Car seat dilemma

Hi there!

I'm hoping someone can help me here - either mum's who have already purchased car seats for this pregnancy or a previous one. My Dh and I were looking at purchasing the Safe and Sound Meridian after being told it's the safest available.

We were happy with that but when I put it in my car to try it out it doesn't seem to fit too well unless the passenger seat is almost touching the dash. That means not much room for me if my DH drives or if we put the seat in the middle of the car my DH won't be able to drive because the seats are not allowed to touch the baby seat. We have a suburu forrester so I thought that was quite a decent sized car.

Has anyone else had this problem? The lady said there was one called a compact something or other but it doesn't have the safe, modern techonology that the Merdian had.

HELP PLEASE!

Can't help you with car seats, but we have a new Subaru Forester and it is a fact that there is not a lot of room in the back seat. You can tell by looking at it. That might be why the seat isn't fitting properly. do you have another car you could try it in. Thanks for letting me know as I want to buy the safest seat and it might be a problem in our Subaru as well.

Where did you hear that it is the safest car seat jordie?
thanks
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THe lady at BAby Bunting told us that so I guess I there could be other opinions. It's the only car seat that has the head rest part - I'm not very techinical I know! The Forester isn't massive but it certainly isn't tiny - especially compared to some deans and hatchbacks. Anyway the lady said that most car seat would have the same issue so I'm not sure what to do. It does look like an ace car seat though!

We had that problem and the only way we fixed it was to buy a new car....i just didnt feel safe!!

Gosh, we just bought the car and it is beautiful..... I know what you mean about smaller cars, but they probably just buy smaller seats, whereas you and I Jordie, sound like the car seat is more important...lol.... How much are they saying they cost? Is this Baby Bunting in Bentleigh East? We will look there, but was just wondering what a normal discount would be on everything - 10%? What have they offered you? Friends got about 10% when they bought everything.

The RACV website say that the Meridian is one of the more difficult car seats to use (installation wise) compared to other types. This may be the problem, but you will most likely find your car is the problem. Have you tried fitting it in the middle seat? I sell pre-loved car seats as part of my business and I had a customer have the same prob with a Safe N Sound Royale she purchased from me, before she bought it I told her to go to Baby Bunting and try out other types first in case they fit better, but none of them did so she still went for the Royale. You will find it will fit better when it is forward facing, but probably not much help to you at this point in time! The Royale customer only uses it in her car during the week, then moves it into her DH's car on weekends. The Compaq model is narrower than all the others, but you may still have problems with it when it is rearward facing.

Is Safe n Sound the brand to go for though?

I personally think so, but I've heard Baby Love is also a really safe brand. Safe N Sound make the Compaq model.

Hmmm - hard decisions! Well can't get new car - I love my Suburu! We just go it last year and it will be good for boot space. Anyway - I've seen the Meridian at both Bentleigh East and Fountain GAte and they're on special at the moment for $469 for automatic retractor thingy and $449 for manual retractor thingy. So far discont I have been offered is 5% but this is already on special so who knows. It is one of the most expensive but as I was told it sounds like the safest. I mean, I do most of the driving in that car during the week and it's only when we go on trips or places together that it might be an issue. I guess I am the desginated driver until I stop breatsfeeding so it might not be an issue!

Anyone else heard of good brands?

Jordie - I highly recommend asking Baby Bunting (or wherever you go) if you can take out different car seats to your car to test them out. You will find any Safe N Sound brand is safe, they exceed the Australian standards and to be honest the are all pretty much the same, just with different covers! (Trust me, I have washed many a seat cover!) You will find most convertible Safe N Sound car seats will have the Active Head Restraint (AHR) so don't let the sales person tell you the Meridian is the only one. Good luck in your quest!

Thanks Trish! it's nice to have an un-biased opinion from someone who's not going to profit! wow - so many decisions! Are you an expert on prams too? That's our next step - looking at prams this weekend with my mum and dad who are offering to buy - yeah! The only research I have done is asking lots of friends. so far the brands of choice are:
VAlco
Beemer Q
Phil and TEd

Any ideas?

