I did a quick search and whilst there are a few topics they are a couple of years old now.

I was wondering if you have any specific feedback on seats you have tried or bought. I'm more interested in new born seats, with Isofix which can be upgraded as a new born grows into the next size seat to reduce costs in buying another Isofix base at a later date. Cost isnt the primary factor though, in fact it's probably the last in fairness. If safety is expensive, then so be it.

Its for a 2012 VRS if it makes a difference but im pretty sure everything is generic.

This is all new territory to me. I'm more used to looking at motorbikes and taking them apart than wandering round mothercare. Any help/moral support much appreciated!

Let me know what youve bought, what you liked and what you hated.

I've had the maxi cosi pebble in mine for my daughter from birth. Then we got the recaro for mine. The wife has the Maxi Cosi Axiss which also fits as well.

I think a lot of people have the recaro.

I did look at the pebble, but it seems the maxi cosi website says it isn't compatible with the the octy. The cabriofix one is though and is on my list to have a play with.

Did you bother with a travel system or just buy bits individually?

We have the Maxi Cosi CabrioFix for my baby son and the Maxi Cosi PrioriFix for my 2 and a half year old. Both decent seats.

My wife has the Maxi Cosi Tobi in her Corsa but doesn't rate it as highly as the PrioriFix

Maxi Cosi Priorfix here too. It's isofix (I wouldn't use a non isofix seat) and it's built like a Tank.....feels very solid. But it's from about 9 months and upwards.

For newborn seats the choice is complicated by what travel system you buy and what car seats attach to your chosen travel system. We went Maxi Cosi, but there are other choices. Whatever you choose, I'd highly recommend you get an isofix system.

I feel your pain - I went for Britax DuoPlus Isofix, and then Kidfix when my daughter outgrew the first seat. I think that covers all of the size and weight categories. Good seats - they seem very sturdy and the kids seem happy to sleep in them when the journey dictates.

Both seats are Isofix, but can be used connected to the seat belts if you have to use a car without, which is handy.

Edited 13 May, 201313 yr by London Les

I did look at the pebble, but it seems the maxi cosi website says it isn't compatible with the the octy. The cabriofix one is though and is on my list to have a play with.

Did you bother with a travel system or just buy bits individually?

I use the pebble in mine fits NP

Edited 13 May, 201313 yr by Zillio

Bought a Klippan Triofix for ours, great as it takes a child from 6 months to 12 years and can rear face on isofix up to a certain age weight too. Not cheap @ 400 GBP though

Family fix base here with a cabriofix initially and then pearl as the boy got bigger. Works a treat.

Family fix base here with a cabriofix initially and then pearl as the boy got bigger. Works a treat.

Same here. The pebble is essentially the same seat. The family fix is great.

If you need a pram/buggy too, kiddicare do sets. We got the seat & base, quinny buzz and cot attachments for a very good price. The buzz is a great buggy.

If you are near a kiddicare they'll let you fit and test everything.

Basically to agree with everything so far, We went from travel system (Brio) to the Maxi seats - Changing to front facing is a big exciting time (not to be rushed!)

But to add, although I am a firm supporter of IsoFix, which I insisted on for the newborn stage, The VRS seats are hard enough with such small amounts of play that you can fit a forward facing decent non-Isofix seat very safely and securely IMVHO. My little one sits in the front next to me and I wouldn't have it unless her seat was solid as a rock.

Also Kiddicare is awesome, went to the one in Thurrock recently - dunno if they are new, or a recent US import (Felt quite US; kind of Cosco-esque) but they were super helpful when it came to testing things out and they had bags of bays right out front for you to try thing in, on and around your car; even some under cover!

We started with ISOFIX in an Octavia Mk1 but were unimpressed. It's very fiddly and you're probably supposed to use a top tether (we never did as the instructions were ambiguous and we couldn't see how to do it anyway).

Normal car seats secured by the seatbelt are much easier, but the Octavia Mk2 does have awkwardly positioned stalks. They end up extremely close to the seat, making it hard to get the buckle in. My 7-year old can strap herself into my old BMW 320d, but not into the Octavia.

