooh, that looks like just the thing. Thankyou very much!

OP posts:
Kif · 19/03/2007 16:33

i used the seat that amidai linked (britax 1st class) with dd (91st centile). Fab-a-rooney. comfy, great value, safe, practcical. note that it's not an infant carrier though.

crokky · 19/03/2007 17:33

I also had a M&P seat this time last year and hated it. Perhaps you could sell the seat on eBay - you can sell the surefix base for about £10 and you can take all the strap covers/accessories and sunshade off and maybe get a fiver for them on eBay as the entire seat package doesn't always sell. That would at least help with the cost of a new one - that's what I did with mine! I tried complaining to M&P as I didn't think the seat was fit for purpose, but they didn't care - just said it met the appropriate safety standards.

Lara77 · 25/10/2007 23:29

Is anybody from this thread still around? I have the same problem and I wonder what twocatsonthebed did at the end.

LadyVictoriaOfCake · 25/10/2007 23:33

lara are you the lady concerned about o2 saturations etc?

what age is your child?

you could go to a shop and try different seats and see what one fits and is more 'flat' than the m+p seat (which has been noted to sit very upright).

maxi cosi cabrio is a good seat but make sure if fits your car correctly.

Lara77 · 26/10/2007 00:09

Yes LadyVictoriaOfCake, I am the same person. My baby is now 18 weeks. I have been using a chicco for last 2 weeks and it is not that upright, but it doesn't fit my car very well. I am little bit worried about safety in a crash. Mothercare staff advised bebeconfort creatis.

andyrobo237 · 26/10/2007 20:13

I looked at the Creatis and it is very roomy - but if you are spending that amount of money then it would be better to get the Britax 1st class - it is rear facing for so long (but fixed into the car - not an inant carrier - but it is hard work to carry a 6 month+ baby in those things!) and then it is a forward facing seat - so will do upto about 3.5 to 4 years - so better value for money! My SIL bought one after using our infant carrier for 4 months for the same reason - nephew was to cramped in baby seat.

We need to get a stage 1 seat soon for DS who is 8 months old - he needs to put on another 0.5kg first though!

thebluefoxategreensocks · 27/10/2007 22:11

I wasn't on the thread before, but just happened upon it now! I always thought everyone really like M&P stuff, so I was really surprised to find that the carseat was soooooo cramped! A few months back I got one secondhand along w/ a Freestyler buggy, (tho I already had a carseat), but I thought I'd try this one, but only used it for a very short time, and now I'm back to my older Graco one! Maybe it's nice for a small or preemie baby? lol My 7.5mo baby boy is around 22lbs and the Graco (autobase type) has loads more room than the M&P one!

However I think he needs a bigger one now as he's rather cramped even in the Graco and hates his carseat (at least he hated it when he had loads of car trips over the past 2 weeks while we were on holiday in USA!) ...he wants to be looking about now that he's sitting up and crawling.

I know people talk about keeping them in the stage 0+ ones for as long as possible, but an official looking paper I got from one of the health visitors about carseat safety actually talks about using the forward facing ones once the baby can sit up on their own!

My 23mo daughter's carseat is an older model Mothercare stage 1, but I think it's probably a bit dated and won't be legal with new laws coming in next year. So, I'm actually shopping for 2 new carseats for the both of them, hopefully looking for something matching...and ideally I'd like the stage 1-3 ones so I don't have to buy carseats in a couple of year's time...but not sure what to get! The Nania/Solofix (or whatever they're actually called!) various cheaply brand ones in Argos or eBay look a good deal (ebay shops have auctions for 2 together), but just not sure if they're OK quality or not. Anyone have any experience of them?

Alambil · 27/10/2007 22:44

Another First Class user here - my ds finally grew out of it at 3.4yrs old (had it since he was 6mo but it can be used from birth)

It is great - brilliant recline, comfy, not sweaty from what I can remember and not too difficult getting in the car

Lara77 · 28/10/2007 01:13

I haven't try brands in argos but heard that Baby-Start multirecline carseat was good. But I think it is 0/1.
I tried creatis today but it seems little bit small for my son who is at 98 centile. He is 18 weeks and 9 kg, quite tall as well. They said britax first class wouldn't fit my car as my car's seat belts ar short (it is a volvo s 60) They said i can get them extended in a dealer. Has anybody done this before? They also said it is always difficult to fit car seats to volvos as their seats slopping backwards. Anybody had this experience?