Please help me pick out a car seat

[marieNJkitty]

I cannot decide which car seat to get. My DD is 12 months, 21 lbs. I'm looking for a comfortable reclining seat that is not to bulky. I am looking at the Britax roundabout ($200), Britax Boulevard ($230) or Graco Nautilus ($140). Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[allie1078]

I would not get her the nautilus as she is to small to forward face yet. She should still rear face as long as possible. the britax are good seats. I would look at the marathon before the roundabout as it will last you longer. some other options are the evenflo truimph advance, radian 80, or the new truefit. A good site to check into for more advice on seats is carseat.org.

 

[allie1078]

just noticed that you are in northern michigan. me too. where are you? I am in the tawas area on lake huron.

also I have my son rear facing in the evenflo triumph advance. He is 23 months and 26 lbs. I plan on leaving him rf until he outgrows the seat rf which is 35 pounds.

 

[NY_MOM]

I would absolutely go with the Britax Marathon. My DD now 5 has only had one car seat since birth. It will be useable until she is 65 pounds...so it saves money because you can use it for so long, and they have a good reputation as well.

 

[mom2princessj]

I had an evenflo triumph with both kids and loved it however I do have britax for both kids now (its the regent youth carseat up to 80lbs not boosters) and would HIGHLY recommend britax. If it were me I'd get the marathon. My kids love their seats. I just switched my daughter out of an eddie bauer booster into the britax regent. My daughter complained all the time how uncomfortable her seat was and since I'm an advocate of the harness until they outgrow it I went ahead and spent the $$ to get her the same seat we got our son. I now wish I had spent the $$ all along and gone with britax. Both kids fit comfortably and I feel like these are the safest seats I could have for my kids (consumer reports rates them highest).

 

[thegrimdwarf]

I would ABSOLUTELY go with the Nautilus. Just yesterday I went to Walmart to purchase a second one for DS2, for my husband's car. I've had one in my SUV for about 2 months, and we LOVE this seat. My son is a huge kid - 38" tall and 42 pounds of blocky muscle - so I wanted something that was in for the long haul. My son is very comfortable in this seat, it's easy to get him in/out, and adjustments are quick.

Technically, your daughter is old and heavy enough to ride in this seat forward facing (20 pound minimum). Though honestly I would try to keep her rear-facing a little longer. So if you can keep her in her current seat for a while, I think you can't go wrong with the Nautilus.

 

[katiemugs2]

I just bought the Britax Boulevard Click and Safe this past weekend. It is pricey but it is listed as the safest car seat on the market and the staff at babies r us stated that none of the other car seats on the market even come close to it's safety features. You can get a great deal on it if you have babiesrus coupons, it retails for 329.00 and with coupons I got it for 269.00. Good luck, at least you got a year out of your infant car seat, my som is 6 months and he is already 20 lbs and 30 inches long!!!

Katie

 

[thepeach80]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7QrC8

That video is great to show you WHY you want your child to stay rfing for a long time to come. My youngest 2 are 45 and 22 mos and both are still rfing. It's safer, so why not?

Of the ones you listed, my only choice would be the Boulevard. Most kids don't make it to 2 in the Roundabout rfing and outgrow it by 3 or so ffing. It's not worth the $. My almost 4yo is still rfing in his BV (he's 30# and just over 36") and last I checked my 5.5yo still fit in it barely. It's well worth the $. Some other seats to look at are the Sunshine Kids Radian 65 and the First Years True Fit. We also have a Marathon for my dd, but I much prefer the BV.

We have a Nautilus for my 5.5yo and it's a great seat, but not appropriate for your child at that age/size.

 

[marieNJkitty]

Thank you for all the suggestions as I have been so torn about what to buy. Your opinions help me a great deal!

just noticed that you are in northern michigan. me too. where are you? I am in the tawas area on lake huron.

I am on the opposite side, close to Lake Michigan by Traverse City.

 

[pinktink83]

Any carseat with a 5 point harness is just as safe as the leading, expensive brands. Underneath all that fancy fabric its the same plastic shell. You're just paying the brand name and the cool accessories. If you can afford it and thats important to you, then just pick out the one you like the most, because they're all safe. But if its out of your budget, you really don't need to spend that extra money. Making sure its properly installed in your car the is the number one important thing.