I'm not much of an expert on prams because I generally don't sell them in my shop as a rule. I have just purchased a Valco Runabout with a toddler seat for myself after doing some research.

Valco - The thing to note with Valcos is they are wide, so don't fit through all checkout aisles, a lot of mums have to use the wheelchair aisle to fit through. The benefit is because they are wide, they are less likely to topple over, especially with a toddler seat (something to keep in mind for the future).

BeemerQ - I've heard good things, but was told by a Babyco salesperson that they aren't suitable with a toddler seat because they topple easily.

Phil & Teds - I don't know a lot, but I think they are narrower than the Valco Runabout and generally a good pram. The toddler seat function is a completely different setup, but I have heard nothing bad about it. Be warned, they are VERY expensive!

You may be able to Google some reviews on the prams you are interested in. Sorry I can't be of more help!

My friends have a smallish car (Astra) and have a Graco 2 part system car seat...you know, the ones with the base unit and then the capsule that clicks in. It works really well with their car and is a really good seat. Here, they cost about $320 or so when you convert currency but I'm not sure what thy cost in Oz if they are sold there.

We're being given my friends Graco 2 part capsule but I never thought about the fit as we have a reasonably large car...guess I should check!

I was excessively fussy with our carseat and researched it throughly as well. A good one that I found and decided to buy was the Safe and Sound Premier Graphite. Has a lot of the same safety features as the Royale and Meridian but smaller. Have a look at it and see what you think. You have to be happy with your choice.

Safe N Sound make a "Unity Baby Carrier Module" similar to what Expat has described. Baby Love also have a similar one called the "Primo Capsule".

We have an Astra sedan and a Safe and Sound Meridian carseat and didn't have any problems with it. Our only prob now is that the Astra doesn't fit in both the meridian (for newest bub) and the safe and sound maxirider booster (for 1st bub) side by side so we're gonna lose the midde seat :( Damn it.

Any car seat that you buy in Australia complies with Australian safety standards, which are far more stringent than anywhere else in the world - so whatever seat you buy is going to be "safe".

Depending on where you shop and who pays for the research, you will get a different response as to what the safest car seat is. I've bought the Turn-a-Tot, which according to some research is the best there is - according to some baby stores (that have been denied distribution rights!) its not safe! Choice recommend it - and that's good enough for me! Its also one of the smaller seats, with more recline positions than the Safe N Sounds, so might be worth checking out for space issues.

Thanks everyone! Feeling more positive with all those options!

we are looking at purchasing the safe n sound platinum. we have a mazda 3. does anyone know if it will fit comfortably in a mazda 3?

Take the car that you will be fitting the seat into, to the shop, and get the sales assistant to take the seat out side so you can see how much room it will take up.

I have the Safe n Sound Meridian AHR, and thats what we did, becuase I have a Corolla Seca. It just fits in there by about an inch.

The guy at the RACV who did the initial install said it doesn't fit in the echo without the passenger seat all the way forward, or in most of the cars that size.

After a couple of goes, it was not at all hard to install in the car.

Not sure about a mazda 3, you'll need to check it.

FWIW, next time around I will hire or buy a capsule until my baby is ready to be forward facing, or get the turn a tot seat.

A little correction on my last post. My friend gave me her 'Peg-pérego' brand capsule and it fits our car well (5 series station wagon). I don't know if they sell them in Oz either but the standards here are so ultra high that I doubt it would be allowed here and denied in Oz.

Good luck with your choice.

