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Neutral Recommendation – The infa Secure Belmont sits low on the cars seat reducing rotational forces on the child restraint. The new simplified recline mechanism seems like a good idea buts has issues as outlined below. The new improved single seat belt path allows for easier re-threading but the rear facing lock off; hinders installation.
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Perhaps it is your first child and you are looking to Hire a baby Capsule for the first couple of months. What is involved, how does the hire process work. At Travel Safe Capsule Hire in Melbourne we want to make the process easy for you.
Purchasing a Baby capsule or a convertible car seat can be expensive. On the other hand; hiring a baby capsule, frees up cash for other expenses; eg getting the baby nursery ready. We understand this and; want your start to parenthood, to be easier with our 4 month hire free delivery, pickup and free installation; within our capsule hire service area
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Recommended – The Britax Graphene is an easy to use (loosen and tightening the harness) ; and easy adjust harness in small increments. The Britax Graphene comes with both; isofix and seat belt installation options; with three recline positions; one for rear facing , one upright forward facing and one recline forward facing position.
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The day has arrived; when you will be called Nana, Grandma or Poppy; but this will involve transporting your Grand-children. Here I explore the best baby car seats for grand children; and the benefits/ disadvantages of choosing that seat.
The best baby car seat for your grand children, will depend upon your lifestyle, frequency and budget. Do you drive your friends around, perhaps you play golf and need to fold down the back seats. Her we explore these issues and suggest possible car seat to handle these issues.
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Finally after five years, there are new Infa car seats that have included isofix on a car seat with the easy adjust harness. This new car seat; is the old Infa Secure Quattro that will include the safe grip clamp and isofix.
Infa Secure released their only isofix car seat in 2015. This new infa car seat was an A2/B with a manual re-thread . At the time of release in November 2014, it was one of the first isofix seats to be released after approval of the 2013 australian standard. Unfortunately this was the first isofix released by infa secure.
Many user issues were considered during the design stage; such as how to tension the isofix connection but fell short when it cam to getting sufficient tension on the isofix connectors. This was a similar issue that faced the maxi cosi isofix system, where installation experience by the author (and installation expert with over 12000 installations) shows that it is not possible to get the tension expected by families for a stable installation
Britax; the creators of Isofix (along with VW) have over 20 years experience with isofix; and an sofix system that works; which is easy to remove and stow away, easy to tension; and it is possible to get sufficient tension expected by families for a good installation.
The extract from SAI Global for the new infa car seats (quattro) state:
Convertible child restraint comprising blow-moulded seat incorporating: multipositional headrest with Side Impact Pod and harness adjustment, a multiposition recline and a 6-point harness. Installation is ISOFIX compatible or may be used with a vehicle seatbelt. Options and accessories include: Energy Attenuation pads, Safe Grip belt clamp, Insert pads, Shoulder pads, Buckle pads, and Seat protector
The new Infa car seat side impact pod; sounds phonetically similar to the Britax Side impact cushion technology (SIP vs SICT). The is no further mention of the old technology Air Coccoon technology (ACT) and the author has doubts there is very little or no change except to change the abbreviaion of the technology.
The fact that Infa are still using blow moulding to create the shell of the child restraints; limits the harness step increments (currently at 40mm)/. Compare this to the Britax harness step increment of 15 mm; you quickly realise; that Britax seats are a better fit, due to the small harness increment.
The extract from SAI Global for the type g seat (extended harnessing) state :
Child restraint comprising blow moulded seat incorporating: multipositional headrest with Side Impact Pod and harness adjustment, a multiposition recline and a 6-point harness. Accessories include: Energy Attenuation pads, Safe Grip belt clamp, Insert pads, Shoulder pads, Buckle pads, and Seat protector
This sounds very similiar to the infa secure emerge with all of its defects. The use of blow moulding technology has inherent limits, when it comes to the harness increment. The 40 mm harness increment of the Emerge is too large. In many cases; the harness strap is too far away from your child’s shoulders to be a good fit. Compare this to the harness increment of 15 mm on Britax car seats. The smaller increment on a Britax car seat; means it is a better and more secure fit.
The recline mechanism of the Emerge needs to be re-designed; so that it provides a recline and does not just conform to the shape of the car seat. The current design of the emerge; means the current emerge, is not suited to dual cab utes, or many suvs on the market. The Britax maxi guard has a pedestal; which has the best recline for extended harnessing car seats, preventing head flop for children who like to sleep on long drives.
The centre position tether strap of the Emerge; causes problems; when there is an integrated headrest. The tether strap needs to be split; or moved to one side. Neither solution is optimal; and should the tether strap go over the top of the headrest; there is a high chance the tether strap could slip.
