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We currently have a Meridian AHR for DS and we HATE it. DS can get out of it in about 2 seconds flat, plus we have had no end of other hassles with it. We are actually going to be purchasing two new car seats, one for this little one and a new one for him because we are so concerned about his safety.
So I am wondering what others recommend that's NOT an AHR Meridian.
Whats his age/height/weight?
DS is 21 months. Just over 12kg and he was 83cm two months ago.
We're going to need one for this new baby as well. We've got a capsule until about 6 months, but we won't be putting the new one in the AHR Meridian...we've just had too many issues with it, so will need one for the new baby as well.
If i had available funds and could justify new seats right now i would be getting the Safety 1st Swish Air Protect. 8-26kgs, convertible so will be a booster when he is 4-7.
Thanks. I'll google it and have a look
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We have one for DD and she's happy in it. No dramas with it so far either.
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I'd check out the CREP results on seat safety on the RACV website
What Olive said :)
Also have you contacted Safe N Sound about the issues your having, they have a FB page and they have really great customer service from what i have seen.
A friend was having issue with buckles and they sent her out a new one.
We have the Maxi rider AHR's as we wanted the safety (2nd in it's class at the time), the customer service & the comfort - we looked at the #1 in the class but there were not a huge deal of differences but DD didn't seem as comfy in it when we took her to check them all out and we take long trips a bit so that was also important to us.
Zarava - This is the third AHR Meridian we've had. First two were replaced, for the exact same fault, and then we've had the third one do the same thing. Plus DS has been able to get his arms out of the restraints since he was about 13 months old. Now he does it so often I am constantly watching him through the rear view mirror. When I contacted Safe n Sound about him getting his arms out they basically told me it was impossible, but I have a friend who has one as well and she has the same issues with it as I do.
Olive - Will check out that site. Thanks :)
Tal i'm looking at getting this for DS - Hipod Senator Convertible Booster Seat With Sound Opal. it's half price at Target atm. Can't find many reviews on it though. My DS is just a little taller than yours. I like it for the fact that i won't have to replace up to a booster then when he is older again (car seats get flippen expensive!!)
What's the issue you're having with the meridien? I bought one for DS2 when he was 6 months old and absolutely love it!
Can't help with recommendations for a new seat though, sorry.
Maxi cosi Complete Air or Babylove Ezy Combo For your toddler and the SNS compaq deluxe for your new bubba.
I'm surprised you've had issues with the meridian, we love ours and never had any issues & our kids are about the same age so you'd think it'd be the same batch.
For him getting his arms out, some.kids just do it, regardless of the seat. You can buy a Houdini strap that clips the shoulder straps closer together so they can't get their arms out, looks sorta like the chest strap on a backpack.
I also recommend crep website, they rate them on ease of use as well as safety.
sent from my watzamajig so may not make sense....
I've had to get one of these for DS1 on both car's carseats (and they're different brands) as no matter how tight I'd make the straps he'd get his arms out and go for the car door. I think the strap was about $10-15 from memory.:
ETA it was/is worse when DS1 is tired.
I just put on lay by the Hipod Senator Convertible Booster Seat With Sound Opal for DD. She is getting to tall for her original car seat and this one will get her through to the end of car seat days hopefully (as it converts into a booster).
It was almost half price at Target (sale ends on the 11th July). It was down to $179. The great thing is I dont have to pick it up until end of November and I can pay it off in small amounts.
Biggest problem we have with it is it won't tighten. We've had it in, and apparently we're doing it 'right' but even DH has a hard time pulling the strap so it tightens. And then the bit at the bottom where the strap you tighten from comes out of has broken 3 times now. We've had the seat replaced twice for it breaking, and the third one has also broken, so we're going on to our fourth soon. SEems a bit strange that we seem to keep getting the same faulty part. Plus the head rest won't stay up. Every time I go to put DS in I have to pull the head rest up again, and even with it at it's highest point the shoulder straps still come out below his shoulders. I have read/seen in many places that for the seat to work at it's optimum the straps are suppose to come out above not below the shoulders. Again I brought it in thinking I was missing something....but nope, I've got them set at their highest setting and yet they still are below his shoulders.
I bought a Securap from the RACQ as DS2 can easily get out of both his carseats - we have a safety 1st in one car and a Meridian booster seat in the other. The securap is quick and easy for me to get off so it wouldn't be an issue should i have to get him out of the car quickly however, he can't undo it himself. I know that you can also buy the buckle guards from RACQ as well.:
He was getting out of the straps by pushing his body to one side and releasing an arm and then the other one comes out easily.
We've just upgraded DD1 to the Maxi Cosi Complete Air. Given shoulder height is now the guide to using a car seat, we think DD will get several years out of it (she 'll be 3 this September) so this is her 'booster' as such. It's an awesome seat and my only complaint is the straps seem to twist more easily than other car seats.
We bought it just a few weeks ago for $290 on sale (down from $400). Some stores here in Perth were discontinuing it. I questioned why and one sales assistant said it was due to lack of popularity. Weird really as they have such a good name internationally and excellent safety ratings.
Oh, and on the escaping issue, I think you'll find that he can do that with most car seats. Our DD surely can! Get yourself a Houndini Stop strap or something similar.