First Time Parent (to Be ~ October 2022) - Cheapest Way to Purchase Baby Car Seat?

A female dog on 05/09/2022 - 12:01

About to become a parent in 3-6 weeks and have recently purchased a new pram but have yet to purchase a baby car seat.

We've settled on the Britax Graphene car seat which retails for over $600 but appears to be perpetually "on sale" for around $549 at major retailers. Our strategy was to purchase discounted baby gift cards to use at baby bunting or similar but have noticed these gift cards rarely go on sale anymore.

Would appreciate any advice on the cheapest way (without having to resort to second hand) for baby car seats - particularly the Britax Graphene edition.

TIA

Toys & Kids Baby Car Seat

Comments

  • rainbowunicorn on 05/09/2022 - 12:14
    +2

    I recently bought a graphene as there was good reviews for small/medium cars but decided to return and replace with B-first because while larger, allows for baby to be rear facing for longer. I saw some photos of kids legs being quite cramped and wanted to share for your decision making.

    On topic of price, pretty much waited for one of the sales, haven't seen any other methods for more discounts.

    • A female dog on 05/09/2022 - 13:17

      Noted, thanks for the info. Really interesting insights into potential cramping issues.

      Could you simply not slant or tilt the passenger seat a bit lower or even the baby seat itself (if possible) to allow for an extension/more space for the baby to stretch its legs and allow for more space?

      It's a pretty big price increase over the graphene (which is already pushing our budget a fair bit - originally set out for a maximum of $400 for a baby car seat - now pushing $549!).

      • Baa on 05/09/2022 - 13:38
        +1

        The B-first is a super big car seat, which works fine in our main car as it is a big car - but can barely fit into my other car (VW polo) rear facing, let alone squeeze the other kids in next to it.

        Our boy is pretty chunky though and is 6 months old, and I think the graphene will be fine.

      • rainbowunicorn on 05/09/2022 - 14:28
        +1

        Britax aint cheap and I think safety wise they're the same as the cheaper brands which is a weird. The safety of the RF position is significantly higher than FF even with a highly rated seat.

        You can't add legroom because the seat is tightened toward the backrest so it's determined by the geometry of the baby seat itself. Unless your backseat backrest has tilt adjustment? but unsure if it should be set up with it leaning back.

    • John Kimble on 06/09/2022 - 17:12

      Yep, rearward facing for a long as possible is the safest option.

      We kept our first two rearward facing till around 2.

    • HeWhoKnows on 06/09/2022 - 20:46

      Facebook and Gumtree or ask friends with older kids

  • happydude on 05/09/2022 - 12:26
    +2

    I have that seat. I paid the "perpetually on sale" price.

    I was looking for baby bargains for basically the full 9 months and very little came up. I feel like a failure if I pay full price for anything so I found it to be a ridiculously frustrating industry.

    • A female dog on 05/09/2022 - 13:10

      Totally agree. Very difficult industry/market to crack with regards to sales etc for the better rated/popular products.

  • jbone33 on 05/09/2022 - 12:36
    +3

    As others have said, this doesn't really go much lower cost wise. You will need to find your savings in other areas (e.g. Bonds sales on onesies, kmart baby clothes, second hand change tables etc).

    If you use the bunting loyalty program the chair will give you a $20 voucher ($10 per $200 spend) which isn't terrible. Think there's a $10 sign up too.

    • yoquierotaco on 05/09/2022 - 13:22
      +1

      We always facebook marketplace first. But if that's not possible, then baby bunting.

      In addition to the loyalty program. I also buy the baby gift card (7% off but the fees usually knock it down to around 5%) with a credit card to get some points. Also, baby bunting price match (online and in-store) so we always look for the item before buying anything. You can also get cashback if you buy it online. The savings is minimal but every bit counts. I think you can't use the loyalty vouchers for cashback, but paying with gift cards is fine.

  • yoquierotaco on 05/09/2022 - 13:16
    +4

    Speaking from personal experience, my advice is to ignore the price a bit. If your baby is screaming in the back, you will pay anything! Rent a car seat and see what your kid likes. Save money elsewhere like clothes and toys.

