Convertible Carseats!

Shopping for convertible carseats! What ones do you have? Any discounts for twins!
Thanks!

 

I can tell you which one not to get! I have Costco Alpha Omega Elite's, and they are not a bad seat, but they do not come all the way apart for washing!

Here is a link that might help you...
http://www.carseatdata.org/compatibility_search.php

 

I have 2 RF Marathons for the twins and just ordered a Radian 65 for my oldest. All my kids are way above average weight and height, so I chose something with high top slots so that they can stay harnassed as long as possible, but at least until 40lbs and 4 yo (that's the AAP's minimum requirement for boosters).

Hereby a list:

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.

 

We have the Evenflo Triumph Advance and love them. Babies R Us offers a twin discount of 20% if you buy two of the same thing over $80. But you have to go to a store. I have had no luck online.

Rachel

 

We just got the Evenflow Triumph Advance DLX's for the girls and so far I love them. So easy to use, and very highly scored in customer satisfaction.Check it out .... 41/45 5 star ratings, the best I've seen, plus it rates high in crash tests.

 

I have heard AWESOME things about the Evenflo Triumph Advance and we will be getting 2 of them in the coming weeks.. they go from 5-50lbs and 50in.......

We have 2 comforts sports right now but they were in a small accident so we are replaceing them..... Figured we would go wiht a seat that will last the kids longer...

The comfort sports have the shortest top belt on the market so they usually dont last till 40 lbs b/x the kids outgrow the height first.

 

QUOTE(Sofiesmom @ Sep 4 2007, 11:35 PM) [snapback]393007[/snapback]
I have 2 RF Marathons for the twins and just ordered a Radian 65 for my oldest. All my kids are way above average weight and height, so I chose something with high top slots so that they can stay harnassed as long as possible, but at least until 40lbs and 4 yo (that's the AAP's minimum requirement for boosters).

Hereby a list:

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.

Wow! Thanks for all the information! How did you come up with that?

 

No problem ... Car Safety Board on Babycenter! Great resource!

 

We have the Britax Marathons and they are great. The straps don't get tangled/twisted, and the girls seem to be very comfortable in them. We bought them on sale at Target, so no twin discount.

 

i am going to be using this one for my girls. it's cheap and recommended. i have one so far but don't need it yet. oh and we paid $40 for one soon to be 2. these are actually cheaper than the infant car seats.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5716972

lots of love!
Meshell

 

I love my Britax Marathon in Cowmooflage print! LOL

 

QUOTE(witmuch @ Sep 5 2007, 05:10 PM) [snapback]394372[/snapback]
i am going to be using this one for my girls. it's cheap and recommended. i have one so far but don't need it yet. oh and we paid $40 for one soon to be 2. these are actually cheaper than the infant car seats.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5716972

lots of love!
Meshell

We have that one for DS and will be getting 2 pink ones for the girls.

 

QUOTE(aviatorswife @ Sep 5 2007, 10:43 PM) [snapback]394400[/snapback]
I love my Britax Marathon in Cowmooflage print! LOL


I have a Cow and a Zebra!!! Just love them!

 

We have 2 Cosco Scenera's 1 pink for DD and 1 black/gray for DS. They were only $40 (black) and $50 (pink) each and have great safety and consumer ratings. The major difference is the seat padding is not as thick as the more expensive ones. But since we dont take long trips they work well for us.

 

QUOTE(first_time_mommy_2_be_twins @ Sep 6 2007, 03:21 AM) [snapback]394759[/snapback]
We have 2 Cosco Scenera's 1 pink for DD and 1 black/gray for DS. They were only $40 (black) and $50 (pink) each and have great safety and consumer ratings. The major difference is the seat padding is not as thick as the more expensive ones. But since we dont take long trips they work well for us.

We actually did decide on the Cosco Scerena. I got the black/gray one for DS and was planning on getting the pink one for DD, but they were out. Since she is so little still I have decided to wait until it comes in-stock again.

If money wasn't a big issue right now (DH is going to optometry school) then I definetly would have gone with the Britax Marathon.

 

The Sceneras just won't last you that long. They'll will outgrow them before they're ready for a booster, so you would need to buy another seat anyway. But again, it's a great cheap seat. Just don't forget they can't get forward facing until 34" in any Dorel seat (incl. the Scenera). Which is very safe and good anyway!