Researching information about which car seat is best for your toddler is an online minefield, with so much conflicting information and huge variations in prices.

In this article, I will give you all the facts so that you can make an informed decision to ensure that you get the best option for your budget, your child and your particular car/s. We have also written individual, more comprehensive reviews on most of our car seats, which are linked in this article. 

WHAT ARE THE SAFEST CAR SEATS FOR TODDLERS?

The typical response in answering this question is “the safest car seat is whichever car seat fits your car and your child the best”. While this is definitely true, there is much more to consider when deciding which car seat is best for your family. These are the factors to consider:  

1. YOUR BUDGET: HOW MUCH ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEND?

Unfortunately the safest seats are usually expensive, although expensive does not always mean safest! Before you start looking for a car seat, decide what is a realistic budget that your family can afford. We do offer credit via Mobicred.

2. YOUR CAR: DOES IT INSTALL SECURELY?

You’ll need to check which installation options your car has; isofix, full 3-point seatbelts, 2-point lapbelt and/or top tether anchors. You’ll also need to check if your car has underfloor storage compartments, as this can be problematic for car seats with support legs. Once you have narrowed your options down, you will need to check if your car is on the car seat’s approved fit list to determine if it is compatible.

Please note that not all cars available in SA are listed in the European fit lists. 

3. YOUR CHILD: WHAT IS YOUR CHILD'S PREDICTED AGE BEFORE THEY OUTGROW THE SEAT?

If your child is bigger or taller than average, he/she may reach the maximum limits of most toddler seats (18kg/105cm) before they are mature enough to travel safely in a booster (4 years minimum). In which case, it would be best to buy a 25kg rear facing car seat that will last them long enough until they are ready to use a booster safely. 

Beware of misinterpreting the weight limits of multistage seats that convert to boosters. The majority can only use the harness (Group I) until 18kg/105cm and not 25kg/36kg, which is the maximum booster weight (Group II/III).

4. REAR FACING VS FORWARD FACING?

Although it is legal to forward face a child from 9kg, rear facing car seats have been proven to provide MUCH better protection than forward facing car seats. For this reason, we are a strong advocate for keeping children rear facing until 4 years, if not more. If this is news to you, you can read our comprehensive blog that explores the research and facts. All our toddler car seats listed below allow extended rear facing to 18 or 25kg.

5. THE SAFETY RATINGS

Car seats that are sold on the South African market are imported from Europe and Asia. The seats that are sold legally, will have an orange sticker on the seat to show its ECE number to prove that it has passed the mandatory European ECE R44/04 or R129 crash testing. These results are not published, and the public are not able to find out how the seats performed in the crash tests.

In order to obtain an ECE certificate, a car seat must pass a frontal collision test at a speed of 50km/h for ECE R44/04 testing or 55km/hour for R129 testing, and pass a rear impact collision test at 30km/hr. 

In reality, we travel much faster speeds on our roads, with the speed limit in most urban areas being 60km or more. 

Some European car seats are selected for additional, independent crash testing that is done at higher speeds and the test criteria are more stringent. Unfortunately, rebranded seats that are not sold in Europe will not undergo additional testing:

a) ADAC

One of the most well-known independent crash-testing is done by the ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club). ADAC is an automobile club in Germany that selects car seats for independent crash testing. Car seat manufacturers do not pay for the testing nor do they volunteer for the testing. 

These test results are then bought by other consumer companies and re-published to the public depending on what country you are in. For example in the UK, ‘WHICH?’ consumer magazine publishes these tests, in Norway, ‘Forbrukerrådet’ publish the results etc. ADAC scores are between 1 to 5. A lower score indicates a better rating.

ADAC ASSESSES CAR SEAT ON 5 POINTS:

1.  SAFETY -  Frontal impacts at 64km/h and side impacts at 50km/h are performed with a four-door vehicle body shell mounted to a test sledge. Impact loads are measured on differently sized child dummies. Belt routing, size adjustment, seat stability and head support are assessed subjectively.
2. SERVICE/USABILITY -  A child seat is installed in a car for test purposes with the aim of identifying the misuse potential. Testing includes ease of buckling up and unstrapping the child/dummy, installation, removal and adaptation of the seat and a check of the instruction manual.
3. POLLUTANTS - They test the seat for harmful chemicals and/or pollutants
4. COMFORT - During the test installation of the seat, ADAC assesses the leg support, upholstery or uncovered parts and the child’s field of vision.
5. PROCESSING/USE - Several testers check seat cleaning and assess workmanship.

b) SWEDISH PLUS TEST

The Swedish Plus Test is conducted at the Road Safety Institute in Linköping University, Sweden, by VTI. Car seat manufacturers volunteer to have their car seats undergo the stringent testing conducted by Swedish Plus Test.

It is the only test in the world that measures the force load upon the child’s neck in a frontal collision. This is why forward facing car seats have, to date, never passed the Swedish Plus Test. The crash forces to the neck are too high when forward facing and can cause severe or even fatal injuries to a child in real life accidents.

Sweden prides itself for having the lowest child mortality rate in the world. This is not surprising as they keep their children rear facing for approximately 5-7 years.

All the car seats below have been independently crash tested and get the highest safety ratings. Read our blog explaining the mandatory vs independent crash testing.