    We bought a car seat recommend by family friends (~$500) as their kids loved it. Unfortunately, our kid hated it. Would cry every time we put him in. To the point where we did not go out unless absolutely have to (drs appointment, etc). We bought a fairly expensive car seat so thought maybe our kid just didn't like being in the car (there are those). We went on a trip and borrow our friends car with a different baby seat. Our kid loved it and did not cry at all. Went home and immediately spent another $500+ to buy that exact car seat because him crying in the car every time is really exhausting. It was the Graphene+ but I think it really depends on the child. Because we had another friend that bought the cheapest seat (~$150) and their kid loved it. I think we just had a fussy baby because a lot of babies sleep in the car regardless of the car seat.

    TLDR: All of these seats are safe, rent one to see which one your kid prefers in case he's a fussy car seat baby.

    • A female dog on 05/09/2022 - 13:18

      Thanks for sharing your experience - renting a car seat sounds like a plausible method. Might look into it.

  • mrkorrupt on 05/09/2022 - 13:16

    Just wondering what does this seat offer over the $100 / $200 ones from Kmart / BigW? aren't they all conforming to the same Australian safety standard. Reminds me of the "As a Guilty Mother" segment from the checkout?

    • A female dog on 05/09/2022 - 13:22

      I was thinking the same but after doing much research, have found it to be a bit more 'versatile' than others (they all generally tick most of the boxes when it comes to safety ratings). Another appreciable difference I have found is that this version is a bit more 'compact' and narrower - allowing, potentially, up to 3 baby car seats in the rear seats (we are planning to have more kids in the coming years). We own a Toyota RAV4 (5th gen) and whilst it is quite spacious over typical sedans and cars, we value the extra space, in case others wanted to ride in our car. This would mean we could have up to 2 additional passengers (maybe 1 adult and 1 child) as well as the baby seat in the back seat compared to having a big, bulky car seat and potentially eating up the middle passenger seat space.

  • Ughhh on 05/09/2022 - 13:24
    +5

    A cheaper alternative that rates just as high but more affordable is Adore - Mothers choice.

    Keep in mind that if you want a pro to install the seat, some places you have to book weeks in advanced. Don't leave it too late.

    • A female dog on 05/09/2022 - 13:31

      Good tip on booking in advance.

      Will look into the Mothers choice seat - anything more affordable whilst offering comparative/similar features is really appreciated.

    • yoquierotaco on 05/09/2022 - 13:32
      +2

      If you can stand to read the instruction manual (some of them are huge), it's not difficult to install. Especially if your car and baby seat has ISOFIX.

      • A female dog on 05/09/2022 - 13:56

        Our car has ISOFIX points but have heard that it is highly recommended for these seats to be professionally installed with a certificate demonstrating so - Apparently not having it installed by a professional can have some insurance complications(???)

        • happydude on 05/09/2022 - 17:30
          +2

          I have no idea what a "professional" installer would do differently. I'm pretty this rumor comes from installing the anchor points, which all come from the factory now.

          Especially this seat. It has correct tension indicators for every strap.

        • zrmx on 06/09/2022 - 12:55
          +1

          Baby bunting does certified car seat installation too, just have to book online (we got it done there as it is the cheapest).

          Not sure about the insurance, but being not too familiar with our car and the car seat, just one less thing to worry about (among the many to think about) especially if you don't plan on transferring the seat between cars.

          We got the Mother's Choice Adore too, much more affordable while still rated to be good. The cheapest way back a few years for Britax car seats are stacking eBay 20% with Baby Bunting's sale price every now and then (but Baby Bunting doesn't participate in eBay's coupon any more).

    • dust on 05/09/2022 - 14:22
      +2

      No need to get a pro to install. Just learn how to do it yourself so that you can remove and install it again in future. Takes a while the first time but isn't hard once you learnt how to do it.

