Car Seat Buying Guide
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Recently we have had to purchase a new car seat.
Blake outgrew his Silvercross 0+ car seat which I am surprised that he lasted up to
13 months in. After some research online we knew we wanted to go with one of two brands
Britax or Joie.
We had looked into go refacing for longer originally however when it comes to car seats I am a novice to be honest. One thing I knew we had to do was get a car seat fitted as
I didn't want to get a car seat for Blake that didn't fit the cars we needed it to go in properly.
So we went to our local In car safety center this was after a recommendation from
one of my mummy friends who got her son's new car seat from there.
When we arrived the lady who was helping us was very helpful and
we looked a quite a few car seats before deciding on the one that we went for.
One of the ones that we were interested in which was a Joie wasn't suitable for the car
as it kept slipping. Blake also hated it and he just didn't look comfortable.
After a discussion with Stuart we both agreed that we wanted to try out the Britax Duo Plus forward facing seat.
Before I go into talking about the car seat we purchased I recently came across the
Good Egg buying guide to help you feel safe when making such an important purchase.
The six points are :
1. Is the car seat right for my child?
2. Will it fit my car?
3. Is the seat of the correct standard?
4. Are fitting instructions easily understandable
5. Is it a problem if my car has a passenger seat air bag
6. Which make should I buy?
Now onto the car seat we purchased.
The Britax DUO PLUS is ideal for our needs and Blake is happy and comfortable in it.
It is a stage 1 car seat which last from approx 9 months to 4 years 9lkg-18kg.
The DUO PLUS combines installation flexibility with a unique innovation from Britax. Compatible with ISOFIX or 3-point seat belt installation the seat caters to any car. While its pioneering Pivot Link System ensures reduced frontal movement in the event of an accident.
Highlights of the car seat:
1. Comfort without compromise - deep, padded side wings, multi-position recline
2. Perfect fit - height-adjustable headrest and harness with easy single-handed adjustment
3. Lightweight – easy to transfer between cars
4.Practicality in mind - removable, padded cover
5. Easy access - harness retainers
We like that this car seat is suitable to be used with ISOFIX and also with a seat belt as we need
it to fit in 2 cars one which has ISOFIX and one that doesn't.
There are also 6 rules of safety when it comes to car seats to follow.
1. avoid buckle crunch
2. be aware of correct harness height
3. seat belt routing must be correct
4. avoid twisted harnesses
5. avoid bulky clothes
6. remove interfering head rests
I hope this guide has been helpful as I know i needed something like this and
now know a bit more for future car seat purchases.
28 comments
A good car seat is like a little tank! My two youngest are getting to the age where we'll have to look for other options but nothing looks as safe as these.
ReplyDeleteIve heard the britax carseats are really good! He does look super comfy and of course safe :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have any children and who knew it was such a mine field. Hopefully your post will help other new parents when buying for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI really hate buying car seats as it's so important and so technical. Thanks for the advice. It helps people like me.
ReplyDeleteGreat helpful post. Will take these on board when looking for a new carseat for baby#3
ReplyDeleteWe're coming up to needing another car seat soon and it always boggles my mind choosing. Seeing and testing them is so important if you can as my favourite ended up not seeming comfortable for my daughter and we went with something totally different.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. It's such a tough decision. Amelia had a britax as her second car seat I was really happy with it. It's now in my parents car as I have a new one. Great that this fits both with a seatbelt and isofix!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like the one we have got for Lucas, he really likes it and enjoys being able to see more in forward facing x
ReplyDeleteSome really valid points here. Great advice about going to a centre where they help with fitting. We recently had a problem when I got a new car and needed a seat. Only certain ones would fit in my car securely. Thanks for sharing. I am sure this will help so many mother sin the future. :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard these are really good and I don't even have my own children, but always good to see what others think for the future! This is a helpful post and look at blakes little rosy cheeks bless! :) x
ReplyDeleteMy sister had to get new ones for my twin nephews and I was shocked at the price x
ReplyDeleteIt seems that your gorgeous baby loves the car seat! The Good Egg buying guide seems great! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://lilinhaangel.com/
I have to admit I really struggled when I bought my last car seat as there were just too many to choose from this one looks perfect
ReplyDeleteaww how lovely! safety is such an important issue I don't know how you pick one! I am too indecisive I let the other half do it!
ReplyDeleteWe actually used to have a similar car seat when my little foster sister was younger but an older version. I like that it is comfortable and durable and I think that is good value for its price.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good car seat guide i do not yet have kids bit its always nice to be prepared.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! We had to buy a slightly unusual one as however tight we did the straps Baby would escape, so hers has a block in front and no shoulder straps x
ReplyDeleteReally great post. I know that when I'm a mummy I will struggle with this side of things, because I know so little about cars but I'll want my baby to be super safe. Thanks for sharing x
ReplyDeleteOur car has three different Britax seats - it's a brand I know and trust!
ReplyDeleteA good car seat is so important! O and I were involved in a minor car accident when he was 2 years old - and whilst I was extremely sore for the weeks afterwards, he was completely unaffected.
ReplyDeleteIt can be difficult finding the right car seat but using a checklist or guide most definitely works!
ReplyDeleteWe have this car seat for Lamb and love it. It's super secure. Unfortunately it only feels secure in one of our cars which proves how important it is to test seats before you buy them.x
ReplyDeleteGreat tips for purchasing car seats. It really feel such a responsibility buying one. However he looks very happy and comfy in it
ReplyDeleteGreat advice and tips for buying a car seat - I love Britax, such brilliant quality. Kaz x
ReplyDeleteThe world of car seating buying is so difficult and you've come up with some great questions that parents need to think about when purchasing them. We recently purchase a Cyber Sirona seat and it's brilliant and perfect for us.
ReplyDeleteLaura x
Thank you for this! It can be so confusing knowing which to chose. I find I do prefer the isofix for ease. We also have three children, so it's knowing how much room you have as well as budget, safety should never be compromised but the higher rated ones are always so much more expensive, x
ReplyDeleteIt really can be so confusing about which car seats to buy for your child at each stage of their development. This is a great guide which I hope will help parents. I'm luckily out of this stage with 12 & 13 year olds
ReplyDeleteThat's true anyway. I recently have made done my car seats changed and also Car Scratch Repair Dublin expertise by BAC. You won't believe that their work was literally very amazing.
ReplyDelete