[twilightangel]

I'm hoping someone can help me decide which car seat is best to purchase for my situation.

I currently have

DS 9yrs sitting on car seat using normal seatbelt

DD who is turning 7yrs in a Hi Liner

DD who is turning 5yrs in a Maxi Rider AHR using the 5 point harness. She weighs 16kg.

DS who is almost 3yrs in a Meridian Tilt and Adjust. He weighs approx 12kg.

DS 6 months in a Unity Capsule.



The unity capsule is a hired capsule and due back in a weeks time so I am looking at having to purchase another car seat. I was hoping DD would be able to move out of the maxi rider and into a hi liner but she is too little and I would prefer to keep her in the maxi rider for safety.

So do I

A ) - Buy another Meridian Tilt and Adjust for my baby or

B ) - Buy one of the new Maxi Rider AHR Easy Adjusts and move the almost 3yr old into that and give bub the Meridian?


The sales lady also tried to imply that I would not be able to rearward face my baby for 18 months like I did with my last son in the new seats with the height markers. Does anyone know if this is correct? I know it comes down to the individual child and the length of that child but I really do not want to turn him forward facing before 12 months of age.

I know the Meridian ranks higher in the CREP results over the Maxi Rider but I'm not sure if I should be basing my decision on just that. So if this was you which seat would you be buying?

Thanks heaps :-)

[mitty82]

I would buy another maxi rider and put bub in the meridian. Because you will get more time out of a maxi rider than another meridian. if that makes sense. due to the ages of your children etc

[PreachersWife]

I would buy the baby a SnS Compaq, it has very high RF and FF markers and will probably last until they are ready for a booster. That way, your DS can stay harnessed as long as possible, but when he does move to a booster you don't have to deal with a super wide MaxiRider!

Otherwise, if you would prefer to use the Meridian for the baby, the new Maxiriders look quite good, have very high markers and have been tested with higher weights. They are also narrower than the previous maxis.

CREP ratings are quite out of date now, so not really useful information unless you have 2004 standard seats. And I'm pretty sure seats like the Compaq have been designed for RF to at least 12 months.

Happy shopping!

[Kay1]

I would buy the baby a SnS Compaq, it has very high RF and FF markers and will probably last until they are ready for a booster. That way, your DS can stay harnessed as long as possible, but when he does move to a booster you don't have to deal with a super wide MaxiRider!

I was going to say this too.

[twilightangel]

Mitty82 - Yes that makes sense. Thank you.

PreachersWife - DS would remain in a harness even if using the Maxi Riders. Yes the new ones are 30mm slimmer at the base than the older style ones. I will check out the compaq when I go into the shop so thank you for the recommendation. I didn't realise the CREP results were old. I thought they were released at the end of last year.

[sparkler]

I think putting your 3yo in one of the new Maxi Riders would be fine as long as your DS can cope with being fairly upright if he needs more of a recline (for example when sleeping) I would be getting a compaq for the baby and keeping him in his meridian.

[sarkazm76]

CREP ratings are quite out of date now, so not really useful information unless you have 2004 standard seats. And I'm pretty sure seats like the Compaq have been designed for RF to at least 12 months.

This brochure says it's from 2011? (download the link shown)

http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/Int...luation+program

[PreachersWife]

This brochure says it's from 2011? (download the link shown)

http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/Int...luation+program

Yep, the last lot of testing results came out in 2011 but all seats tested were from the previous standard (2004) which were weight based, rather than the height based seats manufactured under the most recent standard (2010). We are still waiting on the last lot of results but these will be out of date when they are released, as they aren't testing many new seats and there have been changed in most models (and new models released) since then.

[twilightangel]

Thank you for clearing that up for me.

That is another factor in why I am considering in putting bubs into the Meridian. Being mine is weight rated he should be able to remain rearward facing until close to 18 months like his brother did but when we were at the shops the other day I put him in a new meridian and it seemed as though there was not much room to grow until his shoulders hit the line. I will definitely be checking out the compaq though as they seem to be a popular choice.

Thanks.

[lsolaBella]

CREP were due to release the first if the 2010 height marker standard seats in October last year.... We are still waiting on those results. CREP are woefully out if date. Even their next test results will be out of date as I believe they testeded the old Maxi Rider, not the newly released one.

Compaq should last to around 94cm rear facing and 120cm FF. it is a good seat.