[doughboy]

Now our little girl is just over 2 she's grown out of the Group 1 seat (that's supposed to last till they're 4, my arse!).

So besides having 2 immaculate £200 Group 1 seats that have only lasted 18 months going begging, we're now after a couple of group 2/3 high back booster seats, that should be the last seat she'll ever need.

Any of you people found a good one? I'm tending towards one with Isofix+belts, the isofix gives much better side impact protection, holds it in place when its empty and give better reclining too.

I've ordered one of these to try out, so we'll see:

http://www.mothercare.com/Jane-Monte...54031&mcb=core

Any advice?

[Em135eye]

Our rear facing Britax Multi-tech lasts (apparently) until 7-8 years old (from about 18 months old) and is meant to be 5x safer than forward facing under the age of 4.

You then turn it around (when neck muscles are strong enough) when they are old enough:

http://www.rearfacing.co.uk/buyersguide.php

http://www.carseat.se/store.html

[themetz]

I've got two of the Concord Trasnformer XT seats which I would highly recommend - put our middle one in this just before he was three (he exceeded the weight minimum)

http://www.concord.de/en/#/products/...ts/transformer

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...0xt&source=ppc

Might be worth considering this one too:

http://www.concord.de/en/#/products/.../transformer-t

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by themetz

I've got two of the Concord Transformer XT seats which I would highly recommend

Now there are two names to get a blokes juices flowing - the marketing department dreamt up a blinder there - I'll have two please .

[willhollin]

The Britax Kidfix gets good reviews in the Which Magazine test.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165554

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

Our rear facing Britax Multi-tech lasts (apparently) until 7-8 years old (from about 18 months old) and is meant to be 5x safer than forward facing under the age of 4.

You then turn it around (when neck muscles are strong enough) when they are old enough:

We tried rear facing group 1/2 seats when she grew out of her first group 0 at 8 months.

It wouldn't fit behind my seat in the 3er, (i sit back a way) and her feet were resting on the rear seat back.

So we went for forward facing at 8 months.

The problem with all these age estimates is they are actually weight and height limits, not age limits, so the age figures are hopeful to say the least.

Our girl is 2yrs 3months, 17kg, 3'3" tall (size 8 feet!) All the group 1 seats, built in harnesses (and isofix itself) are only rated upto to 18kg.

Group 2/3 seats go from 15kg to 36kg and need the cars seat belts to achieve over 18kg rating.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by themetz

I've got two of the Concord Trasnformer XT seats which I would highly recommend - put our middle one in this just before he was three (he exceeded the weight minimum)

Very nice - £250 each though!

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by willhollin

The Britax Kidfix gets good reviews in the Which Magazine test.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165554

Thanks for all the info chaps.

We tried numerous 'award winning' Britax seats - they all seem to lack padding in the bum and lower back area.

Most seem to have rock hard plastic seats with a little flap of thinly padded fabric over the top.

[Em135eye]

DB - our little boy is the same age (and has size 8 feet too!). He fits in okay but I'm going to have to do some adjustments soon. Put him behind the passenger seat which has to be quite vertical and 3rd from rear most notch. Fine for legroom but being upright can be annoying for the passenger. It's not 100% perfect but it's very safe and our little boy seems fine in it.

No way it would fit in the 110 so got a Britax Evolva (forward facing) for it. Supposed to "grow" with then little un.

[TMP]

Originally Posted by willhollin

The Britax Kidfix gets good reviews in the Which Magazine test.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165554

I was going to post a review on the Kidfix - bought one for my 3 1/2 old 2 weeks ago. I wanted isofix still and its amazing how light the seat is compared to the Grp1 isofix he had before (you wouldn't know its isofix). Also gives him much more legroom again - whoohoo, no more kicking seat!

Cash tests results are really important to me, and this scored high both in Which? and Eurpoean ones. Head protection is almost as good as the Group 1, while giving him more freedom.


Bought from Halfords for £107 ('cos I wanted to see one) or can get from kiddiecare for £105.

Originally Posted by doughboy

Thanks for all the info chaps.

We tried numerous 'award winning' Britax seats - they all seem to lack padding in the bum and lower back area.

Most seem to have rock hard plastic seats with a little flap of thinly padded fabric over the top.

Dough - The padding on the seat seems fine and so far lil' fella is very happy! He previous Grp1 Britax lasted 2.5 years and now the 1 yr old has it.


Pic of the cheeky fella in new seat :

[EddieL]

I love these, as do my kids. They have good protection but don't look the best for sleeping in. You can get them with iso fix but I chose not to have it as it looked more hastle than it was worth.

The kids can plug in their ipods and dvd players and the sound comes out at their ears in the head rest and it also has an air pump for a cushion at their heads to keep them in the right position and comfortable.

[magic77]

Love the recaro ones, I have Recaro Young Sport one in my 320



Great seeat and offers lots of protectio. Added bonus its modular starting as in picture and ends up as a booster base only.

