Britax Duo Plus Isofix

If you have arrived here and live in the US, sorry, but I’m afraid this particular Britax car seat is not available to you. Try the Britax Marathon 70 or the Britax Marathon 70 Convertible Car Seat
which are also exceptional products.

The Duo Plus seats have exceptional safety features and have been developed following extensive research by Britax, who, as a manufacturer have stood the test of time.

The only information about specific seats you will find on this site is about Britax. Why? Other makes are certainly good, safe and popular. But when buying car seats and strollers, most people do their research first and decide for themselves. This is what I did, and Britax was my manufacturer of choice.

The Britax Duo Plus ISOFIX compatible car seat is one of the best seats for all round protection you can get for your child.

1. In Group 1, the seat is designed for children and babies from 9-18kgs (9 Months – four Years approx)
2. The Si-Pro system gives excellent side impact protection whilst incorporating a unique and patented pivot link system that provides the best possible protection in any front or rear impact
3. Britax ISOFIX system anchors the child seat directly to the car removing the need for adult seat belts
4. Incorporates ‘pivot link‘, a safety feature patented by, and unique to Britax. This reduces any movement of your child within the seat should an accident occur
5. The Britax Duo Plus Isofix has deeply softly padded side wings for optimum protection from a side impact
6. Adjusta-Fit system allows easy headrest and harness adjustment to accommodate your growing child
7. User friendly side elastics, the seat is capable of reclining in to 3 positions
8. Some cars may additionally require a Performance Pad and/or Top Tether Strap

Before fitting you must ensure this seat is compatible with any vehicle you may wish to use it in. Download the fit-finder HERE.

Dimensions: 46x48x68 cm
Weight: 8.9 kg

The Pivot link system is unique to Britax and to Isofix seats and restrains the top part of the seat from excessive movement in addition to the Isofix fitting securing the bottom. To the best of our knowledge, no other Isofix seat has this unique system. Please let us know if you find one as this one feature is why we choose this one particular seat.

The Britax Duo Plus Isofix comes in a range of colourways that include Leon, Olivia, Jet Black and Black Swirls.  There are a few others you can sometimes get hold of, but these four are usually available.

If you happen to need a Britax car seat for a larger baby, or one that lasts up until 12 years (approx) try the Britax Evolva range.

Britax are a manufacturer with a good pedigree for safety and comfort and should be one you are considering when looking for a car seat for your children.

PS: You can download the User Guide HERE.

Recent comments by the AAP suggest that contrary to popular beliefs surrounding rear-facing seats that it is NOT common for them to break their legs in any accident.

In fact, latest research has found that a child of less than two is 75% LESS likely to experience a serious injury or die when in a rear-facing seat. Likewise, children between 1 and 2 years of age are five times safer than those riding in a front-facing car seat.

Why? The answer is fairly simple and to do with physics. While rear-facing, the force of any collision will be evenly distributed over the body. In contrast, while forward-facing, the force of an impact is concentrated on the seat belt contact areas which may lead to more serious neck and head injuries. Our recommendation for a rear facing seat is the Britax First Class Plus Rearward & Forward Facing as it flips to a forward facing seat when needed, this seat also comes in a range of colours. Read more by clicking the link.

The point here is, don’t put your child forward-facing until their head is one inch of the top of the seat structure, the weight for that seat is reached, or until at least two years of age.

Rather than tell you more, just watch the video below and you will realise why you should keep your child in a rear facing position for as long as possible.

When you travel with kids there are certain items you should remember to take with you to make your journey easier by keeping the kids happier. You must not be put off by what you may perceive as a tortuous event with restless and noisy, bored children.

Just get yourself well prepared and you’ll have a good trip. Unlike traveling with adults, children just need a bit forethought so you can respond quickly to their needs. Planning is absolutely key, so try these tips and you shouldn’t have unanticipated problems.

Safety should be very important and a quick look around your own home will give you an idea of what you ought to take without loading the kitchen sink! If you are vacationing in strange surroundings, you could find a small rubberized doorstop useful. They can provide a a bit more security if you’re in a hotel as you can wedge the door from inside to stop them opening the door quickly and running out. A little nightlight is another good option in a strange place as this can help them locate the bathroom in the night.

The medical items you need to consider are Band-Aids, tissues, sun screen, antiseptic hand gel, wet wipes, pain killers (that are suitable for children and adults) and emergency telephone numbers. Naturally, if your little one has a special condition you will be aware what to add to the list.

Travel with kids on long journeys can be quite a headache when children become bored. I’m sure you’ve been asked, “how much further” or “how much longer” on many occasions! Remember to break your journey at least every few hours to allow the driver a rest and also the children time to stretch their legs etc. Always have something to eat and lots of drinks with you in the event you get caught in traffic jams.