REVIEWING THE TOP SAFETY RATED TODDLER CAR SEATS

We have compiled a list of our best toddler car seats available in South Africa, reviewing each seat and why it has made our top 14 list. The list below is in alphabetical order, and not in order of safety ratings. The car seats that pass the Swedish Plus Test are considered to be some of the safest car seats in the world. 

1) AXKID MINIKID 2

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS  OF AXKID MINIKID 2

The Axkid Minikid 2 is a rear facing only seat. It is approved from 0 to 25kg. However, it is NOT suitable for newborn babies and is only recommended from 6 months. Many babies do not actually fit into it until 12 months+.

It has a long backrest, allowing children to rear face up to the age of approximately 6 years. Axkid car seats have the highest height limit (125cm)  of all the 25kg rear facing car seats, so will last tall children the longest. 

HOW AXKID MINIKID 2 IS INSTALLED

The Minikid 2 installs with the vehicle’s 3-point seatbelt.  It does not use isofix to install. 

In addition, it has 2 lower tether straps which prevents the seat from rebounding in a crash. No additional tether anchors are required to install the tether straps. 

SAFETY FEATURES OF AXKID MINIKID 2

The seat has a support leg which reduces the downward rotation forces in a crash. It cannot be installed on top of underfloor storage compartments. 

Furthermore, it has lower tether anchors which reduce rebound forces and ensure a tight installation. The unique self-tightening tether straps featured on the Minikid 2 makes the installation easier as the seat can be “wiggled” into place, as opposed to the other 25kg seats which require a fair amount of muscle to tighten the tethers. This also prevents the tethers from becoming loose over time, like the other 25kg rear facing tethers may do.

The innovative Axkid Side Impact Protection (ASIP) is developed with the most prestigious crash institute in the world; ADAC in Germany. Upon a side collision, ASIP is built to deform and absorb the crash energy before it reaches your child. 

COMFORT FEATURES OF MINIKID 2

The Minikid 2 can be installed to give the child more or less legroom. In more compact cars, it can be installed right up against the backrest of the backseat, giving the child less legroom but the adult in front more legroom. Alternatively, if space allows, it can be installed further back off the vehicle seat to give your child more legroom.

It has 5 recline settings for a comfortable and secure recline for your child, depending on age, length and backseat angle. If more recline is needed, the angle adjusting wedge can be purchased to recline the Minikid 2 further.

The headrest and internal harness automatically adjusts’ according to the child’s length and size. This makes it easy to make sure the harness is adjusted to the correct height for their size. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MINIKID AND MOVE?

The Axkid Move is a more affordable version of the Minikid. They have the same weight and height limits, and both pass the Swedish Plus Test. The Move does not have the self-tensioning tether straps, but has regular tether straps that need to be manually tightened. The headrest and harness are not integrated, meaning that they need to be manually removed and rethreaded from the back of the seat as your child grows. 

THE MINIKID IS IDEAL IF:

• Your child is bigger/taller than average
• Your car does not have isofix
  
• You need to fit 3 across
• You want to keep your child rear facing for longer
• You need to move the seat occasionally between cars often

THE MINIKID IS NOT IDEAL IF:

• You need to move the car seat between cars very often
  

2) AXKID MODUKID

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF AXKID MODUKID

The Modukid is an iSize approved toddler seat approved from 61 to 105cm; approximately 6 months to 4 years. It is an exclusively rear facing car seat.

HOW AXKID MODUKID IS INSTALLED

Axkid Modukid Seat is easy to install and is installed with one simple click on the Modukid ISOFIX-base which enables a quick transfer between different cars. It cannot be installed in cars without isofix.

SAFETY FEATURES OF AXKID MODUKID

COMFORT FEATURES OF MODUKID

The smart ISOFIX-base has 6 adjustable legroom settings which means you can choose a compact setting for a small child or car, and extend the legroom as your child grows. 

The design of the seat s spacious and has a long seat shell for the child. Still the seat is compact without requiring too much space inside the car, allowing it to be installed in both large and small cars. 

Modukid Seat is the only i–Size seat on the market with an automatic headrest that adjusts automatically to your child’s length. This makes it easy to make sure your child has both a secure and comfortable position. 

The seat angle and recline angle can easily be adjusted with the Sleepwell-System 

MODUKID IS IDEAL IF:

• You have a small car as it can be installed compactly
• You want your child to have legroom as it can be installed less compactly
• You need to move the car seat between cars often
  
• You are committed to rear facing
• Your vehicle bench is steep

MODUKID IS NOT IDEAL IF:

• You are on a tighter budget
• You want the option to forward face
  

3) AXKID ONE

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF ONE

The Axkid One is the only rear-facing ISOFIX seat on the market that is both iSize approved and approved up to 125 cm or approx 7 years of age. 

HOW AXKID ONE IS INSTALLED

Axkid One is THE only isofix installed car seat that can be used rear facing until 23kg/125cm. All other 25kg rear facing seats are installed with seatbelt and lower tether straps, which are more cumbersome to install. The One is very lightweight and simple to install. It takes no more than 30 seconds to install. It cannot be installed in cars without isofix. 

SAFETY FEATURES OF AXKID ONE

Axkid ONE is built with a new and innovative design that uses aluminum and hardened steel to form a lightweight safety frame that acts like a protective cocoon. The seat itself is built in shock-absorbing materials to minimize crash-forces upon impact. 

 The whole seat weighs less than 10 kg allowing older and heavier children to travel rearward all the way up to 7 years of age. 

