Car seats - again!

We currently have our DS in a capsule, but in about a month he'll be too heavy for it so we want to buy a convertible car seat, so that he can face rearwards for as long as possible. The SnS Platinum AHR doesn't seem to have very good reviews and is very xxxxy, so our next choice was going to be the SnS Meridian - but again it is still quite expensive. It's that whole safety vs price thing that I'm sure we all umm and ahh about when choosing items like these. From what I can see, the Meridian is the only car seat to have been updated since the new regs last year. Does anyone know of any other makes or models that are due to be updated in the near future. Does anyone else have any recommendations for converstible car seats?

We use SnS meridian for our newborn (we would use our SnS unity capsule but too hard)
but go on either choice or RACV (not sure what its called in perth sorry) and it sould have car seat ratings

my fav brand is SnS but other cheaper brands to have just as high safety rating (not sure on other seats rating as high as SnS Meridian)
your local baby stores should also have pamplets on car seats rating

sorry i couldnt be more helpful

We have a safe and sound Meridian AHR and its been great DS1 used it until 17 months then went to a maxirider as needed meridian for DS2, DS2 still in meridian and was just turned around other day at nearly 18 months.

We have the Meridian AHR also and I really love it. Oskar used it until he was 2 1/2 then we got him the MaxiRider as Elijah was moving out of the capsule. You can usually get it cheaper if you check out babyzonedirect dot com dot au. Also, some places will price match if you print it out to show them ;) I didn't know about that site when I got mine but did buy the SnS MaxiRider from there.

We have the Platinum AHR AIR and love it...It is the same shell and basic design as the Meridian AHR Tilt an Adjust, just with the added air cushion...the rest of the seat is the same components.....you can pick up a pre new regulations Meridian a bit cheaper at the moment because of the new meridian...the seats are identical, all that has been added are height markers. Alot of people on the carseat forums are grabbing the older ones because the height marker on the new ones is so short it means you have to turn you bubba usually before the 12 kilo mark.....if you a weight rated seat you don't have to worry about the height so long as you always make sure there is a clear inch between the top of bubs head the top of the headrest insert........

In short my recommendation is a Meridian or Platinum Tilt and Adjust pre height markers....

We bought S&S for my car but got some cheaper ones from Big W for DH's car and have been happy with those. FWIW my gf bought a Fisher Price seat for her daughter and it is identical to the S&S. The only difference was the label on it - even the stickers underneath etc were the same, so they are clearly made in the same factory.

We have a S&S Premier.

You are quite correct there Tanstar...fisher price, babylove and certain other labels are all manufactured by Britax which is the parent company for Safe 'n' Sound and Steelcraft. The only difference in they use less premium grade parts in the assembly.....still up to standard but not as premium as the SnS label.....bubs will be just as safe in either brand of seat.....

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so long as you always make sure there is a clear inch between the top of bubs head the top of the headrest insert........

In short my recommendation is a Meridian or Platinum Tilt and Adjust pre height markers....

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Melbel our seat doesn't have a headrest insert, so would it be an inch from the top of the seat? Sorry if that's a stupid question I'm just trying to keep him rear facing as long as possible and want to get it right! I think it's just about time to turn though :(

yeah I think so .......unless you are willing to upgrade to a longer bodied seat it will be time to turn him...You need around a inch clearance in rer facing to allow for the fact everything will compress backwards in the crash situation......just reading your ticker and he is 19months so you have done well.

If anyone is interested there is a petition going to bring bigger 'toddler' rearfacing seats to Australia......I will post the link here in case anyone feels like writing a heartfelt letter to the various authorities about this...

Campaign to manufacture and sell Type D Rear-Facing Toddler seats in Australia

Thanks Melbel! I'm very interested in the petition, thank you for posting. The seat we have has done us well. I would be happy to upgrade to a longer bodied seat, I'm going to go out and have a look at some soon, the other issue we have is a small car which doesn't help if it's specified with the longer seat to not touch the seat in front, we can't really afford to upgrade to a bigger car though :( Is there a seat, or a few that are known to be longer bodied seats? I'm guessing from your previous post the Meridians are for a start...

yeah, I think at the moment, the meridian/platinum would be the longest. If we are able to get bigger toddler rear facing seats here it will be great as they sit more upright like a normal seat so take up less backseat legroom space but because the current seats we have are designed to use from birth they are designed for the reclined mode and take up all that extra space. I also have a small car, an Astra, and have to have the front passenger seat right forwards at the moment.....luckily if I am in it with hubby he drives and I get to sit in the passenger seat which is okay cos I am only 5 foot 2 tall! I would love a bigger car though!

LOL we have a Getz and the same thing, the passenger seat is right up forward. There's no option but for DP to drive he's over 6 foot and I'm 5'2" (if that :p) Might have to see how much longer the Meridians are compared to ours and see how they'll go in the Getz. Thanks again Melbel:)