Convertible Car Seats

[kwooddell610]

My daughter has the Evenflo Chase Delux carseat with 5 point harness. It is a great car seat, and I think we only paid around $70 for it. Plus it goes up to 80 pounds.

[CoffeeMom]

We have a Britax Marathon for DS and love it. We switched him from his Graco SnugRide around 4 months because he was HUGE. We're going to keep him rear facing as long as possible.

Also...sometimes you can get the Britax (and other brands as well, I'm sure) seats on clearance when they phase out a style/print of the fabric cover, so if you see the seat you want marked down but hate the cover just grab it and replace the cover. It's also really easy to sew a nice comfy cover yourself if you're crafty.

[MrsPinecone]

Originally Posted by CoffeeMom It's also really easy to sew a nice comfy cover yourself if you're crafty.

You want to be careful with that. If you are in an accident and they find out you were using an aftermarket or homemade cover, it might invalidate the warranty.

[CoffeeMom]

MrsP - Oh wow, I never knew that. DS is using one I made for him right now.

[Michar]

We have 3 Britax's and I LOVE them! We did have a smaller car when dd was first switched to a older seat and we used the roundabout because when I spoke with a car seat tech that is what he recommended with a smaller car.
I also agree with the person that said keep them rear facing for as absolutly long as possible. If you are thinking of switching your child because they meet the minimum requirements I suggest going to youtube and seeing some of the memorial postings from the people that lost their kids in crashes because they couldn't withstand the crash impact and the kids would have lived most likely if they had still been rear facing.

[Poodlemama]

Even though this thread is a year old, I'm another STRONG Britax fan. I have three in my backseat- two Boulevards and a Marathon (rear facing.)

We also have two Marathons and a Roundabout (rear facing) in DH's smaller SUV.

While I agree this brand is a littler pricier, I own SIX and haven't paid full price or near it for ANY of them. Smart shoppers WILL find a good deal. Also, I don't care what anybody says- the safety ratings for these seats are top notch- Consumer Reports is among those rating them as best in crash tests.

Also, I can't imagine why you'd take a small child out of a five point harness before you have to???? My four and a half year old is 39 pounds. She's in a Boulevard, which goes up to 65 pounds. I will keep her in a five point harness as long as it is recommended and safe. I get it that the shoulder strap boosters may be "easier to install and more convenient..." but seriously??????? Why on earth anybody would move a little bitty kid out of a five point harness before its necessary is beyond me.

[justmeagain]

When my DD got too big for her seat, this video decided for me which seat I would be purchasing and she will be in this seat until she is 80lbs.

CLICK THE VIDEO ON THE PAGE

Kyle David Miller Foundation

[JOURDYSMOM]

Originally Posted by justmeagain When my DD got too big for her seat, this video decided for me which seat I would be purchasing and she will be in this seat until she is 80lbs. CLICK THE VIDEO ON THE PAGE Kyle David Miller Foundation

Don't take this the wrong way..but a regular car seat may not have saved that little boy either...He did not die because he was in a "cheap" car seat (AKA not Britax) the actual car seat belt came unlatched. He could have as easily been ejected and crushed car seat and all if the seat belt had failed...

Do I own Britax seats? Absolutely!
Is it the only thing I have ever owned? Nope.

I have had all of the above, from cheapest on up thru. The only reason we have Britax is our kids are SO tall yet SO skinny that they max out of the height of Cosco seats at 25 or so pounds, WAY too small for boosters.

Right now I have:
1) 70lb 53" 9 year old, Graco no-back booster
2) 39lb 49" 6 year old, Evenflo high-back booster, or Cosco no back booster in DH car (in Britax Marathon til age 5.5)
3) 24lb 36" 2.5 year old, Britax Marathon forward facing, or Cosco Alpha Omega in DH car. stayed rear-facing til 16 months, had to switch to fit infant seat next to her in van)
4) 19lb 30.5" 15 month old. Graco Safeseat rear-facing, has Britax Marathon waiting for her, but she will stay rear-facing til at LEAST age 2

HTH!

[Sally Nevermind]

My son is 2 and he weighs 35 lbs and is quite tall too. I need to get him a new car seat but now I'm noticing the 5 point harness is only for up to 40 lbs? I expect he will hit that in a few months...but is it safe for him to go into a booster so soon?
TIA!

[MrsPinecone]

The law for boosters in most states is 4 years and 40 pounds. There are many seats that harness higher than that.

DS is in an Evenflo Triumph Advance, which goes to 50 lbs, and the Graco Nautilus harnesses to 65, then becomes a high backed and backless booster.