One has the innovative Axkid Side Impact Protection (ASIP) which is built to deform and absorb the crash energy before it reaches your child. ASIP should always be used on the side of the seat facing towards the door. 

One passes the Swedish Plus Test, and was awarded "best total score for an extended rear facing car seat ever tested". 

COMFORT FEATURES OF AXKID ONE

The Axkid ONE is mounted on rails allowing the seat to be quickly and easily adjusted back and forth with just one hand, giving up to 30cm of legroom to your child. This allows it to fit into small and large cars. 

Axkid ONE comes equipped with the Sleepwell System allowing the seat angle to be adjusted all the way to 42 degrees, and as your child gets older it can easily be adjusted to more upright positions. 

Ventilation holes were added in the seat to keep your child cool during the hot summer months.

For older children the safety frame can act as a handle so they easily can climb in and out themselves, without damaging the car seat. 

AXKID ONE IS IDEAL IF:

• Your child is bigger or taller than average
  
• You need to move the car seat between cars often
• You want an extended rearfacing ISOFIX seat

AXKID ONE is not ideal if:

• Budget does not allow for such an expensive seat. 
  
• Your car does not have isofix.

4) AXKID REKID

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE AXKID REKID

The Rekid is suitable from 6 months to 25kg / 125cm (approx 6 years). It is rear facing only.

HOW IS THE AXKID REKID INSTALLED

The Rekid can be installed with ISOFIX up to 18kg or with the 3-point seat belt installation from 9kg up to 25 kg. This makes it very versatile if you need to move it between cars, that may not have isofix. 

Using isofix, it is a quick and easy installation. The lower tether straps must be used in addition to the isofix. The tether straps self-tension, like the Minikid does, which makes it easier to tension the straps. Once your child reaches 18kg, the isofix can no longer be used and the Rekid must be installed with 3-point seatbelt. When installed with 3-point seatbelt, the lower tether straps must also be used. 

SAFETY FEATURES OF AXKID REKID

The Rekid has a support leg, tether straps , and isofix OR seatbelt to secure it firmly to your car. It has high side protection for maximum safety in side collisions, as well as the Axkid Side Impact Protection (ASIP) which is built to deform and absorb the crash energy before it reaches your child. 

COMFORT FEATURES OF AXKID REKID

The Rekid Internal harness and headrest that automatically adjusts to your child’s length and size. It has 3 recline settings and sufficient legroom to keep your child comfortable as they grow. 

AXKID REKID IS IDEAL IF:

• Your child is bigger/taller than average
• You need to move it between cars, in cars with and without isofix
  
• You are committed to rear facing

AXKID REKID IS NOT IDEAL IF:

• You want the option to forward face. 

5) BESAFE IZI KID X3

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE BESAFE IZI KID X3

The BeSafe iZi Kid is approved from 6 months to 18kg in rear facing. The height limits are 61-105cm. This usually lasts average-sized children until they are 4 years old. The iZi Kid cannot be used forward facing. 

HOW THE BESAFE IZI KID X3 IS INSTALLED

The iZi Kid X3 installs with isofix. It cannot be installed with seatbelt. It does not detach from the base, making it heavy to transfer between cars. The installation itself is quick and easy though. 

SAFETY FEATURES OF THE BESAFE IZI KID X3

This additional protection reduces load on the child by up to 20%. The anti-rebound brace reduces the rebound forces and the load leg reduces downward rotation forces in a collision.

It is THE safest toddler seat available (when looking at ADAC safety scores). It also passes the most stringent crash testing facility; Swedish Plus. 

COMFORT FEATURES OF THE BESAFE IZI KID X3

The BeSafe iZi Kid is well padded and comes with a soft insert to be used for children under 2 years. It has 3-recline settings that are easy to adjust. It has a high base, which allows children to see out the windows more easily. It has the added bonus of adjustable legroom for the child, giving up to 10cm of legroom in rear facing as your child grows. This is a huge advantage to keep kids comfortable in rear facing for as long as possible.

It is also very convenient to have the option to make the car seat more compact to fit in smaller vehicles or to give tall parents more legroom. All BeSafe car seats have magnets in the harness in order to keep it out the way while putting your child in. It also has ventilation holes in the backrest, to keep your child cool.

The iZi Kid X3 has 8 height adjustment positions to ensure safety and comfort as your child grows. The headrest and 5-point harness are integrated, meaning that you can adjust the height very easily, just by squeezing the handle on the headrest and raising or lowering the headrest to the desired height.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE IZI KID X3 AND IZI COMBI X4?

The Besafe iZi Combi has been discontinued. The iZi Kid and iZi Combi are essentially the same seats when used in rear facing. They both install with isofix in rear facing. The only difference between the two seats is that the iZi Combi X4 can also be installed forward facing (with seatbelt), if necessary, whereas the iZi Kid is rear facing only. 

THE IZI KID IS IDEAL IF:

1.  You are committed to rear facing
2. You want a seat with THE highest safety rating
3. You want a seat with adjustable legroom and can be made more or less compact
4. You have sloped vehicle seats, as it has good recline settings

THE IZI KID X3 IS NOT IDEAL IF:

1. You need to move it between cars very often, as it is rather heavy 

6) BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1

The BeSafe iZi Modular X1 is part of the BeSafe Modular concept, which both the iZi Go Modular X1 infant seat and the iZi Modular toddler seat use the same isofix base. The Besafe iZi Modular is a comfortable car seat iSize approved from 61cm-105cm/18kg in rear facing or 88-105cm in forward facing. This usually lasts average-sized children until they are 4 years old. 

