Britax Safe N Sound Graphene EA Ifix Car Seat $459 Delivered @ Baby Bunting

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Melburnian on 21/11/2024 - 12:03 babybunting.com.au (648 clicks)
Last edited 21/11/2024 - 12:04 by 1 other user

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Baby Bunting sale price on the Britax Safe N Sound Easy Adjust Ifix Car Seat in Black or Grey is $459 until 2 December (formerly $559).

TCN Choice gift cards ($50 and $100 denominations, excluding variable load) are 15% off at Coles until 26 November.

I redeemed 5 of the $100 gift cards in store (EFTPOS Savings, swipe and PIN) to buy the car seat for $390.15 out of pocket.

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• 

  faffybird on 21/11/2024 - 12:25

  +2

  Can I ask why you chose this Britax car seat over another, e.g. the Maxi Guard, which is $100 cheaper and takes you up to 8 years old?

  • 

    urahara on 21/11/2024 - 12:26

    Also curious do we have to buy isofix separately for these ? If yes from where ?

    • 

      Melburnian on 21/11/2024 - 12:43

      +4

      Isofix is the system in the car that the car seat attaches to. It's not a separate attachment or purchase.

  • 

    Melburnian on 21/11/2024 - 12:42

    +5

    The Graphene is compact (we drive a Mazda 3 and cannot fit a bigger car seat behind the front passenger or driver seat) and extended rear-facing (safest to rear-face for as long as possible). For those with bigger cars or bigger kids, these points are less advantageous.

    • 

      dregs on 21/11/2024 - 13:30

      +1

      Exactly our reasoning for the Graphene too.

      Graphene is rear and forward facing, so can be used from 0 to 4 years, requiring a separate booster seat for 4-8 years.

      Maxi Guard is forward facing only, so can be used from 6 months to 8 years, requiring a separate capsule for 0-6 months.

      • 

        timc10 on 25/11/2024 - 10:14

        You can forward face from 4 years in a Graphene until outgrown which may get you to age 5 or 6

  • 

    CoreNex on 21/11/2024 - 12:59

    +1

    The compact size is what convinced me for the Graphene (alternatively the Maxi Cosi Pria). We found the capsule and other larger seats eat into the middle seat quite a bit which meant our 5 seater car turned into a 4 seater (We had an outlander and the graphene still makes the middle seat squishy). We plan on having two kids so the need to have a middle seat with two car seats installed is a must.

  • 

    phxsun on 21/11/2024 - 13:39

    +2

    The Maxiguard is 12mths to 8 years. The Graphene is suitable from newborn. We got the Graphene because it was apparently one of the most compact convertible child seats on the market and still had all the latest safety features you come to expect. It was also one of the newer models as well when we purchased it half a year ago. We got it for about $440 and we've been super happy with it.

    • 

      Bahrgain Victorious on 21/11/2024 - 14:04

      im pretty overwhelmed by all the options and have a newborn on the way - so you're on board with this as the one and done seat for our car? No issues on space or other kids so not needing anything ultra compact. Also have no idea if I need isofix or what that is!

      • 

        caprimulgus on 21/11/2024 - 14:09

        +1

        When you say one and done, do you mean babies or car seats? Lol

        This (Graphene) is a 0-4 seat, so you will still need a seat to cover 4-8 after this.

        If you want a one and done car seat, you want to look at 0-8 seats (ideally with extended rear facing - I listed the only 3 such seats below).

        Isofix is personal preference. It's just a simpler / more convenient way to attach the seat (if your car has isofix). And only for 0-4 seats (cannot be used above 4 years). Its no safer than a seatbelt install - except in the sense that people are more likely to do a seatbelt install incorrectly (thus making it less safe). I prefer isofix, but I'm not wedded to it (we have 3 isofix and 1 non-isofix).

        • 

          Bahrgain Victorious on 21/11/2024 - 14:31

          @caprimulgus: Thanks for the insights! I think I'll be happy to buy 1 seat now and can re-asses that next step in 4 years time. This seems like a great price for a 0-4 seat with good safety. I'll go and look at the car to see if it has an ISO fix mount or anything that looks baby seat like.

