As a Group 1 car seat, this is suitable from around the age of 9 months, depending on the size of your baby. It’s a forward facing seat, which will last until your child is around 4.
What we love
One of the best features about this seat is the straps. Rather than just hanging down once your tot is taken out of the seat, they stay in position as though they are still round your child’s shoulders, which makes getting him back in again so simple – no battles to prevent him sitting on the straps.
The straps are also very easy to adjust – you just pull and they become longer or shorter, and a safety indicator at the base of the seat turns green when the straps are tight enough, so you know your child is safe.
But remember, here at MFM we always think it's better to get an expert to show you how to safely install a car seat in your vehicle before you buy it.
With five recline positions that are simple to switch between with just one hand, it means your tot can be comfortable sitting up looking through the window or having a sleep.
There is also plenty of room for growth in this well-padded seat, but unlike some it’s snug and comfy-looking for smaller babies who have outgrown their first seats.
An added bonus is the fact it has removable, washable covers, which makes it easy to clean – pretty useful with a messy toddler on board! You can also buy extra covers, and the belt pads are easy to remove for washing purposes too.
Click here to buy the Maxi-Cosi Tobi on Amazon
As your tot grows it’s easy to adjust the position of the headrest and straps, which means it can grow with him. Although most of us will keep a Group 1 car seat in the car most of the time (unless you have to keep moving it from one vehicle to another), if you do have to remove it, it's actually very easy to take in and out and fits most models of car too.
The best thing about this is that the back of the seat has labelled seat routing for the seatbelt, which means it shows you exactly where to thread the seatbelt to keep it firmly in place.
What to watch out for
If pushed to name one downside, it would be the small issue of the protective cover round the seatbelt buckle, which sometimes slips and gets in the way of doing the seatbelt up, but this is only a minor issue.
It also isn’t ISOFIX compatible, so it’s important that you carefully follow the instructions when you fit it in your car. However, fixing is an easy process.
Who is the Maxi-Cosi Tobi best for?
All parents, but particularly those frequently moving seats from one car to another.
With its clever functionality and ease of use, it’s clear when you first install this seat in your car why it has won so many awards. Although price-wise it’s at the higher end of the market, it’s still cheaper than many others, and worth the expense.
First reviewed 2009. Updated 20/07/2015.