Currently my little one is around 93cm tall and I just took out the inner padding from the base of the seat to give her some more room.

Its a good seat especially as she now grows up as at least we will get a return on the expense. Just wish it had the built in speakers to save me the pain of listening to the nursery rhymes

[rogerxp]

Recaro Start for me, just like Eddie's it's got the speakers in, but not needed them yet. Supposed to adjust all the way up to age 12 (or similar) but can't see any child seat lasting up to 10 years without starting to grow it's own new life-forms. Bloody expensive but seemed the best at the time...

Eddie's seem to look more comfy but no complaints from my 3.5yr old.

[magic77]

One good thing with the recaro is that the covers are very easily removed and washed

so most acidents should be easily recovered from

[Em135eye]

You really ought to read this guys:

http://www.rearfacing.co.uk

[magic77]

I looked into it in detail when my little one was born and problem was we could not get a seat to fit.

Only way I could get one in the 3 is for wife to sit in the back and in the Bclass similar story which doesnt work.

Thus I now use the recaro sport for short hops to town and nursery and for long journeys we have a Jane Exo which is at least safer than most front facing ones. It has a suspension which absorbs some of the forward motion.

Though at least as we are changing to a larger car as the family one most likley a 4x4 due to the fact we cant go anywhere when it snows due to where we are I might get one for that one if we can both fit

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by magic77

for long journeys we have a Jane Exo which is at least safer than most front facing ones. It has a suspension which absorbs some of the forward motion.

The Exo is only a group 1 seat though, 9-18kg, our 2 year old is 17kg now, so no good!

Originally Posted by TMP

. I wanted isofix still and its amazing how light the seat is compared to the Grp1 isofix he had before (you wouldn't know its isofix). Also gives him much more legroom again - whoohoo, no more kicking seat!

Yep the grp 2/3 isofix seats have to be used with the cars own seatbelts which means the structural metal in the seat is reduced greatly from a grp 1 seat which is solely isofix secured, so they weigh a lot less.

At the moment I have to have a muslin cloth draped over the back of my seat to keep the grubby shoes off the leather, i'm looking forward to sorting that!!

Originally Posted by EddieL

I love these, as do my kids. They have good protection but don't look the best for sleeping in. You can get them with iso fix but I chose not to have it as it looked more hastle than it was worth.

Those recaro's look nice! without isofix don't they fly all over the place when not in use?

I know isofix hold them in place and gives better reclining options (aswell as the better side impact restraint). The Jane seat i'm trying is the only seat with 3 recline angles settable with the child in the seat. Gotta get her to sleep sometimes

[magic77]

The recaro I have is seatbelt only,

There is a clip on the side of it that you pass the seatbelt through this locks in place. So you put seat in place, put the seatbelt through it and clip it in, then you push the seat inthe car seat and pull back on the belt and lock clip to so the belt cant move. This means the seat is tight against the car seat and does not move

the only thing that has ever rattled was the belt buckles as she still uses them.

I suppose if you use the seatbelt only ones they could rattle as seatbelt is used also to hold the child but I suppose you could do similar and leave setbelt clicked in when no child in the seat to make the seat more stable. Probably a good idea so it doesnt become amissile if you have a crash and you are on your own

[Em135eye]

Quick reminder - a CORRECTLY fitted non ISOFIX seat is as safe as an ISOFIX one. ISOFIX seats are just easier to fit correctly. That is all.

[EddieL]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Those recaro's look nice! without isofix don't they fly all over the place when not in use?

I know isofix hold them in place and gives better reclining options (aswell as the better side impact restraint). The Jane seat i'm trying is the only seat with 3 recline angles settable with the child in the seat. Gotta get her to sleep sometimes

Not really, my kids are a little older but I put my smallest in her's about 1 or 2 mth early. I took the isofix out to my car in the car park and to be honest they were a bit of a pain to fit. I also think the manufacturers play on our worst fears. The seats really just position them properly for the seatbelt to work at the correct place and obviously they have good side impact protection.

I have always meant to get the NeatSeat seat protectors but wouldn't pay the money for new and ebay buyers were paying about £1 short of price new for second hand ones. But if you have to then these would protect the leather and keep them fixed better. Once the kids are in them they are fine, but then I drive like a granny with them.

http://www.mothercare.com/dp/B000ILE...=UTF8&mcb=core

[magic77]

I got a set for myine but got lucly only £15 I think.

I have both one isofix and one non, both have their meritx. For example going flight holiday the nonisofix is much lighter and easier to deal with.

At same time the Jane has great recline level so much more comfortable for a 2 year old on long journey in car as she can sleep better and you can alter the angle to keep her comfortable. I'm sure as she gets bigger the Recaro will become more suitable all I know next step is video screen to keep her busy

[Em135eye]

About the safest seat you can buy...

I've since fitted it better than this (and hidden the spare seats belt material) - more space for front passenger and got the tension a little tighter...



Check the BMA reports - all indicate that kids should all stay rear facing until at least four years old.