Brio Zento Review **Child Safety Seat**
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Product Reviews
Forum Name: Product Reviews
Forum Description: Cot or bassinette? Which pram is best for you? How about nappies? Check out our Product Reviews board to find out what other Mums and Dads think and share your thoughts!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14832
Printed Date: 24 November 2024 at 3:48am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Brio Zento Review **Child Safety Seat**
Posted By: CRS
Subject: Brio Zento Review **Child Safety Seat**
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 11:47am
Brio Zento Review
Photo courtesy of http://www.briocarseats.co.nz - Brio New Zealand Main info: Manufacturer: Brio Model: Zento Manufacturers website: http://www.briocarseats.co.nz - www.briocarseats.co.nz or http://www.brio.net - www.brio.net Date of manufacture: October 2007 Seat type: 3-in-1 (rear-facing, forward-facing, booster) Safety Standard: ECE R44/04 (European Safety Standard) as well as the Swedish "T" approval RF weight limit: 0-25kg (0-55lbs) FF weight limit: 12-18kg (26-40lbs) Booster weight limit: 15-25kg (33-55lbs) Brief introduction: The Brio Zento is a 3-in-1 child safety seat made by Brio, Sweden. The design of the BRIO Zento is based on more than 20 years of research into child safety. BRIO Zento fufills the latest safety requirements according to ECE R44 rev 04 - the European standard for children's car seats - as well as Swedish "T" approval. The Swedish "T" approval is one which only seats that show very low force on the head and neck in a collision get. Very few seats have this approval. The Brio Zento is the first of its kind in this country and it's arrival has been long awaited. As of 22.02.2008 the Brio Zento is sold exclusively through http://www.babyonthemove.co.nz - Baby On The Move retailers around the country for approx. $549NZD. Measurements: Please remember these measurements are approximations and may not be totally accurate. Bottom slot: 19.8cm (7.8 inches) Top slot: 36cm(14.2 inches) Shell height (from seating position to top of seat): 57cm (22.4 inches) Please also note that although the top slot height does appear to be quite low, the Brio Zento can be used until the tips of the ears/eye level is aligned with the top shell of the seat. Features: EPS Foam: The Brio Zento has a great amount (and might I add, rather thick!!!) encasing of EPS Foam around the back and sides. 
If you don't know much about EPS Foam and it's benefits, you may find the following threads informative: http://car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=25317 - http://car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=25317 http://car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=30226 - http://car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=30226 Blow moulded shell: The Brio Zento has a blow moulded shell (as opposed to a single cell shell) which provides a double wall of plastic and air for enhanced side impact protection. 
Innovative locking clip: One of the features of the Brio Zento that I found particularly interesting was the "locking clip". Although it appears to look relatively similar in shape and composition to your regular locking clip, it's actually bolted to the frame of the car seat by way of a strap to prevent it becoming a projectile in the event of a motor vehicle collision (was going to say accident but we're not allowed to call them "accidents"! LOL). 
Instruction labelling/booklet/DVD/vehicle compatibility list incorporated in to head rest: Another feature I thought was quite smart was putting a huge label on the underside of the head rest to demonstrate how to use the seat (if of course, you left the manual at home or temporarily misplaced it). In the head rest is an actual POCKET where an instruction/demonstration DVD, instruction booklet and vehicle compatibility list are stored. 
The instruction manual is 8 pages (including the front and back page) even with very few pages I found it quite informative. The DVD was quite interesting, you'd have expected that it would have voice over instructions. However, it did not. Even still I found the visuals quite good and as most people are very visual I think most people could understand the DVD quite easily. And something you'd almost never see on any seat (though I did get one with my Britax Two Way Elite) is a vehicle compatibility list. Which is as it sounds, a list with a whole lot of vehicles the Brio Zento is compatible with, what a marvellous idea! 
**Rear-facing tethers** I felt the rear-facing tethers section deserved to have its very own post so please read on to the second post in this thread - Thanks! "Rubber" type backed harness shoulder pads, car seat "heels" and rubberised arm rests: Pretty self explanatory really. I couldn't say for 100% certainty why the harness shoulder pads are rubber backed but some on here have theorised that this helps keep the harness firmly on the shoulders (much like a chest clip). As I said though, I'm not completely sure why they are "rubber" backed but I will endeavour to get this information for a future update of this review. **UPDATE** After contacting Brio New Zealand I received this info about the rubber backed shoulder pads: "...the rubber backed shoulder pads are supposed to help in keeping the harness in better position since rubber has got quite a good grip." 
