Kiddy: Cruiserfix Pro Group 2/3

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Having just read this review about the Kiddy Phoenixfix Pro, it makes a really important point which I want to reiterate. I review a lot of things, and I have been told that they have often sealed the deal for parents looking for information on a specific product. When it's a jigsaw puzzle, a play house or a toddler meal then that's fantastic and makes reviewing worthwhile. When it's a matter of safety, and for the protection of your child, don't take my word on whether it's safe or not. Please look at a proper breakdown on the safety of the Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro, like this one on Which?.

So what will I discuss?

  • Ease of fitting, and
  • Comfort.

The Boy has moved from his five-point Maxi-Cosi Axiss because he's too tall for it, I shouldn't be surprised because he grew out of his first car seat at seven months old. Therefore I needed to get him a decent seat which is robust enough to offer sufficient, and possibly more, protection for my little boy who had just turned three at the time. There aren't many five point harness group 2/3 child seats out there, and I would imagine this is purely due to the age range they span. While a five point harness is perceived to be safer, there is no evidence to support this misconception. In addition, the average seven year old male is not going to find the strap coming between his legs comfortable, and that was why I was happy to take The Boy up to a seat which uses the adult seatbelt.

The Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro is a Group 2/3 seat for the weight range 15-36kg and age range of 4-12 years. It's a big age range, however it adjusts for height and leg length to make it comfortable for the older child to use safely. The page on the Kiddy website gives a very comprehensive breakdown of materials chosen and the shock absorber system.

The seat arrived in the box ready to install. The Cruiserfix Pro has retractable clamps for use with Isofix, which our car (Renault Scenic) has. There are two small yellow brackets which are inserted into the fabric opening of the car seat, and they hold the fabric out of the way to allow the Kiddy seat bracket to attach to the Isofix units. It was relatively easy to attach, although Renault had kindly sewn up the fabric too tightly on one side which meant hacking some excess (and hidden) fabric off. Once attached to the Isofix unit, the seat is pushed back into place against the back of the adult seat. I removed the headrest from the Scenic's seat to ensure a flush fit. I had it fitted within ten minutes, it would have been five if Renault hadn't been so 'meticulous' with their stitching.

The Boy is incredibly comfortable in this seat. His head is inches below the top of the side protectors, and that's even at the lowest setting, and he has space either side of his shoulders and head, but not an excessive amount.

As he's still only just three years old, he does have a tendency to fall asleep in the car on long journeys. That was easier in his old seat as I could tilt it up for him to lie back. Obviously that's not possible in a seat which uses an adult seatbelt. However, because the Cruiserfix Pro has a three-stage leg extension which means that he can push the legrest out himself and put his feet up making himself very comfortable. This is what makes the difference for The Boy as a young user of the seat. He's fallen asleep in it comfortably (for well over an hour) at least a dozen times now.

If I was to ask The Boy why he loves his new seat (because he does) he'd tell you it's because it's a 'big boy seat'. Previously I had to lift him in and out of the Axiss; he's a big boy and I have a rubbish back. These things combined meant that it was becoming a nightmare putting him in. However, now he loves that he can climb in and out himself and only needs mummy to do/undo his seatbelt.

For installation and comfort, the Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro gets a big thumbs up from us!

The Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro retails for £150 and is available from a variety of stockists.

I was sent this product for the purpose of this review. My opinion is honest and unbiased. And please check out an independent safety specialist's opinion of any car seat before you buy it.

Coombe Mill: Family Farm Holidays

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A few weeks ago we did our final bit of taking off for a long weekend, and visited Coombe Mill.

I've followed the Coombe Mill twitter account for about a year and have been enamoured for quite some time at the family-run, family-friendly farm in Cornwall. Fiona's photos each week on her blog are captivating and show children thoroughly enjoying themselves getting back to grass roots and embracing nature.

I dangled the idea at Mr. TBaM a while ago and booked a long weekend, as I had to be back at school on the Wednesday. Coombe Mill have a range of accommodation available in the form of Scandinavian lodges, wooden chalets and stone cottages. We booked the lodge Trebah built in 2010.

Coombe Mill

Trebah is one of four Scandinavian lodges set in a row by one of the playground areas, overlooking the River Camel which flows through the property and separates the guests' properties from the farm animals. My first impression of the lodge was positive when I noticed the fenced in private garden with bolted gates keeping little ones safe from the temptation of the river.

Inside the lodge is a large living area taking up the front half of the floor space. A modern log-burner is an effective focal-point to the living room area, with a flat screen television and freesat box. The other half of the living room contains a kitchen area and dining table for four. It is worth noting at this point that there is a dishwasher as well as a fridge-freezer, a proper one not a fridge with an ice-box. As well as the usual microwave, toaster and kettle gadgets, Fiona has installed a washing machine and separate tumble-dryer which is an absolute God-send after tramping through the mud feeding the animals and splashing through the river.

Coombe Mill

There is a twin bedroom and a family bathroom, as well as a master bedroom with a queen-size bed and en-suite. I will admit to a little squeal when I saw the double-length, walk-in shower. The beds are incredibly comfortable and have thick fluffy duvets and pillows. It was only when I saw that there are three pillows across the width of the master bed that I realised it's a queen-size bed; fantastic!

