For all 3 of mine it was the capsule and then a 2nd hand car seat purchased from a friend so we knew it hadnt been in an accident. All very differnt now.

We had a bassinet for our first, then a car seat from my brother. The 2nd we hired a capsule then they used same car seat. When they were big enough, we were given a booster seat. All so wrong now, using 2nd hand baby products

buy on special! I got a good quality one as I was having more than one child

I’m also glad I don’t have to go through all the pros and cons for car seats – it’s overwhelming but this article is helpful for those who have to make some decisions.

So pleased I don’t have to worry about this any more

Very wise and informative. Thanks Delan.

Another thing to consider is whether you want a capsule to fit on your pram. I loved this feature with both of my kids when they were bubs. I hired a capsule for both to click on to my stroller, and then bought a 6 month to big kid seat (saved buying two). Having a pram to car capsule means you don’t have to disturb your bub if they fall asleep in the pram or the car. My kids didn’t ever transfer, so this was invaluable!! My recommendation is the Baby Jogger stroller.

All about safety and reputation. And absolutely having it properly installed.

I found it important to measure the size of your car in comparison to the size and design of your car seat….every car is different.

I too looked at CREP website when deciding on carseats. So many other parents i know were surprised how the average priced seats were as safe if not safer than the wizz bang/massively expensive seats. I also reccomend trying the seats for your car. Each car is different and height/width can truly be tested hy trying them first. And most models now are coming out with slimline versions – crucial when trying to fit 2 or 3 seats across the back.

Thank You I often wondered about cheaper options but knowing there is a standard it means I can budget more and not compromise on safety

We referred to the CREP website to assess the safety of any of the seats we were considering then it cam down to budget.

We are about to buy a second car seat for the husbands car. Thank you for the tips.

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  • • june11 replied
    • 08 May 2016 , 9:22 pm

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  Never buy a second hand babyseat/booster/capsule unless you know the history of it – if you do preferably from somebody you know and know the car hasn’t been in an incident / accident of any type no matter how minor…..unless you are prepared to find a place that can safety test it for you.
  They shouldn’t disintegrate unless they are made of white polyeurathane (what some call white foam). They are not considered good quality by today’s standards. I know one family who replaced the harness for each new baby, otherwise the seat is still in perfect condition. When it wasn’t acutally occupied they kept it covered with a piece of material to keep the sun off it. Continuous heat from the sun will cause it to deteriorate. Some of them you can actually remove the fabric covers and wash them. Another reason I wouldn’t buy a secondhand one as research has shown that they are the worst piece of baby equipment for retaining bacteria. I was shocked to learn of that. You may also find it difficult to buy a second hand highchair from an op shop. Many don’t accept them for hygience reasons. You may be able to get a plastic one or one with vinyl covered seat that can we washed.

Great tips. We went for safety and budget

I purchased an expensive car seat and once I’d finished with it I packed it away thinking I would pass it on to my brother when he and his wife had children. It must have been packed away for around five years and when I unpacked it the foam cushioning had totally disintegrated. Needless to say I couldn’t pass it on to anyone and I wish I had sold it as soon as I’d finished with it. Oh well, lesson learned.

Great tips it is very important to choose the right car seat.

Width an also matter if you plan to have more kids and need to fit multiple seats in.

I found deciding on a car seat/capsule was hard so we ended up deciding on hiring a capsule for 6 months. For us it was a great decision for without spending a heap of money on something we would only use for a short time we could get our heads around what we were going to need car seat wise. I found a capsule great for a newborn with getting in and put of the car!

I wouldn’t buy a second hand car seat personally.
When I chose mine, I actually just went into the store and asked them for advice. And I was very happy with the help I got.

Great tips. Although buying second hand car seat might be cheaper you should always make sure that they haven’t been in an accident or had any damage.