Best car seat after they outgrow the infant seat?

I want to start pricing and looking for sales on car seats. My babes are about 18 ish lbs each at 7 months, so I not sure how much longer we have in our Graco Infant seats.

What did you buy after they outgrew the infant seats? What's the best deal out there, that's also a good, quality, safe seat?

I saw a Cosco brand one for $40 at Wal-mart...anyone have those, and are you happy with them?

Thanks,

Jennifer

 

Here's a list. If you can afford it I would get a Britax Marathon, a Fisher Price or a Radian. These seats can go harnassed way beyond 40lbs (it's recommended to keep your children harnassed until 4 yo and 40lbs), but a lot of children outgrow their seats heightwise first, because some seats have really low slots, unlike the first couple mentioned (they should be OK for 4-6 years!). One of these seats with low slots is a Cosco Scenera but you can't beat the price and it's considered a good safe seat that should last most children up to 2 1/2 - 3 yo (but you would need to get another harnassed seat after that since boosters are not safe for children that age). The Scenara needs to be rearfacing up to 34" (which can be around 2yo) since it has a minimum height limit for forward facing, which is great and the safest way to travel.

Let me know if you want to know more. I've done a lot of research due to various reasons!

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Convertible Seats

Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe (FPSVD): RF 5-33 lbs, FF to 55 lbs. 17 inch top harness slots. Made by Britax, sold under the FP name - basically a stripped down Britax Marathon. Great seat being sold at excellent prices right now. Will last most kids to age 5-6. Supposedly discontinued due to poor sales, but Britax is still manufacturing them as of this month and they have been shipping with brand new DOM’s. ($129)

Britax Marathon, Decathlon, or Boulevard: RF 5-33lbs, FF to 65lbs. 17-17.5 inch top harness slots. Allow for RF tethering. Basically built on the same shell, all have lockoffs to replace locking clips, very easy installs, many bells and whistles that make them easier to use correctly every time. Boulevard has SIP wings. Boulevard and Marathon have separate LATCH straps, Decathlon has one long strap. Last most kids to age 5-6. ($220+)

Sunshine Kids Radian (65 or 80): RF 5-33lbs, FF to 65 or 80 lbs. 18 inch top harness slots, and allows child’s shoulders to go up to 1 inch above the top slots because it’s built on a steel frame. Allows for RF tethering. Excellent seat, but it has installation compatibility issues in some vehicles when installed with seatbelt. Lasts most kids to age 6-7. ($175+)

Evenflo Triumph Advance: RF 5-35 lbs, FF to 50 lbs. 17 in top harnass slots. Features infinite harness adjuster - no rethreading the harness! Should last most kids to age 5 or so. Has been found at Babies’R’Us and Wal-Mart. ($130-150)

Recaro Como and Signo: (Coming soon) RF 5-35 lbs, FF to 70 lbs. 19 inch top harness slots. Allow for RF tethering. Recaro makes seats for NASCAR. Built on basically the same shell, but the Signo will have SIP wings, an infinitely adjustable harness and separate LATCH belts. Will last most kids to age 6-7. ($249+) –Como set for release 2nd week of August, Signo 3rd week of September

Lower cost options... (for primary or secondary cars... they are still GREAT seats)

Cosco Scenera (5pt harness NOT Overhead shield): RF 5-35 lbs, FF to 40 lbs. 15 inch top harness slots. Very basic no frill seat. 34†minimum height required for FF in addition to 22 lbs minimum FF weight. Lasts most kids to age 3-3.5 due to low top slots and a short shell, but a good value at $40-50. Available at Wal-Mart, Target, K Mart and more.

Safety First Uptown: RF 5-35 lbs, FF to 40 lbs. 16.5 inch top harness slots making this is the ONLY 40lb limit convertible that may actually get a kid to 40lbs before it’s outgrown by height. EPP foam, super cushy. Very easy to use and with an 8 yr lifespan! (most seats are 6) Will last most kids to 40 lbs... age 3 or 4 depending on height. (about $100)

The Graco Comfort Sport, Evenflo Titan and Triumph, and all the Cosco/Dorel/Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 seats have low top harness slots and short shells and are usually outgrown the same time as the Scenera. You don’t get much for you money. While they are safe when used properly (like any seat), there are just other options that offer more for the same cost.

 

For my older DD we had an Evenflo Triumph 5 and LOVED it. GREAT seat. I liked the side tightening and loosening knob and lever. My DD has outgrown it though. I think we are going to go with the upgraded Evenflo Triumph Advance so it is a little more long-lasting.

Hope this helps!

 

We have Britax Marathons which are great - but they are a little big. If I had it to do over again I think I would have gotten the ones that are a little smaller - I think they are the roundabouts. It would be nice to be able to fit someone on the back between the seats (I have a 4Runner).

 

QUOTE(Hillybean @ Sep 3 2007, 03:19 AM) [snapback]390504[/snapback]
We have Britax Marathons which are great - but they are a little big. If I had it to do over again I think I would have gotten the ones that are a little smaller - I think they are the roundabouts. It would be nice to be able to fit someone on the back between the seats (I have a 4Runner).

Roundabouts are nice but the top slots are about 2 inch lower (15.5") so most children outgrow them much quicker, before they're ready for a booster (40lbs and 4 yo), heightwise. If you have (above) average children you're way better off with the Marathon "family". If they're petit, a Boulevard may be just fine (though we don't always know what their growth rate is going to be). Just something else to consider when buying a car seat. My oldest is top slots in a Marathon since before age 3 (she's very big).

 

Franca/Sofiesmom ...

Thanks for sharing your research! In your research did you happen to find any info about which car seat is the best if your car does NOT have the LATCH system? My DD's car does not have it so she will have to use the seat belt. Also, she has a small backseat (Mazda Protege) and would prefer seats that are not as bulky.

Do you have recommendations that might fit those requirements? Thank you so much!

 

Grandma2TwinBoys

I visit the Car Safety Board on Babycenter a lot (there are a lot of certified technicians on there) and they know a ton. In general a seatbelt or LATCH install is not safer than the other, if you install it correctly. Although LATCH does have weight limits, usually in the 40lbs range.

The Marathon family is big (but will last). The Cosco Sceneras are smaller.

Here's a site with measurements: http://www.carseatdata.org/measurements.php?tun=home

And definitely don't hesitate to do a search (and/or post) on the Car Safety Board on Babycenter.

Search for you: http://boards.babycenter.com/n/pfx/forum.a...mazda%20protege

The board itself: http://boards.babycenter.com/n/pfx/forum.a...webtag=bcus9421

 

I love my Britax marathon - it's worth the money I spent. I bought a convertible from Combi a year ago and it was simply awful. I'll buy these for my twins, too - even though they're so pricey.

 

Wow everyone, thanks for such great input and the research too!

Jennifer