HOW THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1 IS INSTALLED

The iZi Modular X1 can only be installed with the iZI Modular isofix base. It therefore requires the car to have isofix brackets. It cannot be installed with seatbelt. Because the seat can be removed from the base, it is lighter and easier to move between cars. A second base can be purchased for a second vehicle, to make transfers even easier. The anti-rebound brace must be fitted to the base when using the toddler seat. Please refer to the user manual on how to do this.

SAFETY FEATURES OF THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1

The isofix base has audiovisual indicators to ensure correct installation. It performs very well in crash tests with an overall score of good by ADAC; low risk of injury in a frontal collision and very low risk of injury in a side impact collision. It is the highest safety rated convertible car seat i.e. that can rear and forward face. 

COMFORT FEATURES OF THE BESAFE IZI MODULAR X1

The BeSafe iZi Modular X1 has 2 deep recline settings for rear facing, which offer maximum comfort for younger babies who still nap in the car. There are 4 recline settings that can be used in forward facing. The recline settlings are very easy to adjust.

When rear facing, the front brace box can be extended further to allow additional leg room as your child grows, but when forward facing it should be pushed in completely. It can be installed more compactly to fit smaller spaces. 

According to the manual, the front seat should be pushed back so that it touches the back if the iZi Modular i-Size when rear facing. If this is not possible, then it should be further forward, at least 25cm away. In forward facing, there should be 55cm between the car seat and the front seat to prevent

The headrest has 10 adjustable height settings, to accommodate your growing child. It is very easy to adjust the harness and headrest simultaneously.

All BeSafe car seats have magnets in the harness in order to keep it out the way while putting your child in. It also has ventilation holes in the backrest, to keep your child cool.

THE IZI MODULAR X1 IS IDEAL IF:

1.  You already have the iZi Modular isofix base from your iZi Go Modular infant seat
2.  You want a seat that allows extended rear facing and forward facing, that still has high safety ratings
3.  You need to move the seat often between cars
4.  You want adjustable legroom and recline settings

THE IZI MODULAR IS NOT IDEAL IF:

1. You are on a tighter budget

7) BESAFE IZI PLUS X1

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE BESAFE IZI PLUS X1

The Besafe iZi Plus X1 is approved from 6 months to 25 kg. The height limits are approximately 61 to 115/118cm, allowing average sized children to rear face until approximately 5 to 6 years. It is a comfortable, well-padded car seat with ample legroom. The iZi Plus X1 cannot be used forward facing. 

HOW IS THE BESAFE IZI PLUS X1 INSTALLED

The iZi Plus X1 installs with the vehicle’s 3-point seatbelt. The iZi Plus X1 takes time and muscle to install, but once it is installed properly, it is very secure. It weighs 12kg and is not an easy or quick seat to transfer between cars. The seatbelt is routed through the front of the seat, so it does not get in the way when putting your little one in or out the car.

The anti-rebound bar is ratcheted out to tension the seatbelt, but also to give your child additional legroom if required. The support leg cannot be installed on top of an underfloor storage compartment. It has 2 lower tether straps which are installed under the front runner rails or through the seat bite of the front seat. No additional tether anchors are required to install the tether straps. Extra tether straps can be purchased for a second vehicle to speed up installation, if you need to transfer the seat between cars.

SAFETY FEATURES OF THE BESAFE IZI PLUS X1

The new BeSafe iZi Plus X1 i-Size has passed some of the toughest requirements on the market; the Swedish Plus Test. It passes the Swedish Plus Test. It was awarded “Best in Test” by Folksam. 

It features built-in Side Impact Protection (SIP) in the seat shell and headrest. In addition, iZi Plus X1 comes with the newest generation of SIP+, an add-on feature that gives up to 20% more safety in a side impact. It has a support leg, to reduce downward forces in a crash, and lower tether anchors as well as an anti-rebound brace to reduce the rebound forces in a crash. 

COMFORT FEATURES OF THE BESAFE IZI PLUS X1

The BeSafe iZi Plus X1 has 3-recline settings to offer comfort to your little one, especially during naps. It can be installed to hover off the seat for maximum recline. The seat sits high on the vehicle seat, allowing children a better view out the window. 

It has ample legroom even for older children. This is a huge advantage to keep kids comfortable in rear facing for as long as possible. This unfortunately does mean it takes quite a lot of legroom from the person sitting in front of it, making the front seat inaccessible in some cars. It requires 91cm of cabin space. If it fits and installation is permitted on the middle seat, it can interfere less with the legroom up front. All BeSafe car seats have magnets in the harness in order to keep it out the way while putting your child in. The new iZi Plus X1 has a softly padded insert to be used for children under 2 years.

