car seats

[wld]

So it's been many years since I bought a car seat, but am buying one for my soon to be arriving grandson. Consumer reports loves the evenflo advance but I can't find one in our town to look at. Have seen the Britax ones and am impressed. They are pricey....DH loves the britax boulevard but I worry the head piece thing would be uncomfortable if our grandson ends up with what we fondly refer to as a pumpkin head. I'm more for the marathon. Any opinions from anyone that has actually used these. I've read reviews and reviews, and reviews but nothing to address this. Any help or suggestions welcome.

 

[BEloveDisney]

I've heard good things about Britax car seats. I've heard better things about Chicco car seats.

Good luck!

 

[bellebud]

we always used Britax and were always very happy with them.

I don't know anything about the Chicco. I'm sure you can't go wrong w/ either brand.

 

[Dan Murphy]

A great site........

http://www.car-seat.org/index.php

I have purchased Britax car seats and booster seats for our grandkids. Boulevard's and Frontier 85's.

 

[arminnie]

I'd ask the parents what they want. If this is to be used in your car I'd get whatever they are getting for their car. If it's for them I'd still ask what they prefer.

 

[akcire]

What stage/age are you looking for?

The convertible car seats (such as the Britax Boulevard & Marathon) are not good for coming home from the hospital. While the baby may meet the weight requirement, it is unlikely that they will meet the torso length to be safely buckled.

An infant should typically be in a bucket type car seat, for at least the first few months. I am a fan of Britax and Peg Pergo (I just bought the higher end 30/30 model).

For a convertible car seat Britax and Radian are generally the highest rated; we have purchased a Britax Boulevard for when the baby is no longer able to use the Peg Pergo bucket.

Of course all of the models I have mentioned are expensive, but this is one area about which I am passionate.

 

[wld]

I have asked the parents. dd and hubby. They have no opinion other than they don't want an infant seat first. They are trusting us to buy an appropriate one. With so many other things they are getting ready for, and working opposite shifts much of the time, they just would like us to handle it. I'm sure when dd sees how much britax cost she will have a fit....I'll remind her it's my money . They own a newer civic and fusion. Appreciate the advise especially as to fit, ease of use both in installation and getting baby in and out. As we all know, no car seat is safe if not used appropriately.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

If they are planning on going straight to a convertible, then I've heard that Britax isn't a good choice -- you can't get the straps tight enough for a tiny baby, or something like that.

I know that there are seats that are great from the very beginning, but I can't remember what they are.

 

[twinboysmom]

Honestly, I really think they are making a huge mistake not getting an infant car seat first. Besides the overall convenience factorthey really do fit the little ones much better. There are a few car seat safety techs on these boards and maybe one will chime in. I also know that more money doesn't always equal a better seat. There are a lot of car seat forums on the Internet with some very knowledgeable people. This might be a better place to get some advice. I don't have a britax but sometimes wish I did as they are the only ones that I know of whose straps don't twist up.

 

[RadioNate]

Why on earth wouldn't they want an infant seat first? If they don't want to carry it around in and out of the car they don't have to.

While convertible seats are ok why wouldn't you want the type of seat that fits the child best at each stage of development? I'm all for saving money however, this is an item that very well could save their child's life!

I'm passionate too as I don't know what would have happened to my DS had he not been properly secured in an infant seat at 10 days old when we were involved in a crash.

For my youngest we had a Chicco Keyfit for an infant seat. She is currently (at 3) in a Britax Boulevard. She's got plenty of room.

Can they talk to a CPS Tech in their area?

 

[WDWFAN9]

My first grandbaby is due any day. The soon-to-be parents are using a Graco Snugride and got me a base for my car. I can't wait!!

 

[LaurenLC]

I really think that your daughter and son-in-law are going to kick themselves for not getting an infant seat. It is going to be a big pain getting a newborn in and out of a 'regular' car seat. Our daughter is 8 months old and we still have her in her infant seat (she still is within weight and height) because of the ease. I would really try to talk them into an infant seat. I would recommend the Britax Advocate or Boulevard as both have EXCELLENT safety ratings.

 

[sbsteel]

We have a Chicco Keyfit for our infant bucket seat and love it! I highly recommend it!

I originally didn't want an infant seat, I just figured I'd go straight for the convertible seat and I'd have to buy one less thing that way. Thankfully, my husband convinced me to get an infant seat first. I don't have to worry about waking a sleeping baby when we get to our destination, I can snap the seat to the stroller and go, it's a place for him to sit when we go out to eat...I can go on and on. I don't know what I was originally thinking about not wanting one, I blame pregnancy brain.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I have a Peg Perego infant seat, and I do not take it out of the car. I love my Britaxes (Briti?) though. I had a Marathon for DD, and now she's in a Frontier 85 and DS is in a Marathon. We also have a Marathon and a Roundabout in my mother's car.

The Marathon I have is the older style without the "head wings," not the newer Marathon 70 with the "wings."

 

[Phedre]

After we switched from our infant seat we started using the Britax Boulevard CS. I'm very happy with it overall but I think the "CS" feature of it is a waste and I don't think we needed to have bothered with it. I'm always pulling to tighten up the straps and my DH will ask me why I'm still pulling at it because it clicked 10 seconds ago. I never hear it when I'm the one pulling on it. I think it works better for us just to use my own judgment on it for when it's tight enough.

The Britax is very easy to get get in and out of the car. We switch it between my car and my mom's all the time when we are traveling together. It's fast and easy.

DD is 1.5 yrs and she has always been in the 95% for head size. So far we've had no problems at all and she seems comfortable

We did use and love our infant seat first though so I don't know how the Britax would work as a newborn car seat.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

BTW, I did hear that Britax convertibles are not as good for smaller newborns, but DS was 9 lbs at birth, and he rode in a Britax Roundabout the day after he was born and it fit him well.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I agree, the infant 'buckets' are wonderful for newborns. Besides the increased safety, they are SUPER convenient during that first year. And just need bases in the cars they will be in.

 

[monkeybug]

I have used Britax seats for the last 8 years. We've had the roundabout, the marathon, the boulevard, the parkway, the boulevard cs, the companion, and the frontier.
I currently have a Boulevard CS (for 5 month old), a Frontier (small 5 year old), and the Parkway (small 8 year old). We LOVE Britax seats!
The Boulevard fits my little guy very well!
I always go to my local fire department when we install new seats to make sure it's been done correctly, and they always comment that Britax is one of the safest seats you can buy. I was just there last week (babies r us had a 25% off sale if you traded in old seats, not sure if it's still going on) and the man commented that Britax seats are the only one he sees that are almost always installed correctly because they are so user friendly, and that is one of the biggest reasons they are so safe.

 

[Minnie*J*]

I have a Britax Marathon and we use it as our extra car seat because I don't like the way it sits in my SUV. I use an Evenflo carseat in mine and I like the way it fits much better. I like the way that seat fits ds (4 years) better too. I use to have an old Britax roundabout for older ds and I liked that seat which is why I bought the Marathon a couple years ago.

As far as ease to install, there is not much difference in installing my Britax or the Evenflo with the latch system.

 

[Straycat]

We have two Britax Marathons in each of our vehicles and have been very happy with our choice. Our kids are 4 and 5 and they still fit in them well. We are just now starting to consider moving the kids to booster seats but I want to keep them in the 5 point harness for awhile longer.