          • 

            caprimulgus on 21/11/2024 - 14:42

            +1

            @Bahrgain Victorious: Yeah, the advice from the "experts" is that a lot can change in 4 years - so they tend to advise buying a 0-4, and then assessing the options in 4 years time for the next seat. So that would be best practice! :)

            The isofix points will be a metal loop in the crevice between the seat back and base, closer in than the regular seatbelt buckle. If your car has them, you should have at least two sets (on the outboard seats).

            (Note: If your car doesnt have isofix points for the middle seat, don't use one isofix point from each side to connect a seat in the middle seat - because they are not meant to be used that way.)

            • 

              Bahrgain Victorious on 21/11/2024 - 14:48

              @caprimulgus: Fair point about technology changes too.. 4 years feels like a lifetime away. I found some isofix points, which is good news. I guess I'll head into the store tomorrow and collect one after a trip to Coles for some giftcards.

            • 

              phxsun on 21/11/2024 - 15:37

              @caprimulgus: 0-8 seats also tend to be larger and bulkier and there are generally fewer options which I didn't like.

              • 

                caprimulgus on 21/11/2024 - 17:57

                @phxsun: Yes - all explained in my comment below.

        • 

          XVX on 21/11/2024 - 21:40

          @caprimulgus: So do you only need to do 1 method of fixing for the carseat? I have the Graphene in my car and the instructions are incredibly vague, so I set it up to have isofix, seatbelt and the roof mount all at once and I find the straps for the roof mount make it super awkward to get the baby out of the seat.

          • 

            caprimulgus on 21/11/2024 - 22:06

            @XVX: You need to use EITHER isofix or seatbelt install (NOT both at the same time). But both methods must also use the top tether (which is the one that is attached to your roof in your case).

            You should remove either the seatbelt or the isofix attachments. Only use one or the other.

            Leave the tether that is clipped to your roof - you need that.

            What you are meant to do when taking kid in and out is loosen the tether, using the buckle that is on the side of the baby seat. The tether buckle should be on the door side of the seat - if it's not, you'll probably want to have the tether switched to the other side (by a registered fitter, since you have a Bri-tax).

      • 

        phxsun on 21/11/2024 - 15:30

        I'd suggest going in to a Baby Bunting and Baby Kingdom and have a chat with them. I was pretty overwhelmed when I first tried to do research online but I found going in to talk to sales reps about my needs and requirements way more helpful. They'll go through with you the key features and also what you're getting at different price points. After I had a couple of options in mind, I did my OzB thing and waited for a deal.

        But what I got from talking the people at the shops is that, pretty much whatever you're getting, it's going to be up to Aussie safety standards which are some of the highest in the world. As you start to add fancier safety features, more premium materials, easy use features and styling, that's when the price goes up but you're you're unlikely going to get one that is dangerous or not fit for purpose.

  • 

    caprimulgus on 21/11/2024 - 13:57

    +2

    This seat is ERF (Extended Rear Facing) - rated to 30 months, but some kids will get even longer rear-facing.

    Maxi Guard is Forward Facing only.

    Best practice is to rear-face for as long as possible. People use an ERF seat like this until 4 years, and then switch to an "type G" / EH (Extended Harnessing) seat like the Maxi Guard after 4 years

    If you only want to buy 1 seat, you want to look at 0-8 seats (not 6months-8yo) with ERF. Infasecure Grandeur and variants, Securesafe Guard, or Mother's Choice Infinity and variants (listed from longest to most compact, in rear-facing mode). They tend to be much bigger (longer) in rear-facing mode, though, so you need a big car or you may lose use of seat in front (or make the legroom uncomfortable).

• 

  Tommybot on 21/11/2024 - 12:55

  +2

  If I could turn back time I would not have wasted so much money on a baby car seat. It's completely unnecessary. For our second kid we bought the Mother's Choice Adore AP which at the time was the highest rated in safety whilst also being significantly cheaper.

  Spend the extra money on a nice pram.