    • bigsaver on 06/09/2022 - 20:53

      I have this one and it is a great seat, very comfy…18m old still loves it.. The seat claims it can be used until child is 4yo but I highly doubt it ..I think he will probably outgrow it when he's 3..

      re.. installation is has isofix.. it's very easy to install, don't think a professional can do much different

  • Rako on 05/09/2022 - 13:42

    If you live in the Sydney area I would recommend you talk to Pearces child restraints https://pearceschildrestraints.com.au/ they are the experts who can give you the best advice & can expertly fit you child's seat. I used them many times as my grandchildren's seats had to be upgraded due to them growing. I have had the opportunity to occasionally see how people attempt to fit the seats themselves, the results are generally very poor, if the seat is flopping around the fitting is incorrect.

    • A female dog on 05/09/2022 - 13:58

      Thanks for sharing - they seem a bit pricey compared to other professionals that appear in store (usually weekends) that charge about $40-45. Also, a bit far from where we are located (Western Sydney). If it were closer, would definitely consider them.

  • Fergy1987 on 05/09/2022 - 14:25
    +1

    back in my day mum just slapped me in the front seat with a seatbelt on across my neck. Those were the good ol days

  • donbot on 05/09/2022 - 14:48
    +2

    I'd make sure it physically fits in the back of your car without the passengers knees up around their shoulders before committing to one in particular.

  • Soothsayer on 05/09/2022 - 14:51
    +2

    Graphene+ (plus) was on sale recently for $463, it only comes up on sale at this price in the BB catalogue a few times a year unfortunately. I also wouldn't wait too much longer to purchase and fit a car seat since there's always a risk bub arrives early once you're at >30 weeks, and hospitals quite rightly won't let you take him/her with you if you don't have a car seat installed.

    The only "non catalogue" options for Britax seats are through the eBay sales where the Baby Bunting store participates (not as common since ~2021 I've found), or if you go to a baby/kid expo and BB or Britax are an exhibitor. They were at the one in Melb in Feb this year and offered 20% off the range at the show only. In general, the large expos are a good way to get deals on baby gear if you're not too far from them.

    The other thing to keep in mind is to sign up for the Baby Bunting rewards program, you get $10 voucher on sign up + $10 voucher every $200 spend, so you're looking at ~$30 "cashback" in this case. Better than nothing!

    As for the Graphene itself, I've got 2 and love them, very compact compared to most other offerings which was important for my cars sizes as we didn't want to "upsize" the car for the first child only at the time. However I found there were some other similarly compact options on the market worth considering, the below comparison table was useful:
    https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3531128367015864&set=a.…

    • A female dog on 05/09/2022 - 15:20

      Thank you for the detailed response - further solidifying our optimal choice to stick with this seat model and brand.

      Might have to bite the bullet at its current “discount” price at $549. If there was a way to purchase some discounted gift cards, might be able to stack it to further bring down this price.

      You’re definitely right about not delaying it any further. Wife is at approx 34 weeks at this stage - we are keen to make a purchase in the next few days. Just thought I’d try my luck and see if we could get it for cheaper here before biting the bullet.

  • impoze on 05/09/2022 - 18:38

    Try and get the baby gift cards when on sale at woolies coles for an extra 10% or so

  • MeesusEff on 05/09/2022 - 23:37
    +1

    Got that seat, it was about $384 from one of those ebay plus sales. Do you want to consider other brands? The babylove Ezy switch was really highly rated and it was about $150. They've since updated the name but IIRC it was still around $180. Join the child restraints Facebook group, great for recommendations

    • A female dog on 05/09/2022 - 23:50

      Open to other brands that match or exceed the Graphene specifications. Mainly after a more ‘compact’ seat that doesn’t give up or compromise on safety. Would you recommend the baby love Ezy?

      How is your britax Graphene treating you (or should I say, your baby)? $384 is a stellar price.

  • nswnotill on 06/09/2022 - 08:03

    Maybe check out Product Review https://www.productreview.com.au/c/baby-car-seats and also Choice magazine to ascertain which baby seat is best , safest, and meets the regulations.

  • Philippc86 on 06/09/2022 - 08:28
    +1

    Save where you can. But DONT skimp on the safety of your child.

