Car Seats

[NaeNae]

Hi All,

This is probably the umteenth time someone has posted this but I am just wondering what car seats you all got and why you got that particular one.

I currently drive a two door Bitsamissing Lancer. I have seen a car seat that has a swivel base to make things easier to get bubbie in and out of the vehicle.

If anyone else has used one like this I would love some feedback.

The car seat will need to be able to used from birth to toddler (hopefully), any brand any price anything you have advice on would be greatly appreciated

Thanks all
Nae x

[~Trish~]

Hi Nae . The one with the swivel base is a Turn-a-tot and I've heard it is great for fitting in smaller cars. The only downside is that it doesn't swivel when in forward-facing mode, but that's not really a biggie.

Another model that suits smaller cars is the Safe-N-Sound Compaq. It is smaller and narrower than standard SNS car seats so that may be good too.

I personally love Safe-N-Sound car seats, they are great quality, exceed safety standards and very user friendly.

Good luck deciding!

[*LovemyKids*]

I have a turn a tot and i LOVE IT!!!

I have a landcruiser so i have a big car and its great. I got it so i can turn it around and put bubs in rather then having to climb up. I found it really easy to turn around without having to unhook the seat. It is a great size for smaller cars and its a great size for my car as i have two booster seats as well as a baby seat in the back. My DD is only a little girl and i think she will be in it for a while she is nearly 1. I first bought it when i found out i was pregnant with her and my middle son used it for a while he was probably about 2 so he still fit in it fine. honestly i really like my turn a tot!!!
You can actually go to the baby shops and they will let you try it in your car to see which one fits best!!!

HTH Nikki

[Just Me]

I have a Safe and Sound AHR Meredian for my DD and I love it. The base is really stable and doesn't tend to move about the way some of the other car seats I have seen do. It is quite big though when it is rearward facing.

For my second baby I bought a capsule (you can also hire them). I found it so much better than the rearward facing carseat. If the baby falls asleep, you can take out the whole thing and you don't have to worry about taking in another bed for them. If you know you are going out, you can put them to sleep in the capsule and then you don't have to disturb them. My capsule also had a rocker on the bottom so I could put DS in it and rock him with my foot while I was out. It also fits in the top of my pram so I could just take it out of the car and put it straight into the pram. It also took up less room than a rearward facing carseat and was much quicker to put DS in the car because I did all the buckling up while I was inside.

The downside is that it won't take you all the way to toddler, but you can hire them from the ambulance for $60 for 6 months (in Queensland but I imagine it would be similar in other places). I got mine on special from Target for $200 normally $300.

HTH

[rufalina]

I love the safe'n'sound compaq. It is prefect for my Astra. DH has been happy in it rearward facing till now (11.5 months), and he is just getting a bit long for it. I have never had a problem with getting him in and out. easy. I will be turning it round on the weekend.
We can easily fit two compaqs and a person in the back seat of our car... well almost easily, it is definately do-able!

ETA - My sister has one in her 2 door astra and it fits easily there too. She would sit on the front seat and pop her DD in, now it is front facing it is easier...

[Just Me]

DH has been happy in it rearward facing till now (11.5 months), and he is just getting a bit long for it. I have never had a problem with getting him in and out.

Rufalina - I know it's a typo but now I have visions of your DH in a rearward facing carseat.

[Megan]

I also have a safe n sound compaq in my Astra. It came recommended to me by a family friend who fits car seats. I can still sit comfortably in the passenger seat with the car seat behind me (but I am a 5ft 3 shorty!)

[NaeNae]

Howdy all,

Just an update, I took my car down to Fountain Gate and tried the Turn a Tot and the SnS compac in my little car. I had no idea the seats themselves were so big, anyway neither fitted in the middle where my bolt is without having both driver and passenger seats really far forward.
Therefore the only one that I could get is the Turn a tot. even the lady said it was really my only option aside from buying a new car which DH can't afford to do until he is finished Uni.
I will still have to get the bolt put in on the passenger side and there is absolutely no room for a passenger unless they sit in back with bub.

Turn a tot was the first one I saw but I really really wanted a SnS after all the reading I did.

Oh well, I am still happy they have a 4 star reputation.

Thanks again so much for all your advice

Nae x x x

[mummato1]

I have a 2 door mitsubishi lancer as well (hey and mine is blue to!!) and I ended up hiring a capsule.. and it fits fine in the middle. Saying that tho DP and I are both short (I am only 5ft) and have the seat all the way forward anyway.

The first place I went to couldnt get it to fit, but I honestly think she had NO idea what she was doing as the second place we went to the capsule was fine. I was pretty keen to try the turn a tot as well but no-one around here stocks it.

[Taurean]

Therefore the only one that I could get is the Turn a tot.

Nae, did they try the SnS Compaq? I thought they were very similar in size to the Turn-a-Tot

[NaeNae]

Hey Taurean,

yes we tried the compaq size wise it was perfect but for it to fit in the middle seat I'd have to push the driver seat and passenger seat all the way forward in which case I couldn't possibly drive like that. (same as the Turn a tot)

The only other place was on the passenger side back seat then I have the issue of getting baby in and out and would have to lean in through driver side if that makes sense.

Because the turn a tot has the rotating axis I can load and unload baby from the passenger side which I think will make it easier.

IF I had my way DH and I would swap cars as his is 4 door and would make a much more sensible choice for me, BUT he is pretty attached to his car and needs it for his music stuff (keyboard, amp and god knows what else). and besides that he hates driving my manual (he has an auto).



we really do need a more family orientated vehicle and one that I can tow my horses around with as well we just need to wait another 18 months is all .

[Taurean]

Ah, gotcha now. Yeah, the Turn-A-Tot would make life a lot easier in that case. They're a great car seat anyway so not such a bad outcome.

[Rommy'sMummy]

Hi Ladies!

I have found the best thing for us to do is to go to the RAA (whatever the equivalent is in your state) and talk to them about the safest seats. They will also be able to check your car to see if it fits well and what is going to work best for you and bubs. We always buy our car seats there and they fit them for us properly. I have always had really good advice from them. DS is very small for his age due to health issues and so is hard to fit ie only 6kg at 12 months old and now weighs 16kg and is five next month. That makes professional fitting (child to seat and seat to car) really valuable for us.

With this bub coming we will be getting a capsule for 4-6 months from Red Cross. You can hire them for only $10 month. They cost aroun $200-$300 to buy. Then we will go to RAA to get the next size seat and have them fit it in the car for us. I was going to get one of those "travel system" pram/car seat combo things as they seem like such a sensible idea. The ladies at RAA then pointed out that they can only be called "travel systems" and not capsules as they aren't deep enough to qualify for that status. Just stuff I wouldn't have know about and am now glad I do.

We have a Safe-n-Sound MaxiRider in the everyday car and a Pegasus now in hubbys car.

Confusing thought isnt it?

Rachel