[RLSADC]

Originally Posted by clmurphy

Hi ~
My daughter is 11 1/2 months old and is ready for a new carseat. I was given the Britax Boulevard as a gift, but I do not think it will fit in my Audi A4. I would like to keep her rear facing as long as possible. My husband drives an SUV so we could use the Boulevard in his car, if it will keep her safer (is the Boulevard really much safer? Do children mind the head wings?). However, my main question is...

Will the Boulevard fit securely into my Audi A4 rear facing? If it is safer than the Marathon, would you recommend I keep her in the Snug ride until I can turn her around and use the Boulevard? Or should I purchase the Marathon? She is about 28 1/2 inches long and 18-19 pounds.


Thank you! I look forward to receiving your repsonse!

The Britax convertables fit suprisingly well in most smaller vehicles. And the a4 is more of a sedan than a compact, right? as your dd's age, you dont need the 45 degree angle, so her seat can be more upright, making it even easier to install. Take you seat and your car to a local checkup event or CPST. Make sure you request that they rear face tether your seat. thats a huge perk of the britax convertables.

as far as choosing between the marathon and the boulevard, its really personal prefrence. i personally, prefer my MA's to the BV or a number of reasons. i would only buy a BV if more than one child was going to be using the seat because of the infinate adjusting harness. im not a big fan of the wings, but most kiddos are ok with them. now if i was given a new BV as a gift, i wouldnt hesitate to use it over the MA. as far as which is safer, we really dont know. there is no government regualtions as far as side impact goes, and there is no definition to true side impact protection. its obvious that you childs head would move less in the BV, but since crash testing is not published, well never know which seat preforms better. but if its any consolation, the two seats have an identical shell, and work the same way.

	Britax - Click for more info Britax International has been producing reliable child safety products for over 30 years. Not only does Britax have decades of experience creating car seats and other children's safety equipment, Britax has a long standing reputation as an industry leader and innovator. Britax International is headquartered in the United Kingdom, but Britax car seats are designed and manufactured at facilities in Germany, Austria, and the United States. In the summer of 2002, Britax strengthened their commitment to creating the safest car seats with the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art crash testing facility in North Carolina. Britax car seats have a reputation around the world for being some of the safest, most reliable, and best designed child safety seats ever made.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

	Britax Marathon - Click for more info Increasing the time a child can safely stay in their convertible car seat is a big issue and Britax engineers have come through in a big way with the introduction of the Britax Marathon with LATCH. A LATCH Compatible Convertible Child Seat, the Britax Marathon can be used rear facing 5 to 33 pounds and forward facing from 20 to 65 pounds. Compare the numbers and you will see it is hard to find a seat with these weight limits that is safe and functional.

	Britax Boulevard - Click for more info It is all about the wings with the Britax Boulevard convertible car seat - head and torso safety wings help keep your child from harm in a side-impact crash. And this matters - side-impact crashes are the leading cause of death for 6 - 14 year-old children. Of course, the safety wings are only one of the many safety features that the Britax Boulevard offers: built-in lock-offs, 5-point harness with front adjuster, tangle-free webbing, a push button release LATCH system with Versa-Tether®, and a sculpted base, ensuring an easy installation with a secure fit.

	Graco SnugRide - Click for more info The Graco SnugRide with EPS infant car seat is a highly popular and top-rated infant car seat that provides first-rate transportation safety for your baby, plus convenient mobility options for you. Even with its relatively low price, the Graco SnugRide with EPS receives unmatched praise for its safety by leading consumer magazines and websites.

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