Question:
Hello there, I've got to buy a group 2 baby car seat as the little one is growing up fast.. any idea where i can get the best for less? or any advice on what to look for?
thanks
Froggy
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Try !they have a good selection and are the best priced that I found.
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If you're anywhere near the North West, take a trip to Lesters in Cheetham Hill, Manchester. !They have a website:-
which is quite basic, but their service is superb. !We've just bought another baby seat from there, a Britax, and saved about 20% off the RRP. !Well worth the trip, and (gasp) I enjoyed spending my money there.
There is a lot of panicmongering in baby care, as I'm sure you'll have found. !Manufacturers telling you that you can't use 2nd-hand baby seats, that they have to fit your particular make and model of car, and that you really ought to buy the model with built-in airbags, ejector seat, and a soothing Classic FM speaker system built into the head-rest, and if you don't then you're an irresponsible parent.
More seriously, you need to ensure that the seat is fitted through the seatbelt properly, that it's adjusted for your child, and it matches their size and weight. !Check out Britax's website for more (relatively unbiased) info.
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thanks a lot for your advice. I think i will go to mothercare world to check the best fit and then check on the internet for best prices. Unfortunately we're in surrey so a bit far from that shop.you mentioned which looks good by the way!
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Try to find an official 'car seat checker' - I think I rang the council to find one. The reason for this was when my eldest son needed to go into bigger car seat, I went to my local Mothercare World and was sold one which was 'fitted' into my car and they said was fine. I wasn't happy and eventually found this 'checker' who told me the car seat was in fact dangerous. I took it back to Mothercare and they gave me my money back. I went to a recommended independant car seat fitter to get the best one for me.
In fact, when I changed my car last year, I went to Mothercare World ( a different one) and asked if my existing car seats fitted my new car and what else they could recommend. Again, not happy with the advice. I used the Which guide and I also found the Britax website useful - you can check what seat fits your car. Actually, I rang Britax when I found that my existing car seat didn't seem as secure as it should be in my new car and they sent me new catches etc FOC as well as gave advice. Very happy with them and my car seats are absolutely secure and don't move 1 inch!
Whilst wanting to get things as cheaply as poss, I WILL NOT skimp on my kids safety. If it costs the money, then I pay it. It's too late when they're dead so think you saved £20. Sorry to be so blunt, but as a former copper, I've seen some horrendous things. (Not suggesting of course that any of you would put money saving before your childrens safety) OK, Rant over.
HTH
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.The Best. according to a Which? report following crash testing are the Britax Duo Isofix plus and the Mamas & Papas Pro Tec.
The Britax is specifically safe if you have the Isofix fixings in your car. As we didn't we 've gone for the M&P seat. This was checked to fit before purchasing at a local independent nursery shop. A quick check on Yell will detail all your local nursery shops that may be able to show a range of seats.
To check if your car has Isofix fittings click here:
There is a website that may be of some help with advice etc.
For Surrey they detail the following:
Organisation Surrey County Council
Address 21 Chessington Road
West Ewell
Surrey
KT17 1TT !
Telephone 020 8541 7328
Fax None
Email
Website
For details of other Child Car Seat Checkpoints in this area click here: ! (this suggests Currie Motors in Kingston)
The council is able to offer Car Seat Advice, Seat Check, Check Days. !
As for purchasing, can confirm that Kiddicare do generally seem to be one of the cheapest.
Hope this helps
H.E.
! ! !
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This link has some details on the good and poor seats.
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I have just bought the Kiddu Life Plus in Germany.
Check out the AA pages for rating ...GOOD.
This will cover the baby all the way up.
OK its not the cheapest but it is light easy to handle and should be coming to the UK but easily shipped from Germany.
If you are interested PM me and I'll point you in the right direction. !
We bought the fake leather version so it can be wiped down after the dog/baby have messed it up.
Added attraction is it looks great.
You could also look at the recaro seats but even more expensive and I can't find a rating for them.
My only comment on which is they usually only cover a limited number of seats.
Have a look at (where the AA take their results from):-
Need to brush up on your german but basically the lower the score the better.
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