New car seats -- what do you recommend?

We're getting a new minivan soon and we're going to keep car seats in two cars (one for the au pair during the day). I want new car seats for the new car. I never really loved the seats we already have (they were a gift) so...I'm looking for recommendations. If you were me, what would you buy?

Right now the girls are 2.5 years old, weight about 30 pounds each, and are pretty tall. I want safe, sturdy and comfortable -- of course.

 

Britax! We were in an accident that totalled our SUV and my two girls (who were 17 months at the time) were not hurt, they only had scratches and bruises from the straps (which is normal). We have the roundabouts, but if your girls are taller then go for the next one up, which I believe is the Marathon. Good luck!

 

We just got two of the Sunshine Kids Radian carseats and are very pleased with them. They go to 65 lbs. and are nice and skinny, so we can even fit 3 in my backseat

 

We just got rid of our Evenflo Triumph seats and went to BRITAX. These are the BEST seats and the kids love them. I would tell anyone to go and spend the money because these are by far the best bang for your buck. Good Luck!

 

If your girls are tall I'd get either the Radian or Britax Regent. A tall child is likely to outgrow a Marathon before they should really be in a booster. Go to Babies R Us and put your girls in a Marathon to check out how they look. In our Roundabouts, it says they outgrow it height-wise when the top edge of the ear is at the top of the shell. Good luck!

 

Britax. We have the decathalons and I love them. They are pricey but go to about 65 pounds, so that's a long time of usage for us.. I also think they make a new one that is a 5 point restraint for even heavier weight. I think.

 

We had Eddie Bauer seats before switching over to Graco booster seats. The EB seats were good but when the girls turned three we put them into the booster seats. I've heard nothing but good about Britax though I have no experience with them.

 

Britax. Hands down. I've had to take mine out to wash vomit off of them a few times and Chocolate milkshake. They look and feel brand new. Easy to install, easy to adjust and easy to clean. Best investment we've made for the girls so far.

 

I do not recommend using booster seats with seat belt only until they are 5+. Even though they say they are usuable for 3 yrs 30 lbs most kids are not mature enough to use them correctly therefore making them unsafe IMHO.

I would go with Britax or Radian That way you can keep in the 5pt restraints as long as possible. I hope to keep my boys in their marathons until 5ish? Then move them to whatever britax booster is on the market in 3 years I will not safe my dd's graco turbo booster seats as it will be 3-4 years old and well used by her and her friends I cart around now

But you say your kiddos are tall? I would go with whichever has the highest HEIGHT limit of Britax or Radian as most kids outgrow via height before weight

 

We have the safety 1st Apex for ds, the harness can be used until 65 lbs lbs and the seat itself can be used as a booster after that until 100 lbs