OT: Car Seat Help

[Amirah95]

I don't want to become the Queen of OT around here, but I need help with one last thing.

Which is the best car seat out right now??

I've got everything on my registry except for a car seat and I find car seat shopping a drag. The seat that I buy will have to be kind of easy to install, the straps have to be able to adjust somewhat easily and it has to recline. I also want one with high safety specs. I was looking at the Evenflos but I don't know about them. This seat will be the seat after the infant seat. Thanks!

 

[Nanu57v]

I don't think the Evenflo's rate well on consumer satisfaction. For a infant/toddler convertible we got a Britax Roundabout and LOVE IT! We've had it for 2 years now and still love it. For an infant seat we had the Graco Quattro Tour, and it was nice, but DD grew out of the height restriction (25 inches I think) by 5 months. I know Graco makes infant seats now with a 30 inch height limit, so I'd go with one of those.

 

[HLAuburn]

Anything Britax. We have a Marathon and we love it.

 

[Girly_Qs]

I know Graco makes infant seats now with a 30 inch height limit, so I'd go with one of those.

Yes, the SafeSeat goes to a higher height limit, but remember: along with those extra inches usually come some extra pounds.

Our dd outgrew the 'bucket' (the removable infant seat) by height around 5 months too, however by that point she was also beginning to get heavy enough (though nowhere near the weight limits of the seat) that I didn't want to be hauling it around either. Then again, I'm a *big* fan of slings anyway . . ..

 

[thepeach80]

I think you're asking about the convertible seat right, not the infant seat? I wouldn't even bother looking at them right now and definitely not registering for one. You still have several months to go before delivery and then you'll be using your infant seat anywhere from 6 mos-2yrs (if you have small kids like mine and have a 30# limit seat). Carseats are only good for 6yrs (some have slightly longer limits) so if you get one as a gift 3 mos from now, then keep baby in the infant seat for 6 mos, you've lost a year off the time you can use your seat. Make sense? Plus there are several new exciting seats coming out later this summer that might change my reccomendations. lol As of now, top of the line if the Britax Boulevard IMO.

 

[all4fun]

ITA with Jennifer. I'd like to add that I have a Britax Boulevard that my tall 4yr old still fits in at this time. It's a breeze to install w/LATCH and w/the infinite adjustable harness you can put the straps right where they need to be at the shoulders. In the coming weeks there will be two new Recaro convertibles on the market that will harness to 35lbs r/fing, 70lbs f/fing, 19" top harness slots. They are the Signo and Como. The Signo coming out in Aug/Sept (I think) will also have an infinite adjustable harness similar to the Britax Blvd. I am curious to see how these seats will review. I agree with waiting until your baby is outgrowing the infant carrier though. This way you can get the most use out of whatever you buy, and who knows what else will be available in a year or two. Plus by then there should be plenty of reviews on the new Recaro seats so you might decide to go that route.

hth

 

[Zoesmama03]

I think if/when I have a second child I'd go with the new Graco that goes to higher weight and height. My dd had outgrown her infant seat by 6 months. After the infant I'd go with Britax or probably Sunshine kids that goes to much highter weight and height limits.

Now at almost 4 she is outgrowing the harness on her Alpha Omega that I bought after the infant seat, which by the way was and Evenflo and I felt it was completely safe and never had any troubles with it.

Recently almost every single infant seat was found to have some flaws but they overturned their study so I dunno.

I agree the Britax have always rated well they are above and beyond most safety requirements we have in US.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I had a Britax with DS2 and I loved it. If I could do it over, I'd have gotten the Marathon though.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I have a Britax Wizard and LOVE it.
I also agree with what people were saying about the infant (bucket) seats - even if they still technically fit in them, it gets to be VERY HEAVY to carry so you may want to make the change before then anyway.
We had the Graco snugride and it was fine, but DS outgrew it (length) at 5 mths old. The Wizard installed easily both rear facing and forward facing later on. He's 3/5 and still using it.

 

[solferino]

Another fan of the Britax seats here- we used the roundabout, then she graduated to I think it's called the Husky- we got it a few years ago so I don't remember the exact name but she loves it.