Bring crayons, puzzle books, highlighter pens, pieces of paper, cards and some plastic bags. Having closable bags are helpful to put food, damp clothes and any bits and bobs the children may acquire such as pebbles or seashells off the beach. Handheld electronic games or portable DVD players may also be useful and if you already have them, your children probably will insist in any case. You might find an audio head set for this will come in handy for you!

Other items that you ought to consider include sun glasses and hats, umbrellas, a lightweight weight wind breaker or beach tent and your camera of course. Finally, make sure you carry your passport and travel papers where you know you will find them the evening before you go. This helps prevent last minute panics. Pinning notes on your front door to remind you may be helpful for a double check. Remember to take photographs of your children with you in case they go missing.

All the above can help you enjoy your trip more and prevent the dread of the journey when you travel with kids. Simply being well prepared and trying to keep them fed, watered and occupied is vital, so make sure you give this plenty of thought beforehand.

Before you go on any long car journey, make sure your child car seats are checked over. If you need a new one, the Britax Isofix car seats have got a excellent reputation. If you have babies and toddlers the Britax B-Smart travel system is an excellent choice.

These are just a few of our picks for the ‘gadgets’ that are available on the market now that may make life easier for you and your child.  You can find out more information by clicking the links.

If you come across anything else that you think may be of interest, please let me know or post it yourself.

Sophie

Philips AVENT SCH550/20 Bath and Room Thermometer

The Philips AVENT Digital Bath and Room Thermometer conveniently combines room and bath temperature measurement. Being digital, is is easier to read and more accurate than an analogue thermometer.

Why measure the temperature of baby’s room?

A newborn baby cannot yet regulate its own body temperature. If baby’s room is too cold baby’s body temperature can drop dangerously.

Why measure the temperature of baby’s bath?

As baby’s skin is so delicate, this makes it highly sensitive to external influences like temperature and moisture. It therefore reacts more quickly to water that is too hot and will burn much faster than the skin of an older child or an adult. As a newborn baby is not yet able to regulate its own body temperature. This means that when it is exposed to a cold environment (e.g. cold bath water), baby’s body will cool down quickly. Therefore, measuring baby’s bath water is important for baby’s safety and comfort. The thermometer can also be used for testing the water temperature of baths for older children.

It also looks quite cute!

Gro Anywhere Blackout Blind

Anyone who has stayed away from home with little ones will know that it can be tricky to create a snoozy sleeping environment when there is too much light flooding in. The versatile Gro Anywhere Blackout Blind has been designed from a lightweight material that blocks all daylight, and can be put in place in minutes using suction cups. There are eyelets at regular intervals so that you can place the suction cups where you need them. The one shown is 130cm by 200cm and comes with it’s own travel bag, but you can also get larger ones.

For those of you wondering, the Gro Anywhere Blind is a new and improved version of the Baa Baa Blind.

SnoozeShade Latte Trim Limited Edition – The Ultimate Blackout Blind for Pram, Buggy and Pushchairs

Where the Gro Anywhere blind is designed for windows, the SnoozeShade is a unique blackout blind for prams, carrycots, pushchairs and buggies (in flat-lying or upright modes). SnoozeShade attaches to the buggy’s frame quickly and easily using Velcro straps and has elasticated top and sides to allow for a flexible fit. The bottom is straight so your childs legs can poke through as they grow. SnoozeShade fits twin and triplet strollers with hoods where each child has its own hood. Simply use one per baby and then you needn’t disturb one if the other wakes up. It can also be used with rear-facing child car seats as long as they have a hood–excellent for blocking out the light from street lamps if you are travelling at night.

BabyDan Magnetic Drawer/Cupboard Lock

BabyDan Magnetic Drawer / Cupboard Lock (known as Mag Lock) is a great product for childproofing. Magnetic Locks help prevent a child’s access to draws & closets containing dangerous fluids, knives ect. This Adhesive Magnetic Lock from BabyDan is fitted with strong Adhesive Pads making it perfect for installation where screw fitting is not possible.

Angelcare AC401 Baby Movement Sensor Pad and Sound Monitor
(see video below)

Iis this just another baby monitor? The Angelcare AC401 baby monitor is a 2-in-1 monitor that detects sound and movement, so if your baby is still for 20 seconds, you’ll be alerted. And that’s just one of many great monitoring features. You’ll find the sound quality is crystal clear, and it also comes with a rechargeable mobile Parent Unit.

There is an under-the-mattress sensor pad, a parent and a nursery unit, charging cradle, a couple of adaptors and strangely, comes with batteries for the Parent unit but not for the nursery unit.

I’ll leave it to you to decide whether you need a movement sensor for your child based on your own worries, concerns and past history.