As above, the Brio Zento also has rubberised "heels" and arm rests. I'm not sure if there is a reason behind the "arm rests" being rubberised, however one would assume that the "heels" are rubberised to provide further stability? Hopefully I can get more information on this for a future update. **UPDATE** After contacting Brio New Zealand I received this info about the rubberised heels and arm rests: "the rubber blocks on the heel are to prevent the Zento slipping on the vehicle's seat. The armrests however - not really sure if there is a good reason for that - maybe more comfy than just straight plastic that can get a bit sweaty and uncomfortable" 
Other features: For sure there are many other magnificent features, as you can see. The cover is nice and durable, suede, very pleasing to the eye. As of 22.02.2008 available in New Zealand are colours "Gray", "Red", and "Black". If you see anything in the pictures I've yet to explain, please PM me so I can update this review with anything I might have missed! Red: 
Gray: 
Photo courtesy of http://www.briocarseats.co.nz - Brio New Zealand Black: 
Please note:Colours of seats in the above pictures may not be "true to life". Overall impression: To be honest I am astounded by the attention to detail and quality of this seat, it is by far the best car seat I have had the pleasure of "playing" with let alone owning! Whilst some of the installation can appear to be daunting at first, I believe this is because it's not exactly conventional to what we have available right now so of course anything you're not used to is going to seem completely foreign (which technically it is really!). The only cons I could think of that it is slightly heavy, especially because of it's thick blow moulded shell. The "upper tether" "hook" looking attachment can be a bit annoying to reconnect to the metal ring at the back of the seat however unless you're constantly switching this seat from RF to FF or repeatedly washing the cover, you're probably not going to care. I've also yet to try to use it as a belt positioning booster and although it's marvellous to have a seat that can be used for multiple purposes, I feel that I would probably rather use a dedicated booster seat. The reasons for this are a) It's not going to be the only seat you ever need (nor is it even advertised to be) because it's simply just not tall enough to be used as a booster until transition from booster to adult only belt. You're definitely going to need to buy a belt positioning booster after you finish with this seat, but don't let this put you off. b) There's no shoulder belt adjuster? There's nothing to bring the shoulder belt on to the right position on a child, no strap, no guides in the side of the seat, nothing which is another reason I'd personally prefer a dedicated BPB. **UPDATE** After contacting Brio New Zealand I received the following info about the Brio Zento used as a booster and my above "concerns" about a lack of a "belt positioning strap": "under the latest ECE standards you are not allowed any loose bits, hence locking clip bolted on and head pillow permanently attached. If the seatbelt does not end up sitting correctly on a child when used as a booster the child is too small to use it a s a booster and should remain in the rearfacing position. To get a better idea as a distributor, I have tried both a 4-year old (weighing 19 kg) and a 5.5 year-old weighing 22kg, and on both of them the seatbelt sat in the perfect place - close to the neck - (not across it) - and close to the body - but not too far out on the shoulder." Not exactly a con, but rather something I would change is giving it a higher shell. I believe the majority of children with "average" height torsos would most probably get till at least five years of age in this seat. However, children with abnormally high torso's would be fortunate to get till five in this seat. Even so, in my personal opinion this by far supersedes any RF child safety seat available in New Zealand, currently. In the sense that it offers much more longevity for RF children. So all in all I'm left feeling incredibly impressed and then some. I already own a "Swedish" RF seat (Britax Two Way Elite) which I am still very happy with and when I got that seat it blew me away and when I got my Brio Zento I was even MORE amazed. I wish everyone could have one of these seats! I hope you've found this review informative thus far.. Cause it's not over yet! Please see "Part 2" of the review in the next post a few below. ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com 
|
Replies:
Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 12:14pm
|
My God, that is fabulous. Bonnie, have I mentioned lately how much we adore you and your safety-conscious brain? Keep 'em coming!!! :) |
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 12:22pm
LOL hello hello! And thank you!!!!! 