Probably the best feature of the lodge as far as The Boy was concerned was the upstairs playden, the stairs of which have a gate at the top and bottom. The playden was like a magical world for The Boy with a train set, cars and plenty of other toys, games and puzzles for him to enjoy. This is one of the many child-orientated facilities that Coombe Mill offer, along with a highchair or booster seat, black-out blinds, bed-guard and, if applicable, a cot.

Coombe Mill

Coombe Mill is a ten minute drive from the nearest mini-mart and about twenty-thirty minute drive from the nearest supermarket. As a result, Fiona has a fridge stocking milk, cheese, butter, clotted cream and bread in it, and a freezer with home-cooked main meals and desserts which she has knocked up for those guests who don't fancy cooking.

Did I mention there's free wi-fi?

Along with the four play areas (including a wooden fortress, Little Tykes climbing frame, zip-wire, pirate ship, indoor soft-play barn, car play area and a long side) there is the exciting opportunity every morning to drive the tractor that leads the feed run.

So what makes Coombe Mill different to other family friendly holidays in Cornwall? Why not go to one of the other resorts like we have done before? What makes Coombe Mill special?

This…Every morning (Sunday-Friday) at 9 a.m. there is a tractor-ride to feed Coombe Mill's farm animals which include pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, donkeys, pigs, alpacas, wallabies, goats and deer. The children walk into the animals' enclosures and are able to feed and touch the animals themselves, learning from completely different experiences to their normal lives.

How many other family holidays can boast all that?

(And  that's why we've booked again for next Summer)

Not an advert or a sponsored post. I paid for this holiday myself and I know how much other bloggers are intrigued by the place, so I wanted to share the ins and outs because it's amazing!

Sponsored Video: Being Natural

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"Don't you know it contains phenomylenatate chlomasomethingorotherbenate? Why on Earth would you use something that is pickling your kidneys?!"

Yes ok, sister dearest I get the picture.

At the time I nodded, shushed myself and went and bought the strongest surface cleaner I could find, maybe even to spite her. But surely it has to contain phenostrongstuff to be able to clean through the dirt in our kitchen and get rid of all of those germs and nasties?

That was then, this is now. And as much as I hate to admit it (because she's my sister and can never be right)…

… she was right.

I know, shhhh, don't tell her, I'll never hear the end of it.

Since having The Boy I've turned into a mini eco-warrior version of my sibling, only using sensitive, free-from everything washing products to keep his skin nice and looked after and without eczema. And then I got to thinking about his innards, which are very cute and pink and new, and realised that while I was worried about his perfect skin, I wasn't thinking about his perfect intestines.

You know that advert where the child picks up a teething toy that's been lying in drying food on the kitchen counter, and then it cuts to the mother snatching it away and wiping the surface with Kills-All-Known germs spray? And how you breathe a sigh of relief that there's no nasty half hour old food going in your child's mouth? Does no-one else think, "But she's about to suck on poison?"

No? Just me?

Because these cleaning products which blitz everything contain oodles of harmful nasties that can hurt those precious beings that we worked so hard to create. Which is why I only buy green cleaning products. Notactually green, but 'green'. Non-toxic, nice stuff.

Dammit, I've turned into my sister!

Sponsored by method

366 #39

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Right come on people we can do this. I've been apathetic for the linky and whole project for weeks now, but I'm not a quitter and neither are you lot!

You know the drill, join in with your favourite photograph of the week and show some comment love to everyone else in the community.

  1. Choose your favourite photo from the past week and link it up below.
  2. Please add the badge to your linked-up post so that other people know how to find all the other fabulous entries.
  3. If you can spare five minutes to comment on just a few other entries I know they'd appreciate it!
ShowOff ShowCase



£20.46!

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One vodka and coke, one kahlua and coke.

In a hotel in London.

£17.90!

In a well-known supermarket anywhere else in Britain.

And at that rate, MammyWoo and I had one drink.

Just as well that the rather fantastic Sally Whittle (Evil Overlord extraordinaire) had arranged free wine on each table in the MAD Blog Awards to help us enjoy the celebrations of the blogging world. Seventy bloggers, all female bar one, in pretty, bejewelled dresses with swit-swoo hair and make-up at a three course meal in a London hotel. Lots of high heels, squealing, underwear adjustments, photographs, hugs and a lot of blog love.

I had a great time meeting up with some of my real-life blogging friends (The Five Fs, Not My Year Off, The Crazy Kitchen and Coombe Mill) while having a brilliant time with the one and only inimitable MammyWoo.

I didn't win, she did. And I screamed because she did.

(To be fair I also screamed when Coombe Mill won).

This is my 24 hours in Londinium.

Thank you to every single person who felt that I was a good role-model for photography in the blogging world and nominated me, and then went on to vote for me. I'd be lying if I said I am disappointed that I didn't win, of course I wanted to! However, I'm not lying or being insincere when I say that being there as one of the top five has made my year when it comes to blogging. Thank you.