We started with ISOFIX in an Octavia Mk1 but were unimpressed. It's very fiddly and you're probably supposed to use a top tether (we never did as the instructions were ambiguous and we couldn't see how to do it anyway).

Top tether seats are not compatible with Mk1 Octavia's (or most Mk2's). Major car seat manufacturers will tell you via their website what type of seat is compatible with your car. The car seat should have had a foot prop negating the need for a top tether.

Normal car seats secured by the seatbelt are much easier

Really? In a recent survey, 80% of car seats installed with seatbelts, when checked, were found to be incorrectly installed.......with potential fatal implications in an accident.

I really can't think of a much easier procedure than installing an isofix car seat.

newborn we had in the front seat so no need for isofix. we had (IIRC) a cabriofix from maxicosi - this was chosen 'cos it fitted our Jane slalom pro travel system. At the newborn stage you never leave the car seat in the car - it much more important IMHO to have something you can easily pull out of the car with the little one still asleep - minimum faffing around is best.

as soon as they were out of rear facing seats, we had maxicosi priorifix. excellent seat. at this stage isofix is perfect - the seat is very securely fixed in place, much better than you'd have with a seat only secured by the belts.

they are now both in britax kid-fix (3yr old and 5 yr old) again, perfect for this age and the isofix means they are firmly fixed when the seats are in the car without kids in them. this is even more relevant now that they are using the car belts to strap themselves in so if we didn't have the isofix they'd be rolling around when the kids are not in them.

HTH

I have two of Britax Roemer KidFix Sict for my two boys. They are 5.5 and 3.5 years old and they both have no problem at all.

Really? In a recent survey, 80% of car seats installed with seatbelts, when checked, were found to be incorrectly installed.......with potential fatal implications in an accident.

I really can't think of a much easier procedure than installing an isofix car seat.

For the sake of clarity, could you mention the source of that startling fact ? Was it, perchance a 2003 Daily Fail article ? In said article 33% of people also admitted to tethering 2 toddlers together with a single rear seatbelt and branded the 55% of people who purchased a second hand seat "which could be useless". Sensationalist dross. Though the article mentions the which? article; that makes very different reading and many of the brand highlighted are no longer sold in this country. As always, look for the kite mark

Anyway this is about fixture.

Whilst I have no argument with the fact that isofix seats are very easy to 'install' that does, in no way whatsover mean that they are safe. Indeed, a poorly fitting isofix seat is just a liable allow injury to the child as a poorly fitted seatbelt fixed seat. This risk comes primarily from the forward rotation, which is often limited by only slight and under-adjustable floor stand (in most cases) or a top strap in newer cars - many of which are inertial braked as with your seatbelts. Add to that the fact that although the fitting are universal, the actual isofix environment is not - that is; seating shape, legroom, floor depth, seat strength and seat padding. http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/child_safety/safety_standards.html

The ISofix base we had for out travel system fitted the VRS beautifully, albeit with a rattle. It simple wouldn't go in the BMW3 series and was as loose as a curry-stool in the Mercedes 320. The Jaguar seats are better, but surprisingly leg room is an issue.

Bear in mind also that most isofix travel system bases still rely upon the attachment to fit on the base for it's core-strength (Eg cot, newborn seat or stage 1 seat)

My point is that a well fitted and well fitting seat has been proven to save lives. Idiots who cannot fit a seat, or can't tell when the seat is actually fitted correctly shouldn't be included here as the OP has already taken the effort to ask the question, which in itself shows a modicum parental responsibility which wasn't shown in the 80% survey participants.

To the OP; Maxi seem to get very good marks for the lower stages and richo has a good rep for older. It depends on your travel system; but I would get yourself some fitting time. When fitting seatbelt based seats I often kneel in them to get the cushions pushed down enough to ensure there is no movement; in a VRS easy, in more comfy rides not so.

zac

For the sake of clarity, could you mention the source of that startling fact ?

Sure......it was here: http://www.itv.com/news/central/story/2013-05-09/is-your-child-car-seat-safe/

The survey was carried out in January by experts from Birmingham city council, Birmingham community healthcare and West Midlands police.......organisations that I wouldn't usually associate with Sensationalist dross.....but I could be wrong.

