what brand car seat??????

[reAllytee]

Have a look though the Choice website they give you a run down on the safety aspects & what car seats come off the best :thumbsup:

[Karizma]

I had a safe and sound as I heard they were the best at the time. Although I have heard now that the Maxi Rider is the best one now. They are also The best booster seat on the market when turned around.

[*~alegna~*]

We have a Safe & Sound ARF (remember..) We paid through the nose...from memory about $500 but we felt that as they were voted the safest in Aust we would do it.

It is a really comfy seat as well & does them upto 4yr, the back actually extends as they grow. Has a lovely little insert for NB's aswell so their litte heads don't flop around. DS is Happy LOL:yelclap:

Just read Cel's post - This one :
'i would say either the safe and sound meridian or royale both are convertible from birth to 18 kilos and bubs stays REAR facing til 12 kilos now thats the new standard

[skyejax]

i hav both a safe and sound and a baby love. i got babylove for ds (4 1/2mths) but when i get the money together will b buying a s&s one for him too as i can already c that unless he slows his length he is going to b on last hole by 12mths like dd was (thatrs why we went to s&s for her and sold off the one we had for her, not sure what brand that was it was bought for us by MIL). that is my only fault with baby love, the amount of strap holes, i mean he obviously is still in rearward facing and the strapps are under his shoulder hight but the insert has to stay in so i hav no choice cause the next hole is under the top of insert and insert would b all squished down.
enough rambling from me.
good luck with whatever u choose.
mary

[petrijack]

We have a Safe n Sound Royale for DS2 and Safe n Sound Maxi Rider for DS1. I think they are great.

Good luck with whatever you choose

[LucyE]

Ditto cel's post.

If safety is your number one priority (and I understand that cost can be an issue), then I would also recommend that you hire a Safe'n'Sound capsule for the first few months and then move bub into a rearward facing Safe'n'Sound 'proper' convertible carseat (eg. not the compaq). Hiring a capsule from the QLD Ambulance service costs about $60 for 6months and it means you can also delay purchasing the carseat too.

BTW I heard that Britax (Safe'n'Sound) have recently bought out BabyLove. Not sure how accurate the report is though...

[Rhys'Mum]

I absolutley love my Turn-a-tot. Seriously consider it.

It can be used from birth as a reversible car seat and because it turns to face you there is no leaning over and swinging a baby or a capsule. AND you can get them out of the car with very little fuss, particularly good if you want to keep them asleep. Fits well into small cars, has a couple of different recline settings for once they are forward facing and because of the turn facility you can keep them rear facing for longer (much safer than forward facing) because you are not breaking your back trying to get them in and out.

We have a Safe and sound for our second car but my son and I both prefer his turn-a-tot. I spoke to kid-safe about them when it was being fitted, they had no concerns about safety but the fitter felt that really the turning function was a bit of a gimmick. After 14 months I seriously disagree. I am the envy of many of my friends and know at least half a dozen other mums who swear by them.

[Rhys'Mum]

The turn-a-tot meets the Australian standards which are some of the toughest in the world. Because it is a relatively new product it hasn't yet been tested by the RACV or Choice, that doesn't mean its unsafe just that it didn't make their select list. The advice from each of these websites is to choose a restraint that meets Australian standards.

IMO considering safety is more than obtaining the results of tests involving a limited range of items.

EG - In my car the turn-a-tot is the safer choice as the highest ranking seats in the RACV survey do not fit rear-facing without the driver and passenger seat being too close for comfort and to the airbags. This is a factor many people do not consider.

Also, there is significant research on the benefits on having a child rear facing. Being able to easily get a heavier child in and out of a rear facing seat may enable a child to remain rear-facing when otherwise they would be placed in a forward facing seat. In my case I am not very tall and I have a back problem so I was able to have my son rear facing for much longer than in a conventional capsule or seat.

There is removable padding in the model we bought that assisted in keeping him snug and comfortable so being rear-facing was not as traumatic as he got older as it appeared to be for many others in our mothers group and creche.

I am not an expert, but I suggest people seriously consider the 'creature' comforts' because in my experience once the safety threshold has been met it is those things that become important.