The Maxi-Cosi priori is a group 1 Car seat, This means it falls into the category for babies over 9 months up until the age of 4, depending on the child’s size and weight. We have recently purchased a Priori XP, after a disasterous buy for our baby. It’s a car seat I will totally recommend to other mums out there. The XP is a version with ‘Xtra Protection’ , and there is also another version of the Priori called the SPS which has added side protection. It I’ll give you a bit of back ground as to how we came to buy this seat for ourselves.
At Christmas my son received a generous voucher for Argos from a relative and being only 4 months old we decided to spend wisely and buy him a carseat for the next stage and a high chair. We chose a carseat from Mamas and Papas called the Pro-tour. It is a group 1, 2 carseat and as we didn’t understand
much about second stage carseats we trusted the Argos blurb about how it was suitable from 9 months +. It was Mamas and Papas, and you automatically think quality when you think of that brand, but this has to have been the worst carseat ever made when we finally used it and it was out of the receipt time when he was big enough to use it so we couldn’t take it back. If you buy this car seat you will be risking your child’s life every time you put them in it. It didn’t recline, his head ended up swaying from side to side and he seemed so uncomfortable. It also worried us a lot. The final straw was when June 2007’s Which reports revealed that this seat was one of the most dangerous they tested and I read suggestions that it should be taken off the market.
As car seats are rather expensive I didn’t want to make the same mistake again. 6 months after we made the bad purchase I began work in a shop which sells baby gear and so I put everything to the test; I often advise people to make informed choices so heaven knows why I made such a rash purchase myself. I also asked people what they used for their children (mother’s recommendations can be very good to listen to) and Maxi-Cosi, as well as being a good seller from what I observed, was also getting great reports. I knew that it was an attractive seat, the company create very colourful, well made and designed products. And before I put any money down on it I checked the recline, the padding and seat belt guidings at the back. I also made sure it was a good fit inside my Fiesta, and my partners Astra (once bitten, twice shy, I didn’t want to make any mistakes again)
The Priori has 4 position recline, but we tend to use only straight or fully reclined. There are also two little hooks at the side that you can use to hook the straps on until you get your little one positioned. I must admit I nearly always forget to use this little convienent design, but it doesn’t cause any trouble.
I have been trained in fitting these seats, but it is such a simple seat to fit anyway.
++ Fitting the Seat +++
To fit the Maxi-Cosi Priori you first pull the seat into full reclining position using the level under the seat. When the seat is fully reclined you will find another small grey lever at the bottom which says ‘push’ below it. You push this in, and in one sweeping movement the seatbelt clamp draws backwards.
You then slide your seatbelt between the seat unit and back frame of the carseat, clamp it in place by sliding back that lever, and use one of the red clips (depends which side of the car you have put the car seat on) to clasp the upper part of the belt in place. Check that there is no buckle crunch- this is when the clasp of the 3 point seat-belt is resting against the frame of the carseat. It can be dangerous in an accident.
And that’s how simple it is to fit the Priori. (The Maxi-Cosi Tobi is even easier, but it didn’t fit my car well so that was another reason why the Priori was a good buy for us)
There is a great video here to advice users how to fit the seat: http://www.maxi-cosi.com/maxicosi/instructions.aspx?id=12
+++ Adjusting the Straps +++
There is a tensioner in the middle of the seat unit, you simply push this in and tug gently on the straps. To tighten the straps you tug lightly on the excess strap until desired tautness is achieved. It is important to have not more than finger room under the straps as the child could free themselves from the carseat and cause harm to themselves in an accident.
If you need to change the height of the straps, as I did on the first use, you lift the Velcro panel and follow the belt through the guide to the next level up. This was the only negative I found to fitting the Priori, it was very fiddly the first time I tried, although it is merely a matter of practice.
+++ The First Use +++
When we put our little boy into his Priori for the first time he lay back and chilled out! He has done this every time since, he seems to love the seat! But then, what’s not to love? We chose the colour scheme ‘Skydiver’ for his new seat. It is Navy with bluey Green side panels. There are a little collection of aeroplanes on the seat part. I have to admit it is very cute.
As far as I know, the colours with the Maxi-Cosi Car Seats change annually, ours being from the 2007 collection. There is a gorgeous girly one called ‘Happy Flower’ which has loads of gorgeous flowers on it. They also do standard Blacks and Reds, but have a huge selection. You can view the current colours at: www.maxi-cosi.com, they will change them for 2008 soon.
When I saw how much my little boy enjoyed his carseat I bought the Maxi-Cosi Playtray for him too, and he has a lot of fun. It straps around the back of the seat and has a little Phone, Steeringwheel and rattle attached with Velcro. He ‘talks’ on the phone while Im driving which it very funny, as he’s only just turned one and cant really talk yet, but he has animated conversations that he understands. It was an expensive accessory at £19.99 but he seems to enjoy it.
+++ My Final Words +++
I’ve convinced two of my friends to try this seat and they have both said the same things about it, the babies all seem so comfortable while sitting there, and they look cushioned while they sleep. I could rave all day about it as it has given me great peace of mind to know my little boy is relaxed and safe in Maxi-Cosi. I really had thought I was doing the best for my baby by choseing the established Mamas and Papas brand originally, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Maxi-Cosi is fab. The RRP of the Priori is £140, but I got staff discount so it wasn’t that price for me, however Id have paid it without qualm as it is worth every penny!
Advantages: Ease of fitting,ratchet tensioner,5 point harness,harness clips and padding,3 recline positions,Cost. Disadvantages: Difficult to clean,quite bulky to move.
Advantages: Ease of fitting,ratchet tensioner,5 point harness,harness clips and padding,3 recline positions,Cost. Disadvantages: Difficult to clean,quite bulky to move.
Aug 10th, 2007
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