Talk to me about Car seats!

[jt2378]

Hi Ladies,

Are you all using the convertible seats now? We haven't made the switch but need to. I thought we would get the Britax but then showed up at the store and became unsure. What do you all use and do you like what you have? We are looking at the Diono which I had never heard of but after doing some research it actually sounds pretty nice! It also has the booster option with it so we would be able to use it down the road.

Thanks for any input!!

[melw629]

I joined the Car Seats For The Littles Facebook group, and there's tons of helpful information there! We don't have a convertible yet (holding out until we need one so the expiration date will be farther away), but I'm pretty much set on a Graco Contender. We have small cars, and the Contender is pretty compact front-to-back for rear-facing installation. No actual experience though. I've heard that you can go to Babies R Us and try out floor models of seats in your car before buying...that might be a good way to figure out what you like.

[alioop1028]

Jun 1, 2015 10:18:45 GMT -5 melw629 said:

I joined the Car Seats For The Littles Facebook group, and there's tons of helpful information there! We don't have a convertible yet (holding out until we need one so the expiration date will be farther away), but I'm pretty much set on a Graco Contender. We have small cars, and the Contender is pretty compact front-to-back for rear-facing installation. No actual experience though. I've heard that you can go to Babies R Us and try out floor models of seats in your car before buying...that might be a good way to figure out what you like.

Whaaat! I didn't know you could do that at Babies R Us! This is amazing! Thank you~

[alioop1028]

jt2378, I'm also holding off until the last possible minute but the word on the street is Britax.
I like my Graco car seat I have now and am leaning towards getting the same brand but am undecided between Graco or Britax. Not sure if dropping the extra dime on a Britax will be worth it. I guess I'm not really helping... LOL But let me know what you decide!

[doglover31]

We are in the same boat. Our seat goes to 35 pounds or 32 inches. And DS is pushing the height limit. We go for his 9 month appt next week so once they give us his height, that will make or break when we buy one.

We have no clue what to go with. We have a Graco car seat, so we might go with a Graco convertible seat.

[jt2378]

Thanks ladies, yes we still have time as far as her weight and height but I'm just sick of carrying around the bucket, she is getting so heavy and if we leave it in the car, its such a pain, I'm hoping its easier with the convertible.

We have the Graco too and I have been happy with it. H wasn't impressed with the Britax. We also have a 4 door Wrangler so we need something less bulky so this Diono one seems pretty sleek. Its also has a full steel frame and sounds pretty safe.

Diono

[arkansasmom22]

My DD is still in her infant bucket seat (goes up to 30" or 30lbs), but we plan on switching her over to the Diono Radian RXT soon. That is what we have for our DS (almost 3) and we love it! We already bought one for her for each car when they were a lightning deal on Amazon (a steal for $160!) My only experience with Britax was when we visit SIL and her's was so large it was impossible to have another car seat and a person in the same row in their Nissan Armada (big ole SUV!). You can easily fit 3 across with the Diono Radian RXT, and I love that it is heavy duty and comfortable at the same time.

[jt2378]

Awesome arkansasmom22, thanks so much! This helps in our decision that this is probably the right choice, I appreciate the feedback

[spacedcadet]

We have a Britax Advocate in my car, and I like it, but I will say that it is HUGE. We have the infant seat in DH's car, so we are looking for a convertible seat to replace that. I was looking at the Britax Marathon, or maybe the Roundabout, but I probably look at what they have at Babies r us before I decide. I have never heard of Diono. I will have to look at those too. I haven't decided how much that I want to spend yet. When we do, then hopefully, we can narrow down a bit.

[lbonga1]

DD2 is still in the bucket seat, and we'll probably keep her in it under she is pretty much at the height/weight limit, which will probably be within the next couple months. We have a safety 1st complete air for both girls, and we haven't had any problems with them. If/when we have another baby we'll be getting a Diono for sake of space. We'll have to fit 3 across in my Mini Countryman, and we can use it for DD1 when she's ready for a booster.

[designaddiction]

I can't believe you are all already looking, I feel like I'm behind now. Are any of you going to wait until they have another trade in at BRU?

[doglover31]

designaddiction I forgot they do the trade in thing at BRU. We will probably have to replace DS' seat really soon. At his 6 month appt he was 28 inches long and his seat only goes to 32 so he will be at that soon.

[jt2378]

How does the trade in work?

[doglover31]

jt2378, you trade in old baby gear and get a discount off a new car seat or other baby items. I think its like 20 or 25% off. They don't do it all the time, its a special event. I'm not sure when a next one would be.

