Britax Kidfix XP SICT

[Tailtwister]

Does anyone have the new Britax Kidfix XP SICT? It looks good, but is only available in store from Mothercare and I haven't had any luck tracking one down yet (they can't order them apparently!). I was wondering if it's significantly better than the Britax Kidfix SICT which we bought for our other car. It has a pad thing on the seatbelt which is supposed to reduce the force on the child by 30% in a ff crash.

[SoullessButSunny]

Bumping because I'm interested in this too.

Can't find any info on the Mothercare site about it though? Hoping it's not because they're having safety issues like the Xtensafix

[Tailtwister]

I emailed Britax about it last week and apparently they will be sending more stock out later this month. It's only available in store at Mothercare, so it won't appear on their website.

[SoullessButSunny]

Thanks Tail.

I'll keep looking at the Mothercare website for stock.

[StackOfFuckers]

It seems you can only get it in certain stores, not online. Annoying, ESP as they don't even list the price

[klbw]

It's 165. Seems like a lot of money. At moment it is probably the next seat we are going to get but price and availability are putting us off but it is the seat that ticks all the boxes we want it too.

[Tailtwister]

I have just ordered this seat direct in a Mothercare store. They had an offer on today, 20% off so it came in at around £135 I think.

[AuditAngel]

I don't have this seat, but I paid out for the first Britax isofix seat in 2008 (2, one for each car) and they are still going strong on DC3. We have bought replacement covers for each seat as the original cotton fabric was not as good as the current fabric, but I would say well worth the money (mine were £180 each)

[AuditAngel]

I forgot to say, almost continuous use since 2008.

We moved DS out to a stage 3 seat so DD1 could go into this, a short period, about 6 months between use or DD1 and DD2.

[AuditAngel]

No, not 2008, 2005, DS is now 9.

[dandelionsRflowers]

This seat is £99.99 from Amazon just now. Very good price. It is too big for my car so I've just got the Kidfix at £78, again a good price.

[nocheeseinhouse]

Amazon don't have the XP SICT, just the Kidfix SICT.

[OurAveline]

Seems like mothercare are doing a fairly shoddy job with these. The store near me is supposed to be one of the ones where I can see the car seat and discuss it with a "specialist fitter". Just called them and they don't keep any in stock, I would need to order one in (and pay for it!) if I want to see it. Grrrr.

[littleoaktree]

I've now got one of these. The seat itself seems good and ds1 (4.7) loves it. I got it to replace the xtensafix now that it's been recalled (arrrgghh).

Mothercare have been utterly hopeless though, it took me 2 weeks of regularly calling all the stores within an hours drive (and I'm in London so there's lots of stores that apparently store) to find one finally in stock. When I went to get it I had to have an argument with the assistant to get her to sell it to me as she was insistent that it could only be fitted in a car with isofix 'as that's how we were trained'. I actually had to show her the fitting guide from the britax website on my phone to convince her it was actually a universal seat for any car with a three point seatbelt I have no idea why Britax have restricted its sale to mothercare when the service and availability especially for those of us who are trying to exchange a defective car seat

[nocheeseinhouse]

I emailed Britax asking why they'd chosen a clueless, useless retailer like Mothercare, and they said they're not selling through any other outlet. I won't buy from Mothercare, after they told me my 9 month old should be forward facing as it's safer.

[AliceMum09]

Gosh yes, Mothercare are useless! They refused to sell me a Britax Evolva Group 1-2-3 seat because they said I'd have to remove the harness as DS was 15kgs, they told me I might as well just buy a HBB as it would be cheaper. DS was 2! I knew that the harness on the Evolva went up to 18kgs, that's why I wanted it. Who would put a 2 year old on a HBB?
Should add, this was 2008 - before I learned about ERF! My 1 year old is RF in a Britax Multi Tech and will be until at least 4 years old (and probably until she's about 7 because she is tiny!)

[Tailtwister]

When I arrived to pick the seat up, I was all ready for them to fit it in the car which I thought was the whole point of not being able to buy it online etc. Then they just handed it over and said that since I'd checked it was suitable for my car on the Britax website they didn't need to check!

I have no idea why Britax are using Mothercare. They are a nightmare!

[MrsH1979]

Has anyone had any luck getting one of these in Surrey? I am finding it really frustrating getting any sort of answer from Mothercare as stores keep saying they don't know when they'll get stock. How can such a huge retailer fail to know what stock is going to which store!?! grrrr!

[nocheeseinhouse]

Can people please email Britax and ask why they're using such a crap retailer, and not either selling direct, or using someone who knows what's what? I have emailed, but their response made me feel like a lone voice!

[Tailtwister]

I have emailed nocheese, but not had a response yet. I do like the seat though and DS seems to find the pad on the chest more comfortable than just the seatbelt (we have a Kidfix SICT in our other car).

I'm amazed they have chosen Mothercare, but it may be due to the coverage of their stores? I would have thought JL would be a better choice or even Halfords.

[Tailtwister]

MrsH1879 - they should be able to order one for you, that's what they had to do for me. There did seem to be a shortage of the seats though, but I emailed Britax directly to enquire about their stock levels.

[999ljm]

I am having problems finding one of these! I have called Mothercare who informed me that the nearest branch that stocks them is over 30 miles away! I do not want to have travel that distance to see whether we like it or risk them not having any in stock on that particular day! How do I get around this? Help!

[Tailtwister1]

Sorry, just seen your post 999ijm. We had the same issue, but lived quite near a branch that stocked them. That said, it was still a palaver getting hold of one.

All I would say is contact the branch which stocks them on the day you could go. The seats are extremely similar to the Kidfix SICT (apart from the pad on the seatbelt), so if you like those then you will likely be fine with the Kidfix XP SICT. Mothercare also do various in store deals and had 25% off when I bought the seat. Other than that, the only other thing to do would be to contact Britax directly and see if you can use them for leverage to get a seat to your local branch.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[TinyPenguin]

Tailtwister did you buy today? Is the instore discount still on do you know?

[aggiepie]

Try in car safety in Milton Keynes, Essex and Northern Ireland if you can. They are excellent for extended rear facing seats and also seem to have this seat for in store purchase only.

[Karenloub]

Hi, just been reading this thread. Am looking at getting the kidfix xp for my soon to be 3 year old. He's 17kg so weight is fine, I'm just a little reluctant because of his age. He will be 3 in a month. What would others do?? Many thanks