I still haven't finished yet though.. give me time woman! hehehehe  ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
|
Katherine wrote:Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 12:31pm
|
Brio Zento Review - Part 2
Rear-facing tethers: The rear-facing tethers on "Swedish" seats (including the Brio Zento) is often something I find difficult to explain, but I'll try my best. These tethers typically tether towards the front of the vehicle however they can also tether towards the back if you have a free standing seat (i.e. captains chair) or you're installing this seat in the front passenger seat (see picture below as demonstrated by manual pictures). [Please note however you must never install a seat in the front passenger seating position where an active air bag is present]. 
Firstly, you have what's called lower tethers: 
The "lower tether straps" are used to create an anchor point. To do this you must "loop" the straps around a vehicle seat leg, or vehicle seat track. See picture below. When you are creating an "anchor point" with the lower tethers, your aim is to create an anchor that is as short as possible. [Please note however due to the configuration of my vehicle seat legs the lower tethers in these pictures are both on different settings]. 
Then, you have what's called the "upper tether straps" (pictured below) that are used to hook/connect on to this anchor point. 
These "upper tethers" are basically a length of webbing with one "latch" looking connection on one end (pictured below and to the left, says "safeguard" on it), and a "hooked" connection (much like you'd have for an upper tether strap on a FF seat [pictured bottom right]). 
When you tether the Brio Zento rear-facing, you have two options: You either a) Loop the "latch" looking connection that says safeguard on it) through the "ring" on the lower tethers then back towards the back of the child seat where it connects to a steel rod (pictured below). 
or b) Simply connect the "latch" looking connection (with safeguard on it) straight on to the metal ring and tighten it up. However you might find this does not provide as firm an installation as option "a". [This method is not pictured in this review as it's pretty self explanatory]. The end result will look similar to the below picture: 
Tethering around the seat bight (as opposed to the seat legs) In some cases it is near impossible to create lower tethers around the vehicle seat legs. Reasons for this may be that they're simply just not accessible, you move your vehicle seat frequently or the vehicle seat legs are far too sharp and may cut in to the tethers. When one or more of the above problems arise there is a solution for this - tethering around the seat bight. Brief explanation of the seat bight: 
Where you can see a green line, and where my hand is, is called the "seat bight". Basically a "seat bight" is the crease/gap where the seat back and seat bottom meet. How to install a lower tether around the seat bight: As you can see in the picture below, first you must fit the "metal ring" end of the lower tether through the seat bight: 
Then, you feed it right through to the other side, as seen below: 
After you've done this, loop the other half of the lower tether around the other side (as seen below) and thread the metal ring end of the tether through the most appropriate hole in the lower tether. 
Once you've done this, pull it nice and tight to make sure the lower tether is fastened tightly to the hinge of the seat. 
Repeat the same process with the other lower tether strap, around the other hinge on the seat. I know it seems complicated and hard to get your head around at first, but seeing it in person makes so much sense. However if you have any questions about the rear-facing tethering you've seen in this post, please do not hesitate to contact me via PM or via my website listed in my signature below. Please see "Part 3" of this review in the next post for information and pictures on installing a Brio Zento. ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
|
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 1:14pm
|
Brio Zento Review - Part 3
Please note that this information and following pictures are in no way meant to replace those provided by Brio, distributors of Brio, Safe2Go or Child Passenger Safety Technicians. This review is merely meant to inform you of the features of the Brio Zento as well as tips and tricks on installation, it is not a replacement of your user manual. Rear-facing installation: Just a note before I start. You can (and it's also common practice in Sweden) install a Brio Zento in the front passenger seat. However, you must never install this seat rear-facing in the front passenger seat where an active air bag is present. Often you can actually tether to the vehicle seat it's sitting on. I, as a Technician believe that the back seat is the best seat for most children in the event of a motor vehicle collision. However, I am also obligated to tell you that you may also install this seat in the front, as instructed in the user manual of the Brio Zento. I also wont be explaining how to use the rear-facing tethers as I have already done this, please refer to the above post on how to tether the Brio Zento when in rear-facing position - Thanks! There are two ways you can install this seat rear-facing either: a) with the foot folded up - or 
