seconding a besafe stretch!!!!! LOVE ours!!!
"LOVE ours!!!" — enthusiastic seconding with multiple exclamation marks. Unequivocal endorsement.
I have two BeSafe stretches, and I think it's a brilliant seat. I was swayed by the fact it has the highest ADAC score if you just look at the score that literally measures the actual safety of the seat (it might be called security or something like that), as the overall score is impacted by ease of fitting and other factors which weren't as important to me. It's a big seat so check if their car will fit, but I will say that I've had mine in cars which other people would say are too small for s
"a brilliant seat", owns two of them, "highest ADAC score" for pure safety. Bought based on research. Notes size caveat but has used in supposedly-too-small cars.
Finding good car seats is a total minefield I hear you. After a ton of research I got my then-18mo a BeSafe Stretch car seat, he can stay with it & stay rear facing until he's 7yo (whether he will stay rear facing that long I don't know yet). You want to look for car seats that have scored well on ADAC (German test that's more rigorous than ours) and Swedish Plus tested (this one is the only test that checks neck load iirc). The safety testing required in UK is actually pretty basic, tests are
Chosen "after a ton of research", can stay RF until age 7. Provides detailed safety context about ADAC and Swedish Plus testing. Strong informed recommendation.
We went for the besafe stretch for exactly this reason! I'm glad we did, otherwise we would have had to buy another seat already!
"I'm glad we did, otherwise we would have had to buy another seat already" — chose it for longevity and it delivered, avoiding an extra purchase.
I would go for the besafe stretch b. That will be the longest lasting of the three. Just make sure it will fit in their car. The tethers seem daunting at first but once you get used to them it's super quick to install. Advise them to get a spare set of tethers in case they need to install in another car. So much easier to have a spare set and leaving yours installed. Avionaut sky as far as I can remember has quite a small shell so it doesn't necessarily last as long as other extended rear fac
"longest lasting of the three", "super quick to install" once used to tethers. Practical tips about spare tethers. Notes it may not fit all cars as a caveat.
We've got a britax romer max safe pro and it's good. It should fit our 4yo rear facing until she's about 7 because it's got a high weight limit. It's pretty easy to move between cars and they're often on sale so not a bad price. We've also got a besafe stretch which I prefer, but it is a lot more expensive and I wouldn't like to be moving it between cars, but it's great as a car seat that pretty much stays in one car. We'll probably buy another one of each when our 8mo grows out of her baby se
"I prefer" the BeSafe Stretch over the Britax, "it's great as a car seat that pretty much stays in one car". Notes higher cost and harder to move as caveats.
We have Besafe stretch, which we really like, my parents have an axkid mini kid which is good too and my in laws have a britax max way which is fine. All extended rear facing, wouldn't pick something which isn't. We did use a joie ispin 360 for when she was 2-4 but meant we had to buy new seats when she turned 4 so buying an ERF one at 2 would be a better financial move.
"we really like" it, all-ERF household. Compares favourably to Joie iSpin on longevity — buying ERF at 2 is "a better financial move".
I have the be safe stretch for my 3 year old. He was 98th centile in height and weight when we bought it for him. He should be fine in it until he's nearly 5 and it's rear facing which is far safer.
Owns it for a 98th centile 3 year old, expects use until nearly 5. Rear facing emphasis. Even large children get good longevity.
We have one in the back of our Skoda Fabia. It doesn't leave a lot of room in the front seat, but it's doable. We haven't extended the child's seat, though - he just kind of fits and seems quite happy. He's a large (22kg, unsure of height but he's always had his own curve!) 3.5 year old.
"doable" in a Skoda Fabia (small car), child "seems quite happy" at 22kg/3.5yo. Positive but notes limited front seat room.