1st time dad - Looking for THE conv. seat - Advice and help is needed :)

[djmikmik]

Hi,

Me and my wife should have our first kid around April and we want to buy one car seat that would last for long as our kid grows.

Here are the details:

* We are both tall. I am 6"5 and my wife is 5"10 so it seems that our boy will be tall (and probably thin).

* We drive small cars. My wife drives a 04 Nissan Sentra and I drive a 99 Hyundai Elantra.
* We have researched on the web and found out that Britax or Radian are the most recommended Conv. seats in the market.

The main problem is that there is soooo much information and selection (Britax, Radian, Evenflow..) that is so hard to come up with a good decision.

Even with Britax there are many models as well with the Radian (65/80).

If you can share your input or experience regarding which seat (and model) would be the best for our kis I would appreciate it.

Thank you so much for any information or advice you can provide.

Mickey

	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.

	Sunshine Kids Radian 80 or 65 - Click for more info If "the Sunshine Kid's Radian 80 convertible car seat is (probably) the only car seat you will ever need," the "probably" part of this statement comes into play when you directly compare the Radian 80 with the Britax Regent. While the Radian 80 has a very high weight capacity, the seat width is only 10" vs. the Regent's 14" seat. The Britax Regent may be a bit wider, but it is very bulky, is only forward facing, and does not fold like the Radian 80. Because the Radian 80 is so narrow, you can potentially put three of them side by side in the back seat. Three Regents side by side? Impossible.

[Papooses]

Any seat that is marketed to "grow with the child" is basically considered a jack of all trades, master of none -- they're generally full of installation issues, heightened misuse errors, kids outgrow the harness too soon before they're ready for a booster, as a booster they pale in comparison to others for various reasons + they expire before a child can safely ride without a safety seat of some kind.... We usually only recommend them as spare seats for an alternate vehicle but also inform the parent that they may very likely need to save towards a replacement anyway: especially when the parents are tall

Recaro Signo/Como is at least as repsected as Britax (they make race car seats) but I'm not sure how well they fit newborns. Britax convertibles aren't the ideal choice for most newborns because its bottom slots are higher than the following 2 options. Sunshine Kids Radian fits newborns well & should last until kiddo is ready for a dedicated booster, however the Radian is considered to be more difficult to use correctly. The Evenflo Triumph Advance is also a very good choice for newborns & bigger preschoolers at less cost (very easy to use)

The advantages of the Graco SafeSeat Step1 infant seat are that it fits newborns as well as over 90% of 12 month olds, various bases can remain installed in alternate vehicles, the seat portion can stay with you at room temp during severe weather & the seat portion alone can be installed without the base in an emergency + if you slip while merely walking on ice with baby in the SS1 there's less risk on injury. A convertible is still recommended afterwards, but by that time there may be even more options to suit your needs!

The best advice we can give is to try seats out for yourself at Babies-R-Us (they often let parents test seats in their vehicles, too) to find the one that you can use the easiest. Then have a local CPST check your install after the baby is born. Correct use always trumps fancy features

	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.

	Convertible Car Seats Convertible seats are for infants and toddlers. The seat can be used as a rear-facing seats for younger children, and switched to a forward-facing seat on the child's first birthday if the child weighs at least 20 pounds. However, experts recommend keeping the child in a rear-facing position until he or she outgrows the weight or height allowed by the safety seat.

	Infant Car Seats Infant-only rear-facing seats are for babies up to about 22 to 30 pounds, depending on the specific car seat. You will need a new seat when your child gets bigger. Infant-only seats have handles that allow you to move the seat from the car to the house or other locations. Some have a base that you can leave installed in the car, so you can just click the car seat into place each time you use it.

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

	Graco - Click for more info Graco is one of the world's best known and most trusted juvenile products companies. They started the entire juvenile products industry with an invention called the Graco Swyngomatic. Since then they have invented products that have changed the way that parents travel with their children such as the travel system, which has made it so parents can lock an infant car seat into a stroller easily, without waking their sleeping baby. Their Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat is pretty much synonymous with the term “infant car seat” because of its safety and design features coupled with its affordability. Today Graco continues designing and developing top-quality products that inspire parents and keeps children safe. Check out the new Infant Safe Seat Step 1 and Toddler Safe Seat Step 2 for proof of Graco’s continued commitment to child safety.

	Graco Safe Seat Step 1 - Click for more info The Graco Safe Seat (Step 1)—if you couldn't gather from the name— is intended to be the first of a three-seat process. The Step 1 is for infants in a rear-facing position; the Step 2 is for bigger, older kids in the forward-position; the Step 3 is a belt-positioning booster seat without the safety harness of the previous two.