b) with the foot folded out/down 
At the bottom of the Brio (where the child's feet would usually rest) there are two holes on either side, this is the belt path for rear-facing: 
This isn't too different a belt path for most rear-facing seats out there so it's relatively simple and most people should find this pretty easy. As below, you feed the seatbelt through one hole, then through the other hole, then you buckle the seat in. Depending on your seatbelt system (whether you're using a lap belt and your latch plate locks, whether your retractor locks or whether your seatbelt locks in emergency only) will depend on whether or not you need to use the provided locking clip for your Brio Zento. I'll explain this more in depth in a future thread. Please note that you would normally put the seatbelt UNDER the cover NOT ABOVE the cover however for the purpose of demonstration only I have shown the seatbelt over the cover so you can see where the seatbelt goes: 
If you need to use the provided locking clip, then it will probably look similar to the picture below: 
Of course some vehicles with ELR (emergency locking only retractors) and long seatbelt stalks may make it difficult or near impossible for you to install a locking clip. A remedy for this may be twisting the buckle stalk. You may rotate the seatbelt stalk no more then 3, 360 degree rotations. Doing so will shorten the buckle stalk, leaving you more room to install a locking clip by the latch plate. Please see the demonstration in the picture below. This is *not* in the Brio Zento user manual, this is a possible solution offered from myself as a Safe2Go and Child Passenger Safety Technician. 
RF installation with foot up: Installing the Brio Zento with the foot folded up allows the person seated in the seat in front of it to have more leg room. Folding the foot up also allows you to get a better recline angle for infants. 
RF installation with foot extended: When installing the Brio Zento in the rear-facing position with the foot extended so you can give your child more leg room (as well as make the seat more upright) you can have the rubberised hells along the "edge of the front of the vehicle seat" i.e. the heel *just* over the edge. If you have the heels too far back so much so that they're literally "hanging" off the edge then the seat would not sit firmly nor would it provide an adequate and possibly safe installation. The belt path is the same as in the above posts, the only difference is that you pull out the foot and wait for it to "click" before you try to install the seat. 
This is all I've got for now. Over the next day or two I'll add pictures and information on forward-facing installation as well as use of the Brio Zento as a belt positioning booster. Enjoy! ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
|
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 1:39pm
|
Good god that is alot of information
|
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 2:24pm
And I'm not even finished lmao, only one post to go but need to work on it hehe. But then that's me, thorough LOL ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
|
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 3:05pm
|
Brio Zento Review - Part 4
Forward-facing installation: The Brio Zento does not require top tether anchorage so finding a vehicle with top tether anchors or retrofitting anchors is not necessary. The way the seatbelt is routed through the Brio Zento for forward-facing ("long belt path") provides quite a solid/stable installation despite the lack of tether. I personally have no qualms in using this seat in the forward-facing position with it having no tether, based on the way the seatbelt routes right down the front of it. The following pictures are pretty self explanatory. Feed the seatbelt through the hole at the FRONT of the seat, through the back BEHIND the harness straps, and through the hole on the other side, feeding it through the front again. 
Please make sure that you feed the seatbelt BEHIND and NOT over the arm rests of the Zento. Also make sure that you properly get rid of all slack in the seatbelt, the rubberised arm rests can give the false impression that you've tightened up all the slack until you move the car seat to check it's installation. 
So it can take a bit of fiddling to get a nice firm installation but through practice, you do get there. 
Using the Zento as a Belt Positioning Booster: Last but not least, the Brio Zento is relatively easy to use as a booster seat. Of course you need to remove the "top tethers" as well as the harness system though. As expressed in the first post I personally don't feel it makes that great a booster seat. However, it has been tested for this purpose so one would assume that it is safe to use this way and of course it is very convenient should the need arise that you need a booster seat. 
My apologies in taking absolutely AGES to finish this review. I've finished most of it now but imagine from time to time I'll still come back to change things, add pictures, add information and so forth. Hope you found this review informative! ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
|
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 5:55pm
|
I didn't see this review earlier but we got one last week and I love it - just took it down to Taupo.
