XSeries-forum

Anyone have any advice on child seats.  My daughter is 3 months old & she'll nearly have outgrown the Maxi Cosi one we have.

Is the BMW car seat any good for the e70 X5 ?

I got one back in 2004 and liked it. Easy to use and while the child is still quite young you use a single lap strap around a bolster to secure the child in place. This also acted as a place for the child to lean forward and rest her head if sleeping. It was an isofix system so very reassuring.

Don

[quote="Don Coffey"]
I got one back in 2004 and liked it. Easy to use and while the child is still quite young you use a single lap strap around a bolster to secure the child in place. This also acted as a place for the child to lean forward and rest her head if sleeping. It was an isofix system so very reassuring.

Don
[/quote]

Thanks - I'll pop into BMW & see what they have

Just out of interest, which Maxi Cosi is it?

As we may (well, will actually) have a need for said device in the....err....imminent future, and tother half is looking at something called a Uppababy Vista with Maxi Cosi 'attachments', I'm on the look out for advice, guidance etc too.

I know these things come on 0, 0+, and 1-3 types.  The BMW one was expensive and did not fit any buggies so we forgot that type.

Richard

Your wee one shouldn't grow out the maxi cosi until at least 9 months. They need to be able to sit up on their own before they can be moved into the next size of seat which will be a forward facing seat - otherwise they are not strong enough to prevent their heads lolling around with the movement of the car - or much worse even in only a slight bump.
We moved to the Maxi Cosi PrioriFix for our eldest and she had just grown out of it when our youngest was ready for it at 9 months (she's 3 and a half). It's a good seat if a little expensive but the way I see it what's a few quid when its protecting the most precious things we have?? If you've got an X you can afford it!!

No argument from me.....I'm just stunned at how much more BMW were charging when compared to other 'equivalent' models.  It was about £50-£70 more which seemed to be just for it being BMW.

As far as I am concerned it will always be the safest device to carry our little bundle of joy.  I may quail at the price, but I'll still pay it.....

Richard

My experience is pretty much the same as Chief1409. I agree, keep them in the rear facing as long as possible even if they do look a bit too big for it.  I'm sure I read some guidance on age / weight but also about how far up the back their head is.

I found the priorifix excellent seats. The only downside was the weight so not ideal if you want to have one and swap between cars.

Another thing worth noting for the future is booster seats (without the seat back) are no longer recommended. I think a few manufacturers have stopped making them.

[quote="sramsay"]
My experience is pretty much the same as Chief1409. I agree, keep them in the rear facing as long as possible even if they do look a bit too big for it.  I'm sure I read some guidance on age / weight but also about how far up the back their head is.
[/quote]
They should be in the maxi cosi until the top of their head reaches the top of the seat I believe.

It looks as if we're settling on a 'BeSafe' Design called the iZi Go (ISOFIX) which will also fit the UppaBaby Vista wheels and pushchair/stroller system that HRH prefers.  Once 'Peanut' grows out of the iZi Go (and assuming we're still happy with the make) then it will be the iZi Combi X3 next.  After that (some years off I hope) then it would be whatever replaces the iZi Up X3 ISO.

At least, that's this evening's plan.......

Richard

We bought the base that is interchangeable for different attachments from Maxi Cosi. Our daughter turns 3 months and has outgrown the rear facing one, therefore missus has ordered next one up.

[quote="X5Sport"]
Just out of interest, which Maxi Cosi is it?

As we may (well, will actually) have a need for said device in the....err....imminent future, and tother half is looking at something called a Uppababy Vista with Maxi Cosi 'attachments', I'm on the look out for advice, guidance etc too.

I know these things come on 0, 0+, and 1-3 types.  The BMW one was expensive and did not fit any buggies so we forgot that type.