The iZi Plus X1 has several height adjustment positions to ensure safety and comfort as your child grows. The headrest and 5-point harness are integrated, meaning that you can adjust the height very easily, just by squeezing the handle on the headrest and raising or lowering the headrest to the desired height. To adjust the recline of the seat, you simply squeeze the lever and raise or lower it to one of the three recline settings

THE IZI PLUS IS IDEAL IF:

1.  Your child is bigger or taller than average.
2.  Your car does not have isofix
3.  You want to keep your child rear facing as long as possible

THE IZI PLUS IS NOT IDEAL IF:

1. You have a smaller car
2. You need to move the seat between cars often

8) BESAFE IZI TWIST and BESAFE IZI TURN

WEIGHT LIMITS OF BESAFE IZI TWIST/turn

The Besafe iZi Twist and iZi Turn are approved from  61cm to 105cm / 18kg, which is approximately from 6 months to 4 years. The Besafe iZi Twist is rearfacing only. The Besafe iZi Turn can be turned forward facing from 15 months however not recommended.

HOW IS BESAFE IZI TWIST/turn INSTALLED

BeSafe iZi Twist and iZi Turn are iSize approved seats that offer convenient side-to-side rotation which allows you to easily take your child in and out of the seat by rotating it towards you. 

It installs with isofix and cannot be installed with seatbelt. It has Universal Level Technology, which includes a spirit level to ensure the best recline angle in any car. This results in the base hovering over the vehicle seat, and it does not rest on the vehicle seat. This is a unique and unusual installation method, but it was designed and approved to do so. 

SAFETY FEATURES OF BESAFE IZI TWIST/turn

The iZi Twist and iZi Turn are approved to rear face to approximately 4 years. It has built-in side impact protection (SIP) in the seat shell and additional side impact protection SIP+ that gets placed on the side closest to the door. 

The Dynamic Force Absorber™ in the headrest of the seat  gives optimal protection for the child’s most vulnerable body parts. It is made of special materials and a construction of different flex-zones, which optimally absorb forces in a side impact through bending in the inner area while staying more rigid in the outer areas. 

The base boasts audiovisual indicators to ensure correct installation. The rigid support leg distributes forces safely to the vehicle floor. 

iZi Twist passed the world's toughest independent crash test; the Swedish Plus Test. ADAC gave it an overall score of 2.3, with 1.5 for safety ("very good") with very low risk of injury in a frontal or side impact collision. 

The iZi Turn has not been independently crash tested BUT we Besafe have confirmed that the iZi Turn and iZi Twist are EXACTLY THE SAME SEAT WHEN USED REAR FACING. So the Safety scores of the iZi Twist will apply to the iZi Turn when rear facing only. Therefore, the iZi Turn has not been independently crash tested in forward facing so we do not know how it would perform in a collision when forward facing. We recommend rear facing until your child outgrows the seat at 18kgs.

COMFORT FEATURES OF BESAFE IZI TWIST/turn

It has 4 recline settings as well as Universal Level Technology to achieve a 45 degree recline angle in any car, including cars with steep benches and/or bucket seats. 

The covers are made of high quality materials, and it allows optimal air access through ventilation system at the back to keep your baby cool.  

For your convenience and ease of use, the iZi Twist has Magnetic Belt Assistants to keep the harness open while you put your baby in. 

BESAFE IZI TWIST/ turn are IDEAL IF:

• Your car has steep / bucket seats
• You have back/ joint problems
  
• You are committed to rear facing only

BESAFE IZI TWIST/ turn are NOT IDEAL IF:

• You need to move it between cars very often as it heavy
• Budget does not allow for such an expensive car seat   
• You don't have isofix      

9) CYBEX SIRONA M2

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE CYBEX SIRONA M2

The Cybex Sirona M2 is part of the Cybex M-line, with both the Aton M infant seat and Sirona M2 toddler seat installing on the same isofix Base M. It is the most affordable, high scoring, extended rear facing car seat in SA. The Sirona M2 is an iSize approved car seat from birth/45cm-105cm/19kg in rear facing or 76-105cm in forward facing. This usually lasts average-sized children until they are approximately 4 years old. 

HOW IS THE CYBEX SIRONA M2 INSTALLED

Installation is quick and easy, and relatively foolproof. The Sirona M2 must be installed with the Cybex Base M isofix base. It is therefore only possible to install it in cars with isofix brackets. Being able to separate the seat from the base makes it lighter and easier to move between cars. A second base can be purchased for a second vehicle, to make transfers even easier.

The Sirona M2 is quite compact for a rear facing toddler seat. The Sirona M2 is easy to switch from rear facing to forward facing. The support leg cannot be installed on top of underfloor storage compartments.

SAFETY FEATURES OF THE SIRONA M2

The Cybex Base M isofix base, with visual indicators to ensure correct installation. It performs well in crash tests and meets the severe UN R129 (iSize) side impact criteria. 

In combination with the side impact protection of the headrest which is well padded with memory foam, the LSP (Linear Side Protection) is extended out on the side towards the car door, increasing the safety of the child in rear or forward facing if an impact should happen. It scored an overall score of "good" by ADAC with low risk of injury in a frontal collision and low risk of injury in a side impact collision.

COMFORT FEATURES OF THE SIRONA M2

The Sirona M2 has 5 recline settings for rear facing, which offer maximum comfort for naps. As your child gets older, the seat should be used in more upright recline settings. 

This also gives older children more legroom in rear facing as they grow. There are 3 recline settings that can be used in forward facing.

There are 12 height adjustments of the integrated headrest and 5-point harness. The Cybex toddler seats have memory foam in the headrest for added comfort and safety. The infant inlay should be removed at 61cm (approx. 3 months)

The Sirona M2 has hooks on the sides of the seat in order to keep the harness out the way while putting your child in.

