Baby seats - recommendations & ISOFIX

[tiny2009]

Spent the weekend looking at car seats to upgrade to from the capsule. Now I am completely confused and turning to the TS community for help!

Basic summary - wanting to get a convertible seat (newborn to 20+kg) so it would grow with him. Looked at a few options in places like baby factory, we seem to like the safe n sound range. However, whats the deal with anchorage and those tether straps?

Have been searching the web for reviews and examples, little information out there that I can find apart from users who will either love or hate a product with no actual information about it.

Naturally priority list is (sort of in order): Safe, comfortable, versatile, not too big, easy to get in and out of the car, looks decent, price.

Hopefully someone out there has some answers for me:
What have you used and what do you like?
What wouldn't you buy?
Car has ISOFIX, what models make use of this?
Also I don't think I have any anchor points for those straps - not keen on hacking up the rear just to install a seat (JZX110 Mark II), is this necessary?

[Mr Revhead]

No idea on seats, but you can buy anchor points. Don't nee to hack anything up, just drill a hole. Depending on what your parcel tray is made of you could cat a U shape flap so when you take it out all you have to do is stick the flap back down.

[Elmo]

We have and use the Safen sound Royal. It has the teathering strap for added security. I put mounts in both our vehicles for this, but it does occasionally get used in the front seats with out this strap. We do obvously always use the seat belt too.

This seat actually does from new born, but we chose a capsule as bubs could stay asleep when carried in etc.

Our seat does front and rearward facing, and is also reclinable.

[Nuty|Mike]

http://www.kiwibaby.co.nz/car-seats-boo ... n-RXT.html

got one of these (last years model) good seat very strong has all the bits inluding isofix clips

[Elmo]

We chose against iso fixings as none of our cars had it, so didnt bother for that expense.

[tiny2009]

Don't nee to hack anything up, just drill a hole. Depending on what your parcel tray is made of you could cat a U shape flap so when you take it out all you have to do is stick the flap back down.

When it comes to me it will end badly. With sunvisor, speakers and air purifier in the back parcel tray it could get tricky.

We have and use the Safen sound Royal. It has the teathering strap for added security.

So these straps are optional extras when installing or more of a should use setup?
Also using the capsule at the moment, with the clip on base it makes transportation pretty easy at the moment.

http://www.kiwibaby.co.nz/car-seats-boosters/convertible-car-seats-birth-upto-36kg/Diono-Radian-RXT.html

got one of these (last years model) good seat very strong has all the bits inluding isofix clips

These look pretty good, I did have my eye on one due to ISOFIX and also due to its frame.
Have any issues with it? Do you know if there is any stores that sells these so we can have a look up close?

[Elmo]

We have and use the Safen sound Royal. It has the teathering strap for added security.

So these straps are optional extras when installing or more of a should use setup?

Ours came with one attached, the capsule we had had one also so we used them. I dont know any legalities on it, we had it so used it, and they feel SSOO much sturdier with it attached also.

I though ISOFIX had them also?

[Nuty|Mike]

http://www.kiwibaby.co.nz/car-seats-boosters/convertible-car-seats-birth-upto-36kg/Diono-Radian-RXT.html

got one of these (last years model) good seat very strong has all the bits inluding isofix clips

These look pretty good, I did have my eye on one due to ISOFIX and also due to its frame.
Have any issues with it? Do you know if there is any stores that sells these so we can have a look up close?[/quote]

Sorry dont know anywhere else that sells them ,only issues I have are with its size since we have Jessica still rear facing it makes the front passengers seat pretty tight.

I also get company cars once and a while and find it very heavy to transfer.

Its super strong tho and has any sort of teather or attachment you need with it to keep our little ones safe.

[joff_nz]

Go Recaros!

They use the ISOFIX system which seems very very sturdy although we dont have it unfortunately. The build quality and materials, fabrics etc are great and the seats do adjust really well size wise. We currently have the booster (young sport?) which has nice features like when you unlcik it it beeps so if your kid works out how to you will know if they have release it.

We bought it for vanity reasons really but were that impressed that we purchased a matching capsule for upcoming baby. Another benefit is that they have a 10 year lifespan where a lot of seats have only 5 or 6 years.

This is good for resale or if you intend to pop out multiple kids.

For your current situation, I'd be looking at the capsule with the isofix base (young profi plus i think we have), it means no tether which is good cause they can be a bit of a pain to lift baby in and out past in some seats, and it should be pretty easy to fit and remove. as well as being safe, and a little bit baller. A bit pricy compared to others but I really rate them so far.

[fevil]

If in doubt talk to Plunket. They also hire car seats.

[tiny2009]

Recaros - I have read mixed reviews about these, I would expect them to be right up there based on the quality of their other gear but some reviews it sounds like they missed the mark. Are these convertible (front and rear facing)?

Would be keen to see them up close as well, anyone know of a dealer? Half the problem with buying this seat is being able to see it in person to get an idea of size, quality etc.

We currently have an evenflo capsule with base which is hooked in with isofix, love being able to unclip the the unit in and out, makes life easy. Unfortunately the little dude is not so little anymore... hence the upgrade.

Plunket - Nice call, I tend to forget about this. Might get in touch with the local plunket to see if they have anymore information.

[1I1]

You can get the Recaro's through Toyota dealers...

[Stott69]

You can get the Recaro's through Toyota dealers...

if your going to be checky like that you could post up some super cheap club deals. Im starting to have enough of having to swap the seat bettween cars so keen on see whats out there too.

[1I1]

Sorry Scott!

http://www.safeseats.co.nz/products.cfm?cat_id=1
http://www.safeseats.co.nz/downloads/re ... 010_LR.pdf


Young Profi Plus $395
Young Expert Plus $655
ISOFIX Base $280
Young Expert $560
Recaro Monza $467
Recaro Monza Seatfix $560
Young Sport $645

Postage around $10-$20

[Bling]

What next, a deal on TRD zimmer frames?

[1I1]

Midlife crisis first isn't it?

Though the FT86 is out this year, so yeah all ages covered

[Bling]

I thought the MR2s covered those in crisis?

[phoenix]

ISOFIX can be used with any car seat that uses the cars seat belt to secure, you just use the strap instead of the cars seat belt. I find you can get the ISOFIX strap way tighter than the cars belt, although potentially the fixings are not as strong and belt is not as robust - in which case you tighten the hell out of the ISOFIX strap then put the cars belt over the top with the clip thing on it for extra security.

If the seat has a tether strap then legally you have to use it. And now the recommendation is pretty much rearward facing until they're 18....so with rear facing car seat and the twin tether straps of a SnS Royale I'd compare it to having to fit a full size dummy into a overkill caged car with 5 point harness....extra fun points if it's raining

[tiny2009]

Thanks Mark, will look more into these Recaros, can you give a price for a base and seat (young expert plus) combo? Although looks like there seats are all fwd facing and non convertible? Come on man, you should know all about these now your uncle 1I1?

Thanks Mr phoenix, you have had previous interaction with dummies - did one of these ever own a Rover?

Going back to the Diono Radian, found some clips of these on the youstube, seems really good apart from the fact they are so massive and rid the front seat passenger of any space.

Still seem no closer to a decision... pretty sure when I was that small all I had was a chunk of foam from payless plastics

[1I1]

The Young Expert Plus can be used with either ISOFIX base or 3 point belt.

ISOFIX Base $280

AFAIK the seats can't be swapped front to rear facing or vice versa.

I don't given the job of putting my niece into car seats (or nappy duties thank F#*K ). Just the job of stopping her from crying which seems to be pretty easy for me to do so far.