Buying the right Carseat

Carseats are one of those very important purchases because they provide safety for your child when travelling in a car. As your child grows you will need to change your carseat.

There are many carseat systems on the market, but we supply 2 brands. They are Maxi-Cosi and Safe N Sound. These brands are known for their safety and usability.

It is important to get the right advice at the time of purchasing carseats. There are quite a few options and things you need to consider. Our staff are Safe2go certified technicians, which means they have been to training provided by Land Transport NZ and ACC NZ on the correct use of carseats.

Carseats save lives so we take the sale of them very seriously. I see so many carseats that are fitted incorrectly or children in carseats that are not right for their age or size. Most people get lucky and never have an accident. We want to do everything we can to ensure your children are safe if the worst does happen.

To see information on the Maxi-Cosi range click HERE, for Safe-n-Sound click HERE.

For more information on the child restraint laws and the Safe2go program click HERE.

Maxi-Cosi Carseats

The Maxi-Cosi system is designed to cater for your child from birth to up to 12 years old, if required.


Group 0 0-13kg Birth to approx 12 months

The Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix has many great features that include -

• CabrioFix is the only 5-star rated infant carrier and base.
• Integrated sun canopy.
• Belt hooks for keeping seat belts out of the way.
• Removable insert that allows the seat to adjust as your baby grows.
• Can be attached to a Bugaboo stroller.

There is an easybase available for this seat. This means you can just clip it in rather than having to strap it in with seatbelts every time you put it into the car. When you compare these capsules with others its easy to see why they are so popular and so safe. Its also great that they can accommodate the baby until they are old enough to go front facing (approx 1 year).

Group 1 9-18kg Approx 9 months - 3.5 years.

The Maxi-Cosi Tobi has many great features that include -

• Spring loaded harnesses to make seating the child easy.
• Colour coding to indicate when your child is secured properly.
• Height adjustable head rest and harness belts.
• 5 reclining positions.
• Forward facing only.

Note that this is a forward facing seat only. So it is great for use as a follow on from the Cabriofix capsule.

Group 2/3 15-36kg Approx 3.5 years - 12 years.

The Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR has many great features that include -

• Unique relaxed recline position for both small and larger children.
• Backrest that grows with the child in both length and width
• Optimal side crash protection for head, lower back and hips
• Anchorage point in headrest to stop the seat from moving when the child is not in the seat.
• Ligthweight.
• The base can remove from the back to make it into a booster seat.

My eldest daughter has a pink one of these. Its a great seat, easy to get in and out of the car and has great safety features to ensure belts are in the correct positions.

Safe-n-Sound Carseats

Convertable Carseats Birth - 18kg

The convertable carseat allows you to position your baby in a rear facing position until they are approx 12 months old, then move them to a foward facing position. We stock 3 types of convertable carseat from Safe-n-Sound - Platinum AHR, Meridian AHR and Royale.


The AHR range are the safest convertable carseats available in Australia and they have a multi position headrest that grows with your child.

All AHR and Royale carseats have the following features.

• Machine washable plush trim, including sunhood, messy mat and storage pocket.
• Frontal recline for easy adjustment of the seat.
• Seat belt lock off for forward facing positions.
• Superior side impact protection.

Convertable Booster 8 - 26kg

The Maxi Rider AHR is a convertable booster that can only be used in a forward facing position. This booster has the same adjustable headrest of the Convertable Carseat AHR range and the following features -

• Converts from a 5 way harness to a booster (using the standard seatbelt) when your child is old enough.
• Has an antisubmarine clip for use in booster seat mode.

This carseat is great when you have a small gap between two children. For example, you already have a Convertable Carseat for your first child and you are expecting number 2. If your first child is not old enough to go into a standard booster, the Maxi Rider AHR allows you to purchase a seat with a 5 way harness that will also double as your first childs booster when they get a little older.

Ultimate Play Doh Recipe

This recipe makes great Play Doh. The kids will love it and it keeps for a very long time in an air tight container or bag. Its really easy to make and much cheaper than buying it all the time -

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp oil
2 tsp cream of tartar
approx 1 cup boiling water
food colouring

Ava Meehan Appeal

Ava got very ill in May 2008 after complications that arose from a severe case of croup. Ava lost her right hand and both of her legs in her fight to survive. She is the bravest and most determined 3 year old we have ever met. We wanted to help her so we are going to raise $70,000. Click HERE to go to her website or HERE to make a donation.

New Swift Mountain Buggy

Mountain Buggy released the new Swift buggy in Nov 08. When the Breeze buggy came out, a lot of customers were really interested in it but didn't like the fact that the front wheel was fixed. The Swift is the same size as the Breeze but is has the same swivel wheel as the Urban.

If you don't want to use a carry cot or capsule with your buggy then you should definetly consider the Swift. There are 3 different colour options -

• Lime - as shown in the pic


• Flint - Black with grey


• Chilli - Black with deep red

The sun cover zips onto the brim of the hood rather than laying over the hood like the other models.

I have owned an Urban Single and an Urban Double. If I had my time again and the Swift was around, I would say it is the buggy I would choose. Click HERE for more info.