Car Seat Dilema

So DS will outgrow his infant seat soon. We are looking at convertible seats. It's so hard to choose the saftest one. I have been looking online for some reports and I have the Baby Bargains book, but it's not the most recent version. I got it about a year ago.

We have been thinking of the Britax Marathon or Roundabout. Just wondering if anyone has any other suggestions or if they love/hate Britax.  Thanks! : )

[girliegrl1723]

if you don't mind me asking, how old is your daughter? i ask only because my son outgrew his infant seat also, around  6 months, and when my mom and i were in target buying him a new carseat, a lady approached us, obviously, we had my son with us, and she said "i wouldn't buy a carseat if i were you". we explained he had outgrown his infant seat and she said "no, no matter how heavy/tall your baby is, they should stay in the infant carrier until 1 year old". is that true? we didn't listen and bought a new seat anyways, but i was just wondering if there's any truth to that. i mean, his infant seat was only up to 25 pounds and at 6 months he was 20 lbs and 28 inches long. his head was above the headreast and his legs dangled off the end. that can't be safe.

[luv_babies]

No, they should stay rear facing until a year old AND 20lbs you can convertible seats that are rear and forward facing. That's what I am looking for now. My son is 5-1/2 months.

[luv_babies]

I'm really surprised she was giving that sort of "advice". If you baby has out grown their infant seat and you are keeping (not meaning you personally) them in their infant seat, they are very unsafe.

[AnnieBrooke]

"Convertible" in car seats doesn't refer to being rear facing or front facing, though that is what it sounds like.  It refers to the seat belt, whether the seat has both a 5-point harness inside the seat and a shoulder clip to use the seat belt when the baby outgrows the 5-point harness.  I had the Britax Marathon on my registry, after reading about it in Consumer Reports.  But it is not convertible.  It will go front facing or back facing, but after the baby outgrows the 5-point harness (which will be well past the point where they go front-facing) they are out of the seat.  The convertible ones can be used past that point, because they have a clip on the top shoulder to use a car's shoulder seat belt instead of the 5-point harness.

[luv_babies]

I think different manufacturers call rear and forward facing seats convertible also. Britax calls the Roundabout, Marathon and Boulevard convertible seats.

Did you get the Marathon or another seat?

[countrymomma]

Annie, I think you are thinking of a booster.  Convertible does mean rear or forward, the ones that go beyond the harness are boosters.  

Luv_babies, good for you being mindful of the size limits on your infant carrier!!  I just cringe every time I see an enormous 10 or 11 month old baby hanging off the top/end of their infant carrier.  So many people realize the weight limit, but not the height.

We have the Cosco Alpha Omega and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  My children also outgrew the infant carrier around 6 months, we bought an Alpha Omega then.  My son is now six and it still works!  It is an all-in-one seat.  It is rear facing 5-35lbs, forward facing 20-40lbs and a belt positioning booster from 30-100lbs.  The Alpha Omega has an 8 or 10 year expiration so you really can use it until your child is 8yrs and 80lbs, the recommended age to be out of a booster seat.  

The Britax seats also seem very nice.  We opted for the Alpha Omega due to the attractive features combined with a much more attractive price tag than the Britax seats.  I think if I were to do it again, I would perhaps get a Britax Marathon since you can use the harness until 65lbs.  My almost 4 year old is at 36lbs right now and in her Alpha Omega that means the harness has to go soon.  I don't feel that she is quite ready for that.  

Here is a great article on some of the best convertible seats out there.  It's short and informative: http://www.carseatdata.org/convertible.php

Good luck car seat shopping!

[luv_babies]

Just a thing about the Marathon being used up to 65lbs. I don't know exactly the height (I'll look it up), but your child would more than likely out grow the Marathon by height, WAY before 65lbs.

[luv_babies]

It is for use for children 5-65lbs and LESS than 49".

Countrymomma, Thanks for info about the Cosco Alpha Omega, I'll add that to our search!

[AndiJ78]

I hate people who give bad information!! Toss that carrier and get a new carseat ; )

I get the convertable one that goes from rear to forward and then buy a seperate full back booster. I don't mind the extra expense for the piece of mind it offers.

We have Cosco Touriva carseats for CJ and Tristan. T's is forward facing of course and CJ's is rear facing until his birthday.. Excellent ease of use and price was good.

[Tamara551]

I got the Marathon because of the crash resistant foam that it comes with.  There is a name for it but I cannot remember it at this moment.  Also the straps and clips are the highest test crash rating than any other manufactor.  I am an EMT and see lots of car accidents and how the car seat makes a big difference in the safey of the child.  I think the extra price is worth the added safety that this seat brings.  You need to toss that carrier and defintaly get the baby into a convertible.

[luv_babies]

EPS foam

I have read that the Marathon is bigger and does not fit in some vehicles. I'm pretty sure it'll fit in mine, but just wondering, those that have the Marathon, what kind of vehicle do you have?