THE SIRONA M2 IS IDEAL IF:

1. You need a seat that is quick and easy to install and move between cars
2. You want adjustable recline positions and some legroom for your child
3. You have a smaller car and/or you have limited legroom upfront, as it is quite compact

THE SIRONA M2 IS NOT IDEAL IF:

1. You plan to use it from birth. Infants don’t always fit &/recline safely. We recommend it from 3 months onwards. Rather use the Cybex Aton M infant seat for the first 3-12 months. 

10) CYBEX SIRONA S2

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE CYBEX SIRONA S2

The Sirona S2 is a brand new seat from Cybex and is fast becoming one of our most popular toddler car seats, due to its reasonable price and the convenience of the swivel. It is an iSize approved car seat from61cm (approx 3 months) to 105cm/18kg in rear facing or 76 to 105cm in forward facing. This usually lasts average-sized children until they are approximately 4 years old. 

HOW IS THE CYBEX SIRONA S2 INSTALLED

The Sirona S2 is quick and easy to install. The Sirona S2 does not come off the isofix base, making it heavy to move between cars as it weighs 15kg. It is only possible to install it in cars with isofix brackets. The Sirona S2 is quite compact for a rear facing toddler seat. It is very easy to move from rear to forward facing. 

SAFETY FEATURES OF THE CYBEX SIRONA S2

The Cybex Sirona S2 i-Size has Energy Reduction Technology, which improves safety performance during front-facing travel. Impact forces are transmitted directly into the car seat via the harness system, where they are partially dissipated by energy-absorbing materials. This reduces the forces acting on the child’s sensitive neck by approximately 20%. The integrated L.S.P. System increases safety in the event of a side-impact collision. In combination with the energy-absorbing shell, it can reduce the force of a side impact. 

 ISOFIX is a reliable way to install the car seat in your vehicle. Set-up is simple with fast one-click attachment and a load leg to anchor the seat in the vehicle. Easy-to-check indicators confirm when the seat is installed and ready to go.

The Sirona S2 is compatible with Sensorsafe (sold separately) , which is a unique child monitoring system that ensures the safety and health of your child. The SensorSafe clip is attached to the harness system and links to your smartphone via bluetooth, keeping you informed of the safety and health of your seated child at all times.

**Please note that Sirona S2 itself has not been tested by ADAC. However, the Sirona SX2 has been and scores well for safety (see ADAC results here). The Sirona SX2 and SIrona S2 have the same ECE certificate number.   

WHAT ARE THE COMFORT FEATURES OF THE SIRONA S2?

The Sirona S2 swivels 360 degrees, making it easier to load your child in and out the car. 

The Sirona S2 has 5 recline settings for rear facing. As your child gets older, the seat should be used in more upright recline settings. This also gives older children more legroom in rear facing as they grow. There are 3 recline settings that can be used in forward facing.

The Sirona S has hooks on the sides of the seat in order to keep the harness out the way while putting your child in.

THE SIRONA S2 IS IDEAL IF:

1.  You have back or joint problems, due to the convenient 360 degree swivel action
2.  You don't need to move the car seat between cars often as it is heavy
3. You want adjustable recline positions and some legroom for your child
4. You have a smaller car and/or you have limited legroom upfront, as it is quite compact

THE SIRONA S2 IS NOT IDEAL IF:

1. You need to move it between cars often, as it is a heavy seat
2. You plan to use it from birth. 

11) CYBEX SIRONA Z2

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE CYBEX SIRONA Z2

The Sirona Z2 is an iSize approved car seat from birth/45cm-105cm/18kg in rear facing or 76-105cm in forward facing. This usually lasts average-sized children until they are approximately 4 years old. The Base Z2 is also compatible with the Cloud Z2 infant car seat, which is better suited to infants than the Sirona Z2. 

HOW IS THE CYBEX SIRONA Z2 INSTALLED

The Sirona Z2 is quick and easy to install. The Sirona Z2 can be detached off the isofix base, making it lighter and easy to move between cars. It is only possible to install it in cars with isofix brackets, using Base Z2. The Sirona Z2 is quite compact for a rear facing toddler seat. It is very easy to move it from rear facing to forward facing. The Sirona Z2 can swivel 360 degrees, making it easier to load your child in and out the car. 

SAFETY FEATURES OF THE CYBEX SIRONA Z2

The Cybex Sirona Z2 installs on Base Z2 isofix base, with visual indicators to ensure correct installation. It also has an audible alarm if the support leg comes loose to warn you that it needs to be corrected. 

In combination with the side impact protection of the headrest which is well padded with memory foam, the LSP (Linear Side Protection) offers increased safety in the event of a side-impact collision. It reduces the force of a side-impact in combination with the energy-absorbing shell by approximately 25%.

The Energy Reduction Technology of the Sirona Z2 i-Size offers safety for your child in the forward-facing position in the event of a head-on collision. The "ER-Tech" reduces the forces on the neck of a child during a front crash by more than 20%, compared to other existing 5-point harness systems.

It scored an overall score of "good" by ADAC with very low risk of injury in a side impact collision and low risk of injury in a frontal collision. 

COMFORT FEATURES OF THE CYBEX SIRONA Z2

The Sirona Z2 has 5 recline settings for rear facing, which offer maximum comfort for naps and prevents your baby’s head falling forward. As your child gets older, the seat should be used in more upright recline settings. This also gives older children more legroom in rear facing as they grow. There are 5 recline settings that can be used in forward facing.

