Car Seats - Maxi-Cosi Tobi & Bebe Confort Axiss - Please will you share you experiences?

[Orchide]

Almost at the stage of moving DD into the next stage car seat (Group 1 9 months to 4 years) and so far have 2 car seats on the short list.

Maxi-Cosi Tobi. Have good experiences of this brand first stage car seat but have read quite mixed reviews on this model.
Bebe Confort Axiss - The fact that it rotates looks like it could make life sooo much easier....does it? Can't find any reviews on this one.

Tobi gets the best safety rating for non isofit car seats in the latest Which guide.

It is a very upright car seat and sits higher than others due to its thicker base. The recline is a lot less than the MC Priory. When your baby sits in it, unlike some car seats, his head will not be resting against the back rest all the time - he will have to hold it up. I did think it seemed too upright when ds first went into it - now he is nearly 2 it means he gets a great view out the window and isn't stuck in a half recline position like he would be in a lot to other car seats. He is very happy in it. He rarely has to sleep for long periods in the car so the fact it doesn't recline much isn't an issue for me (though he will sleep for 2 hours in it when in long journeys).

I have used it in a lot of cars (Scenic, Passatt, Polo, Audi A3) and the seat is rock solid - it doesn't move a mm - the seat belt mechanism is really great I think.

The only downside is that there really is a knack to getting the straps to loosen so you can get the wee one out. You have to make sure the strap going into the base unit does have a twist - it has to be completely flat and you need to put the buckle part down flat against the seat. Once you work this out (it took me a few weeks and lots of swearing, it loosens every time.

I'm expecting no and 2 and will be buying another Tobi when it gets to that stage.

Thanks Scotgirl.
Do you have a copy of the latest Which report? If so, could you possibly check to see if the Bebe Confort Axiss is featured? Am strugelling to find any reviews on it..

ScotGirl - I have a Tobi (2 weeks) and know exactly what you mean about loosening the straps - I have read the instructions so many times - makes it seem so easy! Once I sussed that the buckle needed to be down, they loosen fine!

It is a great seat, we had the Priori for DD but mum has that now, and this is comparable IMO - I know what you mean about the recline, but ours is only used for short journeys (have Britax one id DH car) and the fitting of it is really easy - no messing about trying to feed a belt behind the seat unit! was not sure it was correct, but a tug on the back of the seat proved that it was rigid!

I did think the axiss was a good idea in principle, but remember that when they get older they get more independent, and want to get into the seat themselves - may nto be so good then!

we have two tobi's and I think they are great. They don't recline as I would have liked but my dc don't seem to find it a problem and both sleep happily in them and look very comfortable.

I absolutely agree with what's been said already- they are easy to fit and rock solid. If you fit them well they will not move AT ALL.

I have not found the straps to be any more awkward than any other car seat. It's great that you cannot loosen them once they are buckled in.

I also love the way the straps are held out as it makes it easier to put your child in and out.

The only downside is that the covers are handwash only but I have done mine on a handwash cycle in the machine and that's fine but doesn't totally get rid of the smell of sick! Also the straps don't come out so they are also awkward to clean. We recently had a car journey where dd was sick 3 times and ds twice so I had a really horrible cleaning task when we got home!!!

However, the covers go back on quite well, unlike a previous car seat we had which the cover never fitted again after I washed it. Also IME most car seats aren't very easy to clean so...

Also, they come in lovely colours (which is important!)

Thanks all

Soph, colours obv v important, though Mr Orchide doesnt agree!!!!!

Know EXACTLY what you mean

Anyone else got any experiences - partic of the Bebe confort?

I have a maxi cosi tobi, my daughter has been in it from 9 months,she is now 3, she loves being higher up than other car seats (compared to the ones in grandparents cars) and being upright rather than lying back as in others. She has always slept really well in it, and although I thought it didn't recline enough, she never seemed to mind! The fact that the straps are held back make it so easy to get her in, especialy if she climbs in herself, it means she is not sat on the straps. Very easy to use, and very sturdy in the car, feels very safe compared to others.

I have only had to wash the covers a few times, but they do wash very well and are easy enough to get back on. I got it in a lovely design (wagtail - not sure if they do it anymore) but the car seat always gets comments from my friends.

I will be having to buy a seat for my 2 month old soon, and will definatley be buying another Maxi cosi Tobi.

Would recommend to anyone.

I've got access to Which online, so had a look at the reviews for the axxis for you, and its not that great. Its not as safe as their best buys as has inadequate head support for bigger kids, and they think it could be more difficult to fit as its so heavy. They say it provides reasonable protection in side and front impacts, but that sounds not very good to me! basically, not as good as others.

OTOH, the Tobi doesn't exactly get rave reviews either, not one of their best buys, and according to them, not as safe as others in a frontal collision...

have you looked at the rearfacing stage 1 car seats? they are much safer than the forward facing ones. look at www.rearfacing.co.uk for more info. have bought ds the britax 2 way elite and we're really happy with it.

I have a Maxi Cosi Tobi, I'm not impressed. I found it very difficult to tighten the straps and even when the bar went Green to say it was tight enough my DD still mamanged to get her arms free. I even took it to Halfords who said it was just the model! The straps also repeatedly jam and I have to take Emily back out of the seat to fix them.
The recline position has also stopped working. I looked on a forum to see how to fix it and it is a known defualt on it and will keep occuring. I am now about to take the thing a apart to try and fix it.It is only justa year old!!
It is also very heavy if you ned to move it between cars and I cannot see that it will last her until she is 4. I wish I had bought a simpler model.