  • 

    ExeGNR on 21/11/2024 - 15:27

    I'm with you until…I had a second kid. We're trying to have two baby car seat next to each other so we can enable easy access to a third row.
    Unfortunately, the Mother's Choice Adore AP is quite wide (55cm) which makes virtually impossible to achieve that.
    That is when this +$400 baby car seat comes into play with a width of less than 50cm which you can have a go and set two baby car seat next to each other.

• 

  impoze on 21/11/2024 - 13:38

  This Car Seat Safety Australia group on Facebook is a great resource, especially when it comes to trying to fit multiple seats in a car.

  The new Mothers CHoice Focus/Pulse has recently dethroned the Britax Maxi Guard, and is way cheaper.

• 

  Rhys925 on 21/11/2024 - 16:23

  We have a two year old and second arriving soon. Already use graphene for current kid.

  Are we better off using the current graphene for newborn and then buying a 12months to 8 years seat and transitioning two year old to that?

  Or would there be benefits running graphenes for both kids for now and then buying something new again when oldest turns 4?

  • 

    caprimulgus on 21/11/2024 - 18:16

    It's really up to you.

    "Beat practice" advocates would tell you to get another 0-4 seat, and keeping them both rear-facing as long as possible. But obviously that will end up being more expensive, because you will end up buying more seats.
    The reasons for doing it:
    -rear-face both for as long as possible.
    -possible for updated features/technology in newer seats by the time you buy the next seat.

    If your kid is close enough to forward facing, then yes, you might decide to just go for a 12-8 seat now and forward face them, which would mean one less seat to buy in the long run. Certainly a common option people go for (if not the "ideal" that "experts" would recommend).

    If your car is big enough, you could consider a 0-8 ERF seat instead, which gives you the benefit of continuing to rear-face both, while also the benefit of one less seat to buy. But, there are drawbacks of this approach too (using the same seat for a long time can get old/outdated and cruddy, 0-8 seats usually more expensive and a lot less compact - especially in rear-facing mode, which can really impact front seat legroom!).

    Our kids are a similar age gap (2.5 years). We had 2 Graphenes, and when we got our second car, we decided to take back the 0-4 seat we had bought my parents (Mother's Choice Accord AP) and buy a 0-8 seat (Mother's Choice Ascend, which is the most compact 0-8 ERF seat). So 3x 0-4 + 1x 0-8. This meant one less seat (well, 2, since we borrowed the 0-4 back from my parents) that we will have to purchase, while still keeping them both rear-facing for as long as possible. Once our older kid turns around, we will give the 0-4 back to my parents, and replace it with a 12-8 seat (Maxi Guard Pro), and use our 2 Graphenes for the younger kid.

    But it's really up to you what you are compfortable with. (What we have done is not the "ideal" recommended by the "experts", but I'm perfectly ok with that!). :)

    • 

      Rhys925 on 21/11/2024 - 19:28

      Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience!

      • 

        caprimulgus on 21/11/2024 - 20:48

        +1

        No worries!

        All the best with kid number 2 - it's a whole new ball game when it's 2 on 2! 🤣

      • 

        caprimulgus on 21/11/2024 - 20:53

        Oh, one thing to note about 2x Graphene (if you go that way): if you have one on either side, both rear-facing, you'll probably want to switch the tether on one to the other side (so it's on the outboard side, otherwise you have to lift the kid over the tether). Officially, you have to have this done by a registered fitter - and you'll again need to have it switched back when you turn them around.

        I believe Infasecure seats you can switch the tether yourself. And the newer Maxi-Cosi Pria has a "smart tether" that can be switched sides, and also routed down beside the seat (so you dont have to loosen it at all!).

        Not a massive deal…but something to keep in mind! Cheers.

        Edit: An alternative solution to switching the tether, if you have access to the back of the seat, you can use an adjustable tether extension at the back, and loosen the tether by adjusting the length of the extension (instead of the tether itself). But, this only works if you can access the rear tether point easily (on our 7-seater you can, but on our 5-seater car you would have to do it via the boot, which is not convenient!).

• 

  MinimalistWallets on 29/11/2024 - 07:27

  AGL rewards doing 7% off the TCN Baby Gift Card at the moment even though only seems to be advertised as 5%.