Turn A Tot Carseat reviews??

[Lemonhead]

Hey there.

We are about to buy a carseat for bub #2 and were tosing up between the Turn A Tot 360 or the Safe and Sound Meridian. I used to work at a baby shop so I went there today and asked the difference and my old boss showed me how much safer the T-A-T was compared to the Meridian which was surprisingly flimsy and quite badly made IMO.

Does anyone have a Turn A Tot? What do you think of it?

[Miss_N]

*bump* :d

[blissfullybonkers]

I had one for DD, it was great, never had a problem with it, and was perfect as i had a 2 door car at that time. DD has a maxi rider ahr these days.

[naiwen]

From memory (please feel free to correct me) the turn a tot only rearfaces to 9kg? Whereas the Meridian RF to 12kg.

That alone would sway me, also the Meridian AHR has the advantage of the side imapct protection.

If I were to buy again I would buy the Meridian AHR tilt and adjust (was not out when I was buying DS seat).

[Mezmerised]

I was looking at the turn a tot originally as I thought it would be less strain on my back. Then I found out that the 'turn' part is only for rear facing, it doesn't have that feature for forward facing. As we were also getting a capsule that made it no use to me in regards to the turn feature. I'm getting the Meridian Tilt and Adjust too.

[Lemonhead]

Naiwen- The new T-A-T is up to 18kg, its fantastic. It is the only caseat that fits Australian, Euro and American standards and honestly when he compared how solid it is compared to themeridian which I reckon is a bit of a rip-off for a flimsy plastic shell carseat I sw how much better it was. Plus the T-A-T "locks in place" whereas he showed me how the Meridian shifts around.

He took $100 off it too so we can get it for $399 :D.

[headoverfeet]

:confused: my meridians don't move. How do they move?

I haven't seen the TAT, off to google.

[Lemonhead]

:confused: my meridians don't move. How do they move?

I haven't seen the TAT, off to google.

When it is lying down, when its not "locked in" (or upright) with each brake movement the carseat has the ability to shift up a bit. The TAT doesnt shift at all.

I really value his honestly as he could have got an extra $100 out of me for the Meridian but he said he eally wouldnt recommend it, that it looks nice but doesnt compare.

[Lemonhead]

HERE (http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.infa-secure.com.au/secureshop/photos/usage_photos/111/2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.infa-secure.com.au/product_range/Convertible-Carseats-(0---18kg)/111/Turn-A-Tot%2B360&usg=__sBNNTGgyjFo_iUKEnKexaEibhQo=&h=1738&w=2000&sz=1957&hl=en&start=12&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=YlXh4TPGaKXZ1M:&tbnh=130&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dturn%2Ba%2Btot%2B360%26um%3D1%26hl%3D en%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1R2TSHN_enAU339%26tbs%3Disch:1 )is the TAT.

[headoverfeet]

Oh, mine never moved were they installed with the seatbelt tight enough?

The TAT looks good, does it have AHR? How does the stability strap work when you turn it?

[headoverfeet]

Yeah that is what I looked at, have you found the manual online?

Ok I see the stability strap :yes:

Are you talking about the blue object that is on the seatbelt? We have that for our Maxi Rider (you dont need one for the Meridian) it helps to keep the seatbelt from loosening is that what you mean by being less movement?

[Lemonhead]

Oh, mine never moved were they installed with the seatbelt tight enough?

The TAT looks good, does it have AHR? How does the stability strap work when you turn it?

Hmm maybe it was just in certain circumstances. I knowthe Meridian and the TAT are the safest on the market but he told me the TAT is better in regards to stability and strength...plus it has a lifetime guarantee :cool:.

OMG I have no idea about all of that lol. I told him he has to install it for me though haha.

[headoverfeet]

Yeah that is what I looked at, have you found the manual online?

Ok I see the stability strap :yes:

Are you talking about the blue object that is on the seatbelt? We have that for our Maxi Rider (you dont need one for the Meridian) it helps to keep the seatbelt from loosening is that what you mean by being less movement?
Posted above you :)

It says you can find the PDF for the TAT online on that page but I cant see it..

