[hoohoobump]

Hi all in the UK,

We're off back for a long family holiday in a couple of months and need to get a new carseat for the UK.

DS is 2, almost 3
102cm (at last count, but is a beanstalk)
is almost 18kg - seems to be in a growth spurt, so I think he will be over that when we get there

He still fits in his Safe n Sound Meridian AHR here and is comfy (although I think it states it's limit is 18kg too).

We need to order the seat in advance to the grandparents house as they are picking us up from the airport (to travel a couple of hours from London).

So, I need carseat suggestions:

- to fit a new-ish VW Golf (has ISOFIX) as there are a couple of these in the family and we usually hire something similar
- for a tall, heavy toddler that has been known to escape from his five-point harness
- safe - I can't seem to find something similar to the CREP in Aus, but they all seem to meet EU Standards
- it seems that for a child over 18kg I cannot purchase a five-point-harness seat due to the laws - is that correct?


Any seat suggestions welcome - as it is going to be 11-13 pounds a day to hire one, we will buy one and leave it there for next trip

Any website suggestions welcome for safety and car compatibility welcome

Hope you can help

[lsolaBella]

which.co.uk is the website which has the comparative testing.

Yes the UK seats (like the Australian seats were) are 'up to 18kgs' for FF seats.

[fi73]

Hi

www.britax.co.uk has lots of information and a section to put in make/model of car and carseats which will suit.

I remember buying a car seat at Mothercare over there a few years ago and they let me take it out to the carpark and try it in my car first.
HALFORDS www.halfords.co.uk sell and fit car seats as well.

Fiona

[hoohoobump]

Thanks guys for your help so far. I'll try 'which.co.uk' again, but it seems to be members only.

The seat belt fastened seats (e.g. the seats for 18kgs+) seem to be pretty good - I assume there's seatbelt loops to make the belt fit in the right place. I just have visions of my little bloke trying to slide out under the seat belt on the motorway.

[lsolaBella]

Although it looks totally dodgy to our eyes who are used to a 5pt harness, this seat the Kiddy Energy Pro actually is the TOP rated seat for FF. The shield uses the adult seatbelt and protects the child.

This seat scores 80%

http://www.which.co.uk/baby-and-child/baby...rgy-pro/review/

The Kiddy Infinity Pro gets 78%

http://www.which.co.uk/baby-and-child/baby...ity-pro/review/

Britax TriFix gets 76% (ISOFIX and Top Tether 5pt harness)

Maxi Cosi Priorifix gets 75% (ISOFIX and front foot prop 5pt harness).

Having used the Prioirfix before I know that at 105cm the top of my child's head was out of the top of the seat and the eyes/ears were getting to be level with the top/sides of the seat. The Britax TriFIX looks to be a similar height in seatback. So my concern over the 5pt harness seats is that much of your child's head at the top would be exposed.

The Safety 1st TriSafe (which looks like one of our convertible boosters) gets a DO NOT BUY score

Recaro Young Sport (which is a convertible booster) only gets at score of 56%

Renolux Quick Comfort gets a score of 50%

Nania I-MAX SP also only gets 54%


So really it comes down to safety, do you really want a 5pt harness and how much of their head do you want exposed from the top of the seat (you can email manufacturers and ask for the internal height of their seats) but from memory the Britax FF seats are only for children to around 105cm in height like the Maxi Cosi Priorifix

[hoohoobump]

Because he's so tall and heavy (although only 2 and 10 moths when we're there), I think I'll need a Group 2/3 seat, won't I? Do those Kiddy brand ones have an 18kg plus too?

Thanks for the 'Which' links - very helpful.

[lsolaBella]

Over 18kgs you are looking at booster seats only unfortunately.

From experience I can highly recommend the Britax Kidfix (and was surprised at how well DS1 at 3.5yrs sat in the seat) but I was sitting beside him and reminding him to sit correctly in his seat. I kept him in a 5pt harness at home until he was 5.25yrs of age though.

ETA: I lie. The Britax Multitech is a Group 1/2 (FF seat) up to 25kgs BUT Which gives it a DO NOT BUY rating with only 28%

Unrated is the Britax Evolva 123 Plus which is a convertible booster with inbuilt harness to 18kgs. If your child is only 18kgs I would consider using this seat (as being a booster seat too it caters for the height)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTl76D3QOvA

This post has been edited by lsolaBella: 03/08/2012, 04:53 PM

[lsolaBella]

Sorry the Multitech is only 18kgs FF.

The Multitech is to 25kgs RF

http://www.britax.co.uk/media/2917240/111207_multi_tech.pdf