I'll definitely be hunting this out when the time comes to forward face it. Cheers! -------------  
 
|
Posted By: BellaBoo
Date Posted: 25 March 2008 at 9:17pm
Man, it makes me want one!! However, I think we are destined to have a baby with a tall torso so may not get as much use out of it (she is 64.5cm now ) ------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 29 March 2008 at 12:30am
|
Even so I would definitely still have a look at it if you can, that is, if you're interested. I'd say for children who have ABNORMALLY tall torsos. You'd still more then likely be able to rear-face in it for some time, at least more then any other seat on the market in New Zealand. Pretty cool seat any way, hope you like the review! ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
|
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 30 March 2008 at 11:52pm
|
I'd say a child at a very high percentile for height. My 3 year old is pretty much average, definitely not short, definitely not super super tall and he'll get till at least 4 in it I should imagine. ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
|
Posted By: BellaBoo
Date Posted: 31 March 2008 at 12:17pm
|
We are tracking above the 75th percentile.
We got a Safe and Sound Royale- I hope that that seat is still a "good" seat. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: finnigan
Date Posted: 02 April 2008 at 2:07pm
| We have just bought this seat,thanks for the review :) I love how roomy it is, so worth the money in my opinion. My ds is 15 months old and in the 75th for his height also. He has alot of grow room left in this seat. We have just moved him out of the Safe and Sound Meridian AHR, his head was at the top of the seat and he has almost reached the 12kg limit for rear facing. He loves the Brio, hated the ahr, mainly i think because it was so reclined. In the brio he can see more :) |
Posted By: Trillian
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 9:04pm
|
What a fantastic review Bonnie! Thank you so much for all the detail. I have several questions, and hope you can help.
Our son is nearly one and in a Meridian AHR, which at the time of purchase seemed to be one of the safest seats on the market. He's very happy in it, and we really like it, but only RF to 12 kg (which will be about 15 months). He has just fallen below the 75th centile on height and weight. So ... 1. How much leg room is there for the passenger with the Brio installed in the two RF positions? A major issue for us is legroom - I am 5'7, husband is 6'1. We have big vehicles - a Toyota Landcruiser and a Subaru Legacy wagon, yet find legroom problematic (it was hopeless when he was in a capsule!). Even in the Landcruiser, my husband and father-in-law are pushed for legroom with the AHR behind. We haven't had it in the Legacy yet, but don't expect it to be any better! 2. How does the Brio compare to the AHR for overall safety and protection, setting aside the benefits of RF? I understand the Swedish T standard expires this month as members of the EU are no longer allowed country specific standards - they all have to use the ECE standard. I believe AS/NZS1754 '5 ticks' is one of the most rigorous standards, as it tests for impact safety in 5 areas (front, rear, side, inverted, genital). The ECE R44.04 standard only tests for impact safety in 2 areas (front, rear impacts). One of the reasons we didn't buy the US Cosco Scenera (RF 16 kg) was that it was tested for front impact only. 3. When RF, are older toddlers/children able to climb up into it themselves? Or do they need to be lifted? (I have a dodgy back ...) 4. One of the benefits of the Brio is supposed to be its ease of transfer between vehicles as no anchor bolt needed. But your description above sounds like it actually still takes a bit of fiddling, so we wouldn't want to be doing it on a daily or weekly basis - is this right? 5. I'd like your suggestions on best solution here: In the next few weeks we need to buy 2 more seats, one for the in-laws car when they care for him, and one for our Legacy in case of emergency pickups from preschool. (Either that or be swapping all the time which just won't work). We're rural and work in city so most traveling is open road. $$ are tight. I totally get the benefits of extended RF but I'm not convinced the Brio will actually fit, and its a lot of $$$ to part with when our AHR is only 6 months old. I am looking for the best and safest option for 2 more seats that are only for occasional use (1 day a week for 1 and even less for the other). Primary day-to-day seat will be the AHR (or Brio if convinced?!) Your thoughts? many thanks Trillian |
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 13 May 2008 at 9:58pm
|
Just to jump in to answer a couple of these:
1. We have ours rear facing in a Holden Astra and the passenger seat is fairly far forward (for me - I'm 5ft 9) 4. Yep I would say it would take about 15 minutes to transfer between vehicles. I wouldn't want to be doing it daily that's for sure. It isn't too fiddly but it's definitely not 'capsule easy' But I definitely love ours - yes, our girl isn't tall but there appears to be heaps of room for her to grow in. And she can see out the window which is nice for her. -------------
|
Posted By: Trillian
Date Posted: 18 May 2008 at 8:23pm
|
Thanks for that.
