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Original poster

I need a cheap stage 2(?) carseat for dd2 and a seat for dd1

46 replies

Beauregard · 09/01/2008 23:13

I shall be collecting my 1st car soon.

We already have car seats in dp's car which consist of a britax(renaissance?)which was dd1's which is now dd2's and dd2 is in a cheap booster seat.

I haven't much of a budget but can't be swapping the car seats over from car to car all the time.

dd1 is 6 and tall like 7-8 year old and weighs around 3 and a half stone ish.
dd2 is 2 next week ,tall like 3 year old and very heavy ,off the scale according to hv
can't remember exactly how much though.

Sorry am clueless as well as pennyless.

Also with regard to dd2 she will never keep her arms in the straps so permanently sits with arms out .We have tried everything but nothing stops her.

OP posts:
Misdee · 09/01/2008 23:17

have u tried a snugsit for dd2? if not i have one kncoking about here i could send on.

what are the weights of your dd's? for your dd1 you need a high back booster really.

Lubyloo · 09/01/2008 23:22

By all means decide which models you like the look of and which fit your budget best so you can try those first.The best carseat though is the one that fits best in your car.

Original poster
Beauregard · 09/01/2008 23:24

What is a snugsit misdee? like a basic booster cushion?

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Original poster
Beauregard · 09/01/2008 23:25

Oh and i have seen some in the woolworths catalogue would these be universal fit or is it not worth bothering?

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Original poster
Beauregard · 09/01/2008 23:31

will weigh them tomorrow.

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Misdee · 09/01/2008 23:34

not all car seats fit all cars. the high back booster is generally ok in most cars. what car are you getting?

can uweigh the gilrs in kg's as this is what car seat manufacturers use.

what is your budget in total?

Misdee · 09/01/2008 23:35

good seat and good price

Original poster
Beauregard · 09/01/2008 23:37

Thanks misdee that is the kind of budget i am faced with.

Yes will weigh them in kg ,i presume the big scales in boots or tescos will be ok.

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Original poster
Beauregard · 09/01/2008 23:38

Car is a Fiat Punto btw.

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Misdee · 09/01/2008 23:40

is dd2 over 33lb? am now looking on websites to find a bargain one for dd2 for you.

that seat i linked too would be good for your dd1. my dd1 has one and has bags of room (almost 8years old).

a snugsit is a velcro pad thingy that goes under and over the straps in car seats to try and stop little ones escaping.

SlightlyMadShrek · 09/01/2008 23:41

Ooo Misdee are you carseat exppert as well as pushchair expert?

I need a new seat for DD3. She is a diddy 20m old and is still (just about) in her infant carrier.

We need a seat for our 2nd car (we have rennaissance too in 1st car). It is only used for about 15-20miles per week and is removed from car between journeys so needs to be easy to fit reliably. Problem is that the most reliable fitting seats are either isofix or have tensioners which makes them expensive (and often heavy). Don't want to have a major compromise on safety, but don't want to pay a fortune as it will have such low usage.

SlightlyMadShrek · 09/01/2008 23:41

Ooo Misdee are you carseat exppert as well as pushchair expert?

I need a new seat for DD3. She is a diddy 20m old and is still (just about) in her infant carrier.

We need a seat for our 2nd car (we have rennaissance too in 1st car). It is only used for about 15-20miles per week and is removed from car between journeys so needs to be easy to fit reliably. Problem is that the most reliable fitting seats are either isofix or have tensioners which makes them expensive (and often heavy). Don't want to have a major compromise on safety, but don't want to pay a fortune as it will have such low usage.

Original poster
Beauregard · 09/01/2008 23:46

aha i see i have never heard of a snugsit.

dd2 is 86 cm and weighed 15.85 kg i think when last weighed in oct ,that is what it says i think(hv scrawl)

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Misdee · 09/01/2008 23:47

i thin kthe evola will be fine for a good four years usuage for her dd1, as its law that car seats are used til lthe age of 11 or however tall it is. the evolva is a safe seat, and the head protection is important IMO as othjer if PFNM has an accident (and i hope she doesnt) then her dd's head could end up cracked against the window

we had an incident with a big 32tonne LGV so am very aware of car seat safety.

dd2 was huuuge and was outside the weight limit of a standard stage 2 seat at just over 2years old, and had to go in a normal booster seat, but i really didnt like it. we upgarded to jane indy plus' a few years ago, and dd1 has the model from before the evola, think its a kid/highliner? rated very high on which? tests.

SlightlyMadShrek · 09/01/2008 23:51

I wasn't criticising the appropriate of your choice for the child. I couldn't see which DD you recommending it for as my first choice for DD1 would have been a booster given the comments on budget & the fact that PFNM was happy with a booster in her first car. Fully acknowledge your safety comments though

I was hoping/assuming you weren't recommending it for her DD2 as she is fasr too young for it.

Misdee · 09/01/2008 23:52

this is the one we have for dd3 its not the best safety rated, but its the only one that fits in the middle of our car safely. i know its more than you wanted to spend, but is an ok seat. check britax.com (i think) for the fit finder for your car and see which seats they recommend.

SMS, if youdo the same, then we can work from there

Misdee · 09/01/2008 23:53

no i wasnt recommended it for her dd2 just i went throug hthe trauma of finding a suitable seat for own dd2 who was also off the charts at this age.

SlightlyMadShrek · 09/01/2008 23:56

What you want a weight?

I think she is about 10-12kg. (She was just about 9kg when she moved into Rennaissance which was Sept/Oct). Has been a few months since she was weighed & would get her double checked before commiting to a seat.

We are looking at the 9m-4yrs stage like the one you linked for DD3.

Misdee · 09/01/2008 23:57

have u checked on britax.com for the fit finder?

Original poster
Beauregard · 09/01/2008 23:57

Thanks misdee i will look at the fitfinder.

You know i had never considered that dd1's head could crack on the window(bad mother)so maybe she has been unsafe for ages?

Feel very confused tbh.

My parents have said they will buy a seat for dd2 for her birthday(as she had so much for christmas)but budget is 40 pound ish.

I was hoping to get a cheap booster cushion for dd1 but now you have said that i am thinking more about it.

I will get them weighed and come back to you.

Thanks for your help,you are multi talented misdee.

OP posts:
Misdee · 10/01/2008 00:00

not a bad mother at all PFNM, its just so confusing with all these seats out there.

it is best to get the seat that fits your car, because a badly fitting seat isnt safe.

i wish all car seat manufacturers would do fit-finders on their websites, would make life so much more easier.

you can also go to mothercare and halfords to ask for advice on fitting car seats.

oooooo i wish i was getting a new car

SlightlyMadShrek · 10/01/2008 00:01

My problem is that I don't have the budget for isofix or seat belt tensioner like the renassance/maxi cosi, but not sure I trust DP not to get slap dash about installing in his car on an ad hoc basis (and potentially in a rush).

I guess the budget is £70 or less. The less the better but being relistic I know that I am not going to get much for less than £70.

SlightlyMadShrek · 10/01/2008 00:02
Original poster
Beauregard · 10/01/2008 00:02

has thrown up these so far for dd2 here

Discontinued

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Original poster
Beauregard · 10/01/2008 00:03

oh shoot it's gone

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