Car seat advice please

[4jen]

I need to get a new car seat for my 16 month old DD. We have been using a 2nd hand Maxi cosi priori xp and it sits too high in our Ford Focus. She is tall and slim for her age and also an escape artist. I want something with a shallower base and easy to adjust straps (well for me not her!). Is Halfords a good place to shop?.

Halfords and Mothercare will both try the seats in the car before you buy them

Halfords were great at trying out seats in the car last time we bought, unfortunatly I think a lot of branches don't have an excellent selection. Sounds like a Britax First Class may suit your needs and they are available pretty much everywhere

CAll your local council's road safety officer. Some have a stock of all car seats and will find the one that is best for your car, and teach you to fit it properly. Enfield in N London had a brilliant guy called Phil Emmans, he may have retired by now, but worth a try if you are anywhere within reach of Enfield.

Britax also do roadshows together with the RSOs - obviously only Britax seats, though.

Be very very careful with the advice that shops give. Which magazine demonstrated last year, IIRC, that retailers' advice was very variable. Unless you're confident that the salesperson fitted the carseat well, don't buy it there and then but try it at another shop. John Lewis are usually pretty good.

I have always had my seats fitted in the car at Halfords and then gone home and ordered on the internet cheaper. Does that make me a bad person??????????????

Thanks for the replies. Balletmum, That is exactly what I was thinking of doing, being the miser that I am!. Prettycandles, I live in Barnet borough not too far, never even thought about the council I shall check that out. Now off to google Britax.