	RECARO - Click for more info With over 100 years of company history and long standing experience in vehicle seat construction RECARO knows how to make long journeys a pleasure for the whole family. Materials, design and technical highlights ensure a pleasant journey for adults and children alike. RECARO uses its strength as the premier mobile seat manufacturer to engineer an innovative line of products for your children. No other manufacturer can apply experience from production vehicles, commercial vehicles, and race cars to design toward the comfort and safety of children.

	Sunshine Kids - Click for more info Makers of a number of accessories geared towards making parents lives easier, Sunshine Kids has recently embarked in a new direction. In 2005 they unveiled their first car seat, the Radian. Their years of experience working in children's products focusued on child comfort and parent convenience shine through in this unique convertible car seat. The Radian is packed with safety features and is the first ever folding convertible car seat appealing to parents who car pool or travel often.

	Sunshine Kids Radian 80 or 65 - Click for more info If "the Sunshine Kid's Radian 80 convertible car seat is (probably) the only car seat you will ever need," the "probably" part of this statement comes into play when you directly compare the Radian 80 with the Britax Regent. While the Radian 80 has a very high weight capacity, the seat width is only 10" vs. the Regent's 14" seat. The Britax Regent may be a bit wider, but it is very bulky, is only forward facing, and does not fold like the Radian 80. Because the Radian 80 is so narrow, you can potentially put three of them side by side in the back seat. Three Regents side by side? Impossible.

	RECARO Como - Click for more info The RECARO Como convertible car seat is an excellent choice for parents who want a high quality, long lasting car seat for their growing child. Thanks to its 5-70 lbs weight capacity, forward or rear-facing convertibility, and adjustable harness and headrest, the RECARO Como may be the only carseat you will ever need. The Como convertible child seat is a safe and comfortable seat that features RECARO Side Impact Protection (SIP), plush microfiber fabrics, and a thick adjustable headrest.

	RECARO Signo - Click for more info The RECARO Signo car seat is the premier convertible child seat RECARO produces. With its 5-70 lbs weight capacity, adjustable harness, and forward or rear-facing convertibility, the deluxe RECARO Signo may be the only car seat you will ever need. The Signo offers the same basic features and specifications as the RECARO Como convertible, but adds a few features - such as double wall head support and infinite harness adjustment settings.

[angel365]

As for the small car part - I drive a 2 door '99 Civic and haven't had any issues yet, except it can't fit 3 across the back seat. I had not trouble fitting an infant seat in it, and my 6'4" ex sat in the passenger seat in front of it. No - it isn't ideal for long trips, but if you're going to be in the car for hours at a time perhaps then rent one for long trips in the future? I don't know. I don't ever take long trips so it was never something I had to deal with. I put an Evenflo Triumph Advance rear facing and a Britax Marathon rear facing with no problem. It doesn't leave a ton of room for the front seat, it might work better if you install the seat in the middle, and then its possible that the back of the seat shell will perfectly fit in between the 2 front seats. Had I known what I know now when my BIG son was born - I wouldn't have bothered with an infant carrier, he outgrew it at 4 months old. Now would I have bothered with a 40lbs weight limit convertible seat with a short shell (the original Evenflo Triumph). He's HUGE and at 2 and a half years old outgrew, by height and weight, every seat Walmart had to offer. Coulda saved myself time and money had I just bought a Marathon from the beginning.

Here's the ones I think are best, and I'd suggest getting to a Babies R Us and trying some out, also check out the car seat compatibility database and see what other people with your vehicles have had successfully.

The Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon (These 3 are the same seat, just different variances of luxury additions, with the Marathon being the cheapest base model) can be found for regular price of $269, and on sale at Albee Baby online for $209-$219. The Marathon a wide open easy to route belt path, which makes using it correctly a lot easier, as do the built in lockoffs, which mean you never again have to use a locking clip. I can get it into 4 different vehicles in under 2 minutes. Because of the way the base is made, it fits in most cars. And, it is worth the money, b/c it lasts usually twice as long as most other car seats (all car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture) lasting a baby till they are 5-6 years old, where most at Walmart will only last till 2-4 years old. Rear faces to 33lbs, then forward to 65lbs. and top slots 17inches tall, lasts most kids to ages 5-6 years old.

The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. $150 version at Babies R Us has padding similar to Britax seats, top slots of 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. $120 Walmart version just has little less plush padding. Wide open belt path, easy to install, though it doesn't have built in lockoffs. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It's one of only 2 seats that does this (The Britax Boulevard is the other, I believE), and it has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. No more tugging straps to tighten them either. You tighten and loosen the harness using knobs on the side of the seat. As a major bonus, it can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode. Awesome for kids who still sleep in the car. I LOVE THIS SEAT! LOL My son, who is too big for every other car seat at Walmart has the same amount of room in this as the Britax Marathon.

The Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe Convertible seat is great, it is made by Britax, without all the frills. It's the same shell as a Marathon, but for less than half the price. $130 at Albee Baby online with free shipping, or at their eBay name, babysurplus. Rear faces to 33lbs, forward to 55lbs. Easy to use, fits in most cars.

These are the best you can buy that will give you the most bang for your buck. As a single parent I'm always watching the budget - I have no money to speak of, and these are what I would buy. (My son has a marathon and is soon getting a Britax Regent). They will last the longest. I only wish someone would've told me all this before I had him, I coulda saved some money for the extra seats I started out with!

All seats in the US must meet the same safety criteria to sell, so technically they all are safe, however, if its hard to install, then it won't be used correctly and that makes it unsafe. Also, they only must meet the guidelines, some seats barely pass, some exceed them. Britax exceeds the guidelines and is easy to use. You kind of have a double-edged sword here - your cars are small, but you are anticipating a tall child. Just remember that the super reclined rear facing phase doesn't last too long before they can be reclined less and then the seat will take up less room. (Newborns have to have a 45 degree recline to prevent their airway being cut off, babies who have good head control and can sit up can have 30-45 degrees). So some discomfort may have to exist for a few months to make sure you have seat that will fit your child for a long while. The other option would be to get a cheap seat that doesn't take a lot of space rear facing, knowing you will need to get another for forward facing at some point. The $40 Cosco Scenera makes a great rear facing seat b/c it goes to 35lbs rear facing, it has a short shell and short harness slots, so its not the best forward facing seat, but you could get another one for that when the time comes. The Scenera would take up less room rear facing than the Marathon or Triumph Advance.

Oh - and I totally agree with what Papooses said - steer clear of 3-in-1 'do it all' seats. Safety1st 3-in-1/Cosco Alpha Omega/Eddie Bauer 3-in1 seats. These are all the same company - same seat, just different covers. They stink. Hard to install, b/c of narrow belt paths. Ever tried to wash a skinny cup by hand? Now imagine that skinny cup with pointy edges. That's what putting your hand through these to install them is like. AND they have too short a shell to really go to 40lbs. And they do not make good boosters. Also, most kids have to use boosters until they're at least 8 years old. Car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture, so no matter what they say it is NOT the last seat you'll ever need to buy. Will hold a child about the same amount of time as the afore mentioned Scenera, but cost you a lot more.

CAR SEAT COMPATIBILITY DATABASE:
Search: CarSeatData.org - user ratings of carseats fitting into cars
MEAUSREMENTS OF COMMON SEATS:
Car Seat Measurements: CarSeatData.org - user ratings of carseats fitting into cars
EVENFLO TRIUMPH ADVANCE:
Evenflo Triumph Advance DLX - Convertible Car Seat - Sandbox - Evenflo - Babies "R" Us
Evenflo Triumph Advance LX Convertible Car Seat - Wal-Mart
FISHER PRICE SEAT:
Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe Convertible Car Seat in Black
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	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	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.

	Convertible Car Seats Convertible seats are for infants and toddlers. The seat can be used as a rear-facing seats for younger children, and switched to a forward-facing seat on the child's first birthday if the child weighs at least 20 pounds. However, experts recommend keeping the child in a rear-facing position until he or she outgrows the weight or height allowed by the safety seat.

	Infant Car Seats Infant-only rear-facing seats are for babies up to about 22 to 30 pounds, depending on the specific car seat. You will need a new seat when your child gets bigger. Infant-only seats have handles that allow you to move the seat from the car to the house or other locations. Some have a base that you can leave installed in the car, so you can just click the car seat into place each time you use it.

	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.

	Britax Regent - Click for more info The Britax Regent is the safe way to carry your older and larger passengers, all the way up to 80 lbs. Known as the "king of all car seats," the Britax Regent will accomodate your little king or queen for far longer than traditional car seats or booster seats. The Regent features a large roto-molded shell, comfy extra-thick comfort foam, washable covers, Patented Versa-Tether™, flexible buckle LATCH system, patented HUGS™ system, and tangle-free polyester 5-point harness.

[RECARO cares]

Hi everyone! I am new to this site so you will have to excuse me as I try to maneuver through everyone's postings and try to answer as much as I can.

My purpose is to help people with their questions about the RECARO seats. I won't speak anything badly about our competitors because I am obviously biased and I do not think that is appropriate.

I wanted to address Papooses comment below regarding how well an infant fits in the Como/Signo convertible seats. Our weight ratings for these seats is from 5 to 70 lbs. Since every child has different measurements, RECARO has developed an infant insert for smaller children that may experience fitment issues due to size. If you find that once your child is buckled into the seat, that the straps are not tight enough and there is a gap between the strap and your child, you can call 1-800-RECARO to obtain an infant insert free of charge.

