So, remember how I am obsessed with baby gear? Well, it's a problem, I can't make a decision, and it's stressing me out. I need some input from other moms, or other people with opinions. You got something to say, say it. Ok, here it goes...
Car seats... we went the typical route, bought the infant seat that goes with a travel system. Then baby turns one and needs a forward facing bigger seat. Then, second baby turns one and she needs one also. We were debating about moving Boston into a big kid booster seat that still has a harness obviously, but will convert to a booster when he is older and bigger, and giving Naomi Boston's current convertible seat. Seems like a decent plan except I don't want to move Boston into a stupid booster thing that sits him straight up, looks super uncomfortable, and will mean the days of him ever sleeping in the car are over. So, while I have been mulling over this in my mind the last few days, I happened to look at car seats today while at Target. I can't deny that I'm kind of wanting to bag that whole plan, and buy both kids Britax Marathon car seats, pictured below. They can be rear facing for a newborn, forward facing for a toddler, and sit more upright and hold a kid up to 65 lbs. This would negate the need for buying 3 car seats. One seat, one kid. Forever. The problem is the price. Except I added it up, and basically you buy one Britax for the price of the 3 separate seats you would buy otherwise as your kids grows. I already know what John will say. We both laughed at the price when we bought Boston's convertible seat a year ago. But now, what am I supposed to say? "Honeeeeey, PLEASE???" Or I could try to convince him that it's a worthy investment considering they are so much safer... did I mention that? It doesn't get better than Britax as far as crash protection.
So I'm sure you are bored and annoyed with such a lame post, but cut me some slack and just help a girl out. Tell me what you think, what you did, what you plan to do? What you have heard, what your neighbor did, whatever. Someone just have an opinion that is not strictly based on initial cost like John's will be. I'll really owe you!
10 comments:
For Cohen we bought the infant carrier and then bought a Britax when he got bigger. I will NEVER buy any other brand, because I am in LOVE with his Britax. Sturdy, safe, easy to install, easy to convert the straps, etc. I am always so annoyed with other people's car seats when I have to put them in my car. I can't get them tight enough in my car seat or they just seem flimsy. Beth and Andy had their 3rd baby in a convertible car seat from day one. She's tiny in it, but it works and they never have to buy another car seat for her again.
my kids both have the britax diplomat. i pretty much love it. my only complaint is that is pretty dang annoying to clean, but i bet all car seats are. I have a few friends that have the marathon and i think their only complaints are that you have to unhook to straps and re thread them anytime the kids grow or whatever. with the diplomat, there is this little knob you turn to make the straps higher or lower, and its pretty nice. the seats also recline nicely and are the safest or whatever. i havent had any other car seat though so i can really compare it to others. they are expensive but i just took time shopping for them and found a good deal online, you could do that. good luck
First I have to say that turning a child Forward Facing at 1yr and 20lbs is very old information and is not recommended any longer. The AAP recommends Rear Facing to at least 2yrs and 20lbs. A 1yr-old body just isn't strong enough to handle crash forces.
Here are some links:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=9316
http://www.joelsjourney.org/
Britax Car Seats are really good and very user friendly, plus they have cute covers. But so many Car Seats that will last longer have come out in the last few years that the Britax Convertibles are not highly recommended anymore.
The Sunshine Kids Radian Car Seats (3 models - 65XT, 80XT & XTSL) are great. They Rear Face to 40/45lbs and have a tall shell so they can accommodate taller kids and many can actually get to 40lbs Rear Facing (my 4yr old rides Rear Facing in one). It will also get most kids Forward Facing to an acceptable High Back Booster age (5 or 6 years-old). The Radians fold and come with backpack straps to make traveling easy. It also is one of the only Car Seats which you can use its top tether while Rear Facing, this prevents rebound in an accident.
The First Years True Fit is another great Seat. It Rear Faces to 35lbs and has the tallest shell on the market. It is big and roomy and installs easily. The newer ones have a foot prop which is used Rear Facing to prevent rebound in an accident. Forward Facing it goes to 65lbs. It has a One-touch height adjustment so you don't have to re-thread the harness when your child grows. It also has a head rest so your kids under 22" the Car Seat is a bit smaller, once they hit 22lbs you put the head rest on.
The Graco MyRide is pretty new but is a very nice seat too. It Rear Faces to 40lbs and Forward Faces to 65lbs. It again installs very nicely and has big sides for Side Impact Protection. The shell is about as high as the Britax Convertibles so it won't last that long Rear Facing but if you don't plan on Rear Facing as long as you can (it is the safest!) then it would be fine. It *should* get most kids to 3yrs. It has cup holders. It is a very reclined seat which is good for low tone kids or those who have head slump in their current seats when they fall asleep.
The Safety 1st Complete Air is another seat. It Rear Faces to 40lbs and Forward Faces to 50lbs. It is new and has pretty cool Side Impact Protection, the head wings shield the head and immediately reduces side impact forces through the precise release of air. The shell is pretty high so it will last a long time Rear Facing and Forward Facing. The install is said to be a piece of cake too.
You can get all for a lot cheaper on other sites than Target.
www.hipmonkey.com has a coupon code - 20THANKS that takes 20% off your total.
www.albeebaby.com has great sales
www.diapers.com will price match the above or any other site and has free overnight shipping.
If your son is Forward Facing and you don't want to Rear Facing him again I'd go with the Graco Nautilus or Britax Frontier so he can he harnessed to a proper High Back Booster age (5-6+ years-old). He will still be able to sleep in the car. Those are both very good Forward Facing only seats and he won't have head slump in them.
(BTW - I was sent here by Ferf to give my 2 cents on Car Seats. I will be a Child Passenger Safety Technician soon and have researched Car Seats for my 3 kids a great deal)
Holy cow....how in the hell could anyone know so much about baby car seats? Diana, can you fix my golf swing?
Michele I think Diana might be your new BFF...
Diana is pretty awesome! Thanks people, keep your thoughts coming, but I'm leaning towards the Graco My Ride.
I suddenly feel like a slacker mom for not doing much research before buying carseats! There was a lot of good information given, can't wait to see what you decide to get and how you like it :)
So I totally don't know you but I love reading your blog. I found it through Brittany Bennett's blog. My husband went to school with her.
Anyway, we were torn between the graco my ride 65 and the evenflo triumph advance DLX. We ended up going with the evenflo because it makes a "scoop" to lean back and the graco just leans back and we couldn't get it to fit in our car. We love it and so does our son who is 10 months. We moved him out of the infant seat at about 8 months and wil keep him rear facing as long as possible.
Take advantage of babies r us in the fact that they let you take the carseat out to your car to make sure it fits before you buy it. Then you can always buy it online if you find it less else where. That is what we did and it's a good thing we did.
Post a Comment