[AnnieBrooke]

Maybe different manufacturers do call the "facing front or back" aspect of carseats  "convertible," but the manager of Babies R Us who walked us through the carseats just last Saturday called only the ones with the upper, shoulder-mounted added seat-belt guides "convertible," irregardless of whether they faced forward and back. (Her language for the other kind of 'convertible' was "can be rear facing or front facing.")  When you go to look at a display of seats, you will readily be able to see carseats like the Marathon that have the 5 point harness only, and ones with that  shoulder-seatbelt guide attached at the upper corner.  We were not excited about buying something Augie would grow out of again so fast, so we chose not the Marathon but a seat that has the shoulder-harness option.  It is a full carseat, it is not a booster.  It is for children from 5 lbs. to 100 lbs. and 19" to 52" in height., and it faces front or back,  It has the 5-point harness and the upper, shoulder-strap guide for later using the seat belt.

[Me2mommy2b]

We own a Britax Decathlon.  We absolutely love it and I wish we'd gotten it sooner.  With this baby, I'm getting a Britax from day one.  It's cushioned from all sides and looks very comfy.  The only downside is that it is bulky.  I believe the new suggestions is to keep children rear facing up to 30 lbs.  I saw a few videos on youtube about the difference that rear/front facing makes, that made me decide to keep DD rear facing until she's at least 25 lbs.

[Me2mommy2b]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7QrC8
http://www.carsafety.org/rearface.html

[luv_babies]

I haven't heard the 30lbs thing. Thanks! At this rate Nolan will be 30lbs before his 1st birthday anyway!! ; )

[girliegrl1723]

wait - i think i'm confused about something. i have a convertible rear facing to forward facing carseat made by Graco. now, i thought you were required to keep baby rear facing up to 1 year. as long as they are 30 lbs, they can be forward facing? edward is 7 months and 24 pounds. once he is 30 lbs or more, i can put him forward facing even if its before his first birthday?

[luv_babies]

Babies should be AT LEAST 1 year old AND 20lbs to be forward facing. If you want to leave him rear facing for longer than that, that's fine. Maybe they are changing it to 30lbs, but I think some babies might be getting too tall by 30lbs to be rear facing. But Right now it is 1year and 20lbs.

[girliegrl1723]

oh ok. so in all actuality, he could be forward facing right now, since he is 24 lbs. but i think i will play it safe and leave him rear facing as long as i can. he is only 7 months and growing up too fast! :o)

[Me2mommy2b]

No, he cannot be forward facing just yet.  In addition to 20 lbs, he needs to be 1 before you make the switch :))

[girliegrl1723]

ohhh. ok. now i really get it. haha. i missed the 1 in luv_babies's comment. sorry - don't mind me. mommy brain.

[mum2beagain]

I have had several car seats ( had to but new ones when we moved to Canada) The Britax (which we owned back in Engalnd) was definatelt most comfortable for my eldset when he was 12 - 18 months, when we got to Canada I bought the alpha omega (it was recomended by someone who works in transport canada's child car seat safety testing divison). Sam is currently in the Graco infanct carrier that is suitable for up to 30lbs but we have another alpha omega ready for him when he needs it.

[AndiJ78]

1 year is a guideline as they are generally better able to withstand a crash if they are forward facing at that point. The head-body proportion as well as greater neck strength. When I had Jonathan, it was 1 year OR 20lbs. He was 20lbs at 3 months! He still stayed rear-facing long after that. With T, he stayed rear facing well beyond 20lbs as well. Right now he is 34lbs, 40 inches and in a 5pt forward facing seat. CJ is 25ish lbs, rear-facing until at the very least his birthday.

Most convertable car-seats accomodate rear-facing to 35-40 lbs. And then flip to forward facing AFTER the first birthday AND over 20lbs. They don't move to the booster until after 40lbs, no matter the age. Not out of the booster until they are over 4'9"

[peekawho]

I'm ashamed to say that my mother just laid us down on the seat, or the floorboards.  That's how old I am.

There were no seatbelts back then, either.  

[luv_babies]

Do you have a favorite seat?

[AndiJ78]

I have used a few different ones. I LOVE our touriva, but I know there are some much pricier options that are good as well. The earlier verios of the Touriva i bought for T has the stupid puzzle buckle, thankfully CJ's buckles independently. MUCH easier!! I HATE the ones with the fold down arms. The Touriva also has a really easy to adjust harness, so very easily i can tightern or loosen the straps depending on what the kids are wearing. I drive like a granny anyway, but I live in deer country now so I am uber concerned about tightness of fit and proper installation. If my kids ain't complaining it is too tight, it ain't tight enough ; )

[luv_babies]

Thanks, I just want to be sure that Nolan is as safe as possible.  He can't tell me if his belts are too tight, and I check them everytime we go somewhere, but if he's too uncomfortable, he'll let me know in some way! : )

Duh, didn't remember you first post about your Touiva, Sorry!