The only solution is not to purchase the Emerge when your car has an integrated head rest. All other car seat manufacturers, have a split tether strap (britax, maxi cosi, mother choice etc..) coming from the side of the car seat.
Not Recommended – Dis-appointmment is an understatement; with the update of SAI Global register, about the new car seats from Infa. Very few changes are indicated and those changes are not worth the expense of a new seat. Purchase an older style Quattro Treo; and you will get a better seat. As far as an extended harnessing car seat; the best option would be to look at the Britax Maxi Guard; with its easy to use harness and superior recline.
Recommended – The Britax Millenia is an easy to use (loosen and tighten the harness) and easy to adjust the harness in small increments. The Britax millenia comes with both; isofix and seat belt installation options; with three recline positions; one for rear facing , one upright forward facing and one recline forward facing position.
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Recommended – The Britax Maxi guard is an extended harnessing car seat; which will take your child from roughly 12 moths of age through to at least 7/8 years of age. The Maxi Guard is easy to loosen and tighten the harness; with a great recline allowing your child to sleep in the car seat without headflop. The britax maxi guard will be the last seat you will need.
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Not Recommended – The Infa Secure Emerge is currently the widest G seat on the Australian market, the issue of head flop still remains with many parents struggling to tighten the harness. In comparison to Britax Maxi Guard and Maxi Cosi Luna it is not recommended however it is better than a convertible booster seat.
Infa Secure Emerge was the first of it’s type; G (fully harnessed until 7+) seat released into the market; when the 2013 standards came into effect. These standards changed over 5 years ago. Since then there has been very little change in this model. Many parents and fitters are wondering if there are any solutions to the very apparent issues with the Infa secure Emerge .
In this same time frame as the Infasecure Emerge; Britax have introduced two upgrades to their first release model and introduced a basic version of the Maxi Guard. The first maxi guard was the Maxi Guard pro which was imporoved by making the seat narrower. The maxi guard comfi and the maxi guard text have been introduced; providiing memory foan cushioning and fabric protection.
The recline on the Infasecure Emerge (other known names include Pulsar/Orbit/Accomplish/Opus); still remains unresolved, contributing to head flop; even with the addition of the rolled up towel. We have found in any duel cab this seat is not suitable. The Britax Maxi Guard; either model (Basic or Pro ); would be better solution in vehicles where the cars’seat is upright.
Harness adjustment on the Infa secure Emerge can be difficult. This is currently a ratchet system lock off; that requires many small tugs to adjust. Achieved somewhat easier for those with upper body strength. Our experience has found to be more efficient; if you pull the slack out of the harness upwards towards the shoulders; this many help with the tightening of the harness.
The harness adjustments on the Infa Secure Emerge are approximately 40 mm apart; in comparison, Britax harness adjustments are only 15mm . The smaller harness adjustment of the Britax Maxi Guard ensures a closer (and safer) fit for your child. The better harness options are available with an easy of use harness adjustment ; making the Britax Maxi guard is a better choice.
The fit of the harness around your child; is not as firm in comparision to that of a britax maxi guard. whose intial position sits lower making the maxi guard a better choice for children whose growth is slower. The Smaller increments means the harness is tighter around your child a better fit; therefore keeping your child safer.
All Infa Secure forward facing baby car seat have thei top tether strap in the centre and the buckle position is not adjustable. The centre position of the top tether strap (inc infa secure emerge) means that when you have an integrated headrest; whether it is a toyota camry, volvo xc60 or a jeep discovery; it is difficult to connect the top tether to the anchor point; as a result, the top tether cannot be easily connected to the anchor point and must be split around the head rest or over the top of the headrest. In comparision the Britax Maxi Guard has the top tether attached on either sider of the child restraint; allowing for a more secure connection to the anchor point. The buckle position is not adjustable and being in the centre means that when the anchor point is is directly in line with the centre and near the top of the seat; it is not possible to tighten the tether strap on infa secure seats.
In summary Not Recommended – the Infa Secure Emerge is currently the widest G seat on the Australian market. The very apparent issues of the past five years are yet to be addressed. The Emerge is not a seat we could recommend due to these unaddressed issues.
Hiring a Maxi Cosi Mico Ap capsule is the easiest way to get you and your new baby home from the hospital safely. The Maxi Cosi Capsule is an easy to use capsul
Many parents are finding they only use a capsule for 4 months not the 6 months which most other baby shops hire capsules out for. When you need to use the maxi cosi mico ap capsule longer than 4 months; the hire rate is only $5 per week.
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Summary: The Maxi-Cosi Titan Pro is NOT recommended due to difficulty of installation, not using best practices (extended harnessing) and difficulty in operation (loosening the harness). There are other seats on the market that provide extended harnessing at a lower cost.
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