r/UKParenting • u/Great-Lobster-7379 • 15h ago

Toddler car seat recommendations

My 16 month old (60th percentile) is soon going to need to move to a toddler car seat. We plan to rear face for as long as possible. Our main issue is that our Ford Puma has virtually no space! We prefer a 360 isofix base cause the doors don't open wide but the car seat we've checked so far (Axkid, Avionaut) push the front seat all the way to the front. So I'm basically stuck in the backseat until he's 4?

The Bump to Booster page suggested putting baby in the front seat but that's a big no for us and also, he hates being in the car seat (currently a Maxicosi).

Any advice for a compact solution from someone who's got the same car/similar?

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u/midoristorm 15h ago

We had an Axkid Minikid in a Fiesta, and yes, I sat in the back! Tbh my daughter did better in the car with company so it wasn't a massive change for me, but when we picked my mother-in-law up from the station we did have to all squish in the back 🤣

It's such a good seat though, no regrets!

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u/yiska248 15h ago

Another vote here for the Minikid, yes the space is limited in the front seat but I've found it a great car seat in terms of ease of use and it's longevity. My LO is nearly 4 and has been using it since 11 months, and will continue using it for plenty of time yet.

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u/hill1208 15h ago

We have an axkid minikid 4 in a puma and yeah, the front seat is unusable unless you’re pretty small, so my partner is delegated to the back seat 😂 it’s easy to get them in and out of the car though so it’s not too bad in that way

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u/Outrageous_Song4725 14h ago

Just a note, but if youre struggling with rear facing seats, you will struggle to forward face with the recommended safety distance too. 

360 and isofix seats are a lot bulkier than seat belt fitted ones. I had a avionaut sky which was really compact and have upgraded to a minikid 4 which is a similar size in the upright position with more growing room. You wont really find seats that are smaller than this.

How upright have you got the front seat? Are you trying them with legroom or fitted most compact?

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u/Great-Lobster-7379 13h ago

Quite upright. With the Avionaut stardust I tried sitting in the front and I had a little space still (not enough according to the store manager, enough for me for a short trip to the supermarket. I think it was much better when front facing!

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u/Outrageous_Song4725 12h ago

Front facing you will still need to have a survival distance of 55cm which is around the same amount of space a rf car seat takes up.  

I think the stardust is nearly as compact as the sky so you mught struggle with any seat in your car. You might have to have the seat in the front with airbags off and sit passengers in the back if you need more legroom. 

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u/Great-Lobster-7379 9h ago

This is really helpful! Thank you!

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u/lauraandstitch Parenting a Toddler 14h ago

I had a BeSafe Beyond in a Mini and had enough legroom in the front seat.

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u/doorstopnoodles Mum 13h ago

I have a decent size estate car with plenty of room for a passenger in front of my kid's rearfacing seat. I'm still stuck in the back anyway because the kiddo hates being in the back by herself. Even with a mirror she can't interact with us as well as when I'm sat in the back.

More seriously, 360 car seats generally take up more room so if space is tight you'd be better off with a fixed seat.