

If you really can't go ERF

(20 Posts)
ClairesTravellingCircus Tue 09-Apr-13 14:50:29

What would you get as group 1 seat?

(Have looked at ERF, but we definitely can't afford them, plus they're a logisticsl nightmare as have 4 kids, and can't get them fitted as not in a country where they do this..)

Your help is greatly appreciated as I am going mad!!

Misty9 Tue 09-Apr-13 20:26:23

I would get something that can rearface up until 2yrs ish, then forward face to the weight limit. Britax first class plus seems to get good reviews, and isn't too expensive iirc?

ClairesTravellingCircus Tue 09-Apr-13 21:23:02

Thanks Misty, but dts are alredy 14 months and still have about an inch in their infant seats which I will use til the very end!

I don't really want to buy a seat that I will need replaced in about a year's time, I might as well buy an ERF one then.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Misty9 Wed 10-Apr-13 09:16:53

Sorry, I wasn't clear - the britax will last until 4yrs ish (like most stage 1 seats I think?) but does at least rearface up until 13kg (I think, something like 2yrs anyway) then you have to use it forward facing up to 18kg. I think there are other combi seats like it too.

ClairesTravellingCircus Wed 10-Apr-13 12:08:37

Thank you, that makes sense. I have emailed britax to ask if it is suitable for my car. It would be an excellent solution! (And they're only £100 from amazon!) smile

lenats31 Thu 11-Apr-13 18:48:22

One with a harness system. Britax and Maxi Cosi make good quality seats.

However, you may face trouble fitting 4 of them in your car onless you have 7 seats and all them fullsized back seats.

MandragoraWurzelstock Thu 11-Apr-13 18:50:56

We got a RF seat for about 150 ex display. Recaro polaric I think it is.

I was going to suggest a FF one such as the Kiddy Comfort as they have that large cushion to spread the impact on the front, but they actually cost more.

Cybex pallas also similar idea.

WithASpider Thu 11-Apr-13 18:51:59

I have the Recaro Young Sport that will fit DS until he's 12 (apparently!) Chosen because it's much slimmer than most other seats and i have to fit it in the car with DD1 and 2.

Has a 5 point harness till 18 kilos and a 'baby' (9m+) insert too.

ClairesTravellingCircus Thu 11-Apr-13 19:15:45

Thanks all, dd1&2 are 12&9 so out of bulky seats thankfully.

I was hoping to put the dts in the middle and side seat (so we leave easy acces to dd2), but the britax first class will not go in my middle seat according to Britax. Which is a real shame...

Does anyone of other good combination seats? I see there's a new maxicosi, the milofix, but can't find any info on it.


Misty9 Thu 11-Apr-13 19:45:34

I think all 0+ and 1 seats (usually state birth-4yrs) are rear and forward facing. I used the wrong term - apparently combination means a forward facing only seat which can be used as a booster too.

That's a shame about the first class. I have a feeling that the britax two way elite isn't too expensive? It's an erf seat and you can buy it from the in car safety centre in Milton Keynes.

Good luck - it's a mine field isn't it?!

ClairesTravellingCircus Thu 11-Apr-13 19:53:55

Thanks Misty, but apparently the TWE is not suitable for our car.
I have emailed Car Safety Centre, Securatots and and they've all come upwith seats that are at least £250 each (most are closer to 3-400shock), and taking into consideration I need two, plus I am not in the UK so have to order on line and then figure out how to fit... It's just a massive headache!

AuchAyethenoo Thu 11-Apr-13 20:12:11

I don't know your budget or your car type, but did you have a look at the britax multi tech, now sold by volvo?

It's roughly £180 delivered to your local dealership, though I see you would need two.

They are ERF seats up to 25kg and importantly are harnessed in the rf position to this weight also.

These are not fixed seats, they use tethers and can look daunting but are actually quite easy after the first installation.

Might be worth a look.

Misty9 Thu 11-Apr-13 21:15:51

Ah, that's a pain then. Might be worth a cheeky ask for a discount since you're buying two?!

We've just had our britax max way delivered from Sweden (in uk ourselves) and it was pretty difficult to fit. More to the point, I've no real idea whether I've done it properly! I've compared with a friend who has similar and concluded I need to do some adjustments, but I'm sure once you've done it the first time it's easier. But that doesn't take away from the extortionate price of erf, I know. Disgraceful really. Ours was £308 delivered and with the wedge.

The next safest option to erf is impact bar forward facing, but they're just as expensive as erf ime. You should be able to get twin tax breaks I reckon! Must cost a fortune doing everything twice.

Misty9 Thu 11-Apr-13 21:16:58

What car have you got?

HappyAsASandboy Thu 11-Apr-13 21:27:48

It is always worth asking for a discount if you're buying two of something expensive. I got 10% off my two Besafe izi combi seats, which helped a bit though you still have to breathe deeply while paying.

I know they're expensive, but when you consider the daily use over 3+ years, car seats are with the investment IME.

What car have you got? People may be able to advise more if they know car make/model and ages of children to be seated?

ClairesTravellingCircus Thu 11-Apr-13 21:53:36

Look it really is complicated.

We have a toursn, 4dc, car is driven by both me and dh, so we can't have a seat behjnd the driver as the seat gets adjusted all the time.

As I said in a previous post I have emailed 3 different retailers who very kindly have looked into it and come back with some options. All are expensive, plus I don't feel comfortable fitting them myself (or dh).

So really the best option for me us something like the first class which will take us to 13kg. They are not big babies so that should last a while.
It judt happens that the Fc is not ideal in our car either so I was asking for advice or recommendation on similar seats.

I do appreciate people trying to help smile, but I am happy with ghis solution now. Thanks!

ClairesTravellingCircus Thu 11-Apr-13 21:56:50

Yes Minty twins are really expensive, especially when no 3&4 (had to change car too!). They are lively though when they don't cry at the same time smile

Misty9 Thu 11-Apr-13 22:15:25

The safety 1st primeofix and the maxi cosi opal are both rear and ff. not sure how good either are though. There's not as many of these as I thought there'd be. Annoying.

lagoonhaze Thu 11-Apr-13 22:19:13

Try the new joie stages RF to 18kg seat. (new model RF to 18kg, unlike old model to 13kg)
Price tag not bad but never actually seen seat personally

ClairesTravellingCircus Mon 15-Apr-13 21:11:20

The Joie seat looks interesting, but can't fund any info on its safety or car fitting advice...

Anyone know anything about them?

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