[mumat]

I have an 03 TAT, one of the originals. My long term feedback is that its fantastic 6 years and two kids later, its not looking brand new, but works like it is.:D
My 2.5yo DD uses it now, my son used it for 3years. Mine is this older style one pictured http://www.babiesgalore.com.au/car_safety/child_restraints/infa_deluxe_turnatot_legend

We paid $310 way back then so the price hasn't gone up *too* much either.

[Just Add Water]

We have one for DS3 who is 14months and have used it since birth. We had him rear facing till 12kgs and have recently turned him. We have a kia and I absolutely love it. We'll be getting another one for this next bubs as well. I also like the fact that when in rear facing mode you can also adjust the tilt, as he got bigger he liked being able to see over the back of the seat to his older brother :D

[The Fox]

im going to get a capsule for the next bub, It is something I really wish i had with DS. I want my bubs refacing for as long as possible in the weight limit so i plan on using the capsule until 9kgs and then go straight to the meridian AHR refacing because you can stay refacing until 12kgs
But it looks like a great car seat, the only thing that i dont like about it is that its refacing until 9kgs only, so if i had a capsule then there is no point. Another thing is that if your bub is heavier early then they wont be refacing for long IKWIM like there was 2 babies in my mothers group that were 9kgs before they were 6 months but on the other hand Ollie is 10 months and 7.6kgs so you never know

[Tam-I-Am]

From memory (please feel free to correct me) the turn a tot only rearfaces to 9kg? Whereas the Meridian RF to 12kg.


Naiwen- The new T-A-T is up to 18kg, its fantastic.

Bek, I think you might have misunderstood Naiwen - the TAT only REAR faces until 9kg (ie in the newborn position - and then you have to face them forwards). Whereas the Meridian rear faces until 12kg and then you turn them around. The Meridian also goes up to 18kg forward facing, I think.

I agree with Naiwen - that alone would sway me to buy the Meridian again, until a carseat that you could rearface them comes out in Australia. Rearfacing is the safest place for children to be - it's the safest way for ADULTS to be, but obviously that's a bit unrealistic. I'd love to keep my kids rear facing until they were in kindergarten but unfortunately Australian car seats don't allow for it (Scandinavian ones do, but they're not legal in Australia *sigh*).

[Freya]

Bek, I think you might have misunderstood Naiwen - the TAT only REAR faces until 9kg (ie in the newborn position - and then you have to face them forwards). Whereas the Meridian rear faces until 12kg and then you turn them around. The Meridian also goes up to 18kg forward facing, I think.

I agree with Naiwen - that alone would sway me to buy the Meridian again, until a carseat that you could rearface them comes out in Australia. Rearfacing is the safest place for children to be - it's the safest way for ADULTS to be, but obviously that's a bit unrealistic. I'd love to keep my kids rear facing until they were in kindergarten but unfortunately Australian car seats don't allow for it (Scandinavian ones do, but they're not legal in Australia *sigh*).

:iagree:

Meridian would be my choice.:yes:

[naiwen]

Also I would highly doubt that the TAT is on par with any AHR seat in a crash test (will see if I can dig up the latest test results for you) as it does not have AHR.

Seats that do have AHR - Merdian AHR and the new Tilt and Adjust, Hipod Senator, Maxi Rider AHR will always perform better as they have the extra safety feature of the AHR.

A properly installed RF Meridian should have no more movement in it than any other seat, I have a SNS seat in my car and can get a rock solid install.

If the seat moves to much it isn't properly installed.

ETA Link : here is the link to the page with the most recent CREP results http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/Internet/Primary/road+safety/child+safety/child+restraints/child+restraint+evaluation+program+(CREP)/

[Iused2bewithit]

I know some posts are leaning against the TAT but we got one for DS when he was born in 07 and its been perfect. I love the turning feature, makes life sooo much easier not having to juggle them when getting them in and out :yes:

Once forward facing the seats can still be reclined, making them safer again. When bub gets old enough that he/she wants to have abit more of a sticky around, the seat can sit totally upright as well.

You can use this recling feature for when bubs falls asleep so that their little baby head doesnt fall forward and hurt their neck.

Now DS is in the Infa 8kg+ one (sorry forgot the name of it... but I know it is a car seat and booster seat in one) and it also has a slight tilt feature so again you can tilt it back when your now toddler falls asleep.

My only *thing* about the TAT was I paid extra and got the Deluxe version (with a hood etc) and in hindsight I wouldnt have bothered. But thats just me.