[thelittlesrunmylife]

I switched a few months ago to a graco my ride 65. It doesn't have the highest limits (40lb rear facing and 65 forward facing harnessed) but I needed something narrower at the bottom. I don't love this seat and would not recommend it. It's huge front to back and has awkward strap heights coming from the back of the seat and as its rear facing now, it's so hard to get to the button to loosen the straps on the front.

Even though I don't care for this seat, we will use it until I find one I like more and then move it to dh's car as a secondary because he rarely has the little kid in his car.

Happy shopping!

[designaddiction]

doglover31 & jt2378 I think they do it two times a year, so once in spring and once in fall.

[alioop1028]

Jun 2, 2015 13:42:36 GMT -5 thelittlesrunmylife said:

I switched a few months ago to a graco my ride 65. It doesn't have the highest limits (40lb rear facing and 65 forward facing harnessed) but I needed something narrower at the bottom. I don't love this seat and would not recommend it. It's huge front to back and has awkward strap heights coming from the back of the seat and as its rear facing now, it's so hard to get to the button to loosen the straps on the front.

Even though I don't care for this seat, we will use it until I find one I like more and then move it to dh's car as a secondary because he rarely has the little kid in his car.

Happy shopping!

I'm so glad you posted this! I was going to get this one! 

[doglover31]

designaddiction, man! DS will have outgrown his by then. But it's great they do that!

[designaddiction]

Jun 2, 2015 18:59:40 GMT -5 doglover31 said:

designaddiction, man! DS will have outgrown his by then. But it's great they do that!

They let you trade in for any baby gear, so bring in your old seat and get 25%off other gear.

[clearlycrystal]

We've been using a convertible seat for months now. I had a used Graco infant seat that I hated. The convertible has been much easier to use. We have 2 safety 1st complete air. They had good reviews and were in a good price ranges. No complaints.

Also Buy Buy Baby let's you take car seats out to test in your car.

[horselover]

My friend reps recaro and some other brands and recaro is the only seat she trusts for her children. I didn't realize this but recaro makes the professional drivers seats (for racing) and also is the only one that does an outside test for side impact protection (apparently there isn't a standard test for this to claim SIP). I was going to get one last week but dd is an inch too short. In a month or so they are releasing the model that acts like an infant seat with a base it snaps into!! Great concept if you usually only use one car most of the time. Sorry I've been MIA!! 

[jt2378]

Thanks horselover, my friend has a Recaro so I heard they were good as well....AAAHHH so many decisions!!

[designaddiction]

Ok, I'm resurrecting this. What do you do about needing a seat in multiple cars? Just take it out? Buy more than one seat? My husband would need one during the day while I'm at work, the sitter would need one on the days she picks him up from my husband and I would need one to pick him up from the sitter. Am I over thinking this?

[doglover31]

designaddiction I was wondering the same thing. I think we will have to buy two- one for my car and one for DHs car.

[designaddiction]

Jun 9, 2015 22:25:30 GMT -5 doglover31 said:

designaddiction I was wondering the same thing. I think we will have to buy two- one for my car and one for DHs car.

Sounds so expensive, and if we have to have a car seat for the sitter, it's really not convenient at all, having to remove one every time and then put it back in. Ugh.

[melw629]

Could you buy the seat you want for the primary car, and a less expensive seat for the other car/babysitter? The Cosco Scenera NEXT is like $44 at Walmart, or there are several other seats under/around $100.

[doglover31]

designaddiction, yea I agree. I forgot that his babysitter will need one too! So we will need 3 or deal with the hassle of moving one back and forth. Why can't these have bases like the infant seats!

melw629, thanks for the info. If we are buying 3, then we might have to go that route. I guess I worry that the cheaper ones might not be as good? That's probably not proper logic....I should look those up and the reviews on them though.

[designaddiction]

Thanks for the idea melw629!

[jt2378]

Jun 10, 2015 5:03:25 GMT -5 melw629 said:

Could you buy the seat you want for the primary car, and a less expensive seat for the other car/babysitter? The Cosco Scenera NEXT is like $44 at Walmart, or there are several other seats under/around $100.

Yes this is what we did. My insurance offered a free car seat and it is the Costco one so we use it in our other car.

[spacedcadet]

Jun 9, 2015 21:25:51 GMT -5 designaddiction said:

Ok, I'm resurrecting this. What do you do about needing a seat in multiple cars? Just take it out? Buy more than one seat? My husband would need one during the day while I'm at work, the sitter would need one on the days she picks him up from my husband and I would need one to pick him up from the sitter. Am I over thinking this?

We are getting a second car seat for DH's car. The one in mine is way too bulky to move, and we are all over the place with who is dropping off and picking up.  I would get a cheaper one for the babysitter as well.