Convertible Car Seats

[judymd]

there are certain stores that will let you take car seats to your car to see if they will fit. In Maryland there is a store that will let you do this and I'm sure there are other independent stores that will allow you to check.

Cosco Scenera has been great for us. ~ $45 at Target and Walmart.

have you asked around for a certified car seat installer? crazy I know! There is one on my mommy board and I swear, the woman can tell you which car seat will fit in which car and which ones are better choices.

[gms]

Originally Posted by judymd have you asked around for a certified car seat installer? crazy I know! There is one on my mommy board and I swear, the woman can tell you which car seat will fit in which car and which ones are better choices.

where would I find a certified car seat installer besides online? Do stores have them? If you don't mind me asking, could you PM me the link to your mommy board? Perhaps she can help me out.

Good to know that some stores will let me try out a seat. Maybe I'll try that this weekend at my Target and Babies R Us.

[jenjacobs]

I got the info on car seat installers from the hospital where I gave birth. You may want to check your local hospital websites or call the maternity centers.

[crazydaddy&hotmommy]

I went to AAA Travel in my state of Indiana and they helped me get a car seat for my daughter. They even helped me put it in my car for me. They have car seats right there in the office.

Hope this will help you out.

[bikerbabymama]

You might find some useful information here: CarSeatData.org - user ratings of carseats fitting into cars

[jens-closet]

I would absolutely recommend signing in to car-seat.org, a forum with techs and experts. They also have a forum for identifying car seats for certain cars, etc.

In general, the ones I have always leaned towards are the recaro, britax, and radian. we have the recaro como and LOVE it! worth EVERY penny and will last for so long that we will cut our car seat inventory down a TON!

[fiveisaparty]

I second checking out car-seat.org they have amazing resources. Those moms know EVERYTHING about carseats. I am one my third child and I thought I knew everything, but I was clearly ignorant about a lot after reading their posts. I had a 2001 Jetta with my first and I used a Britax Roundabout in the middle seat with no problems. Not sure if that is the same as GTI, but it may be similar.

HTH!

Autumn

[gms]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I checked out the two above-mentioned websites and discovered that the only carseat ever mentioned with the VW Golf is the Britax Marathon. So I guess I'll check that one out first, even though it's more money than I had hoped to spend.

Thanks for letting me know that Babies R Us will let me try out seats before I buy, I never knew that. Also, I had no idea that AAA dealt with carseats nor the hospital. (FWIW: my hospital didn't even inspect my carseat before I left or even check to make sure I had one. Scary.)

[Colinsgrandma]

My husband is a car seat tech, in our area there is a coalition between local hospitals, the Red Cross and a insurance company. They run clinics all year long or you can call the hospital or the Red Cross for an appointment. They will show you how to install the seat and the seats are free or reduced costs if you can't afford them.

[bigsweetie]

Originally Posted by gms Thanks everyone for your responses. I checked out the two above-mentioned websites and discovered that the only carseat ever mentioned with the VW Golf is the Britax Marathon. So I guess I'll check that one out first, even though it's more money than I had hoped to spend. Thanks for letting me know that Babies R Us will let me try out seats before I buy, I never knew that. Also, I had no idea that AAA dealt with carseats nor the hospital. (FWIW: my hospital didn't even inspect my carseat before I left or even check to make sure I had one. Scary.)

I'm surprised that anyone recommended the Marathon seat for a small car.. I have a Marathon and the thing is a giant! Luckily we have a van now, but it's not a small carseat at all.

As for installing your seat, go to the local health department. They'll do it for free and they're trained. Some car dealers say they'll install it for you, but I wouldn't go that route (most have no training and I had one install it incorrectly - luckily I knew better and reinstalled it myself).

Good luck!