Stats

• maximum weight recommendation: 25 kilograms
• Length: 127.5 centimetres
• Height: 104.1 centimetres
• Width: 58.4 centimetres
• weight: 14.9 kilograms
• unisex
• suitable from birth up to 4 years of age
• eye catching design
• can be used as a single or inline (double) pushchair

Round up of pros and cons

Pros

• a great pram for a toddler & a baby
• great as  a double buggy and for 1st 3 months
• worth the price for the ease of carrying two and being able to get in and out of shops
• very easy to handle, felt very light, got through every door and round shops without a problem
• easy to fold and  doesn’t take up much room
• the canopy can be moved so when the sun is in front you can tip it to cover the child
• big improvements from previous versions, including being able to fold the pushchair with the double seat in place
• the Vibe does the job and fits in my boot
• I love the cocoon but this is only good when the baby is under about 4-5 months.
• gives me some independence! I can manage going out alone with the two kids
• the buggy is easy to fold when you know how, though it does not stand alone when folded, but I just pop it straight in the boot.
• the kids are happy in it and slept well when out for the day
• cocoon bril for newborns
• seats are nicely padded, folding is easy with double kit on when you get used to it! It is really easy to push even with the weight of two children in it

Cons

• front wheel – it can stick and then it’s really hard to steer – especially with the weight of two children
• it’s expensive
• no storage when in doubles mode
• the handbrake was stiff as first (though fine after a while)
• lots of punctures, and it’s very difficult to remove tyre to replace inner tube
• raincover not great, it doesnt really fit over both seats
• raincover is too big to carry round
• the tyres are not great – keep them pumped up
• tyres are too soft for off road
• the harness straps are quite short

The Phil n Teds Vibe is available in black, and black/red at Amazon.

Do you have a Phil n Teds Vibe?

What do you think of it? Let us know what you think are the good and the bad points.

The details above are a round up of reviews and comments. Online Mum has not tested the pushchair and does not recommend any product.

Silver Cross decided to build this website after several of their customers said that they were frustrated that the existing websites that provided recommendations on where to take children were commercially motivated and often did not allow for reviews. The website has  500 venues to get the site started.’ 

Alan Halsall, the Chairman of Silver Cross said ‘Silver Cross will not allow any advertising or sponsorship on the site as this exciting new development has been built for the benefit of the community and it is up to you to both take advantage of the reviews and also give us accounts of your experiences, good and bad, so others can be helped by what you have discovered.’

Please do get involved. Not only to take the benefit of other people’s experiences, but also to let them hear your views. The more everyone gets involved, the more added value the site can bring us all’.

Competition Time!

They are also running a competition to get the website off to a great start:

Anyone who adds a review to the website will go into a draw for either an annual Scottish National Trust family pass and an English Heritage annual pass or a National Trust family pass and an English Heritage annual pass!

The winner will be announced at the end of July. Here are more details:

Silver Cross Days Out Competition:

• To enter someone simply has to add a venue into the Silver Cross Days Out website.
• Winners will be randomly picked.
• The more times someone enters, the more chances they have to win!

Prizes

• 1x Scottish National Trust: Family Pass (annual membership entitles two adults at one address and any of their children or grandchildren under 18).

Plus

• 1x English Heritage: Joint Adult Pass (annual membership entitles free, unlimited entry to 400 properties plus free entry for up to six accompanying children – under 19 – within your family group).

OR

• 1x National Trust: Family Pass (annual membership entitles two adults living at one address and any of their children or grandchildren under 18).

Plus

• 1x English Heritage: Joint Adult Pass (annual membership entitles free, unlimited entry to 400 properties plus free entry for up to six accompanying children – under 19 – within your family group).

Group
Car seats are all grouped – which do I need?
Children grow at different rates so it’s important to know roughly how much your child weighs, so you can change seats at the right time.   The different weight categories are:

Swivel function
The seat rotates 90 degrees for easy access to seat your child

Safety harness
A single pull adjuster strap tightens or loosens the straps simultaneously to secure your child.

Forward facing
Children aged approximately 9 months – 11 years can face the direction the car is travelling

Base recommended
For maximum safety and confidence of fit

Impact protection
For extra safety and additional side impact protection for your child

Rear-ward facing
Babies from birth to about 9 months approx have to face the opposite direction the car is travelling

Adjustable head support
Adjustable headrest which you can alter as your child grows.

