Which car seat is the best?

Confused2B

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Hi. I'm now 6 months and we're starting to look for a first car seat, but there are just so many! Is everyone else having this problem?

I just wanted to know how other people decided when they were choosing!

Are they all as safe as each other, or should I be going for a particular type of seat? Are there particular features that I should look for, or have people had particular problems with certain seats?

Any help from wise heads gratefully received!
 
Hiya,
I got my car seat with the travel system we bought (Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe). I've been really pleased with it (the pushchair is quite bulky so not perfect - but the car seat I haven't been able to fault).
The main plus for us, is that it has an autobase, which stays in the car - then the car seat just clicks in, so its very convenient.
 
Personally I want one that has the ISOFIX fittings as it seems really safe. I know if I had to attach the seat with a belt I'd get it wrong and worry about it. I also like the idea of having the base fixed in the car for extra safety.

I'll probably go for the Maxi Cosi as then it can clip onto a Quinny or Bugaboo frame, saves getting bubs in and out of the car seat to then transfer them into the pram.
 
There was a really useful thread a few weeks ago - someone had got lots of info from 'Which?' regarding the test results of lots of different seats - would be worth having a search for that.

We only looked at one car seat - the Maxi Cosi. That's becasue we wanted to get either the Quinny Buzz or the Bugaboo Chameleon, and the Maxi Cosi clips straight onto these frames (we bought the bugaboo chameleon in the end - due to arrive Saturday morning!). We have also bought the Easy Fix base (approx £90) which will attach to the isofix point in the back of the cars.

HTH
 
If you buy a travel system then you will get a car seat with it and you can buy the click in base for certain ones. You will have to make sure that the base fits your car though as the base wouldn't fit in mine but it fits in OH's. We just use the base in OH's car and I strap the car seat in to mine. We have got a Mothercare Trenton travel system (Different colours in the links below) and the Graco clip in base. The pram is really nice but it is rather large and heavy hence why Jake has now got a buggy but the car seat is good and as Jake is only little he is still in it now at 10 1/2 months old. We will be needing a bigger car seat soon :D
If you don't buy a travel system then you can either buy a infant car seat with a carry handle or a 0-4 years combination car seat.

http://www.mothercare.com/gp/product/B0 ... 35-2410864?


http://www.mothercare.com/gp/product/B0 ... 8&mcb=core

http://www.mothercare.com/gp/product/B0 ... 8&mcb=core

I just thought that I would also post a link to the Silver Cross travel system as I think it is lovely and it is quite light compared to other travel systems. I probably would have bought this if it had been out when I was looking at travel systems. I'm not sure if there is a clip in base that is compatable with the car seat.
http://www.mothercare.com/gp/search/ref ... 3d&size=12
 
we brought one of the ones that can be both rear and forward facing so save money as car seats are pricey. we didnt bother with a car seat travel system as we had pram. i think ours goes from birth to 4....


this is it...

718580_l_b.jpg


then for foward facing

718580_l_a.jpg



http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Product.aspx/B ... ion/718580
 
this is just what i asked as there are so many on the market-i've gone with a maxi-cosi

http://www.pregnancyforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =car+seats

you need to be careful as some seats are not up to stratch even when sold in places like mothercare

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/2964450.stm

i found the which guide a great help, the which guide says-

Maxi Cosi Cabriofix with Easyfix base
• Price: £190
• Score: 82%
Our testing has become even tougher since we made this a Best Buy in 2006, but it still passed with flying colours – achieving our first 'Excellent' child seat result.
Crash protection is excellent, and the instructions are clear.

Britax Cosytot Isofix
• Price: £165
• Score: 79%
The Best Buy Britax Cosytot Isofix was the first seat for newborns to use Isofix mounting system. It's easy to install and offers excellent stability – protecting children well in front and side crashes.
Designed for babies from birth to about a year (13kg), this rearward-facing seat uses a support leg that rests on the car floor rather than a strap for the third mounting point. The support leg needs a flat, solid floor, so it won't suit all cars – always refer to the manufacturer's guidelines before buying.

