Car seat suggestions???

[busy mom]

We are looking for a new car seat that will transition from rear seating (infant) to front seating (toddler).

The most important feature (other than safety, of course) is that it can EASILY be moved from one vehicle to another.

Looking to spend under $200.

Any suggestions?

 

[busy mom]

bump

 

[Merlin's Magic]

In that budget, my first choice would be an original Diono Radian. It's $199 at Target, easy to install with LATCH, slim, long time rear facing, and will go all the way up to a booster seat. Travels and stores well, because it folds up and is the size of a plane seat.
My second choice would be the Britax Emblem. Same cost, but I hesitate be cause the HUGS pads on the straps can be in the way for a rear facing baby and push the chest clip too far down. You can removed the HUGS, but most people don't. I like the Britaxes for travel because the overhead anchor often connects to the base, creating two straps to be able to throw the seat on like a backpack.
Third choice would be a Graco TriRide. It's a little cheaper, at $150, but has the headrest-adjustable harness like Britax. Concern: I can't tell if it has a single LATCH strap running through the base or two individual ones. Individual ones are easer to adjust, IME.

Depending on the cars you drive, you want to look at the manuals at all three of these to see if they're allowed to touch the front seats when rear facing. If not, the one that gives you multiple recline options or a shorter frame might be a better bet.

 

[melissalovesfigment]

We have 2 Diono carseats. We have no problems moving them between cars but they are a little heavy. We have an infant that will transition into another Diono so we will have 3 across our middle row come this winter.

 

[cel_disney]

My youngest is turning 11 - but we had Diono seats and I really liked them! But my reasons for purchase were to support 3 across and extended rear facing in a market that did not have many options. (There are many more ERF mofels They are heavy but last forever and can be installed with latch or seatbelt easily enough. Or should I say - as easily as any other in my car?

I have no idea if this has changed - but when my daughter was in them - it was understood that when the car seat plus the baby exceeded a certain weight - install transitioned to seatbelt only install due to the weight limits on your latch. Unless this weight limit has changed for latch in your vehicle - I recommend reading up on ease of seatbelt installs Vs latch for long term.

my last question is why does it need to move between vehicles? Is the intent to move it often?

If the movement is between two vehicles - I think that it would be better to look at getting 2 less expensive seats. Convertible seats are not intended to be moved regularly like infant bucket seats.

I have also used many Chicco and Evenflo seats…and we had the Apt seat years ago for a travel seat. These are all much lower cost and you could get multiple seats.

There are plenty of options for good and safe seats out there for less!!

Also - while all in one seats have come a long way - I am still a supporter of getting a 2 in 1 convertible seat and later getting a second seat to get you to extended harnessing / high back booster etc…after 3-4 years - it was always nice for the kids to transition to a new seat…they would see it as a fun milestone too…

 

[Disneyfan754321]

I also want to recomend , consider the make and model of your car. I was recommended really great seats but they did not fit well to my seats. Maybe google or tell these great people the kind of car you drive.