car seat question

So, we're going to be out of the infant seats soon and from what I've read the Britax Marathon is great. My concern is it's height. I have a Honda Odessey. When rear-facing are these seats going to hit the front seats? Will my 3-year-old be able to get out (he's in 3rd row)? Should I get Roundabout instead (knowing I'd have to get bigger seat eventually)? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

We have the Odyssey and the Marathon seats- no problem with them fitting rear-facing. DH doesn't get to put his seat all the way back but he doesn't drive the mini van that often. My DD is 4 and is in the 3rd row. She has some trouble with her seatbelt and the Britax booster. I climb in the back hatch if I need to help her. She can easily take her seat belt off. The 2nd row seats are pushed together so she has no trouble getting in and out.

 

I have the Marathons and I'm sorry I got them. I wanted to return them but they were given to me at my shower last June. Too late to return. The Marathons are HUGE and completely overkill in my opinion. They go up to 65 lbs...what 65lb kid is going to want to sit in a huge seat like that? They will want a booster seat by that point. I suggest you get the Roundabout. My sister has it and really likes it. I'm hoping the Marathons fit better in my car once I turn them forward facing. They are just too big when facing backward.

 

QUOTE(Kellyx2 @ Apr 19 2007, 06:39 PM) [snapback]227077[/snapback]
I have the Marathons and I'm sorry I got them. I wanted to return them but they were given to me at my shower last June. Too late to return. The Marathons are HUGE and completely overkill in my opinion. They go up to 65 lbs...what 65lb kid is going to want to sit in a huge seat like that? They will want a booster seat by that point. I suggest you get the Roundabout. My sister has it and really likes it. I'm hoping the Marathons fit better in my car once I turn them forward facing. They are just too big when facing backward.


I love the Marathon, and something to consider. My oldest is not even 3 years old and already using the top slots of her Marathon (the highest on any available convertible out there at 17.5"). The Roundabout's highest slots are almost 2 inches lower (15.75") and that would have meant in my case that my oldest would have outgrown her seat at 2 1/2 years of age, too young for a booster and then you still end up buying a different seat. Not all kids are 95%, both of my twins are 75%, but still above average. They're big seats but they'll last instead of having to buy another seat in 2 or 2 1/2 years. It's not just about the weight ... but also the top slots.

http://www.carseatdata.org/measurements.php?tun=home (also mentions the top slots).

 

I have an Odyssey and had the same question. I bought the Graco Safe seats and am hoping to be able to use them (31 lb limit) until the twins reach one. I had a Roundabout for my older daughter and loved it. I am wondering if it pays to get a convertible seat at all. I love the Britax safety and especially the straps which I never got tangled. I didn't mean to hijack the post, but WWYD if you didn't need a convertible seat? I currently have the twins one behind the other because my oldest wouldn't be able to get past the seats unless they were pushed together as a previous poster mentioned.

I would love to hear others' experiences.


Cat

 

I just started a post about the Marathons, too. My 6 month old are almost too big for their infant carrier/seat and I wanted the Marathon. But I have to be able to fit 2 seats next to eachother, so that my son can sit next to them or be able to get to the third row. We have a Toyota Sequoia and I don't think its wide enough for the Marathons. I think I'm just gonna go to BRU and try to fit two of them next to each other and see. The only ones that are really narrow are the Radian, but they sit too upright for little or sleeping babies. The comfort sport is more narrow than the Britax, but doesn't have the higher weight limit. So frustrating, especially when you want what is supposed o be the safest.

 

I have a honda ody and two Marathons for my boys. they fit well RF and FF in the bucket seats in the middle row. I totally recomend them for their ease of use, safety and their cust service if you need it is 2nd to none. Kids are safest in 5pt restraints as long as possible. Most kids outgrow them by height (limit is 49") before weight.

FWIW, my dd is 49" and 50 lbs at 7!!! And its NOT whether the kids WANT to be in the seat still at 4,5,6, its whether you as a parent are informed enough to explain to them its for their safety and NOT up for debate B) I did have the Britax Roundabout for her and being as petite as she is, she was in it until 5! but my boys are much bigger than her already so I opted for the Marathon which should fit them until 6ish. Sure its pricy but you wont need a new seat until they are in boosters at 6-7!

4 years and 40 lbs is the bare minimum for a seat belt only booster. but some kids are still not mature enough to use them safely and should be in 5pt restraint still.

Cat - my dd is almost exactly the same age as yours and she and her friends I shlep around have no problem going btw the middle row to get to back row and their boosters. I cannot imagine shleping an infant seat into the 3rd row!

HTH

 

QUOTE(1girltwinboyz @ Apr 20 2007, 01:39 AM) [snapback]227634[/snapback]
I have a honda ody and two Marathons for my boys. they fit well RF and FF in the bucket seats in the middle row. I totally recomend them for their ease of use, safety and their cust service if you need it is 2nd to none. Kids are safest in 5pt restraints as long as possible. Most kids outgrow them by height (limit is 49") before weight.

FWIW, my dd is 49" and 50 lbs at 7!!! And its NOT whether the kids WANT to be in the seat still at 4,5,6, its whether you as a parent are informed enough to explain to them its for their safety and NOT up for debate B) I did have the Britax Roundabout for her and being as petite as she is, she was in it until 5! but my boys are much bigger than her already so I opted for the Marathon which should fit them until 6ish. Sure its pricy but you wont need a new seat until they are in boosters at 6-7!

4 years and 40 lbs is the bare minimum for a seat belt only booster. but some kids are still not mature enough to use them safely and should be in 5pt restraint still.

Cat - my dd is almost exactly the same age as yours and she and her friends I shlep around have no problem going btw the middle row to get to back row and their boosters. I cannot imagine shleping an infant seat into the 3rd row!

HTH

I don't understand how your kids can stay in a Roundabout until 5 or Marathon til 6 years old ... Are they all really petite (not only your daughter)? My oldest is already using the top slots and as soon as her shoulder are over ... she's outgrown it.

MOST kids outgrow Forward Facing seats in TORSO height well before weight limits are reached. A FF seat is outgrown when one of 3 things happens:
1. weight limit
2. tips of ears over the top of the shell
3. shoulders over the top slots.

Sorry but just wondering ...