Brio Zento (RF) in an old Ford Focus?

[aubergenie]

Just wondering whether anyone with an old Ford Focus got a rear-facing Brio Zento? We have had one fitted in our (T-Reg) Focus, but the passenger seat is so far forward that it's not comfortable or, I think, safe for anyone to sit in the front of the car. Before I go back and complain to the shop, has anyone got one that fits properly? I'm not sure if it's not correctly fitted or whether it's actually just too big. The man in the shop was adamant that it was fine.

[aubergenie]

anyone?

[nicm]

hi, i've not got a focus but have a KISS and britax two way elite in the back of a vw golf. they both fit fine. are you anywhere near the in car safety centre in belfast or milton keynes and you could go there and they will try the seats for you? they also sell the zento so could check it for you. i've got both my seats from them and they've been helpful everytime.

[aubergenie]

Thanks for that nicm. I'm not that close maybe I could ring Milton Keynes and talk it through with them. As you say if they stock that model they may have more idea. I've tried calling the car safety people in Essex but haven't been able to get through to anyone yet.

[nicm]

you could call simon at the in car safety centre. his number is 028 9074 2052 and he is really helpful.

[aubergenie]

Thanks - that's really helpful. Will do.

[MrsGeek]

We have the Zento in our '99 Focus, it fits behind my drivers seat (I'm 5ft4) but won't fit behind my DH (6ft). Its fine whilst DD is nice and short but we'll be buying a new car soon and will get one that is bigger so in time she will have more leg room. It is a tight squeeze I won't lie!

[aubergenie]

Thanks MrsGeek. Interesting. dp and I are both fairly short so it should fit, it just sounds as though it's been put in too far forward. Yours must be fitted further back. Do you find that the incline of the back seat of the car means that the car seat is quite upright that way? Does your DD loll forward if she falls asleep in the seat (and is that an issue?)?

[Adventuredad]

Zento is a safe seat but I can't recommend it for a few reasons:

• It needs lots of room. Not a great idea in a Focus

• It's not comfortable. SOme kids gets bruising on their back. Angle between cushion and back is also 90 degree compared to 105-110 for most others

• Seat shell is too short.

There are in my opinion far better seats. A Tw.Way Elite would for example need less room, laster much longer and be more comfortable.

[aubergenie]

Hi Adventuredad, Thanks for this. I wish I'd known all this before.

The trouble is we've already got the seat and we can't afford to replace it unless we absolutely have to. DS seems be be quite happy in it. The problem I've got is that the man in the shop assured us that the fit was fine in our Focus, but in fact the passenger seat is so far forward that I think it's dangerous in terms of being too close to the airbag and lack of leg room which could cause a really nasty injury if there was a crash. I'm not sure if it's the way he's fitted it (i.e. too far forward) or whether there's no way it should have been fitted in our car in the first place.

I thought it was a squeeze at the time and should have made more of a fuss. I've recently learned that there should be about 2 inches between your knees and the dashboard, which we definitely don't have. Otherwise apparently there's a rish of your thighbones being shattered and pushed into your hips if you're in a crash.

I'm dithering about taking it back as it's been in a while and is now covered in bits of bread stick and other nasties.

[MrsGeek]

Aubergenie - we have it fitted as far back as it will go, it is fitted as per the safety instructions and by a someone trained, not us.

The way we have it is shown on page 4 of the instruction manual here:

www.securatot.co.uk/images/manuals/Securatot_Brio_Zento_GB.pdf

(thats page 4 of the manual, not the pdf page 4 IYSWIM) and look at the central picture, in the instructions its described as:

For a more reclined installation for a young child, or if there is limited
space in the back seat, fold the front foot underneath the BRIO Zento and place the heel on the vehicle
seat, and ensure the back of the BRIO Zento rests against the back of the front seat.

This has given us a nice recline, without taking up any extra space. DD can sleep in it fine, no head lolling and no bruising !!

I really can't see how DD will be bruised by this chair, it seems as well padded as any other seat, unless Adventuredad means she'd be bruised in an accident - tbh as long as the seat performs in an accident and keeps her neck and spine in one piece I can cope with some bruising.

Adventuredad - I'm sure there are better seats but unfortunately RF seats are hard to find and its better to have a seat fitted by a trained car seat fitter than another one which although comes recommended you can only buy online, therefore having to fit it without any professional guidance.

[aubergenie]

MrsGeek - thank you so much for that link. Really, really useful. I think you've hit the nail on the head - we've got the front bit folded down. It looks like it just needs some adjusting and it should be fine for a good while longer. What a relief, I had visions of having to get rid of it and get a completely new seat (and it was hard enough to get this one!)

[aubergenie]

Mrsgeek - The nice ladies at the Essex Car Safety centre called me back today and re-confirmed what you just said. Apparently our seat has been fitted in the position for an older child, so we just need to get it refitted in the way that you mentioned. Thanks again for helping out with this!

[Adventuredad]

Sorry about the unhelpful advice.....:-) Zento does require more room than most other seats due to the heel under the seat. If you child is comfortable in the seat things are of course perfect.

Focus has pretty decent space, like a VW Golf, so many Rf seats fit fine but Zento is on the larger side.

Zento is usually a good fit in front seat. Can you deactivate airbag with key or switch? Using the front seat for a rear facing seat is just as safe as the rear as long as airbag is deactivated.

/Håkan
www.carseat.se

[minimumma]

Hello,
I just thought I'd post to say that when we wanted a rear-facing seat our only option turned out to be a Zento. This is because we have a Touran with storage compartments in the floor, which seemed to preclude us from getting another RF chair as the others seemed to all have support legs. (I did read that VW will supply something to fill the compartment and therefore make the leg support safe however it didn't seem an easy option and I was concerned about how safe this option was). Anyway, rambling on, my reason for posting is that I was disturbed by the posts which suggest that the Zento causes bruising. I subsequently read that Brio had addressed this, but wanted confirmation so I contacted a UK supplier who spoke to Brio and it was confirmed that extra padding has been added to the chair. We've just started using it and so far, no complaints from our 1 year old.