I'm looking at infant car seats, as we no longer have the ones we used with our previous two LOs, and I'm noticing a lot of them only have a three point harness. We had a five point harness with our other one, and the thought of only a three point harness makes me a bit nervous. Just wondering what the norm is!
What did your infant car seat have in terms of a harness Which car seat did you use? Bonus points if it's compatible with a City Mini GT!
67 votes
grapefruit / 4321 posts
I would not be comfortable with a three point. I would order a 5 point even if it means you have to pay international shipping. We have the Chicco Keyfit and a baby jogger converter that makes the seat compatible to click into our City Mini GT double
grapefruit / 4079 posts
I voted 3 point because it has three buckle locations but now that I've googled the difference I wouldn't be comfortable with that!
We have the Britax B-Safe (not the 35) and we really like it. Now that I think about it, that's all I see in stores around here.
watermelon / 14467 posts
I think the 3-point harness is the norm in the UK. Check local laws to see if you can use an international seat with a 5-point harness if that is what you are comfortable with.
grapefruit / 4418 posts
@Ree723: are you talking about a seat without a chest clip? Those are still 5 point harnesses. Anyways, if you're talking. True 3 point where it's basically just a strap on the shoulders that comes straight down to the crotch (no wrapping around the thighs) then I'd absolutely go with - 5 point. I didn't think they even made these anymore. The European seats I see are still 5 point, just no chest clip. Assuming baby is strapped in tight enough, there's no need for the Chest clip and improper placement (which is common) can cause internal damage in an accident.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
When I lived abroad, the standard was 3 point in the infant bucket. The MaxiCosi brand that I looked at had 3 point and pretty much everyone I knew used that seat. I couldn't, because I was soooo used to a 5 point, so we ended up with a Britax-Roemer, the BabySafe model (the same seat that Prince George was brought home in).
I also want to say that I really wanted to import an American 5 point harness seat, but my husband read the law and basically, unless we were tourists, if we were stopped and we didn't have a European seat, we'd be ticketed.
pomegranate / 3601 posts
We have a three point Pebble and it's worked great for us. (One of the most important features for us was that it is FAA approved to be used in an aircraft since we travel quite a bit with our two).
pomelo / 5298 posts
I wonder why the difference in standards on each side of the pond. I've only ever seen a 5 point.
pineapple / 12566 posts
For our second we only had a 3-point. I was really nervous about it, but we don't drive, so I bought one second hand and we used it literally less than 3 weeks total until my DD outgrew it. If we were regular drivers, I would definitely have tried to find a 5-point.
grapefruit / 4819 posts
@catomd00: No, we don't do chest clips over here full stop (our straps are closer together than they are in the US, making the chest strap unnecessary). I'm talking about a true three point harness - straps that come over the shoulders and buckle in at the waist, no belts around the hips. The convertible seats are all five point, which is fine, but the infant seats seem to have three point harnesses as the standard, although there are some with five.
@looch: Same issue here - I've looked into importing a seat from the US but it's a violation of the law as it has to meet European standards.
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
Our's is 5 point (Chicco KeyFit 30) and we have the City Select stroller (from Baby Jogger). We bought the car seat adapter for the stroller and it works great!
pineapple / 12234 posts
What about using a 5 point harness convertible that works for new babies? I put N in a wrap or the beco carrier instead of carrying around the infant seat since I still had two little hands to hold.
persimmon / 1328 posts
I'm in the UK and thought 3 point was standard for infant seats. We used a Maxi Cosi Cabriofix, and will be re-using it for LO2. It has never occurred to me not to be comfortable with it as I didn't know any different! FWIW we've been very happy with it, and I think it is compatible with the City Mini GT with adaptors!
Our FF seat which LO1 uses now is a Maxi Cosi Pearl, which does have a 5 point harness.
grapefruit / 4819 posts
@HLK208: That's a good point! We did just buy a new convertible suitable from birth up to 4 yrs for C (her previous one wasn't Isofix/Latch) but neither of our cars have three isofix points so at least one of the seats will have to be buckled in anyway, so if that's the case, we're set. A lot will depend where E is going to school next year. Currently, we drive to her preschool but we're thinking of putting her in the preschool attached to our local primary school (on our street) next year. If that's the case, the infant seat isn't essential as we'll obviously walk; I was just thinking if we have to drive on the school run every day, I will definitely want an infant seat for all the in and out of the car! Hmm, another tick in the column for moving her to the new preschool next year, even though I love her current one!
grapefruit / 4355 posts
I've never seen an infant seat without a 5-point harness (but it sounds like they aren't the norm across the pond). We had the Britax B-Safe.
papaya / 10570 posts
Our infant bucket seat just has a 3 point harness. I don't know any different - I think they all are here?
grapefruit / 4291 posts
@Cherrybee: @Ree723: some of the Euro-standard seats are still only 3-point, they're not unsafe but I believe the 5-point are safer (both are available in New Zealand)
pomegranate / 3601 posts
@Ree723: I believe besafe (Norwegian company, http://www.carseat.co.uk), Joie and some Britax models have 5 point harnesses and adhere to the European saftey standards.
nectarine / 2243 posts
http://www.mothercare.com/Joie-I-Gemm-Baby-Car-Seat---Pavement/774746,default,pd.html
http://www.mothercare.com/Britax-BabySafe-Baby-Car-Seat---Black-Thunder/548744,default,pd.html
All 5 point. I wouldn't buy a car seat without a 5 point.
grapefruit / 4819 posts
@Pumuckl: @Littlebit7: Thanks ladies! I usually shop at Mothercare but was getting frustrated that everything I liked, in a reasonable price range (those prices are just for the seat, not the base, boo), that would work with our pram, was a three point harness! After further consideration, we might skip the infant seat and use a convertible as we do walk most places on a day to day basis and I can deal with taking an infant in and out for our big outings.....
grapefruit / 4418 posts
@Ree723: so interesting how much things differ! The 3 point looks uncomfortable to me! I sure it's safety tested though if it's on the market. I'd probably be inclined to go with the 5 still just because that's what I'm used to!
pomegranate / 3601 posts
@Ree723: If you're thinking of going the convertible way I can really recommend the Cybex Sirona. It has a newborn insert (not included) and it turns side ways for getting the baby in so it makes it way less of a hassle. Also the "lowest" lay flat position is truly suitable for small babies. http://cybex-online.com/gb/carseats/sirona.html
pomegranate / 3231 posts
If you have a City Mini GT then I strongly recommend a Britax B-Safe because it has a waaaaay less annoying adapter. For any other stroller you have to use a clunkier adapter that must be removed before you can fold the stroller.
(This is based on research from 2.5 years ago so may be out of date.)
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