Nurseries and Baby Gear

DIsappointed with Britax Marathon and have no idea what to go with

I went to Buybuy Baby to look at car seats. This is my first time buying a convertible car seat. The sales person told me that the car seats are all basically the same when it comes to accommodating children of different height, although that's not what I've been reading. My daughter's height is in the 95th%. We currently use the Britax B Agile travel system. I like it other than the fact that we cannot keep the infant car seat in the car in the sun because it burns up (I live in South Florida). After talking with the sales person, I was convinced that the Marathon was a good choice and liked the idea of getting another Britax. My father installed it, with my help, and it was a PITA. I've taken LO out twice in it and am very disappointed. I don't know if this is normal for all car seats, but I find it difficult to get her in and out of it in my CRV. I feel like if she were any taller, I'd hit her head taking her out. Plus her feet already touch the seat in front of her. Not to mention it has no head support on the sides. I'm planning to return it and am putting the infant car seat back in for now. In the mean time, I'm trying to search for a better one and finding it quite stressful! I can't seem to find one good enough for our needs. I was looking at the Chicco Nexfit, but I'm reading complaints that the straps are difficult to get tight enough. I need a seat that's comfortable for a tall child, easy to use, comfortable and doesn't burn up in the sun. Any suggestions??
Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

Re: DIsappointed with Britax Marathon and have no idea what to go with

  • FmrAFBratFmrAFBrat member
    edited August 2013
    Look at the new Safety1st Advance Air at target. It has color coded installation and is steel reinforced. I have the Complete Air 65 and love it with my DS who normally averages 80 percentile. I'm looking at this new Advance Air for my younger DS since the head support on the Air seats work so well, especially when he sleeps.

    You may want to look also at Recaro Seats and the Evenflo Symphony.
    TTC January 2010
    BFP #1 10-11-10 ectopic discovered 10-22-10, 10-23-10 methotrexate & emergency surgery, lost right tube BFP #2 12-1-10 Found to be tissue dropped from salingectomy or missed heterotopic pregnancy from BFP #1 BFP #3 1-30-11 DS arrived on due date 10-10-11 BFP #4 Surprise 9-3-12 EDD 5-9-13 DS2 arrived 5-5-13 BFP #5 5-14-14 Emergency D&C 6-16-14 9 weeks
  • Scratch the idea of a Safety 1st Advanced Air with a 95% little one, and Recaro, and the Symphony. None are really long lasting for tall little ones. I'd go for the Graco MySize/Headwise/Size4Me, lower profile than Britax, and the tallest shell on the market. It also fits well in smaller spaces, and is fairly well priced if you can find the discount codes (I hear Kohls has good deals). The Nextfit has really high sides so that may not solve that issue for you.

     I would also look at the Diono Radian, it has a nice low profile and also works well in small cars if needed (although I would recommend ordering an angle adjuster as well, it might me needed to get a more upright seating position. Both the Radian and the Graco seat will get you to at least 3 year old rfing, which is pretty decent for a tall lo.

  • Loading the player...
  • I had a Marathon, too and also hated it. My son is off the charts in height (He's now over 36 inches tall at 17 months) and the fit in the Marathon was terrible for him. We tried it at around 6 months old and we used it for a few weeks but ended up selling it to a friend. We went with the Clek Foonf and really like it a lot. It's not a cheap seat but the safety features are second to none, he's very comfortable in it (the rear facing angle doesn't squish his legs at all) and you can rearface up to 43 inches and 50 pounds. For my super tall kid, that's a major bonus! Not to mention, the seat is built like a tank.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


  • LittleAppleLittleApple member
    edited August 2013
    The Britax convertibles are not a good fit for tall kids because the shells are shorter than others.
    Look at the Maxi Cosi Pria 70.  The seat is cushy and the fabric is cool to the touch and stays cool.

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Emily 8.8.08
    Madeline 1.2.11
    William 8.5.12
  • I just wanted to point out that its not "bad" for feet to touch the seat while RF.


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

  • MrsLele said:
    I just wanted to point out that its not "bad" for feet to touch the seat while RF.
    Yeah this.  Their feet are going to touch the back of the seat.  It is OK.  If they seem uncomfortable, teach them to sit criss cross applesauce.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Emily 8.8.08
    Madeline 1.2.11
    William 8.5.12
  • We have a Britax Marathon and love it! DD is also very tall; she always ranks in the high 90's in height and was at one point in the 100th percentile for height. We are still RFing at 21 months. It can be a pain getting her up and in the seat but once in she is comfortable and we don't have a head support issue.

    With that said, my ILs have the Graco MyRide 65 and it does have a much taller shell. Also her legs aren't as cramped and she can almost have them straight. However, her head does droop and I hate the harness fit.

     

     

    image
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

  • MrsLele said:
    I just wanted to point out that its not "bad" for feet to touch the seat while RF.
    I agree. It's not bad but if I have choice between squished or not squished in comparable seats, I'd pick not squished.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


  • I have a marathon and love it but if I could do it over I'd consider getting a Radian just so she could stay rear facing longing. She's 30 months and still rear facing but it's getting to tight back there. She's 30lbs and 36+"
  • jburdet1 said:

    We have a Britax Marathon and love it! DD is also very tall; she always ranks in the high 90's in height and was at one point in the 100th percentile for height. We are still RFing at 21 months. It can be a pain getting her up and in the seat but once in she is comfortable and we don't have a head support issue.

    With that said, my ILs have the Graco MyRide 65 and it does have a much taller shell. Also her legs aren't as cramped and she can almost have them straight. However, her head does droop and I hate the harness fit.

