Car Capsule Hire Question

[LionsandBears]

Our local council doesn't hire out capsules, but there are a few commercial places that do. They offer different brands though. I was wondering which were safest/best/easiest to use?

Options include:

Britax Safe-n-Sound Baby Safety Capsule

Snap N’ Go Infant carrier
Maxi Cosi Capsule

Our pram is not compatible with any Australian capsules, so it will only be to lift bub in and out of car.

We have a Safe n Sound Car seat for the other car, bought in 2010.

[Arimeh]

Do the ambo's in your state hire them out? Thats what we did when we had DS - and I'm pretty sure it was a safe n sound one.

[TaRhLi.]

When I had the twins we hired from Baby For Hire 2 x Babylove Snap N Go.

I found that one wasn't as heavy 'empty' as the others available so factoring in 2 x baby weight as well. They were the best thing for my boys as they were born in May, so didn't have to worry about standing in the rain and cold strapping them into carseats.

But for DD we didn't worry about using a capsule as we didn't have a compatible pram and she was born in October so it was easy to just carry her to the car and strap her into the carseat.

Seeing you will have to take bub out of a capsule to put into a pram or carrier when out and about, I personally wouldn't worry about hiring a capsule especially if you already have a carseat that is from birth that can be installed rearwards facing.

[LionsandBears]

Thanks. It's so we have one capsule/car seat in each car - rather than moving it from one car to another, depending on what we're doing. We thought we'd hire a capsule for 6 months and then buy another car seat later. The new car, which I'll put the capsule in, has Isofix points. Hopefully, Isofix car seats will be available next year.

ETA - the ambo's dont hire them out.

[milka]

I used the britax safe sound that my council hired out - it was great. My baby use to love sleeping in it and I could easily take the capsule out and leave him on the kitchen table or where ever fast asleep! He out grew it at around 4 months.

[~Hestia~]

We had a Maxi Cosi for Buster because it clipped right onto our pram. However...DH and I both found it very awkward to carry. I'm sure they're not the easiest things to lug around but the handle just seemed a really odd shape and was quite thin where you gripped onto.

[LionsandBears]

Bumping

[Bloom]

I would NOT get the two handled one (Britax one). I had one very similar to this through Kidsafe for my first two babies and it was not comfy to carry.

With DD we bought a One Safe brand one 2nd hand and it was great! One handle design is better than two, I think. She was in it (and took it out of the car, carried it into friend's houses, kindy etc) until she hit the 9kg weight limit (at about 5 months!). It didn't clip into our stroller but it was still good. We used it like a rocker/seat thing too while we were at home.

Some people complain that they are too heavy etc, but I found it was ok (though I am pretty muscly).

Anyway, the Babylove thing looks good IMO.

Hope this ramble helps!

[CinderToriella]

We have the maxi , we find it fine , no problems at all . Yeah it's heavy to carry but I'm sure they all are once they have a baby in them ..

[Frangipani Lou]

Have you considered getting a seat that starts from birth? We worked out it was cheaper than hiring a capsule and then buying a seat at around 6 months of age.