Car seats (baby and big kid)

[Bubs'n'Roses]

I've been out of the car seat game for a while now, as we haven't had a car.

I'm looking to buy both girls a new seat each. Newbie will probably need one of those convertible newborn-to-toddler ones. Spawn had one but its old and I think it smells, DP says it doesn't but we'll go with me on this one.
So Spawn, who turns 4 in three weeks, will need a seat too.

What should I be looking at? And they have to be in booster seats until 6 these days hey??? TIA.

[Chunkydunks]

7 actually.

For bub I'm betting most people will recommend any one of the safe and sound convertibles, the meridian, the royal or the other one that I can't think of the name right now lol.

For your 4 year old. I'd suggest one of the convertible boosters on the market. The likes of the maxi rider, explorer, trek 8.....etc. These all have to be tethered into the car, have a built in harness that can be removed or hidden away once they reach 18kgs and then replaced with a H-harness that buckles into the connector on the tether strap.

Hope that helps.

[Areca]

If you go to the RTA website and have a look at their pamphlet on car restraints they have a table that compares the safety and ease of use of all the different kinds - from capsules and convertible's to boosters.
It's a great guide and you can take it with you when you go shopping and are figuring out what works best in the car you have!

[breechmumma]

Maxi-rider AHR all the way. They are from 9kg onwards and will last until 27 kg. I bought my new bubba a capsule to start with and will move her straight to her maxi-rider at 9kg (bought it already - she only has to put on 5 more kg now, haha). I think they are the best way to go. I'm not a fan of the convertable ones. But each to there own. Just research and do whats best in your situation.

Safe and sound will replace most of there car seats if the are ever in an accident. Something worth looking into.

[Bubs'n'Roses]

Thanks a lot for that. I'll pop on over to that website too. :thumbsup: Cheers!

[Areca]

Depending on the weight of your 4 year old Rosebones there are better car seats out there on the market for her in regards to safety compared to the Maxi-rider. We have a Maxi-rider II (AHR wasn't around when we got it) because it's a wonderful option for when you have a child at that inbetween stage (DD1 was 21 months old when DD2 was born so she needed the rear facing car seat but I didn't want to buy another convertible for DD1 when they only go until 18kg. It was far more economical to buy a car seat that went up to 27kg that was safer than a standard booster and it would be a one off purchase and at the time we weren't having anyy more kids so figured we could be done with the car seat buying business) but there are boosters that rate safer than the maxi rider once you can't use the 5 point harness on it anymore (you can only use the 5 point harness up until 18kg, then it's used as a regular booster seat with either the H harness which is a seperate add on or just the seat belt).
Whilst 5 point harnesses can be used up to until 18kg, the H harness can be used from 14kg so if she's close to 18kg or over then you can look at boosters and simply add the H harness if you want to (can be used up to 27kg).
We have purchased the Infa Vario booster for DD1 because it is the no. 1 booster on the market for safety right now, rates quite a bit above the maxi rider's once the maxi is in use as a booster seat. We will be using the H harness with it for extra safety. It's also quite slim which we need to fit three seats across the back of the car.

[Bubs'n'Roses]

Thanks DoubleAce. I was just looking through sites and a catalogue off of the ToysRUs website (this totally baby crazy one) at all the different seats. Spawn is probably about 16-17kgs at the moment, but we're sure she's going through a growth spurt. I am going to have a good look at all the seats, I'm taking notes from these posts actually. :D

[Chunkydunks]

if she's that close to the limit I'd be looking at a full booster. The Infa vario max is the top rated booster. You'd need a H-harness with that to get the maximum safety out of it.

[Areca]

Maxi-rider AHR all the way. They are from 9kg onwards and will last until 27 kg. I bought my new bubba a capsule to start with and will move her straight to her maxi-rider at 9kg (bought it already - she only has to put on 5 more kg now, haha). I think they are the best way to go. I'm not a fan of the convertable ones. But each to there own. Just research and do whats best in your situation.

Safe and sound will replace most of there car seats if the are ever in an accident. Something worth looking into.

Just so you're aware for babies of 9kg the convertible car seats are far safer than the maxi-rider. I put my DD1 in one when she was 21 months and she looked sooooo tiny in it. The convertible seats are rear facing until 12kg (and possibly capsules to these days) and rear facing is by far the safest way a baby can travel so if you have the option of leaving your baby rear facing until 12kg do it that way. Check out the RTA website and have a look at the pamphlet - the ratings are pretty surprising!

[breechmumma]

Just so you're aware for babies of 9kg the convertible car seats are far safer than the maxi-rider. I put my DD1 in one when she was 21 months and she looked sooooo tiny in it. The convertible seats are rear facing until 12kg (and possibly capsules to these days) and rear facing is by far the safest way a baby can travel so if you have the option of leaving your baby rear facing until 12kg do it that way. Check out the RTA website and have a look at the pamphlet - the ratings are pretty surprising!


Yeah it is definently going to be a see how we go situation. Bubba is really tiny so I think she will be in her capsule for quite awhile. My nephew went into his maxi-rider at about 9months old. He did look tiny but looked so safe in his seat at the same time and he loved it. I will never do anything to jepordise her health and safety so we will just see what happens when she finally grows abit (even though I want her to be little for ever, hahaha). I think I forgot to say earlier that my maxi-rider is a Maxi-rider II AHR.

I will have a look at that website (didn't even know about it).

[Thermolicious]

S&S Meridian with AHR and S&S Maxi Rider with AHR and a H harness :)

[SorenLorensen]

my set up was.

newborn in capsule and toddler in maxi/hi-liner (2 cars).
then safeguard/royal (safe n sound) and maxi/hi-liner.

we use 2 cars and i hate changing seats around so have both cars set up to go.

bub rear facing till 12kg.

when it comes to your toddler consider her height. DD1 is very tall and is about to out grow her maxi rider already and has only just turned 4, i also know of another mum here on BH who's child the same age has out grown his maxi. we have a hi-liner and it extends to a massive height, this i can see will suit DD1 (and DD2 considering she is on the same track) until the out grows the weight of car seats.

if you think your toddler will be out of the weight range of the 5 point harnesses then i would go the hi-liner anyway due to the fact that it will then last longer because of the height.

oh and also, in regards to the harnesses if you do go for a maxi type or hi-liner you need a protecta harness....a normal h harness will not be suitable.