Recommend a car baby seat

[DSK]

The other half is pregnant (first one) and I'd like to start getting a few bits and bobs early on rather than rushing towards the end.

So can you please recommend any good quality baby car seats please as I have no idea about them and whats needed in terms of features etc.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by DSK

The other half is pregnant (first one) and I'd like to start getting a few bits and bobs early on rather than rushing towards the end.

So can you please recommend any good quality baby car seats please as I have no idea about them and whats needed in terms of features etc.

https://accessories.volvocars.com/Le...R_GB_NL_DE.pdf

not sure if they are still avaiable but might give you some ideas .

[Bendolfc]

Baby seats is probably about the only thing worthwhile in Which magazine so I'd probably start there and look at the best buys. There are so many seats that meet the regulations but test poorly, may be worth a 1 month trial to research, but don't forget to cancel if you do.

Interestingly last time I looked, the Volvo branded seats scored poorly.

[Harvey1512]

Go to Mothercare, speak to someone in there. They will take a range of seats out to your car, they will make sure they fit YOUR car correctly. If you buy online then how do you know it will do the job? Not one to skimp on.

[Montana]

With our boy, i was desperate to get a Recaro seat for his second seat after outgrowing the first, however (glady) i didnt as when we tried him out in it the fit wasnt great for him at that age (wrong strap height, no head support), you really need to try a few out. Although when he got bigger we did eventually put him in a Recaro seat.

However this doesnt answer your question as you wont be able to try before you buy by taking the baby along with you. My advice is to view a few in person with an open mind and get a feel for them (dont assume higher price is better). Not sure if your car has isofix but its make it slightly easier to fit (mine didnt) although no issue once you get used to the belt configuration.

[DSK]

Thanks for the replies. I thought the fit may have been a much of a muchness but I'll pop round a few stores then an check on fit.

[Montana]

Smyths have a good selection and we bought one from there for the OHs car (theres that aswell, if you have >1 car you will quickly tire of moving it between vehicles!)

https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Bendolfc

Baby seats is probably about the only thing worthwhile in Which magazine so I'd probably start there and look at the best buys. There are so many seats that meet the regulations but test poorly, may be worth a 1 month trial to research, but don't forget to cancel if you do.

Interestingly last time I looked, the Volvo branded seats scored poorly.

That is interesting , I bet the world leader in car safely volvo would have something to say about that :-) All their car seats go through the volvo crash test centre ...

[cheshired5]

It was a long time ago now, but we used the Graco travel system for our newborns which incorporated a "fixed" base in the car which the baby seat clipped in and out of in 2 seconds and the same seat then clipped straight onto the pram and you're away.
The pram then converted to a front facing buggy for when the babies were bigger.
It was an ingenious design which I'd hope has been improved further yet it wasn't the most expensive by a long way and rated incredibly high in the safety ratings at the time.

Whilst suggestions are well intended, including this one, I would never buy a child seat that I haven't physically seen and tested so have a morning out together and see what works for you.

Congratulations on the baby too.
One day you may too find yourself writing a car seat recommendation for an expectant father and wonder exactly how and where the time went.

[DaveNP]

Again it's been a long time since we bought a child seat (the youngest has just shouted 'see you later' and gone out in his own car), and I don't know where in the 'midlands' you are but-
I would recommend the In Car Safety Centre in Milton Keynes. We used them 30+ years ago for our eldest and they've been going strong ever since and I see from their website they've moved to new premises. They specialise in in car safety, so they know what they're talking about and don't need to know about maternity dresses, babygrows, cot toys etc. There are so many variables with baby and child seats that even something that gets rave reviews online may not be suitable to your car so to my mind it's worth talking to a specialist.

Milton Keynes is about 1 1/2 hour drive from Birmingham and the Safety Centre is just round the corner from MK Stadium with plenty of restaurants and shops and IKEA is just a bit further, or there's MK City centre shops if you want to make a day trip