[Dannyrado]

Hi,

We're expecting our first lil one in a short while.

Just looking at car seats, and i'm confused...

We have 3 isofix cars, so it seems sensible to get an isofix seat. However, we also want a seat that will last. Does nobody make a "from birth" isofix car seat to say 4yrs? So i guess i'm looking at 0+ - 18kg.

I guess there must be a few parents on here, so can anyone advise?

[KadeSdad]

The Maxi Cosi Cabrio is about the best for a new born. Best to go for one for this stage and then buy again for around 12+ months plus, then you can get one that'll go up to four years old.

[RCUK]

^^^^ what he said!

We (as in me and all my friends!) have recently trodden this bloody expensive path and all done just that. Cabriofix and then normal seat when they are about 9 - 12 months.

You might get a deal on the cabriofix and base when you buy your buggy,

I really recomment these guys www.kiddicare.com - and use www.quidco.com too = every penny counts!!

[Dannyrado]

So you have to buy a base for that then?? I always just imagined that a car seat clicked into the "isofix" in the car? Does the base carry over to your next car seat?

[urfankhaliq]

The base is what clicks onto the *isofix* and is permenantly in the car. The seat (whether its the new born one of the one for older kids) just simply clicks on to the base.

The new born one also clicks into the buggy so you click it off the buggy and onto the base in the car and vice versa

ps I have no kids but thats what my neice has lol

[Dannyrado]

Ok, with it now. All researched up.

You'd still think that since isofix was to become "universal", any seat on the market would just somehow clip into the car, no need for additional bases etc.... They could then just put an isofix clip on every pram, bus, airplane, anything else you care to think of, and any car seat would click in there too. Guess that's just too organised tho.

Thanks everyone.

[p1tse]

i can't remember the name at the top of my head but we have the isofix base and maxi cosi baby carrier, but the isofix base can't be used on the next stage up.

however maxi cosi have released a new base, carrier and next stage seat so you can use the same base.

Recaro do one similar, but i'm not sure how good the carrier is compared to the maxi cosi, as it does what it needs to, light, easy to use.

We would have gone for the next stage maxi cosi if we could use our base, but as we were buying from scratch again i went with recaro young expert plus.

best prices for recaro i found is from capital seating.

the bases are quite heavy, so i would tend to leave it in with a decent protective mat. if i needed to transer be easier to use the seatbelt as a temporarily measure

[p1tse]

not in a beemer but

base


carrier plugged in

[rich1068]

Agree with all that's been said so far. The base is great in the car the baby is in most often. Apart from anything else you'll find it a bonus when it's throwing it down with rain and you just click the seat in rather than struggling with seatbelts. Now we've got another baby the base is usually in my wife's car all week and mine at the weekends. It's a two minute swap. If I can't be arsed I used the seatbelts.

When our first came along we got this, this and something like this. Job done. Actually I didn't check that last one I linked to but it should adapt to the car seat and also be a full on buggy/pram. You'll need something the car seat will attach to because the last thing you want when you park up is to have to transfer a peaceful, sleeping baby from a car seat to a pram.

And don't bother with anything like these. Grandparents love them but apart from that once a year idyllic stroll through the park, you'll never use it.

[kaishang]

You may also find that the baby capsule goes in the front passenger seat restrained with the seatbelt, so that you can keep an eye on them. Less safe in an accident OTOH I think balanced by knowing they won't choke on something since they are in your eyesight and also if they get bothered, you can give them a bit of a poke. If you put them on the front seat, MAKE SURE YOU SWITCH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF.

For in the back, I've suction cupped a mirror to the back window to keep an eye on baby.

[willhollin]

Stick them in the boot.

[kaishang]

The other advantage of the separate Isofix base is that you can take the baby out of the car still in the baby basket and put them straight into a shopping trolley, still in the baby basket, when you get to the supermarket.

[p1tse]

Originally Posted by rich1068

And don't bother with anything like these. Grandparents love them but apart from that once a year idyllic stroll through the park, you'll never use it.

we had a lie flat system for when our little one was younger.
reasons is we were told a young baby shouldn't be in a carrier for too long, also being a summer baby they soon sweat too much and get damp/wet, whilst the lie flat i would imagine more air circulation and more comfortable.

but hey it's all opinions and wouldn't do it different. then again it's like moving from rear ward facing to forward facing. some say earliest is 9 months, but they should be certain weight, some parents are desperate to get them in forward facing but we hung on until proper recommended weight and size.

[BanziBarn]

We went for "Family Fix".

It's an Iso fix base that fits the baby seat but then also the normal seat so it will last up until they're 4 ish.

[KadeSdad]

Don't forget that there are also isofix seats with the system built into the chair, usually from 18 months plus (making one complete unit). These are great if the chair is being used in various cars, Mini do a great one, we still use it in the Merc!

Also with any Isofix chair DO NOT FORGET TO PLACE A LAYER OF THIN SPONGE OR FOAM UNDER THE SEAT! These chairs are not leather friendly and will put deep crease marks on the seat if not careful!

[rich1068]

Originally Posted by willhollin

Stick them in the boot.

Tried that. Wife went mental.

For in the back, I've suction cupped a mirror to the back window to keep an eye on baby.

You can get a mirror from I think Mothercare that attaches to one of the rear head rests.

DO NOT FORGET TO PLACE A LAYER OF THIN SPONGE OR FOAM UNDER THE SEAT!

And not an old piece of chipboard like my dad did. Oddly enough it was me that went mental that time.

All this does make me smile. We're on our second now and it's amazing how 'yeah, whatever' we are with him compared to that slightly frantic 'everything has to be right' approach we had with our first. You can always spot the first time parents in Mothercare or wherever and I always want to say 'leave that, you don't need it'.

[briers]

As mentioned, get a seat protector too

http://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/..._-1_5766_10001

I've been using that for over a year now. Gave it a good clean yesterday and it's done a remarkable job of keeping the leather seat clean and dent free. You would never know there had been a baby/toddler seat in there.

[Dannyrado]

Originally Posted by rich1068

You can always spot the first time parents in Mothercare or wherever and I always want to say 'leave that, you don't need it'.

Good god, say it!! I'd give my right nut for someone to tell me if i were buying stuff i didn't need. I can see us wasting hundreds...

And i HATE wasting money, lose sleep stylee.

[rich1068]

You're losing sleep now? Shit, wait a few months.

[mistry]

we just brought a BeSafe seat that is 0+ to replace our cabriofix. this is a seat thats suitable from birth until about 4.

Not a cheap seat (£340) but it came out on top in a recent Which? review and it's rear facing if that's important to you, or you can turn it around when they reach a certain age. Have a read about rear facing child seats.

[p1tse]

we brought a seat protector from halfords about £20 back then, which covers base and back. Not sure on brand, but was a main one boxed.

had the isofix base in there for 2 years, low and behold the seat in the old car looked as new!

[m1bjr]

We had the Maxi Cosi with ISOfix base until about 10m.
Lad now lives in a Recaro, which is good until about 11yrs old.
You may want to look at that one, about £120.

Steve