Car seats

[nori]

Afternoon mums,

Had a little problem with my car seat and im gutted.. i bought the silvercross ventura plus to click onto the 3d pushchair. I got it from john lewis and went and had a display one fitted and watched the lady throughout. It was tight but fit (i have a corsa). Anyway, when i got home i tried it myself and there is just no way in the world it fits! I completely ran out of seat belt and i know i'm doing it right. Ive taken all the padding off and everything. The only thing i didnt do is tilt it completely forward before feeding the seatbelt round, but i cant do that with a newborn in it anyway!

So.. it looks like i will be using my brothers (which i know the history of) as i know that one fits.. now means i dont have a travel system.

So heres my question (eventually) how long does the next one up last? What sort have you got and are the ones with the bases better than the ones without? I suppose for the next stage up (forward facing ones) you dont take them in any out the car anyway do you?

Ive got an appointment with john lewis again on wednesday so they can show me how it should be done but either way im not happy with the ventura one now.

Claire x

 

[Sherlock]

Why we didn't go with a total travel system and got a separate car seat from 0-4 that is rear facing to a certain age/weight, then can go forward facing. We got a non Isofix one atm, a Britax Ultra Si. Its been lovely. Nothing to do with our pram/pushchair and we never got an infant carrier car seat for that either.

FWIW we are not going forward facing till 4 years old. Reading the studies etc and seeing the video clips made up my mind. So we are off to get a special rear facing from 9 months upwards to 4 years old in the coming weeks.

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

 

[LisaJ1986]

I bought a travel system with a base to keep in the car. No matter what kind of car seat i get it will never strap in, not even close. I find in other cars i need to tilt the car seat forward to get it round. As long as you're gentle it shouldn't be a problem. Or maybe you could buy a base for the car.
I'm not totally sure what makes do them, mine's Graco.

 

[nori]

. Or maybe you could buy a base for the car.
I'm not totally sure what makes do them, mine's Graco.

If i got a base it wouldnt be compatable with the silvercross one would it? Sorry im a bit clueless!

Claire x

 

[LisaJ1986]

I'm not sure. Some brands sell them, others don't. I'll see what i can find out.

 

[Hazel]

I had to get one with a base as my seatbelts were to short. I use the one from the travel system as the spare if we go in DH's car or if we go in the nans car's.

TBH I never put Connie in the car seat slotted into the pram as if we are out it's usually for over 2 hours with the pram so put her lying flat, if half an hour round the town or supermarket I use the sling. She hates being in the car seat anyway and wriggles.

 

[LisaJ1986]

You can't buy bases for that model, sorry.

 

[nori]

oh well thanks anyway.. i think i will just go with my brothers one then and buy a new one for the next stage up.. they seem to be in and out the small ones anyway so probably best i save my money for the next size which may last a little longer?

 

[Bee]

I bought one with a base too and I didn't attach the car seat to the pram - just put Finlay into the pram instead. Personally I prefer the ones with the base as they are easier to fit rather than faffing about with the seat belt all the time.

We have just purchased his forward facing one but he won't be going in it till Jan (had the money just now for it so thought it was better). The one we got lasts till he is 4

 

[EllieBelle]

I recently had the same problem, set my heart on a particular travel system, only to find out that the car seat part wont fit the car, many seats now come, with the seatbelt option, or 2 different fixed bases - one that fastens with seatbelts, and one using isofix points, so definitely worth checking the options, and if your car has isofix points.

I have taken a rather dramatic approach and bought a new car, as couldnt get any car seat to fit properly (due to seatbelt design) and my car didnt have isofix points either.

Hope you get it sorted out soon.

 

[nori]

Just got back from another fitting with a different lady and it now fits!! The first lady said i had to put the handle right infront first which was what was making it not fit properly. I have to do that last. Its still a bit of a task and a half with the whole seatbelt thing but the base ones are so expensive!

Anyway.. thanks for your help ladies!

Claire x

 

[MagicMarkers]

Iv got this carseat and the first couple of times were an absolute nightmare but now im really happy with it !! Oh actually spent 45 mins outside trying to put it in on my due date, only for a neighbour to come out n take pity on him and show him how, do u also have trouble trying to plug it in cus u have to reach over it and its a realllly tight fit ?!?!?

 

[nori]

do u also have trouble trying to plug it in cus u have to reach over it and its a realllly tight fit ?!?!?

I have a 3 door car so im right on the back seat doing it all! Funnily enough though i actually found this easier than trying it in my dads 5 door!