	Convertible Car Seats Convertible seats are for infants and toddlers. The seat can be used as a rear-facing seats for younger children, and switched to a forward-facing seat on the child's first birthday if the child weighs at least 20 pounds. However, experts recommend keeping the child in a rear-facing position until he or she outgrows the weight or height allowed by the safety seat.

	RECARO - Click for more info With over 100 years of company history and long standing experience in vehicle seat construction RECARO knows how to make long journeys a pleasure for the whole family. Materials, design and technical highlights ensure a pleasant journey for adults and children alike. RECARO uses its strength as the premier mobile seat manufacturer to engineer an innovative line of products for your children. No other manufacturer can apply experience from production vehicles, commercial vehicles, and race cars to design toward the comfort and safety of children.

	RECARO Como - Click for more info The RECARO Como convertible car seat is an excellent choice for parents who want a high quality, long lasting car seat for their growing child. Thanks to its 5-70 lbs weight capacity, forward or rear-facing convertibility, and adjustable harness and headrest, the RECARO Como may be the only carseat you will ever need. The Como convertible child seat is a safe and comfortable seat that features RECARO Side Impact Protection (SIP), plush microfiber fabrics, and a thick adjustable headrest.

	RECARO Signo - Click for more info The RECARO Signo car seat is the premier convertible child seat RECARO produces. With its 5-70 lbs weight capacity, adjustable harness, and forward or rear-facing convertibility, the deluxe RECARO Signo may be the only car seat you will ever need. The Signo offers the same basic features and specifications as the RECARO Como convertible, but adds a few features - such as double wall head support and infinite harness adjustment settings.

[mommy2env]

Why are the inserts not included with the original purchase?

What if a parent bought the seat before their child was born, and then finds out that their newborn doesnt fit? Would they end up using it even though it isnt safe? More than likely.

For the price tag, it should all be included.

[RECARO cares]

You bring up a very valid point. After some consideration at RECARO for this case and also based on feedback from retailers and consumers, one insert might be required in every 500 seats or so (don't quote me exactly). The majority of the population purchased infant seats for their newborns for purposes of ease of use, it is easier to carry, and infant seats do not disturb the baby while sleeping if transporting from vehicle to stroller/home. The other thing to consider is each child dimensionally is different. Some may require the insert while others may not. Unlike other infant inserts which must be purchased in addition to the seat, RECARO is offering the insert free of charge.

	RECARO - Click for more info With over 100 years of company history and long standing experience in vehicle seat construction RECARO knows how to make long journeys a pleasure for the whole family. Materials, design and technical highlights ensure a pleasant journey for adults and children alike. RECARO uses its strength as the premier mobile seat manufacturer to engineer an innovative line of products for your children. No other manufacturer can apply experience from production vehicles, commercial vehicles, and race cars to design toward the comfort and safety of children.

[SusanMae]

I tend to think that most parents aren't going to plan ahead for this though. I doubt that most parents ever read the instruction manual for their seat and car...so based on that--it's unlikely they would have any idea that Recaro provides an insert free of charge and would buy an unsafe aftermarket insert.

Also--what has Recaro set for the life of the seat?

Susan

	RECARO - Click for more info With over 100 years of company history and long standing experience in vehicle seat construction RECARO knows how to make long journeys a pleasure for the whole family. Materials, design and technical highlights ensure a pleasant journey for adults and children alike. RECARO uses its strength as the premier mobile seat manufacturer to engineer an innovative line of products for your children. No other manufacturer can apply experience from production vehicles, commercial vehicles, and race cars to design toward the comfort and safety of children.

[RECARO cares]

The life of the seat is 6 years.

[SusanMae]

With that bit of knowlege, I would suggest to use an infant seat and then the Recaro. Otherwise the seat would likely be expired before it was outgrown---pushing the parents to make a booster vs harness decision earlier than planned or preferred. If the Recaro is used from birth...it's going to expire before the child is 6 yrs old.

If you used the infant seat for almost a year then--assuming the child still fits in the Recaro, the child has the potential to remain harnessed to almost 7 yrs before going into a booster.

Sorry I've derailed this thread---but I've learned something.

Susan

	Infant Car Seats Infant-only rear-facing seats are for babies up to about 22 to 30 pounds, depending on the specific car seat. You will need a new seat when your child gets bigger. Infant-only seats have handles that allow you to move the seat from the car to the house or other locations. Some have a base that you can leave installed in the car, so you can just click the car seat into place each time you use it.

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

	RECARO - Click for more info With over 100 years of company history and long standing experience in vehicle seat construction RECARO knows how to make long journeys a pleasure for the whole family. Materials, design and technical highlights ensure a pleasant journey for adults and children alike. RECARO uses its strength as the premier mobile seat manufacturer to engineer an innovative line of products for your children. No other manufacturer can apply experience from production vehicles, commercial vehicles, and race cars to design toward the comfort and safety of children.