 

[mjkacmom]

Any carseat with a 5 point harness is just as safe as the leading, expensive brands. Underneath all that fancy fabric its the same plastic shell. You're just paying the brand name and the cool accessories. If you can afford it and thats important to you, then just pick out the one you like the most, because they're all safe. But if its out of your budget, you really don't need to spend that extra money. Making sure its properly installed in your car the is the number one important thing.

I disagree - I've owned MANY carseats, and after I got my first Britax, I couldn't go back. The padding, the straps, the buckling - huge difference in ease and quality. They also hold up really, really well. When my twins were born, #3 was still in a carseat, and although I already owned other carseats, and I ran out and bought 2 more britax seats.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I would also say Britax...but not the roundabout. Look into some of the others that you can use a bit longer.
I found that the Britax is much easier to install correctly (especially rear facing) than the Graco my husband has in his car and the Evenflo my mother has in hers. The straps do not twist and tangle nearly as easily, and my son just looks like he is more comfortable in that vs. the others. Also, the higher weight limit eliminate the need to buy another seat too soon...my son just started kindergarten and is still strapped in his Wizard.

As a disclaimer, I just want to add that I am not one of those "have to have the name brand" people.... I've never owned a Mac stroller, a Stokke high chair, pottery barn kids furniture or accessories, and the only name brand clothes my son owns were given to him as gifts. I chose the Britax because of the ease of install in my car, the fact that I can just turn a knob to adjust the headrest taller, and he can sit in it until he reaches 65 pounds, which at the rate we're going will be sometime in college!

 

[Fall1]

I'd go with the Britax Marathon. I bought the Britax Roundabout for my twins and I wish I bought the Marathon, just for the height difference. Otherwise I love the Britax!

 

[melafive]

Thank you for all the suggestions as I have been so torn about what to buy. Your opinions help me a great deal!



I am on the opposite side, close to Lake Michigan by Traverse City.

While I don't have any advice about car seats, I just wanted to add that I am from Traverse City too. Hi neighbor!

 

[FunkyDuck]

I own the Britax Boulevard and absolutely LOVE it. It is THE cadillac of car seats...safest on the market...and my 16mos. old loves it too. I would never use anything else...and recommend it highly.

 

[marieNJkitty]

Thanks all, I am leaning toward getting the Britax Marathon if I can find a good deal.

While I don't have any advice about car seats, I just wanted to add that I am from Traverse City too. Hi neighbor!

Hi neighbor!

 

[Jennygt]

Britax for sure. skip the roundabout, too small, we have the matathon and love it, I have friends who have the boulavard and swear by that, either one would be my suggestion.

 

[lilybrooke14]

Any carseat with a 5 point harness is just as safe as the leading, expensive brands. Underneath all that fancy fabric its the same plastic shell. You're just paying the brand name and the cool accessories. If you can afford it and thats important to you, then just pick out the one you like the most, because they're all safe. But if its out of your budget, you really don't need to spend that extra money. Making sure its properly installed in your car the is the number one important thing.

Actually, in carseats, the more expensive seats are actually more expensive for a reason (with a few exceptions). Carseat companies pay for additional testing on the seats. It costs more for Britax (who, by the way, crash tests from more angles than any other carseat manufacturer) to have the Marathon tested and approved for 65lbs than it does for Costco to have the Alpha Omega Elite tested at 50. If Costco had any way of putting 65 on that label, you'd better believe they'd do it. They pass the price of the additional testing on down to the consumer. Bummer, but the truth.

That said, there are excellent carseats that are less expensive, and if you have to get a more budget friendly carseat you are not putting your child in any danger, as long as you are using it within the weight limits and it is properly installed. All carseats sold in the USA must pass the same US safety standards. However, it is my understanding that Evenflo and Britax are side impact crash tested, and the rest of the seats aren't, because they don't have to be.

All of the seats for sale in the US have gone to High School.....but some of them have gone to college.

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

I don't think the Nautilus is rated for under 2, is it?

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with a baby facing forward at 12 months old... I woul RF in either a Boulevard or Orbit Baby.

My children are --

5 yrs -- FF in Graco Nautilus
3 yrs -- FF in Britax Marathon Couture
2 yrs -- FF in Britax Boulevard CS
7 months -- RF in Orbit Baby Toddler

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Yeah and not all carseats are equal -

Most cheap-o seats don't have the EPS foam. The side impact protection, etc...

Many cheap-o seats are just plastic and cloth --- no foam, no side wings, no top tether for RF