Jordie,

I bought my car seat from Baby Bunting in Ringwood - it is a safe'n'sound but I forget which one. I have the same problem as you - big car seat, smallish car (mazda 3). We had it fitted professionally (by the guy they get out) and the front seats do sort of touch the car seat but the guy said that was fine. Not sure why they wouldn't be able to touch it? Ours is in the middle for two reasons 1. I refuse to sit with my legs about my knees and my tummy touching the dash ;) 2. it means when it is raining I can sit in the car to put DD in and not get wet! :lol:

In regards to a discount. We did get a discount at Baby Bunting because we bought a very expensive pram, sun cover, rain cover, belly belt, and carseat. We got a discount of about 7%. They do NOT discount car seats (don't think they're allowed?). When you go there you can join their "club" which gives you an automatic 5% off any purchase anyway (again, I don't think that is for car seats). If you're planning on buying a mass lot or expensive items or an expensive item and a few other bits, definately ask if they will give you a discount. I was told by the sales assistant they reserve the 10% discount for people who are spending a couple of thousand dollars with them.

HTH

MG

I have just booked in a hire capsule (its a safe n sound one) for 6 months. The place I booked it from installs it a couple of weeks before the edd and it only costs $70 for the entire duration. We will by a seat after this time.

Lisa

The centre position is also the safest for baby.

there is a place in north melbourne that fit and sell car seats at competivive prices. the best thing about them is that you take your car there and they will tell you which car seats fit better, and physically show you different combinations in your car. I do believe that you don't have to buy off them if you don't want to. its a no obligation service, but they are pretty competitive. They also will fit them for you. I think they advertise in Melbourne Child, or otherwise try the yellow pages.
HTH
also most car seats in australia are made by the same company, but they different suppliers put their own brand on them. They all have to meet specific standards, and the difference between a cheaper end one and a dear one is the material on the cover and any gizmos or gadgets that go with it.
the plastic mouldings etc, are all the same. its just the look taht is different. The width does vary with several models, but the width of a car seat does not impeed on its safety standards.
Good luck hunting

Lisa where did you hire it from?
I have a 3 door Ford Festiva and am worrying about whether or not a car seat is going to fit! If not, I'll have to get a new car I guess! I only just got that one a year ago though!

we have a small car (but by no means the smallest) and we had to go with the s'n's campact. even so it had to be placed on the passenger side with the front seat all the way forward for the first six months while in capsule position - am not looking forward to doing that again, but not sure if we can afford to upgrade to a new car yet.

Jordie, we had the same problem with car seats. We were also looking at the Meridian. Luckily we tried it in the car and it was the same situation as you are in...DH couldn't drive if the seat was in the middle and basically the passenger seat was pretty useless if it was put on the side. We ended up buying a new car. We also then decided to hire a capsule from the Ambulance for the first 6 months so we could decide which seat we wanted and they say the capsule is the SAFEST above anything else.

While we were there we tried out the pram in the boot and it didn't fit either, so I had 2 reasons to get a new car then.

All the best with your adventure.

We went to BabyCo at NarreWarren and the ladies there were great, they told us to come back with our car that we're now using and they'd ensure it would fit. I think they brought out a couple of models until we found the best fitting one (and we have a Range Rover - you'd think it'd fit them all!)

You're in Chaddy, the Baby Gallery has also just opened up in Clayton (on princes highway) and at the moment they have some great specials. (including car seats).

For prams, we just got our Phill&teds there for $100 less than at Baby Buntings, which I've found are quite expensive.

Thanks for this thread girls. I am now considering what to do in regards to carseats. I have Tehya in the Safe and Sound Royale, and Noah in a booster seat. Now when bub comes along it will be in the Royale and I want to get a Maxi rider for Tehya, wondering though if Noah will still fit in his booster in the back seat too. I have a Commodore Berlina, it's fairly roomy but somehow I don't like my chances of 3 carseats in the back.

Of course I only just got rid of my station wagon too, the backseat would have been bigger than the Berlina's.

Great idea for going to the shop and trying it out for space. I might just do that. The Maxi riders are pretty wide though, aren't they ?? Don't want to have to get a different one, but I guess if it means they will all fit safely I won't have much choice.

Kazbah - thanks for the tips on new baby store! Always looking for a bargain!!