Richard
[/quote]


It's a Maxi Cosi Cabriofix 0-13kg.  It's a Universal fitment & you have to buy the adapters to fit certain pushchairs.  This one fits onto our ICandy Peach.    The whole system was nearly £1000!!!  car seat, puschair & pram part.    I'm mistaken as I don;t need the next size seat yet,  the head cushion moves up somehow & adjusts.  It's just I thought she looked squashed up in it!    I think this Maxi Cosi will be ok for another 6 months.  Very good quality seat actually, not that I've compared them but it seems sturdy

[quote="Chief1409"]
Your wee one shouldn't grow out the maxi cosi until at least 9 months. They need to be able to sit up on their own before they can be moved into the next size of seat which will be a forward facing seat - otherwise they are not strong enough to prevent their heads lolling around with the movement of the car - or much worse even in only a slight bump.
We moved to the Maxi Cosi PrioriFix for our eldest and she had just grown out of it when our youngest was ready for it at 9 months (she's 3 and a half). It's a good seat if a little expensive but the way I see it what's a few quid when its protecting the most precious things we have?? If you've got an X you can afford it!!
[/quote]

Thanks, just checked & you're correct, she should be in the current seat for another 6 months

[quote="55NF"]
[quote="Chief1409"]
Your wee one shouldn't grow out the maxi cosi until at least 9 months. They need to be able to sit up on their own before they can be moved into the next size of seat which will be a forward facing seat - otherwise they are not strong enough to prevent their heads lolling around with the movement of the car - or much worse even in only a slight bump.
We moved to the Maxi Cosi PrioriFix for our eldest and she had just grown out of it when our youngest was ready for it at 9 months (she's 3 and a half). It's a good seat if a little expensive but the way I see it what's a few quid when its protecting the most precious things we have?? If you've got an X you can afford it!!
[/quote]

Thanks, just checked & you're correct, she should be in the current seat for another 6 months
[/quote]

9 months sounds about right to move up.  We also went for the PrioriFix which is a very safe seat and works well - isofix plus metal post at the front which reaches the floor to add further stability.

Ours will be moving from her group 0 in the next few months.

Anyone have any thoughts on the Group 1,2,3 seats that use the main 3 point belt via an impact cushion instead of a 5 point harness ?

Tests now seem to be saying they're almost as safe as rear facing group 1 seats (such as the izi) but without the travel sickness problems and extra space taken up. The isofix ones also don't need the stabiliser leg or tether strap as they're aided by the 3 point belt. Being suitable for 9mths-12yrs also seems much better value.

I'm considering :

Cybex Pallas 2 fix (favourite) ~£220
Kiddy Guardianfix Pro 2 (lightest but some say its smallish) ~£220
Jane Montecarlo R1 + extend (cheapest) ~£180

What Travel Sickness 'problem'?  From the forums I've just spent half an hour reading following your prompt that it was definitely something to be looked into, it seems - stress on the word 'seems' - to be an urban myth and that there is no real world increase in motion sickness rates (remains around 2%) with using one option or the other.  Regardless, it's a miserable affliction.  Mrs X5Sport suffers from it and could not ride in the back of the air sprung E53 but is fine in the rear of the conventionally sprung X6.  Hence my radar going on at the merest mention of sickness issues.

In parts of Europe it is the 'norm' to keep any child in a rear facing seat up to the age of 4 (I didn't even know these type seats for up to 4 year olds existed until three days ago!).  There is even a possibility of the law being changed in the UK (and in other EU states too) to mandate rear-facing seats and RoSPA have a campaign running.  I can see them being awkward for 'single-crewed' vehicles, but then we can always pull over.

It's a hard call though, and certainly seems 'unnatural', but then that may just be what we're all used to.  I'll need to do even more reading and get even more confused than already.  Child Seats seem to be a complex subject with so many options and 'marketing ploys' playing to parents fears (real or imagined) plus some pretty poor advice from some of those 'trained' in the subject at hand (sounds just like a BMW dealer doesn't it.... ) that I can see why so many parents just get confused and lost!!  I'm very glad this subject came up now whilst I still have time to do the research and not spend money on the 'wrong' options. 

I can the the safety aspects of rear facing, and the pitfalls, and the same for forward facing too.  Now I'm getting a headache.....

It still scares me the number of cars I see with a child 'loose' in the car, or even no seats fitted at all.  That's just plain wrong!!  I hope the children who died in the two bad crashes over Xmas (both in Ford Focus cars, and all died of head injuries) were in proper restraints and something else was at play here.

On top of this, Huggies are ceasing production in the UK next month so the choices there are going to suddenly change - and then there's Baby Monitors and.......... :'( :'( ??? :-\ :hypo: :blink:

.......choosing what colour car and which toys to put in it is....well......child's play compared to this.

Richard