Need a new carseat
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Category: Product Reviews
Forum Name: Product Reviews
Forum Description: Cot or bassinette? Which pram is best for you? How about nappies? Check out our Product Reviews board to find out what other Mums and Dads think and share your thoughts!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7935
Printed Date: 21 May 2025 at 5:38am
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Topic: Need a new carseat
Posted By: busymum
Subject: Need a new carseat
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 11:41am
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Ok we need a new carseat, don't have a lot in the budget, don't need a rear-facing one. (It's for Briona. Hannah's in a booster, Krystiana is in a Safe n Sound convertible).
What are your recommendations, preferred choices, etc? Are forward facing carseats actually available and cheaper than convertible, as one would presume?  -------------  |
Replies:
Posted By: 11111
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 2:19pm
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I have an awsome one for Alan will ahve a look for the brand name but was only 200 and really awsome. Got it from baby factory. ------------- Deborah Mum to:   
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 5:41pm
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Okay have been window shopping this arvo and here's the options:
EvenFlo? forward facing/upgrades to booster (9kg-45kg) $299 Guardian (which is actually what I have for Kryssi) $329 Mother's Choice spot print - the standard one that Farmers have $215 Mother's Choice Civic $219 Mother's Choice Nomad $179 (currently sold out so I don't know what it's like) Mother's Choice Corvair (basic but shaped headrest) $239 Safety First $189 (didn't seem well padded) Safe n Sound Galaxy Classic $249 All the convertibles are cheaper than the forward facer at Baby Factory, so I might as well have a convertible. So it seems there will be a short list of: Safe n Sound Galaxy Classic $249 or a Mother's Choice one ($179-$239) Anyone have a Mother's Choice? http://www.motherschoice.com.au/pages/carseats.php - Nomad and spot print http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/p/mothers-choice-corvair-car-seat-0-18kg/ - Corvair ------------- |
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 5:57pm
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Hiya busymum
I can help with some product suggestions if I know the age/weight/budget that you're working with :) I will say one thing though, stay away from the Mothers Choice/Babywise/GoSafe seats. It's not because they're unsafe (they are definitely safe) it's just that they have very short shells so children outgrow them earlier by height compared to most other seats. They also only rear-face till 9kg although that's not a problem for you since you're only using it forward-facing. If I have those details I can help ya out with some suggestions :) ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 6:56pm
The stabiliser bars on them also buckle fairly quickly when used forward facing. We had one for Maya and when it's forward facing the stabiliser bar folds underneath but the weight of the child causes the stabiliser bar to warp. I rang the Baby Factory about it and they said they replace the stabiliser bars for $25 and that it happens fairly frequently with these models. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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CRS wrote:Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 7:02pm
Eek! Good to know. I've not noticed it before but it's pretty hard when you're on your feet and rushed of course LOL. Thanks for sharing though. They're safe.. but ugh.. just personally I do not like them at all! ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 8:31pm
You'd think I'd learn - but I still ended up getting the same models for the gremlins as they were so much cheaper, figuring I'd upgrade them to the AlphaOmega when they were 2 or so, but then when the car got stolen the Baby Factory couldn't supply replacements so we ended up with the Safe n Sound Guardians - muuuuuch nicer! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 8:34pm
Good choice! :D ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 10:00pm
That's interesting Emma, cause I have a Guardian already and figured the Mother's Choice ones were basically the same model in a different suit! I'm glad I've checked on here now  ------------- |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 10:08pm
Ok CRS more details as requested 
I already have a 3yo in a booster seat and a baby in a convertible (Guardian). Briona's seat is the one that needs replacing. She's about 11kg, and almost 2 years old. But in saying that, if the Guardian (that Kryssi is in - she's 4 1/2 mos) remains the best rear-facer I have and I have another baby in a year's time (not planning yet but just in case!) then I'll want to keep that one for the new baby and bump up the girls: Kryssi in the one I plan to buy now; Briona in the booster and Hannah... well I'll have to decide depending on her height and age at the time. Budget... well this was unexpected so I didn't actually have a budget for it! Under $300 I'd say, I'd like to get the cheapest thing that isn't crap.... which looks like it might be the http://www.kiwibaby.co.nz/afawcs0122065/SUBID=9/ID=53/SID=574783654/productdetails.html - Safe n Sound Galaxy Classic for $249. KMart in Palmy North have that one and also will match prices (not sure if in Palmy or NZ) so I'm keeping that in mind
Because we have more children in mind I want to get something that will last but I'm not gonna spend heaps on frills. Something I've learnt though is that a 2-3yr old, once out of nappies, slims out and becomes quite aware of padding or not. So it needs to be comfortably padded. Oh - and we have a mummy van so not many issues with size/space.------------- |
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 10:17pm
Structurally there isn't much difference between the Galaxy and Guardian other then the base (which isn't a safety feature, just for ease of use, especially when rear-facing which is irrelevant for you of course). A Galaxy or Safekeeper would be just fine, especially if you're on a tight budget and they're only going to be used forward-facing. Do check out online shops for competitive prices. Some even offer free shipping! ETA: Just saw your last post. The Galaxy & Safekeeper aren't exactly "padded", they're about as "padded" as the Guardian. If you wanted something padded you'd want to look at something perhaps like the Royale but it might not suit your budget (approx. $359 depending on where you go). What's different about the royale is that apart from some additional padding, it also has a sun canopy, messy mat, little pockets of netting on the side (for toys, which I never used anyway! (the pockets)) it has a push button harness adjuster, great ease of use feature. What also sets it apart from the Galaxy/Safekeeper/Guardian is the EPS foam on the "side wings" for added side impact protection (it absorbs some of the energy in an accident, when the head etc hits the sides of the car seat). Of course, this is out of your budget though! So the other seats will do/be just fine! ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 10:26pm
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Do you ever go offline? ------------- |
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 10:32pm
What is an "offline?" ohhh to be fair my computer pops up when I get an email LOL ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 10:38pm
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Hey what about a http://www.babyuniverse.co.nz/site/page=item/item=B1011/itemname=Phil_and_Teds_Tott - Phil & Ted's ? ------------- |
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 10:43pm
You could, but they don't have tethers (which I STRONGLY recommend especially for forward-facing children). They are tether strap compatible apparently but I'm not sure how one would go about getting a tether for it. Does make you wonder why it's so cheap though! Check the manufacture date if you do get one of them. I don't have much experience with these seats but would definitely suggest that you try it in your car first to make sure it fits. It's probably no more comfortable then one of the Safe-n-Sound seats above. And definitely, if you do decide to get one of these have a tether strap added. HTH! :) ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 10:51pm
You couldn't really tether that and have the comfy straps as well  I know how to get a tether though... the old car seat! I think I might just go somewhere local, can try out the seat and/or take it back if probs, and probably won't get any cheaper than over a long weekend anyways. That way I can see exactly what I'm getting and try Briona in it too. Actually I think I've probably decided on the Galaxy. It's the best value for the best price (IMO), and Safe n Sound come up pretty often in recommended lists.------------- |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 10:52pm
oops 11pm!  Time for bed (no wonder it's getting cold LOL)------------- |
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 01 June 2007 at 10:58pm
Off to bed with you! LOL Enjoy your long weekend :) ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
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Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 12:22pm
| you guys are funny - but we are also looking at s n s seats so this has been helpful for us too....thank you! |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 1:54pm
| We just bought a Nania from baby city for $200 but you get 10% off if your a member. It has a tether strap and its quite tall and it turns into a booster. |