Whilst I have no argument with the fact that isofix seats are very easy to 'install' that does, in no way whatsover mean that they are safe. Indeed, a poorly fitting isofix seat is just a liable allow injury to the child as a poorly fitted seatbelt fixed seat.

That is quite true. But the point is there are very few variables to get wrong when attaching an Isofix seat to a car. It's hard to get wrong.

A correctly fitted car seat that uses a seat belt is just as safe as Isofix....but there have been a number of surveys over the years where correct fitment of seat belted car seats, worryingly, seems to elude most people.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/10017439/Badly-fitted-car-seats-put-children-at-risk-Which-warns.html

As for kneeling in the seat, isn't this advised against as an adults weight will exceed the seat's design risking breaking it?

Maxi Cosi Cabriofix for up to about 9-12 months, want to be rear facing for as long as possible. Got the easyfix base as the family fix was more expensive and if you are going to have another kid you'll need another base for the cabrio when you have the 2. Fits well in the back of the octy.

Next size up started with a PrioriFix, good solid seat. Then moved to a Cybex Pallas Fix - great seat, oldest loves it, fell asleep with head on the cushion all the time when he was smaller. The base comes off and the cushion goes between 3-4 years and it becomes a booster that will do him till he's out of car seats.

http://cybex-online....allas2-fix.html

All really useful. I'll take a look through the links when I'm at work today.

he wife has the Maxi Cosi Axiss which also fits as well.

How does she find this? Wife is really liking the idea of a couple of these for our twins when they get bigger. Just for the ease of getting them in and out

Maxi Cosi all the way!

We had CabrioFix with EasyFix Base to start with. Primarily for ISO-Fix security but the more we used it I realised that usability has to also be a key factor.The fact you clip the seat in and out the base is kinder on your back and allows the little one to be quickly taken into the house/clipped in the buggy chassis or whatever whilst still asleep. So much better than having to reach in every time and fish about with a seat belt/move the handle.

Initially was a bit miffed when they brought out Family Fix/Pearl the next year, but on reflection with two planned it was going to need another expensive base which we saved by going for....

...a Tobi. Chose over the Priori Fix for ease of use with the pop up straps that are also on the Pearl. Given that the second seat isn't removed from the car everytime we were happy not to be Isofix for this one, and when fitted the Tobi is super solid anyway.

With an upgrade due for the wee lady when the wee man was needing to head into the Tobi we went back to Isofix so that the seatbelt isn't doing two jobs and got a RodiFix that should see her out of the need for a seat. Having seen several child seats that hold the seat and secure the child with the seat belt (and wobble like hell) the Rodifix was a no brainer for us.

Fitment has not been a problem for any of them in a variety of cars.

Niall

We had the Recaro.. Works well in the Octy and the colours match the VRS seats.

Didn't follow up with the next size since we were given a Maxi Cosy toddler and we knew its history.

Next size up I'd like to go back to Recaro again.

We've got the Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix for the little carp, and the FamilyFix base. The FamilyFix base restricts the choice of which seat he moves into when he outgrows the CabrioFix, but it means we don't need to buy another base with the next seat. It works well for us, and fitted well in the Fabia (now an Octy - also good), and in my Fiesta. The only slight niggle would be that the front seat needs to be moved a good way forward to fit it in behind - effectively restricting fitment to the passenger side, particularly in the Fiesta.

We have the Maxi Cosi CabrioFix for my baby son and the Maxi Cosi PrioriFix for my 2 and a half year old. Both decent seats.

I had te cabriofix and now have the priorifix for my three year old. 12 week scan today so the cabriofix will be coming out of the loft in a few months.

Both seats have been excellent. To have the base for the infant carrier rather than **** about with seatbelts or have a built in one was worth its weight in gold, especially or the missus. The priorifix has been great too and I have one in the Octy and the Peugeot because I got a deal on them (IIRC they were £280 but t the time the cappuccino (ie brown) ones were £100 off and as there is only te smallest but if colour and the rest is black, I figured better to buy two an have one in each car than to transfer them from one to another.