We're going tolook today and have decided that whatever one fits best will be what we go with because as someone else said previously, they all have to meet Aus safety standards so we it should be safe. I thought about a capsual but if you're pa7ying for a car seat anyway down the track I would rather get it now. I don't fancy carrying ca capsual in and out of the car either. Oh - I hope that doesn't make me sound too lazy!

Great tips from everyone - thanks!

If safety is your issue then the safe and sound capsule is actually the "safest" car restraint for newborns due to it's 2 part system and how it reacts in an accident (the capsule actually sinks into the base altering the angle that the baby ends up in and spreads the load more evenly over the whole body). It is also smaller than a car seat in the rearward facing position by a good few inches. Have you thought of hiring a capsule for 6 months then going for the meridian car seat when baby can go forward? This would solve all your problems by having baby in the safest travel system possible and the good seat fitting cos when you turn it forward it won't take half the space that rearward facing does. HTH

Hi, we have a forester as well.

I havn't picked our seat up from layby yet, but both our local baby shops agreed that not many seats would fit in the reverse newborn position. We have a turn a tot on layby, the only reason the turn a tot should fit is because in that position you can take the extra head rest off and put it back on when the seat goes into normal mode.

Good luck
although if you have the seat already there is no reason why it won't fit in normal mode so maybe hire a capsule from your local council until your bubs is bigger.

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The centre position is also the safest for baby.

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I thought the same thing, but the ambulance guy when he fitted the capsule said that the side was safer because the base of the capsule/seat sits better on the seat. He said as a general rule the middle of the back seat is usually a bit raised and flatter so when the capsule or seat sits on it there is a little more play in it and has a slight rock. When the capsule or seat is fitted on the side it fits more snuggly into the seat. I must admit that in my mind for side impact that the centre is safer but is it if there is the rocking action in the base??

Kiki, that is what the ambulance also said that the safe n sound capsule is definitely the safest on the market for newborn babies.

Thanks Kazbah for info on BAbay Gallery - GREAT PLACE!! We loved it! Helpful people nd much better prices than BAby CO or Bunting. Well our car seat was $20 cheaper which is a bargain in my eyes!
Thanks Nurse Dan- we went with your suggestions and are very happy with the purchase of the SAfe "n" Sound Graphite. We tried it and its a much better fit and the ladies assured us it was just as safe just a little less padding that the Royal or Meridian. Quite a bit cheaper too. Anyway we're happy so good luck to all thos others ont he car seat hunt!

Any time :)

We have a Babylove capsule, and the Maxirider II car seat/booster

When we had it fitted by the RACV guy (our MCHN had free fittings one day which was great), we were told the Maxirider is the safest toddler/booster on the market, mainly because of the way the straps are or something..

I got it at Baby Bunting in Bentleigh - they had a sale with like $100 off, so they do discount their car seats...

Anyway, just thought i would add that to people reading this thread after - JordieC - glad you got one you are happy with :)

Oh - i might go check out Baby Gallery for baby stuff for #2 - i also found Baby Bunting variable for being able to get help, and didn't think their prices were that good!

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I thought the same thing, but the ambulance guy when he fitted the capsule said that the side was safer

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I've got the meridian car seat - and it's situated in the centre of my car. I've got a commodore - so there is plenty of room. But when I went to have it installed I phoned Safe N Sound and asked them the best position. They said the CENTRE as a lot of accidents are t-bones - and the centre is the furthest away from any impact. They say a lot of people put the seats on the sides for their convenience... not the baby's safety.
But they did say that if you have a 2nd child, you have no choice but to put them on the sides...

Because the car seat is strapped in/down from the back part... I don't know how much difference a raised seat would be?

I have heard the safest seat was a baby capsule (for upto 6mths - I think). Also, there's the convenience of not having to lift bub out of the seat if she's fallen asleep - u just unclip the capsule. I know that there are stores that will hire out the baby capsule - I think for $60 for 6 months which soundfs like a bargain - you can always buy your own sheepskin insert for the hired capsule.