Recaro Young Profi Plus with base
• Price: £100
• Score: 78%
This Recaro seat is designed for babies from birth to about a year (13kg) in rear-facing modes. It offers great protection in Isofix mode, although it's not as safe when used with the adult seat belt.
It comes with a base which is secured using the Isofix mounts, and has a support leg that rests on the car floor rather than a strap for the third mounting point. The support leg needs a flat, solid floor, so it won't suit all cars – always refer to the manufacturer's guidelines before buying.

Britax Evolva 2/3 ISOFIT
• Price: £120
• Score: 77%
This Best Buy seat from Britax did well in our tests, with a 'Good' overall crash safety rating. It's very similar to the Ultra model, but unusually for a seat in this group, the Evolva 2/3 uses Isofix.
Although the Isofix mounting for the base doesn't actually improve safety, it's more convenient to use than the Ultra version, which isn't held to the car except when the belted child sits in it.

Maxi Cosi Priorifix
• Price: £230
• Score: 75%
This Best Buy from Maxi Cosi is the safest Group 1 seat for children from one year up to about 4 years (9 to 18 kg).
This seat can be fixed using Isofix mounts or seat belts, and has a support leg which rests on the car floor for additional stability. The support leg needs a flat, solid floor, so it won’t suit all cars – always refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines before buying.

Maxi Cosi Rodi XR
• Price: £95
• Score: 75%
This booster seat with backrest is one of the easiest-to-use seats we've ever tested, scoring top marks for every aspect of handling.
Designed for children from 4 to 12 years (15 to 36 kg), it uses the 3-point adult seat belt to secure both the seat and the child.

Britax Evolva 2/3 Ultra
• Price: £90
• Score: 74%
A highly-rated seat that performed well in our safety tests, this Best Buy from Britax is very similar to the Evolva 2/3 ISOFIT model, except it's not secured to the car with Isofix mounts.
Our experts thought this seat was suitable for children aged 4 to 12. There are good instructions and it's easy to carry.

Bebecar Easybob Maxi SPP
• Price: £100
• Score: 73%
With a 'Good' overall crash safety rating, this Bebecar seat is not quite up there with best, but it’s still pretty good.
The clever design allows you to change the fixed points of the harness easily as your child grows. This is not always the case with seats in this group – you sometimes have to unthread it.

Concord Lift Evo PT
• Price: £95
• Score: 72%
The Concord Lift Evo PT – a Best Buy in 2006 and 2007 – is comfortable, provides good leg support for the child, and it's easy to move from car to car – something worth remembering if you're a two-car family.
This seat is a booster with backrest, designed for transporting children from 4 to 12 years (15 to 36 kg). It uses the 3-point adult seat belt to secure both the seat and the child.

Concord Lift Protect
• Price: £80
• Score: 72%
This seat is a booster with backrest, designed for transporting children from four to 12 years (15 to 36 kg). It uses the three-point adult seat belt to secure both the seat and the child.
Slightly cheaper and subtly different from its stable-mate the Evo PT, this seat has large side ‘wings’, which give excellent head support, and the base offers good leg support. It is light weight and very easy to install and it offers adequate front crash protection. Side crash protection is good and is aided by the unusual side ‘wings’ on the seat, which extend downwards to provide extra protection for the child’s abdomen. The tall back is good for taller children but in some cars it touches the head restraints – which may need removing to allow the seat to sit flat against the car seat-back.

Maxi Cosi Rodi XP
• Price: £95
• Score: 72%
This seat is a booster with backrest, designed for transporting children from four to 12 years (15 to 36 kg). It uses the three-point adult seat belt to secure both the seat and the child.
It’s possibly the easiest to use seat we’ve ever tested, scoring top marks for every aspect of handling. As with many seats in this weight category, the tall back is good for taller children but in some cars it touches the head restraints – which may need removing to allow the seat to sit flat against the car seat-back.

Britax Evolva 2-3
• Price: £55
• Score: 71%
New for 2006, the Evolva 2-3 looks very similar to the Britax Kid but beneath the surface there are subtle changes. It’s a booster with backrest, designed for transporting children from four to 12 years (15 to 36 kg). It uses the three-point adult seat belt to secure both the seat and the child.It isn’t as light weight as others in the class, but the instructions are clear and it is easy to install.
Like most seats in the class it has a high seat back which can touch the car’s head restraint on some cars. In this case, it can be helpful to remove the head restraint to allow the seat to sit flat against the car seat back. Padding is excellent and it offers very good leg support and front crash loads are low. Thanks to the high side bolsters, side-impact protection is particularly good – you can adjust the headrest height as your child grows.

