Cosatto Hubbub Car Seat with 5-Point Plus Anti-Escape System review

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The Bolton-based company has launched it's 'life-saving anti escape system', and award-winning '5-Point Plus Anti-Escape System' harness.

An alternative to car seat clips, impact shields and belt collectors, the system is now integral to all of Cosatto's Group 1 car seats.

The first of its type in the car seat market, it has been designed to stop your little passengers slipping free from their straps, letting you focus on getting them from A to B safely.

And we tested the system with Cosatto's best selling Group 1/2/3 car seat - the Hubbub. As it's a multi-stage seat it’ll be part of your family from around 9 months (9kg) to age 12 (36kg or when they are 135cm tall)!

It comes in at £185, but that's not such a bad investment over 12 years (just over £15 a year). And the price compares to market competitors Recaro Young Sport Hero - a Group 1,2,3 seat that comes with a 'Hero' safety harness and costs around £175.

It also compares to the Cybex Pallas M Fix, which has an 'impact shield' - like an air bag rather than the usual arm straps - and retails at £230.

How does the Cosatto 5-Point Plus Anti-Escape System work?

Imagine a 5-point harness with an extra, protective 'waistcoat' that sits just under the armpits and goes around the back of the waist and over the shoulders of your little one - that’s the 5-Point Plus Anti-Escape System.

The fabric means there shouldn’t be a space at the side of the harness for children to wriggle out of.

Does the 5-Point Plus Anti-Escape System actually work?

Cosatto says that in its tests 9 out of 10 children couldn't wriggle out of their harness. My little one did manage to, but it took a lot of effort and I did specifically ask him to try.

I've tested him and his twin brother since then, and they couldn't get out, so I either hadn't pulled the shoulder strap covers down far enough originally or my son's first try was a lucky one.

It could be a good lesson in making sure the straps and restraints are always in place properly.

As a protective tool the anti-escape does look like it would offer more fortification than your average car seat harness, and it's squidgy, soft material looks far more comfortable than a seatbelt clip, which I always worry about chafing my youngsters.

Within the industry, the anti-escape system has won the Baby Products Association Innovation Award and the Kind+ Jugend Innovation Award. Great for parents who like to buy award-winning stuff.

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What do you think of the quick release harness?

It does as it says on the tin. Very quick and easy to use.

Is the Cosatto Hubbub car seat is rear-facing?

No, it’s forward-facing only, and as it has been made under the ECE R44/04 law, it’s forward-facing from 9 months. I have no problem with it.

If I'm the only other person in the car, I like to be able to see how my young traveller is doing.

And as my boys are 3-and-a-half-years-old, I feel they are old enough to sit facing the front of the car.

The Cosatto Hubbub car seat has a universal ISOFIX installation. What does that mean?

It's compatible with both front and rear seats where ISOFIX anchors are present, and the ISOFIX base is built in to the Hubbub.

To be honest, I'd never fitted an ISOFIX seat before so it took me and a friend a little while to work it out, then an über man came along and told us what to do and minutes later it was fitted!

It's actually very simple when you know what you're doing.

Once it's in, you can leave the anchors attached and just remove the seat with a few simple lever pulls.

Is there much difference between the stages of the car seat?

The car seat is from 9 months to 12 years, so it's certainly one that adapts.

It has some nice padded seat liners for the really small traveller, and lots of comfy armrests and padding as they get older.

The 6-position headrest is really easy to move too, just at the click of a button and a pull.

Is it easy to adjust the straps?

I've had previous car seats where it was a real pain trying to wriggle the arm straps into higher or lower positions.

The Hubbub has a few hooking mechanisms on the back to unloop, and the straps can be adjusted very easily.

Does the Cosatto Hubbub car seat feel sturdy?

It certainly does. It's pretty solid, but also really soft and plush where it matters.

How many Cosatto Hubbub car seats would fit in the back of a car?

You could fit two of these seats in the back of a small car with a little space in the middle seat for a third (slightly squashed) passenger.

Is it easy to clean?

Yep. The padding and covers are detachable and machine washable - very important for any little ones with car sickness!

What do you think of its design?

We received the Hubbub in the Cuddle Monster 2 design, which was launched at the end of 2015.

Already a popular choice with Cosatto customers, the new design has even more animated monsters, doing monsterish things like breathing fire.

It also comes in three other patterns:

1. Hustle Bustle,
2. Kokeshi Smile
3. Twee Twoo - probably best to look them up as a written description won’t do them justice.

I've been in two minds about different designs that I've seen before from Cosatto, but I like the Cuddle Monster 2.

It's certainly designed to be attractive to the little one's too, and I'm all for giving them a say and not just surrounding them with Scandi minimalism.

While it's appealing to youngsters, with cartoon monsters, it's not trashy looking, but stylish.

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What's in the box?

A Hubbub car seat

Optional extras

None needed

Is the Cosatto Hubbub car seat value for money?

There are definitely cheaper car seats out there, but for innovation and quality the Hubbub is a good investment over 12 years.

It feels sturdy and has comfy seating material, as well as the anti-escape system. It's an all-round solid investment.

MadeForMums verdict:

The Hubbub is a solid investment that looks like it will stand the test of time, and is really eye catching. Although it does seem that my little tester got his arms out once, he, and his brother, haven't been able to since then.

I think the waistcoat-like extra layer of protection does afford less chance of your little ones getting their arms out, making this car seat worth the investment.

We've got more Group 1/2/3 car seats right here...

• Kiddy Guardianfix Pro 2 car seat
• Britax Evolva car seat
• Concord Transformer Pro XT car seat
• The best Group 1/2/3 car seats
• The best car seats from 9 months