Spec me a group 1-3 child seat!

Haggisman

Haggisman

Haggisman

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The little one is starting to outgrow his baby seat now, so we're looking at getting him a bigger one (they grow up fast!!). Seems to make sense getting one of these combination seats (9months - ~12 years) to save having to buy another in a couple of years, so was wondering if the collective knowledge of OcUK can recommend any?

Our budget is up to ~£150, and I've got my eye on the Recaro Young Sport as it looks really comfy, what else should I be looking at? And is there any reason to go for the single group seats over the combination ones?

Cheers guys (and girls) :)
 
What car?

My little girl is now 2, and back then when shopping about I decided rather than get a one size fits all, buy one that fits her until she is about 4-5 then use a booster seat afterwards. Most of the combo seats I tried were just too big.
 
I've got the recaro young sport, primarily because it fits in the bucket seats in my monaro (most don't). It's fine so far (19 months, 13 kg), just had to remove the bum-cushion bit as he has outgrown it.

Can't help with what's best, but if you have a similar 2+2 then the recaro is one of few options.
 
It's a bog standard Lolvo V40, so hopefully no fitting issues. We're going to pop to Mothercare tonight and have a look at a few :)
 
Anything Silver Cross, the two we have, one ISO FIX one not are both several years old now and have lasted and feel safe, don't buy from Mothercare that's the most expensive place, go and pick what you want then buy online you'll save a fortune.

Wouldn't bother with combination seats, after a couple of years they'll be ruined with squished bananas and the like.
 
See if you let you try before you buy. Perhaps it's just my girl that's a little on the big side but it's a bit of a struggle to get her in the car even in my Mondeo. Can't imagine what it'll be like in a year or so down the line. I do have excellent lower back muscles now though! :D
 
We tried them all at Mothercare and ended up with the following:

http://www.mothercare.com/Mothercar...g-_-Mothercare%20Sport%20Car%20Seat%20-%20Red

and

http://www.mothercare.com/Britax-Eclipse-Car-Seat---Lisa/450094,default,pd.html

Of the two I prefer the Mothercare seat. It's easy enought to fit, my daughter finds it comfortable and it's very easy to get her in and out of. The recline mechanism is a bit stiff but it's barely used tbh.

The Britax one is still good but a bit more fiddly to get her in and out of for others who don't know how the straps work. It's also a little trickier to fit but the recline mechanism is the better of the two.

While I concede that these aren't group 1-3, keep in mind that after 3-4 years of use it may actually need to be changed anyhow. I'm not sure if any seat will really last 6 years.
 
maccapacca said:
Anything Silver Cross, the two we have, one ISO FIX one not are both several years old now and have lasted and feel safe, don't buy from Mothercare that's the most expensive place, go and pick what you want then buy online you'll save a fortune.
Click to expand...

I have checked the prices for that Recaro one online, and they're pretty standard - I know Mothercare also pricematch, so I'll go in armed with smartphone :p

maccapacca said:
Wouldn't bother with combination seats, after a couple of years they'll be ruined with squished bananas and the like.
Click to expand...

SpeedFreak said:
While I concede that these aren't group 1-3, keep in mind that after 3-4 years of use it may actually need to be changed anyhow. I'm not sure if any seat will really last 6 years.
Click to expand...

This is a good point, I'll keep it in mind :) Cheers guys!
 
If safety is #1 priority (which I assume it will be!), go for a rear facing seat - not that easy to get in the UK and they cost more, but far safer for kids up to 4 years old in preventing internal decapitations. We've got a Britax Two-Way which I can recommend and can be used front facing for older children (5 years+).

Lots of info and links to specialist retailers here:

http://www.rearfacing.co.uk/
 
I personally think you would be hard pushed to beat the Maxi Cosi Axiss. Have a look at it, I had no idea this type of seat even existed until a friend showed me his one. We have had ours for over a year now and it has been a fantastic buy. It suits ages from 9 months through to 4 years.

http://www.maxi-cosi.com/products/car-seats/toddler/axiss.aspx


It has a clever 'swivel' system which is simplicity to operate and means that instead of reaching into the car with the little guy and trying to contort yourself into a position where you can get him sat in the seat correctly, all you do is open the car door, flick a release button and the entire seat swivels through 90 degrees to face you, plonk little fella into the seat, fasten and adjust his straps and then rotate the seat back to it's original position where it will lock securely in place. It also adjusts through 8 different positions to allow it to recline to the desired angle depending on whether they need a little snooze or not and it has a clever 'hook' system for the straps so they are held up out of the way at all times and don't get trapped behind the kids back when you plonk them in it.

Awesome seat, looking online they can be had for £150-£170 depending on where you purchase.
 
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We've got 2 Maxi Cosi Priory Fix seats for the bairns. They were around the £200 mark but seem very comfortable and very safe once plugged into the ISO FIX points.
 
maccapacca said:
don't buy from Mothercare that's the most expensive place, go and pick what you want then buy online you'll save a fortune.
Click to expand...

Mothercare price match with online shops providing the site has it in stock and you can add it into the basket. So no need to wait for an online order if they sell the item you want in mothercare.
 
Indeed. It's very substantial. And safe. Weight shouldn't be an issue unless your planning on removing it regularly and carting it around though. ;)
 
That Axiss seat isnt ISOFIX and that basis I wouldnt buy it.

Whatever you get, make sure its ISOFIX. Ones which require the seat belt just are not as good and fool proof; they dont come loose, the child cant undo it by themselves, your grandparents cant put it in "wrong". So many reasons ISOFIX is by far the best way of fixing the seat in the car.

Other thing id look out for is completely removable covers as you will need to remove them to clean them.

Id also avoid those Group1,2,3 seats which apparently accomodate from 18mths upwards. They just seem too big and not great fitting, especially around the head (less wraparound) and the hip (less wraparound).

We've got 2 of the britax safefix ones. They have been OK, but dont have fully removable covers and the belt tightening cord is hard to operate on one of them. Cant fault the build quality, fixings and how the design has plenty of side impact protection.
 
That would rely on my car having ISOFIX points. Which it doesn't ;)

I've been recommended not to bother with the combo ones, as the majority don't recline, meaning no sleeping for the little one in the car.

However, unfortunately my car has most likely just been written off, so it's going to be another month or 2 before we look at this anyway :(
 
The wife and me have been looking at car seats and we are going to buy the Recaro Young Sport Plus, it has a higher back than the normal one and we won't have to buy another one a few years down the line, unlike if we went for the Maxi Cosi Axiss.

Kiddiecare have it for the same price as the normal one at £148.
 
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