Britax Hi-Liner
• Price: £40
• Score: 71%
This is a forward facing booster with back rest that uses the three-point vehicle belt to restrain the seat and the child. It is designed for children aged about four to 12 (15-36kg).
It is very easy to use, offers very good leg support and excellent padding. While the idea of having one seat for several weight categories is often seen as a compromise, this one does a good job of bridging the gap. Crash ratings are pretty good, with low loads imparted to the child in both front and side crashes. The Hi-Liner has a very high back, which can foul on the car’s head restraints. Stability of the seat can be improved on some cars by turning or removing the vehicle headrest, to allow the high backrest to sit more squarely onto the seat back.

Concord Lift Evo
• Price: £85
• Score: 71%
This seat is a booster with backrest, designed for transporting children from four to 12 years (15 to 36 kg). It uses the three-point adult seat belt to secure both the seat and the child.
It has excellent padding and gives good leg support and the child has an excellent view out of the vehicle.

Britax Duo Plus ISOFIX
• Price: £150
• Score: 70%
The Duo Plus can be used in Isofix mode, with 2- or 3-point (using top tether) mounting, or can be secured with a 3-point adult seat belt. As an Isofix seat, its all round performance is good enough for it to earn the Best Buy recommendation.
This seat is designed for children from around a year old to about 4 (9 to 18kg). It's well made and easy to use, with clear instructions. Padding is excellent, and it offers good leg and head support.

Chicco Key1 Isofix
• Price: £110
• Score: 70%
This seat doesn’t offer as much protection in a crash when secured with seat belts (the seat-belted version is called the Chicco Key 1 X-Plus) so we can recommend it only as an Isofix seat.
The height of the shoulder straps can be adjusted easily, without having to unthread the harness.

Maxi Cosi Citi SPS
• Price: £120
• Score: 70%
This Best Buy Maxi Cosi seat restrained the dummy safely in a frontal crash in our test. It's easy to install and is even quite lightweight.
Unlike some of our other Best Buys, this seat is held in place by a seat belt – so it's ideal if your car doesn't have Isofix mounting points.



these are the which? online DON'T BUYs...

We recommend you avoid the the Chicco Max-3S, the Recaro Start and the Little Shield Combi 123 as they all use the adult seat belt for a 9kg child (around nine months).

The adult belt comes into contact with the child's neck instead of the shoulder, and can pass over the soft stomach area of a 9kg child instead of the correct pelvic bone area.

This doesn't provide adequate protection in a crash, as our 2007 testing showed – watch our crash test footage (see 'Crash test video') to see just how badly some of these seats performed.

In our June 2007 magazine, we incorrectly stated that the Mamas and Papas Pro-Tour uses an adult seat belt to restrain a 9kg child. In fact, it has a separate harness for Group 1 (9-18kg) children. But we still don't recommend it, as the instructions state you must remove the backrest for children over 22kg, and in this configuration it provides no protection from side impacts.

We've also found three Don't Buys from 2006, which are the Jané Matrix Pro, and the Mamas and Papas Alto and Revo models.

For 3- to 12-year-old children, avoid ‘booster cushions’. These fulfil the legal requirement for children between 15kg and 36kg, but don’t offer protection from side impacts (unlike with our Best Buys).

The most important thing to stress is that any child seat is better than no seat at all – and it’s now the law to use one.
_________________
 
sunnyday said:
annem said:
this is just what i asked as there are so many on the market-i've gone with a maxi-cosi

http://www.pregnancyforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =car+seats

you need to be careful as some seats are not up to stratch even when sold in places like mothercare

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/2964450.stm

_

Just bear in mind that this report is over 4 years old - am sure the manufacturer's have changed things since then.


yeah i'm just going with what 'which' tells you the ones not to buy, so gone for maxi cosix
 
we both fell inlove with the £169.99 buggy in babies r us. he said first then i said yea i like it too. has temp gage on it so u can see what it is outside and the time.
 

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