Machine washable
Has a machine washable cover that can be easily removed.

Recline position
The seat tilts to help your child sleep more comfortably. Don’t use the car seat as somewhere for them to sleep for long periods, but they will nod off when you are driving!

Isofix
Isofix secures the car seat safely to the car chassis, minimising the risk of incorrect seat installation.

For more on Isofix car seats see our article

Great deals on baby and child car seats and carriers

Other related articles:
Baby car seat – first things first – safety.
Baby car seat – quick guide to ISOFIX car seats.

Buying a car seat is one of the most important purchases you will ever make for your baby.

It will probably first be used to take your new baby home from the hospital. Nervous as you might be about taking your new youngster home – you don’t want to worry about whether you have the right car seat. 

The most important thing to remember when buying you baby their car seat is; safety, safety, safety.

It is easy to look for a seat that has passed European safety standards, but this alone is not enough. (Car seats must conform to the European safety standards ECE R44.03.)

Not all car seats fit all cars and a secure fit is crucial. If you are buying your car seat online, make sure your car is listed as a model that your chosen car seat will fit in to.

You can test the seat at many large superstores , these stores often help with the installation of your new car seat, as will many smaller independent shops.

Children up to and under 1.35metres (and under 11 years) need to use either a car seat or a booster seat.

For more information on the rules that came into force in September 2006 on car seats, see the Child Car Seat section of the Department for transport website

Some car seat safety tips

• NEVER use a child’s car seat on a passenger seat where there is an air bag fitted
• NEVER travel with a child unless they’re strapped into a car seat.
• NEVER strap your child into your seat belt with you – in an accident, you would crush them.
• NEVER  modify a child seat, it’s fitting, the harness, or buckle to make it fit your car.
• NEVER use a rearward-facing car seat on the front passenger seat
• Your child seat should rest firmly on the main seat, with little or no movement.
• Check that you cannot get more than two fingers between the harness straps and your child’s chest: tight enough to be sage, but still comfortable.
• The harness buckle should lie on your baby’s pelvis, not tummy.
• Regularly check fixed car seats to ensure that they haven’t worked loose. Pull on the harness of the seat to test thoroughly.
• NEVER modify a child seat, it’s fitting, the harness, or buckle to make it fit your car.
• NEVER buy a second-hand car seat – as you do not know for sure the history of the seat.
• NEVER use a seat that has been involved in a crash, no matter how minor.
• Watch out for unsecured objects in the car that could be dangerous – in an accident, a tissue box flying off the back shelf has the impact of a house brick.
• If you have to use the front seat with an older child, (who is in a forward-facing seat) push the passenger seat as far back as possible from the dashboard.
• Use a car seat for all journeys, however short. Even if you don’t own a car you’ll still need a car seat for when you get a lift from friends or take a cab.

Fitting the car seat – things to remember

• Read the instructions carefully – remember up to 80% of car seats are fitted incorrectly
• Always try before you buy to make sure it fits your make of car
• Practice fitting theseat a few times before you need to use it, you don’t want to be wanting to take your new baby home from the hospital, but are delyaed because you can’t fit the car seat!
• Fasten the seat into the car as tightly as possible. There should be no slack or loose seatbelts
• Adjust the harnessfor a snug fit against the child’s chest
• When correctlyinstalled, the car seat should not move or slide around excessively

For more information on children’s car seats and safety have a look at the RoSPA website http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/

Great deals on car seats and carriers

Other related articles:
Baby car seat jargon buster.
Baby car seat – quick guide to ISOFIX car seats.

What is ISOFIX? 

• ISOFIX  is a standard for installing child seats into cars and is intended to make fitting child seats quick and simple.
• Car manufacturers and car seat manufacturers build ISOFIX points into their product. You can then easily plug an ISOFIX car seat into ISOFIX points on a car.
• All new cars are fitted with ISOFIX points. But it is important to make sure that any ISOFIX seats that you use in your car are suitable for that car. It is not yet the case that any ISOFIX seat will fit in every car with ISOFIX points.

Why is ISOFIX recommended?
Many car seats are fitted incorrectly – this is dangerous and potentially fatal.
ISOFIX makes it easier, safer and often quicker to fix a car seat correctly and securely into your car.