I managed to borrow one and try it in our car and the in-laws, and sadly it's just not going to work - theres just not enough leg room for hubby or FIL to be passengers. Its a shame, we like the concept, and the style, but its got to fit! So be it, we'll get another safe n sound for the in laws car. |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 19 May 2008 at 9:44am
|
We bought one of these they are awesome. Love it. ------------- 
 
|
Posted By: bunter
Date Posted: 09 June 2008 at 4:50pm
| We're looking at these, they look fantastic. We've got a Ford Territory - is that one of the vehicles it's compatible with? |
Posted By: Freesia
Date Posted: 01 August 2008 at 12:58pm
|
*Bump* -------------  
|
Posted By: CRS
Date Posted: 26 August 2008 at 10:44am
|
bump :) ------------- Bonnie, Mum to a 1 1/2 year old & a 3 year old - still RF in their Brio Zento's CPST & Safe2Go Technician www.childrestraintsafety.com
|
Posted By: lovingmummyhood
Date Posted: 26 January 2009 at 9:26am
|
OMG these look amazing!!!!
How about an OB competition to win one  ??------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 26 January 2009 at 1:50pm
|
Yes they are definitely awesome. We are so happy with ours that we will definitely be looking at spending the extra $ and getting another one when #2 comes along rather than moving Rowan into a different booster seat.
Can't speak of them highly enough. 
ETA: funlvn next time we're at the same meetup you're welcome to come and inspect ours. -------------
|
Posted By: lovingmummyhood
Date Posted: 26 January 2009 at 7:02pm
Ooooooh I'll take you up on that. Thanks! I'd love to check it out ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: NovemberMum
Date Posted: 28 January 2009 at 8:24pm
|
I mentioned to my husband that Id like our daughter RF'ing longer than the 12kgs her carseat goes to.
At the moment it is out of our budget, our girl has her plunket visit end of next month so will see how much she weighs hopefully no more than 10.5kgs. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: sheepo
Date Posted: 05 February 2009 at 12:15am
|
Hi, I found this post thru google, wish to receive ur reply soon. DD is our 1st child, she was born 3kg, 50cm only. We knew she would be small at my late pregnancy, so we went for a capsule with base instead of convertible seats. She's now 8 months, always above 75% in height, but low in weight, she was 70cm, 7kg+ at her 7-month check. Our capsule seat supports up to 76cm, and I am about to buy another car seat for her.
Because she's tall, I am looking for a big seat, of coz I also want her to be rear facing as longer as possible. I went to Babycity and tried on a few convertible seats. The cosco is the largest, $199, and safe-n-sound looks comfortable. I gave up on cosco as I later found on net that it is built for amercian standard, and it only cost US$40 in USA. When DD sat in safe-n-sound Royale, there is only about 10cm left on top of her head, and it doesn't look spacy as well, esp. when DD is already quite slim. I was quite disappointed, all I want is a big, as well as safe seat, that can last longer, maybe till she is 3 or luckily 5? I really like RF to 25kg of Brio Zento, and we don't quite care about the leg room, how much space the seat may take, etc. All I care is how long DD can stay in this car seat before she gets too tall. I've searched the whole night but can't find its height limit. Weight limit of 25kg is the only information I can find. Although it can be used till child's eye level with top of seat, I guess I won't stand that, I may move her to booster when top of her head levels with top of seat. So the height limit is very important for me. e.g. if it's 90cm, I may not use it after DD is 88cm. And I don't quite understand how babyonthemove sells its product, I can't even find a price on its website, and all its retailers in Auckland are individuals. Is it possible for me to view the car seat before I purchase online? Other recommendations rather than Brio Zento are also welcome. btw, is anyone selling Britax Multi-tech or Hi-way in NZ? Are they cheaper or more expensive than Brio Zento? Thanks a lot. |
Posted By: Freesia
Date Posted: 05 February 2009 at 7:27am
|
I just got DP to measure our Brio and it's approximately 55 cm from the inside base to the top of the car seat so if you measure your daughter from her bottom up to her head you'd get an idea of how she'd fit in it.