  • Thinkscape on 06/09/2022 - 08:37
    +2

    Best savings can be had when buying second hand from family members, or friends when they upgrade. The seats are very durable and long-lived however you must take care to buy one that wasn’t involved in a collision (that’s why trust is important)

  • Aureliia on 06/09/2022 - 10:29
    +1

    The two recommended seats that are ERF and compact are Britax Graphene and also the Infasecure Attain/Quattro range.

    I personally don't like the tether tightening system on the Infasecure. We need a second seat and because of how it tightens I won't consider purchasing one.

    You could consider a manual rethread harness, but then they are a pain to adjust the height. But they are cheaper.

    Agree with the comment above about purchasing off family/friends. They'll be truthful about the seats history. Just be sure to make sure its still within the 10 year manufacture date.

  • penting on 06/09/2022 - 11:09
    +1

    A graphene owner here. Unfortunately this is a one product that rarely if ever be discounted. It’s basically the same price if not more expensive from 2019. Probably wait for a baby expo might got lucky and have a bit of discount.

  • Camembert on 06/09/2022 - 15:25
    +2

    Unfortunately the graphene’s normal ‘on sale’ price is now $549. I bought one late last year when the normal price was $469 and then bought another for our second car earlier this year after the price had increased everywhere.

    I got it for around $480ish on ebay using a code and discounted ebay gift cards.

    Really happy with the seat though, quite compact, easy to get bubs in and out, and she seems to love it too!

    • A female dog on 06/09/2022 - 16:00

      That's great to hear that you guys are enjoying the seat. $468 is a pretty good price, too. Really hoping some miracle sale comes through this week or I'll be forced to pay around ~$493 (price beat at baby bunting 5% another company that has it for around $539).

  • John Kimble on 06/09/2022 - 17:06
    +2

    Take it or leave it…it's not cheap, but have you considered a capsule for the first 6 months? Buy or hire? We didn't use a capsule for our first two kids, but are currently hiring one for our third (2 months old) for something different. Been a pretty good experience so far…don't know how it will be when he gets heavier, I've heard it can get heavy to carry.

    I feel it reduces the chance of waking up the baby when you transfer baby in/out, which can be worth it.

    The one we have you can even rock gently when it's not installed in the car or pram.

    https://www.maxi-cosi.com.au/baby-capsule-hire

    Also I personally don't believe in paying a "professional" to install a car seat…if I did I would have been up for hundreds by now because I've have to install and remove the car seats so many times for so many reasons I've lost count…eg to change from rearward to forward facing, to vacuum all the food crumbs underneath, to take off the covers to machine wash due to vomit/grubby fingers, to move into other cars, to move into different seat positions across the 2nd row…and so on.

    Just take time to learn how to install properly and you'll be fine.

    And I know it's embarrassing/horrifying when it happens, but we've forgotten to buckle our babies/kids a few times, the safety ratings mean nothing when that happens…😳

    • bargaino on 08/09/2022 - 00:36
      +1

      This!
      For the first few months at least, a capsule is far superior.
      They are expensive, so of course it would be silly if everyone bought new an only got a few months use.
      We just bought and sold on gumtree, but you can hire if that's too much hassle.

  • colster6000 on 07/09/2022 - 18:11

    I bought two new Britax car seats (Graphene+ and Maxi Guard Pro+) from the Baby Bunting eBay store (did Click and Collect from my closest store) during a 20% off eBay sale a few months ago (Had twins in July and have a 2yo). That's the best sale I've seen for Britax car seats so save the Baby Bunting eBay store and add the car seat(s) to your watchlist to get alerted to when they go on sale.

    • A female dog on 07/09/2022 - 18:14

      20% off is an absolute steal in today's market. Unfortunately will require the car seats within a week or two and highly doubt they will go on sale via eBay - good strategy, nonetheless.

  • rainbowunicorn on 11/09/2022 - 08:03

    Also not sure what car you have but get the isofix version even if your car isn't compatible. Britax isofix seats can still use seatbelts but the clips might come in handy later.

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