How does ISOFIX work?
The ISOFIX system works by attaching the car seat directly and securely to the car itself. This is opposed to fitting the car seat with adult seat belts, as in traditional car seats.

Does my car have ISOFIX?

• Your car manual, dealer or manufacturer will tell you whether your car has ISOFIX mounting points.
• Not all cars with ISOFIX anchorage points fitted will necessarily fit your chosen seat.
• Can you return your seat if  it doesn’t fit, or try before you buy? For example, a friend of mine has a car that SHOULD fit my baby’s ISOFIX seat, the manufacturers guidelines say it will – but it doesn’t.

Types of ISOFIX

Universal
Three isofix anchorage points. For forward facing car seats (Group 1 and above).
From Feb 2006, every car produced will have Universal Isofix anchorage points.

Semi-Universal
Two Isofix anchorage points with supportive leg.
It is a car specific solution, so you should refer to a compatibility listing to ensure it fits your car.

Rearward-facing car seats (Group 0+) can only be semi-universal.

Car Specific
Two Isofix anchorage points which can be converted to ‘Universal’ by using a top tether strap.

Do all ISOFIX car seats fit all cars with ISOFIX anchorage points ?

• This is the idea, but it hasn’t happened yet. Check compatibility with your car and the seat you intend to buy.
• Your car manual, dealer or manufacturer will tell you whether your car has ISOFIX mounting points, and the manufacturer of the car seat will tell you which make and models of car will be suitable for each car seat.
• Many of the child seat manufacturers have a fitting list on their website that tells you which cars their seats will fit in.

MaxiCosi and Britax are market leaders in the UK for producing ISOFIX car seats, follow these links for a list of cars their seats are suitable for.

MaxiCosi
http://www.maxi-cosi.co.uk/maxicosi/default.aspx?language=gb-en
Britax
http://www.britax.co.uk

Why is ISOFIX  safer than traditional car seats?
You may have seen reports where most children’s car seats are fitted badly.
As you don’t need to use adult seatbelts to fit the car seat, ISOFIX greatly reduces the risk of fitting the car seat badly.

This was my primary consideration when looking for a car seat. I knew we were going to use one seat in several cars, therefore it seemed sensible to have a car seat that didn’t use adult seatbelts.

Other related articles:
Baby car seat – first things first – safety.
Baby car seat jargon buster.

For more information on individual ISOFIX car seats and bases, have a look at the products below. Click on the images and there are has useful customer reviews, great prices, and items are delivered right to your door.

You can use the box below to search for products or just browse.

• Even when pregnant, you are required by law to wear your seat belt.
• Wear your seatbelt with the diagonal strap across your body between your breasts and the lap belt over your upper thighs. The straps should lie above and below your ‘bump’, not over it. The belt will protect you and your baby.
• Avoid long trips and avoid jolts (travelling in old cars, or over bumpy ground etc).

• Have lots of breaks
• Airbags. Safety experts recommend that you should move your seat as far away from the steering wheel as possible as this will allow room for the airbag to inflate correctly.
• Be prepared! In case of breakdown, take food, water, blankets, warm clothes and a torch in the car.
• Carry a mobile phone with you at all times.
• Have details of your breakdown recovery service, (or join one if you aren’t a member already)
• Don’t drive yourself to hospital when you are in labour. If you know there won’t be anyone to drive you to hospital when you go into labour, discuss this with your midwife in advance. If you find when the big moment comes, that your partner cannot be there to drive you, use a taxi or call the hospital if it seems that an emergency ambulance is needed.

Travelling by train

The least tiring mode of transport! (in theory, I reckon they are very stressful when really full at rush hour!)

Tips when travelling by train

• Travel with your back to the direction of travel, so any sudden stops will not send you into the table – unless of course travelling this way round makes you feel sick!
• Make sure loos are easily gotten to – when pregnant you will probably make more trips there!
• Check to see if a porter can help you on and off with your luggage
• Make sure you have booked a seat, sit back, sip some bottled water and relax.

Other related articles
Health and beauty in pregnancy – what should I avoid?
Exercising, sports and other activities while pregnant – what should I avoid and why?
Can I fly and go abroad when I’m pregnant?