Carseat on a budget

[HolliePoppins]

Has anyone seen any good sales on carseats lately? I need a convertible carseat for my daughter who is about to outgrow her infant seat. I would like to get one with a very good safety rating.

I would prefer one with a high lb. limit and that will convert to a booster seat. I also need one on the smaller side. I have a ford taurus and need to fit two teens in the backseat with her. I can only afford to spend about $150. The seat also needs to be able to be used rear facing since she is only six months old.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lisa_M]

We have an Evenflo Triumph Advance LX that I like. It runs about $139 regular price. Here it is on sale at Amazon for $112 http://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-Triumph-Advance-Convertible-Seat/dp/B000YZD0QM
I like it better than our Britax. The straps are super easy to adjust and my daughter is so comfortable in it. It rear faces to 35lbs and forward to 50lbs.

 

[HLAuburn]

This is a great deal on a Marathon...

http://www.albeebaby.com/britax-marathon-convertible-car-seat-in-ashley-floral.html

It's $180 (free shipping, no tax), but you can't beat that for a Britax, and its a cute pattern! We have a Marathon and we love it. It has a high weight limit so you probably won't need another to buy another carseat.

Also, you may want to look into a Graco Nautilus. Walmart and Babies R Us carries them, and they convert to a booster later on. They get good reviews and safety ratings.

Good luck!

 

[bigolive9]

We have a graco Nautilus. It was right around $150 with free shipping on Amazon. At all our local stores, it was running $179, so there was a savings by ordering. It is a forward facing seat/5 point harness up to 65 lbs, then becomes a high back booster/backless booster up to 100 lbs. We really like it- it has a nice cupholder, and seems to be comfortable.

 

[zoemurr]

That is an amazing price for a Britax. That marathon would last you a long time, and you will never regret buying it.

How old is your baby? A carseat is only good for 6 years, so buying one that converts into a booster wouldn't gain you much, since she would probably need a booster until 8/9 yrs old, (depending on the laws in your state, and the size of your child) so you would eventually need another seat anyway.

 

[Octoberbabiesrus]

I second the Evenflo Triumph. I've bought 3!!! One for my oldest when he was little, then one for my new baby (not so new now...lol) and one for hubby car for him. I love it. Easy to adjust, nice thick padding, and way cute pattern.

 

[HolliePoppins]

My daughter will be six months old in three days. I should have added I need the carseat to be a rear facing seat also since she is so young. Thank you for all the ideas.

 

[Lisa_M]

I can't tell from the OP's siggy how old her daughter is. If she was born Oct 2008, she is too young for a forward facing only seat, like the Nautilus. I wouldn't worry about the booster conversion. These high weight limit seats will last a LONG time and boosters are cheap. Get something that is easy to install and comfortable and safe for the little one.

ETA: NM, just saw the OP's response.

 

[HolliePoppins]

That is an amazing price for a Britax. That marathon would last you a long time, and you will never regret buying it.

How old is your baby? A carseat is only good for 6 years, so buying one that converts into a booster wouldn't gain you much, since she would probably need a booster until 8/9 yrs old, (depending on the laws in your state, and the size of your child) so you would eventually need another seat anyway.

Thank you for this info. I did not realize that. It has been quite a while since we have bought caseats since our other 2 children are 19 and 17

Ok everyone put your eyes back in your head and pick up those chins
Just kidding. Thanks for all the great tips.

 

[nelep]

Seriously think about the Britax Marathon. It's a great price for a high quality car seat. We have three of them!

I prefer to leave my kids in a 5 point restraint until they outgrow the height/weight restrictions of the car seat. Currently, my 5 year old is still comfortably using her Marathon! She weighs about 45 lbs and is 42" tall. (The Marathon goes up to approx. 65 lbs. and there may be height restrictions too.) Her head is well below the top of the seat. She never complains about the seat and we spend a lot of time in the car! She is old enough now where she can buckle and unbuckle herself to get in and out. We've been using this seat for her since she outgrew the infant carrier.

The seat is pretty big, though. You should definitely try it out in your car to make sure it fits.

Hope that helps!

 

[bumbershoot]

Yeah the Nautilus is completely out of the question for you, as it's not a convertible seat (convertibles face rear and forwards).

We liked oru Roundabout and our Cosco Scenera, but they don't go up high enough in the pounds for what you want. But you sure can't beat the Scenera's price.

I wouldn't think too far ahead in terms of booster, b/c you don't know what carseat laws might change (if they change in favor of not letting the littles sit in boosters, for instance), and you dont' know what they will come out with. For instance, once DS was solidly too big for rear-facing, then grew out of the two seats mentioned above, we *wanted* a Regent to harness to 80 lbs. But it was so expensive, so heavy, and enormous even in our boat of a car. We got the Nautilus, which harnesses to 60 (65?) and then goes to a booster. Well since I personally would like a 5 point harness for *myself*, I'm not just putting him in a booster or the belt (unless he is of absolute height and weight and bone maturity and plain old maturity to do so). But I figure they'll keep making amazing and safe seats, and there will be something wonderful out 20 lbs from now!

So I wouldn't make a seat having a booster to be the be all end all, b/c you might have the option of something incredible later on, etc etc.

 

[AmyMama2AvaNtheo]

I have the Naut. for my daughter and even though she is only 38lbs and 42inches she has *outgrown* the seat. I just read an article that states once your child is sitting at/on the crotch strap they have outgrown it .. well great.

Anyway, We used to have an Evenflo Triumph and loved that seat. It installed easily both rearfacing and forward facing.