You can go and see the carseat from Baby On The Move before you buy, just contact the person who is closest to you. We bought ours for $560 I think it was. I can't help you with the other carseats though sorry. Good luck. Here's a website with some info about the brio http://www.childrestraintsafety.com/brio-zento.html - Child Restraint Safety at the bottom of the page it says its shell height is 57cm. -------------
|
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 07 February 2009 at 11:35am
|
There is an option on the website to get a quote and they get back to you really quickly. I got mine around the same time as Freesia (about 9 months ago I think) so don't know if the price is still the same now.
You wouldn't want to purchase any carseat online IMO as you would definitely need to check if it would fit in your car first. Funlvn did you get a chance to see Freesia's Brio last meetup? It doesn't look like I'll be at the next one either. -------------
|
Posted By: finnigan
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 7:08pm
|
We have a Brio, you can use them until the tips of the ears are inline with the top of the shell, they have been tested that way and are safe. Ds is 2 weighs 12kg & is 91 cm tall, he still has lots of room in it.
We have just imported a Britax Multi Tech it is an awesome seat & the last seat he will ever need. It is a lot taller than the Brio but it also takes up more room (front to back) than the Brio. It is different to install than the Brio but not hard. It harnesses to 25kg rear facing, 18kg forward facing & then as a booster until 25kg forward facing. ds is only on the 2nd click (it has a moveable headrest & non re-threadable straps) of 6, where as he was in the top slots of the Brio. If you got to car-seat.org & pm adventuredad he will send you a swedish seat, they are perfectly legal here and I can highly recommend him :) |
Posted By: sheepo
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 9:25pm
|
Thanks everyone, I bought a Brio Zento the day after I posted here, and finally received it yesterday. The sales person from babyonthemove installed for me. DH likes it too, and believes it's way better than all other seats sold in the baby stores, e.g. they don't have the foam, etc.
Well, it's still not very spacy for DD, she doesn't have a lot room left for her arms, so she has to put them on the armrest. DD is also a bit unhappy sitting in the new seat, as she's not as free as she was in the capsule. Because with the Brio Zento, you can pull a belt after buckle to make the harness really tight, so that kids can barely move. I guess it means it's safer, so DD has to learn to get used to it, lol. Overall: Brio Zento is nice seat, and it looks more expensive and well built than safe-n-sound. P.S. Due to the weak NZD, the price has gone up to $579. P.S.2. I've read posts of adventuredad on car-seat.org before, he seems to be a nice person. finnigan, would you mind telling me how much you paid for the Britax Multi-tech? Please pm me if you dun wanna post here. I thought about importing a seat as well, but I was worried about the bad exchange rate and a possible huge delivery cost. |
Posted By: finnigan
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 10:43pm
|
I'm glad you like the Brio, they are really well made & solid compared to all the other seats we can get here. I imported a multi tech.
They are not cheap, I was thinking of getting one before I bought the Brio, but decided to go with the Brio, its the last seat he will ever need and I will probably buy another one for our next child to go into straight from the capsule. It cost with the bad exchange (I should have done it 6 months ago, when I was thinking about it) $1100 ouch I know! but it only took 8 days to get here and it is cheaper including postage than what the Swedes pay for them. Adventuredad has a company so he can take all of the taxes off the seat. It would have been an ok price if he had gone straight to the multi tech from the capsule, as we have had a safe and sound royale, safe and sound meridian ahr, a maxi cosi priori & brio since then lol I like car seats but we wont need another one until he is out of a booster.
Let me know if you want pics :) I'm glad you like your Brio :) |
Posted By: finnigan
Date Posted: 13 February 2009 at 10:51pm
| Also I wanted to say it looked like ds was going to outgrow the Brio before he turned 2 but his growth since then has all been in his legs and not his torso :) |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 18 April 2009 at 7:07pm
|
bump... ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: grrrgrrrr
Date Posted: 18 April 2009 at 10:28pm
|
Hi I have abrio zento as well and did a lot of reasearch before buying. Re the swedish t standard it is actually a lot stricter than the european standard.