 

[Tikicampers]

We have both a Graco comfortsport, that we got when DS couldn't use the infant seat but still needed to be rear facing, and a Graco seat that has a five point harness, but can also be used as a booster with a seatbelt. We are very happy with both, and they are easy to install.
I will say that we are partial to Graco. DS and I were in a car accident when he was 2 months old, and he was in a Graco Snugride (which scored the best in the recent Consumer Reports test). It wasn't just a fender bender, a car ran a red light and hit us at about 40-45 mph. The impact was just in front of the driver's side door. The car rocked very hard and slammed back down. DS was fine! No injuries at all.

We had to get a new seat with DD because you can't use a seat after an accident, so we went with the snugride again. I can't imagine carrying a baby over 20lbs in a carrier anyway. When she outgrows it, we'll use the Graco that can face forward or backward.

 

[Zoesmama03]

We had to get a new seat with DD because you can't use a seat after an accident, so we went with the snugride again. I can't imagine carrying a baby over 20lbs in a carrier anyway. When she outgrows it, we'll use the Graco that can face forward or backward.

I can't imagine it either. My dd was only 15 lbs when she outgrew the height and well I hardly carried her in it because that was just too heavy. But I'd still use one with higher limit and leave it in car like a convertible.

 

[Tikicampers]

I can't imagine it either. My dd was only 15 lbs when she outgrew the height and well I hardly carried her in it because that was just too heavy. But I'd still use one with higher limit and leave it in car like a convertible.

We actually planned to do the same thing, but the Consumer Reports thing came out when I was pregnant, and the Snugride scored higher than the Safeseat. After our accident, I'm just really paranoid.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We used the Graco infant seat with the stroller system, then the Britax Roundabout as the convertible seat. Loved them both! You definitely cannot go wrong with Britax!

 

[tiggger1]

I m using the graco Safeseat for my 5 month old. I like it because of the higher height and weight. He is only 16 lbs and 27 inches so he has a while to go until he is too big.. while it is heavy to carry, he cant sit up unsupported for long (because he has a big head!) so the seat great.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

After my kids outgrew the Graco infant seats we bought them Britax seats. DD first had a Roundabout and is now in their Parkway booster. DS is in the Marathon.

 

[thepeach80]

We have a Graco Safeseat and LOVE it! It's actually getting replaced by Graco for some issues we've had w/ it. Yes, it goes up to 30# and 32", but you don't have to carry it if you don't want. You can leave it in the car like a convertible seat. IT's nice though in bad weather and when it's hot/cold etc so baby is more comfy upon returning to the car, especially in the morning when you first leave IME. It's also nice b/c I can buckle her in that before we leave work for the night so I only have to buckle in the boys which saves me a little time in the dark. If I had to buy now though, I'd probably get the new Chicco Keyfit 30. I love the regular Keyfit so I'm sure I'd love this too! We went w/ the Safeseat (Ilana is maybe 10% on the charts so we don't have big kids) b/c this enables us to keep Evan rearfacing longer since I can't have 2 rfing convertible seats in my front van bench, it blocks all the air to the back. I figure she'll outgrow it around 2 and then Evan can go ffing since he'll be 4.

 

[tanyaandallie]

I agree with whoever it was that said don't register and don't buy one yet!!! Otherwise it will just sit there expiring while you wait for your baby to grow into it. Save up your gift cards and money and buy a good convertible seat once your baby is outgrowing the infant carrier.

Also, new seats come out all the time. You really want to wait until your baby is close to outgrowing the seat before you buy a convertible. Your baby could be 8 to 12 mos old by the time he outgrows the infant carrier so you would want to ask this same question then! That way you will get the most up to date info.

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

I agree with the PP that said don't buy a seat till you need to use it. If I was buying a seat I would buy a Britax or a Fisher Price. The FP was made by Britax but has been discontinued. I just got the FP and I love it and so does my DD. She is 4 and 40 pounds. This seat can be harnessed till 55 pounds.

I installed it myself and it was easy and does not move. I am so glad I bought it.

http://www.elitecarseats.com/Fisher-Price-Safe-Voyage-Deluxe-Convertible.pro

 

[thepeach80]

The FP was made by Britax but has been discontinued.

That was just a rumor. I know people who got new FP seats that were made in June.