There are 12 height adjustments of the integrated headrest and 5-point harness. The Cybex toddler seats have memory foam in the headrest for added comfort and safety. The included infant inlay should be removed at 61cm (approx. 3 months)

The Sirona Z2 has magnets on the sides of the seat in order to keep the harness out the way while putting your child in.

THE CYBEX SIRONA Z2 IS IDEAL IF:

1.  You have back problems or a 2-door car due to the 360 degree swivel
2. You need to move it between cars often
3. You want a seat that is quick and easy to install
4. You want adjustable recline positions and some legroom for your child
5. You have a smaller car and/or you have limited legroom upfront, as it is quite compact

THE CYBEX SIRONA Z2 IS NOT IDEAL IF:

1. You plan to use it from birth. We recommend it from 3 months minimum. The Cloud Z, which is compatible with the base Z, is ideal from birth. 

12) MAXI COSI PEARL 360

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE MAXI COSI PEARL 360?

The Maxi Cosi Pearl 360 is an iSize approved car seat from 40 to 105cm/17.5kg in rear facing or 84cm to 105cm in forward facing. We recommend rearfacing until the seat is outgrown. This usually lasts average-sized children until they are approximately 4 years old.  The FamilyFix 360 isofix base is also compatible with the Maxi Cosi Pebble 360 infant seat which would be a more suitable option for newborns.

HOW IS THE MAXI COSI PEARL 360 INSTALLED?

The Pearl 360 can only be installed in cars that have isofix brackets. It requires the FamilyFix 360 isofix base. It cannot be installed with seatbelt. The support leg cannot be installed on top of an underfloor storage compartment. 

SAFETY FEATURES OF THE MAXI COSI PEARL 360

The Pearl 360 has been built with extra-protective G-CELL Side Impact Technology for ultimate protection in a side collision as well as a headrest with protective memory foam for extra safety. The FamilyFix 360 isofix base  has visual confirmation indicators when the connection is secure. Headrest with protective memory foam for extra safety.

COMFORT FEATURES OF THE MAXI COSI PEARL 360

The Pearl 360 provides optimal ease of use and comfort, due to the convenient 360 rotation system as well as the easy-in harness which has springs in the harness so that it is easy to strap your child in. 

The 360 rotation is great for getting your child in and out of the car seat as you simply rotate the seat towards the door. The Pearl 360 can rotate on any recline angle so not to disturb a sleeping baby. 

The Pearl 360 comes with a cosy from-birth inlay which keeps your newborn snug and safe and then this is removed once your child outgrows the insert. The Pearl 360 has multiple recline positions for optimal comfort

The Pearl 360 has been designed with ClimaFlow fabrics for optimal air circulation to keep your child at a comfortable temperature.   

THE MAXI COSI PEARL 360 IS IDEAL IF: 

• You already have the FamilyFix 360 isofix base from the Pebble 360 or Coral 360 infant seat 
• You want a seat that can swivel/rotate
• You want a seat that is easy and fast to install 
• You want a seat with a harness that is very easy to buckle in  

•  You want your child to have legroom in rear facing 
• You don't already have the FamilyFix 360 isofix base- It's expensive if you only buying the base and seat for toddler use (there are cheaper rotating toddler options)

13) THE MAXI COSI MICA PRO ECO

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE MAXI COSI MICA PRO ECO? 

The Mica Pro Eco is an iSize approved car seat from 40 to 105cm/18kg in rear facing or 84cm to 105cm in forward facing. We recommend rearfacing until the seat is outgrown. This usually lasts average-sized children until they are approximately 4 years old.  

HOW IS THE MAXI COSI MICA PRO ECO INSTALLED? 

The Mica Pro Eco can only be installed in cars that have isofix brackets. It has a built-in isofix base so it does not separate from the seat and you don't need to buy a separate isofix base. It cannot be installed with seatbelt. The support leg cannot be installed on top of an underfloor storage compartment.  

SAFETY FEATURES OF THE MAXI COSI MICA PRO ECO

The Mica Pro Eco has been built with G-CELL 2.0 Side Impact Protection which adds an extra built-in guard and provides maximum protection with improved 3D impact absorption from multiple angles as well as a headrest with protective memory foam for extra safety. 

The integrated isofix base has visual indicators to ensure you install the seat correctly and the seat has an "anti-misuse" button that prevents forward facing before your child is 15 months old.  

COMFORT FEATURES OF THE MAXI COSI MICA PRO ECO

The Mica Pro Eco provides optimal ease of use and comfort, due to the easy-in harness which has springs in the harness so that it is easy to strap your child in as well as the ability to rotate towards the door for ease of getting your child in and out of the seat. 

The seat can be rotated on any recline and can be done with one hand. The Mica Pro Eco comes with a Baby-hugg inlay which makes it suitable from birth. It has multiple recline angles for optimal comfort. 

The Mica Pro Eco has been designed with ClimaFlow panels and breathable fabrics for optimal air circulation to keep your child at a comfortable temperature.   

The Mica Pro Eco is the first sustainably made seat manufactured from 100% recyclable materials making it eco friendly.