I purchased the brio zento as it was the only one i could buy in NZ that passed the swedish testing (I am swedish and well aware of our standars). Sweden has very strict testing relating to baby products a lot of the things you can buy here would never pass. So therefore I check to make sure (I know a bit OTT but makes me feel more secure in the choices I make for bubby) I will be buying another brio zento for baby number 2 :) ------------- Mattias 2yo Henrik almost 1 |
Posted By: Twinboys2b
Date Posted: 20 April 2009 at 5:57pm
|
Thanks to the person who did the review because I'm off to the U.K. and have decided to buy the Brio Zento's & bring them back. Saves the inlaws 80 pounds in hiring them while we're there & much cheaper than NZ.... Oh can't wait, we're getting the turquiose ones. ------------- 3yr old gorgeous ID twin boys. |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 14 November 2009 at 9:20pm
|
Yup, according to the briocarseats.co.nz site they're the only place you can get them in NZ (because they install them, basically). -------------
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 23 November 2009 at 8:37pm
|
We're reviewing one of these seats in the next issue of OHbaby! -- they are amazing seats, and we are really impressed. You cannot buy them without having them installed -- the importer has chosen not to sell the seats without ensuring that every single purchaser has the seat installed initially by a professional -- and Baby on the Move is the only place you can get them. |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 23 November 2009 at 8:49pm
|
Yep and the branch I bought mine from even offered to fit it if we changed cars or wanted her to refit after warrants etc. Have learnt how to do it myself though, did take a few goes and a little bit of swearing She certainly didn't seem to have any trouble so I must just be a doofus. -------------
|
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 26 November 2009 at 10:41pm
|
You get a DVD with it that shows you how to install it as well as written instructions. But like cuppatea, our branch offered to check it any time we moved it to another car, or re-installed it.
DH figured it out pretty quickly though but it's nice to know that you have that option for piece of mind. -------------
|
Posted By: kandk
Date Posted: 03 December 2009 at 4:16pm
It doesn't fit very well in a Nissan Navara double cab.  Okay in a Toyota Hilux double cab though.------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Pinkygirl
Date Posted: 05 December 2009 at 10:02am
| I have had mine for a week and they are great, well worth the $ spent on it. |
Posted By: KathyMatthew
Date Posted: 11 March 2010 at 6:42am
 Not sure if someone has already mentioned it or not...
but I see on the FF pictures you have the seatbelt going OVER the harness belts for the seat at the back.. and it should go under as it restricts them & can make it hard to adjust hope this makes sense? Sorry something that jumped out at me, but havent got time to read through all the comment! :) BUT GREAT PHOTOS AND REVIEW! |
Posted By: lilycat77
Date Posted: 28 May 2010 at 8:44pm
|
was thinking of getting one of these- what did your review in the oh baby magasine say? can i get a copy of it please? cant anyone tell me whether it is good or not??
cheers lily |
Posted By: Twinboys2b
Date Posted: 29 May 2010 at 3:33am
|
Really interesting info - I'm in the U.K. at the moment and in their 'Which' magazine which is THE review on everything magazine gave it a 20/100 rating and it was in their 'do not buy' section which I found so interesting. I have 2 of them for my boys and I LOVE them due to being able to rear face for so long.
It scored 2/5 for front crash testing and 3/5 for side crash testing (they actually do the whole simulate a crash using crash test children/dummies etc) and scored very low in their ease of installation but I think that's more to do with them being different to other carseats as I don't find it hard to install after the first time. Also scored low in comfort which I can kind of understand versus those ultra comfotable ultra padded ones. ------------- 3yr old gorgeous ID twin boys. |
Posted By: lilycat77
Date Posted: 29 May 2010 at 10:57pm
|
now that is interesting- do you have a copy of the article at all? the only way to get it is to subscribe to the mag but cant really afford that and which mag is good at testing things.
i wonder how they scored so low for crash testing when it has the swedish safety mark?? would you recommend the car seats? and how heavy are they? we wil be coming back to the uk next year and would have to bring a car seat with us. we thought of this car seat not only bcaus it rear faces but it can be fitted without bolts wich no other kiwi seat can! can hep would be great because its a lot of money to waste! cheers lily |