     

     

    I gave the Marathon another chance today. I had to go to an appointment with LO almost 45 minutes away. She fell asleep both going there and back. Obviously she must be comfortable in it! Plus I do like the harness. I feel like she's very secure there. As for the head, I rolled up a receiving blanket and put it next to her head so she can sleep more comfortably. Other than it being difficult to get her in the chair, it's growing on me.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • We have a Marathon that we've been using since DS was a newborn, and I am pretty happy with it, especially after buying the Evenflo Tribute convertible for my husband's vehicle. I hate that damn seat. I have never found it difficult to get DS in and out of the Marathon, and it's installed in a sedan. Is your seat installed in the center or outboard? I find it harder to get DS in the seat in DH's SUV, where it's in the center as opposed to my sedan, where it's behind the passenger seat.
  • I have the Marathon 70 installed in the middle of my Rav4.  Originally, we bought 2 Graco MyRide35's (one for my car and one for my husband's), and within a month, I was rear ended with the baby in the car, and we had to replace it.  We decided to upgrade to the Britax, and it was one of the best decisions on baby gear we have ever made.  I found it so much easier to install than any of the seats, and I like it because there aren't loose straps hanging around the seat for kids to play with.  Even in the middle of the back seat, I don't have any trouble getting her in and out, although I do worry about hitting her head, but that doesn't have as much to do with the seat as it does with my paranoia.  My SIL has the same seat installed on the passenger side of her CR-V, and has not had any of the issues you're describing.  I'm sorry you are unhappy with it.  My parents have the Safety 1st Air Ride and they really like it.  It is relatively easy to install and easy to adjust.  You might want to look into that one, or move the current one to a different position in your car and see if you like it better.  I do not recommend the Graco.  The harness is difficult to adjust, and you have to uninstall the seat to move up the shoulder harness.
    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
    December Siggy Challenge:
    image

    A Charlie Brown Christmas
    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    image

    image
    imageimage
  • I'm pretty surprised to see this. We have an older Marathon and a newer Roundabout 55 which is honestly about the same as our Marathon. Both our kids are 95% for height and fit very comfortably in these seats. And compared to the other carseats we have tried (my moms Graco and my brothers Safety1st and another one... Cosco?), the Britax seats are a breeze to install in our CRV. To the OP, next time you should ask the sales associate if you can test the seat in your car (not sure if BBB allows this?) that way you can really compare.

    image

    image

    image

    image

     


  • If you're looking for something easy to get in and out of, the Radian RXT rocks! That being said, it's a PITA to install, and if you don't have a massive backseat you will need the angle adjuster for sure- this is a very tall carseat but you can stay RF up to 45 lbs and it also converts into a booster down the road. I HATED installing it (probably user error to be honest but I had the Chicco Keyfit and you get spoiled with how easy that is to install), but once I had the fire department help me install it I fell in love. I also like how the buckle lies flat so you don't have to dig it out from underneath him.
  • After all the back and forth, I've decided to stick with the Marathon. The RF weight limit is only 5 lbs less and the height limit is only 1 in. less than other seats that have been recommended to me, which doesn't seem like a big difference to me. LO seems very comfortable in it, and it's so easy to use. I got it inspected and feel that it is very safe. I'm also getting used to putting her in and taking her out. I think that was just a problem with my inexperience and not the seat itself. Thank you everyone for your feedback!!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • We have 2 Nextfits and love them. The straps aren't that bad, and they do loosen with time. I definitely recommend it.
    BabyFruit Ticker Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers
  • For tall kids - 
    After all the back and forth, I've decided to stick with the Marathon. The RF weight limit is only 5 lbs less and the height limit is only 1 in. less than other seats that have been recommended to me, which doesn't seem like a big difference to me. LO seems very comfortable in it, and it's so easy to use. I got it inspected and feel that it is very safe. I'm also getting used to putting her in and taking her out. I think that was just a problem with my inexperience and not the seat itself. Thank you everyone for your feedback!!
    Just know that even though Britax says the height limit is like 47 inches rear facing, it's actually outgrown once your child's head is 1 inch from the top of the shell.  This is for rear facing only though! 
    image   image
    image
    We were 2 under 2, now 3 under 3!
    Team Green turned Team Pink with #1, Team Green turned Team Blue with #2, Team Green turned Team Pink again with #3
  • ebp913 said:
    For tall kids - 
    After all the back and forth, I've decided to stick with the Marathon. The RF weight limit is only 5 lbs less and the height limit is only 1 in. less than other seats that have been recommended to me, which doesn't seem like a big difference to me. LO seems very comfortable in it, and it's so easy to use. I got it inspected and feel that it is very safe. I'm also getting used to putting her in and taking her out. I think that was just a problem with my inexperience and not the seat itself. Thank you everyone for your feedback!!
    Just know that even though Britax says the height limit is like 47 inches rear facing, it's actually outgrown once your child's head is 1 inch from the top of the shell.  This is for rear facing only though! 

    -top of shell, op, just to clarify is not the headrest. I've seen the seat outgrown and being used as they were measuring from the headrest and not the shell.

    Just for a visual, my girls are all over the 95% and none would have made it to two rf in Britax seats (I didn't own them, we tried them out, I am a sucker for cute fabric). The actual limits on Britax seats are very overstated. It's 24" to the top of the shell, so seated your dd can't be taller than 23" to the top of her head. A MySize is 27.5", so seated height of 26.5", which is a huge difference. Most kids get 1" torso height growth per year, but that's not typical at this end of the growth curve, look for at least 1.5".

    I also in S in a MyRide as a back up seat at 27 months, less than one inch of head space. If I could have a MySize, I would in a heartbeat, but we don't have them here. The harness issues that the pp mentioned are far and few between now and been addressed, and Graco has handled the customer service on this quite well.

This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"