At a glance:
Our panel of mum testers loved the rotation features, which made life easier, especially for those recovering from a c-section, or who were pregnant and couldn’t bend and lift the car seat as easily. Durability was also a standout factor, as the seat can be used up to the age of four years, saving time and money in the long run. That said, the car seat is more expensive than others on the market and it cannot be used as part of a travel system.
What they say:
“Vaya i-Size, offering extended rearward facing travel from birth through to 105cm (approx. 4years). The Vaya i-Size features ISOFIX installation to keep your little one safe on all their car journeys. Incorporating a clean 'future perfect' design, top-line safety technology and a number of parent-friendly features including a 360° rotation mechanism for easy access.”
Tested by mum Gemma Wood for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Yes, I would recommend this car seat to other mums as it is extremely durable and sturdy. The seating position allowed for baby to sit more upright than many other car seats, with the newborn insert providing extra support. The insert is then removable when baby grows out of it, which allows the car seat to last a long time. The capability of the seat to swivel towards the door is a fantastic addition and helps considerably to get baby in and out. The reclining seat feature is also great, allow for various positions to suit your baby.
How did this product make your life easier?
The rotation mechanism on this car seat really does makes life easier, particularly when it is raining and you’re in a rush. Also, the fact that the seat can be used from birth up to the age of four means that we don’t need to worry about shopping for a further seat once we’ve grown out of this one. This saves time and money in the long run!
Would you choose this product to win?
The quality of this product is excellent and it is definitely a contender to win a Mother & Baby award. The swivel action and various recline positions make it a great car seat, but the fact that it is semi-permanent means that it cannot be removed easily without taking the whole unit out. Therefore, if my baby was asleep in the car seat, I would have to leave them in the car. For this reason, I would not choose it to win and other products are more flexible.
What changes would you make to this product?
The flexibility of the product – if the unit could be split into two, so that the seat could be removed, this would improve it a lot.
Tested by mum Paige Armitage for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this car seat to fellow because of the ease of use, especially for mums who are pregnant and can’t lean too far. This car seat really takes the strain off your back and baby feels secure inside. My little one is prone to arching his back and not wanting to sit in the car seat, but it was easier to put him in because I could turn the seat to face me. The straps are easy to use and adjust too.
How did this product make your life easier?
The ability to turn the seat 360 degrees has made my life so much easier. It saves time, saves tantrums and saves my back from bending. The fact that you can change the seat from rear to forward facing without lifting it is genius. It also comes with an Isofix base so you know the seat is secure and in place correctly.
Would you choose this product to win?
Potentially not, it is rather expensive, as I have used other swivel car seats for a cheaper price. The cost really is the only downside, otherwise it’s a great product.
What changes would you make to this product?
It is far too expensive – I currently have the Joie 360 which I actually prefer and it's a fraction of the price.
Tested by mum Tawnia Norman for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
Yes probably – it was easy to use and I liked that the straps came around the shoulders and up the side of the legs for extra stability. The whole seat was easy to adjust for maximum support and the Isofix base was very simple to install. However, the car seat is rather large and therefore the front passenger had barely any leg room when it was fitted in my Volkswagen Polo. The seat looks really comfortable at first glance but as the babies grow, the newborn insert is taken out and there is not enough padding on the back of the seat.
How did this product make your life easier?
It was easy to get my little boy into the seat as it is quite upright, making it easier to place him down. As he’s got older, he has become very interested in sitting up and looking around, and this car seat gave him a great view! The four point straps made me feel it was very secure and safe and the padding around the head area was good for sleeping. However, once he did fall asleep in the seat, I was unable to attach it to the pram, which unfortunately meant disturbing him once arriving at the destination.
Would you choose this product to win?
Although this base and car seat have a lot of good points, it is not a product I would buy for myself. The upright nature of the seat will work well for those with older babies, but not for when they are very young. The seat states it can be used up to 15-months-old, but my little boy is under 10 months and it didn’t look like he had much more room to grow into.
What changes would you make to this product?
It would be good if the seat had recline options so it could be more laid back when the babies were younger. The padding around the head area is fantastic and gave me peace of mind, however there didn’t seem to be as much padding in other areas of the seat to match this. The Isofix base was also a bit bulky for smaller cars.
Tested by mum Julie O’Regan for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I'd definitely recommend this product to a fellow mum. There are some great design features such as the magnetic harness straps, which make it easy to strap your little one in, even when they are in wriggle mode. The seat is really easy to fit and I loved how easy it was to recline with one hand when I spotted my little boy was sleepy.
How did this product make your life easier?
The seat rotates 360 degrees, meaning it can be used both rear and forward facing, and makes it really easy to get your little one out of the car – this has been fantastic now my little boy is getting heavier. This seat is a real lifesaver if you have been getting a sore back using a more traditional design!
Would you choose this product to win?
Yes! I think the product offers good value for money, bearing in mind it lasts up to four years. The safety features are a real selling point – I felt like my little one was really well-protected in the seat, but also very comfortable.
What changes would you make to this product?
The seat was quite heavy and was a bit bulky in a small car like mine (a Ford Fiesta). This meant that there was limited leg room for the front passenger. However, I imagine this would not be a problem in a larger car.
Tested by mum Rosie Brakefield for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I would recommend this product to a fellow mum as the design is very attractive. The car seat feels high-quality and very sturdy, leaving me feeling confident that it is safe. As a second stage car seat, this is very solid and secure as there is less of a need to make it detachable, for bringing sleeping babies into the house after long journeys. I would praise the swivel design too and the high placement of the seat, allowing babies to look out at the world.
How did this product make your life easier?
The swivel feature was really fantastic and made my life significantly easier when putting baby into the seat. There is also a really handy magnetic patch which allows for the straps to be held out of the way while you put baby in the seat. My baby was happy and this made car journeys a lot more pleasant as there were less tantrums on long journeys.
Would you choose this product to win?
I would not choose this car sea to win a Mother & Baby award for one main reason – when my son fell asleep, his head flopped forward and I would be concerned that on a long journey this would be a safety concern. My son was really happy when awake, but I became worried when he was asleep, which didn’t give me the peace of mind I wanted.
What changes would you make to this product?
More recline positions would be ideal to prevent the aforementioned problem of baby’s head falling forward onto this chin whilst sleeping