THE MAXI COSI MICA PRO ECO IS IDEAL IF:  

• You want a rotating toddler seat that doesn't need a separate isofix base
• You want a seat that is eco-friendly
• You want a seat that is easy and fast to install  
• You want a seat with a harness that is very easy to buckle in   
• You want a swivel seat with high safety ratings

• You want your child to have legroom in rear facing  

13) MAXI COSI PEARL PRO 2

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE MAXI COSI PEARL PRO 2

The Pearl Pro 2 is an iSize approved car seat from 67 to 105cm/18.5kg in rear facing or 84cm to 105cm in forward facing. It usually lasts average-sized children until they are approximately 4 years old. 

HOW IS THE MAXI COSI PEARL PRO 2 INSTALLED

The Pearl Pro 2 can only be installed in cars that have isofix brackets. It requires the FamilyFix3 isofix base. It cannot be installed with seatbelt. The support leg cannot be installed on top of an underfloor storage compartment.

SAFETY FEATURES OF THE MAXI COSI PEARL PRO 2

The impact-absorbing material in the top side wings provides enhanced safety in a side impact collision.  The isofix base  has audio and visual confirmation when the connection is secure. The base will sound an alarm if the isofix or support leg comes loose.

The Pearl Pro 2 provides optimal ease of use and comfort, due to the easy-in harness which has springs in the harness so that it is easy to strap your child in. There is no release tab to loosen the harness. Instead, when the buckle is released it automatically releases the harness, making it easy to get your child out the harness. This is also ideal to preserve mom’s nails and granny's arthritic fingers! It has 2 recline settings which can be used for rear or forward facing. In rear facing, the seat must be fully reclined until your child is 97cm tall. When it is fully reclined in rear facing, the child should be high enough to see out the window. Legroom for the child is limited. 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PEARL PRO 2 AND PEARL SMART?

The Pearl Smart is a more budget friendly version of the Pearl Pro 2; without the easy-in harness and without the inlay. They have the same dimensions and fit the same base.

 THE MAXI COSI PEARL PRO 2 IS IDEAL IF:

1. You already have the 3WayFix or FamilyFix3 base from the Pebble Pro or Pebble Plus infant seat
2. You want a seat that is easy and fast to install
3.  You want a seat with a harness that is very easy to buckle in

 THE MAXI COSI PEARL PRO 2 IS NOT IDEAL IF:

1. You want your child to have legroom in rear facing 

14) VOLVO MAXWAY

WEIGHT AND HEIGHT LIMITS OF THE VOLVO MAXWAY

The Volvo Maxway is a rear facing only seat, made by Britax in the UK. It is approved from 9kg to 25 kg. It has a long backrest, allowing average sized children to rear face up to the age of approx. 5 to 6 years. The height limits are approximately 65 to 112-115cm. The Maxway cannot be used forward facing. 

HOW IS THE VOLVO MAXWAY INSTALLED

The Maxway installs with the vehicle’s 3-point seatbelt or 2-point lapbelt, and lower tether anchors. This makes it a versatile seat and can often accommodate 3-across. It can also be installed in older cars that do not have full seatbelts.

The Maxway is light, so easy enough to move between cars. But it does take some time to install the tethers and tighten the seatbelt. Spare tethers can be purchased for a second vehicle if you need to move it between cars often.

Once it is installed properly, it is very secure. The seatbelt is routed through the front of the seat, so it does not get in the way when putting your little one in or out the car. No additional tether anchors are required to install the tether straps, although Volvo cars do have lower tether anchors. 

SAFETY FEATURES OF THE VOLVO MAXWAY

The Maxway features deep, protective side wings which act as a protective cocoon that helps absorb the force from a side impact collision. 

The seat has a support leg which reduces the downward rotation forces. It cannot be installed on top of underfloor storage compartments. Furthermore, it has 2 lower tether straps, which are installed under the front runner rails or through the seat bite. This prevents the seat from rebounding in a crash .  

COMFORT FEATURES OF THE VOLVO MAXWAY

The Maxway is a compact and light seat, making 3 across possible in many sedans, SUVs and even some hatchbacks.

The Maxway can be installed to give the child more or less legroom. In more compact cars, it can be installed right up against the backrest of the backseat, giving the child less legroom but the adult in front more legroom.

Even when installed in the most compact position, children are perfectly comfortable crossing their legs or resting them against the backrest. To give the child more legroom, the Maxway can be installed with the lip hanging over the vehicle seat. 

The Maxway has 3-recline settings, with the recommendation of using the more upright settings as your child gets older. The recline settings are adjustable but fixed; you have to uninstall the seat to adjust the recline setting. However, this only really needs to be done once a year as your child gets older. The Maxway does look rather upright, but it can be reclined further by tethering it before tightening the seatbelt.

It sits fairly high up on the vehicle bench, so children should be able to see out of the window in most cars.

The headrest and 5-point harness are integrated, making it very easy to adjust the height.

THE VOLVO MAXWAY ISIZE IS IDEAL IF:

1. Your child is bigger than average
2. Your car does not have isofix
3. You need to fit 3 across, even with a lapbelt in the middle seat
4. You need a narrow and compact car seat
5. You want the option of more/less legroom for the child
6.  Your car has long buckle stalks as it does not cause buckle crunch

THE VOLVO MAXWAY IS NOT IDEAL IF:

1. You need to move it between cars very often as it takes some time and effort to install

Please click on the images below to view the highest safety rated toddler car seats that we sell. Feel free to contact us if you require any further information or would like to book a consultation.