Convertible Car Seat - Too Many Choices

cynthia2007

Ladies, went to BRU this past weekend to check out Convertible Car Seats....there are too many to choose from!?!!!??? The Britax Pavillion Ultimate Comfort and the Chicco looked like good choices but anyone using these and have feedback? Or are there better ones out there you would recommend? 

And did you buy 2 of them for your and DH vehicles? The ones we were looking at were $220+, the Britax is $300! I mainly take LO to/from daycare but when I travel DH takes her. 

ASmallWonder

You'll need two for the sake of your sanity but neither of them have to be that pricey. What's your LO's weight and height? I can give you some recommendations.

ColieAnn31

We love our chicco nextfit.

ilovemarfa

I have the britax pavilion. I actually had 2, one for each boy, until I switched ds1 into a britax pinnacle booster seat. I love britax. That's the only car seat brand I've used for my boys. They are super easy to install and they are very safe. One of my friends is a car seat technician and she recommends britax car seats and I trust her so that's what I buy. I also had a britax boulevard (ds1 threw up in it when he was around 1 1/2 so I got a new one) and that was a really good seat too. Good luck!


Here's ds1 in his pavilion in cowmooflauge print.

cynthia2007

@asmallwonder, that would be great, thanks! She's about 27 lb and 30" 

ASmallWonder

@ilovemarfa‌ they are easy to install but car seat tests are pass/fail so there's nothing to tell us they're any safer than any other seat. If someone loves them, they're nice seats but until the new ones come out they're not as long lasting for their hefty price tag.

ilovemarfa

@ASmallWonder‌ car seats may all be pass/fail but they all have different safety features and ease of install. A certain car seat may be cheaper but not as easy to install and the parent may install improperly, thus making the seat useless. Britax seats have fool proof installs and a lot of them come with side impact cushions. I believe that's why she likes britax. She also recommends diono but she says those can be difficult to install.

ASmallWonder

@ilovemarfa‌ that's very true about the install but it's always important to be clear that all properly used seats are safe. Any "added features" are entirely untested and have no proof of adding to safety.

ASmallWonder

@cynthia2007‌ want to pm to talk budget?

cynthia2007

@asmallwonder, I'd like to keep it under $300 if possible and not so worried how much it costs compared to wanting something that is: 

- Safe & comfortable for her - we have to travel a lot to visit family so overall comfort for her 

- easy harness to strap her in

- going to last for awhile

- easy to install

- easy to remove cover - we've had a few poop explosions in the car seat so dealing with that is fun. 

ASmallWonder

$300 for two seats?

cynthia2007

No I'm hoping to stay under $300 for one. Most of the ones I saw were $199+

ASmallWonder

Well, with that budget an a kid that's not crazy heavy or crazy tall, the world is pretty much your oyster.  If she doesn't ride with your husband often, I'd get a Guide 65 or an Evenflo Sureride.  They're both long lasting but don't have bells and whistles.  Spend your money on the one she'll ride in most.  

The NextFit has a very easy install and if you spring for the zip version, cleaning it isn't supposed to be all that bad.  The Graco4Ever is their new seat and is getting rave reviews but whether or not you think it's worth it is a matter of opinion.  It's $300 but right now there are rebates and BRU coupons that bring it down.  If you can get a good price on it, it's a great deal because it converts to a high back and then a no back booster down the road.  If you pay full retail, just know that you could buy a Graco MySize/Size4Me/Headwise/Fit4Me, max out it's harness usage and then by a no back booster for less than the cost of the 4Ever.

All that said, if you love Britax, go for it.  They're great seats and, depending on what your rear facing goals are, it may work great for you.  Will it get most kids to 4?  Not most but if you're looking to rear face to 2 or even 3, a Britax is a solid choice.

ilovemarfa

The britax pavilion that ds1 was in has a weight limit up to 65 lbs and a height of 49 inches. Ds 1 is 3.5 now, in the 98th percentile for height at I believe 40 inches last appointment- which was in February. He easily still fit in the pavilion but we got him the booster because his car seat was starting to look dingy from all the use and I'm afraid to take them apart to wash them. He could have gotten at least 2 more years out of the carseat as I don't think kids grow 10 inches in 2 years. I never heard of anybody say that britax's seats don't last long?

ASmallWonder

It depends on their torso length. Their shells are only 24" so they last less time then others. Their headrests have never been reinforced so you can only use the actual shell when determining how well any kid fits. The gracos have reinforces headrests so you can use the entire 28". The new britax seats will have reinforced headrests. It's a game changer for britax lovers with tall kids

ilovemarfa

this is a recent pic of ds1 in it at 3 1/2. He still had plenty of room to grow- and he is super tall for a 3 1/2 yr old.

ASmallWonder

ilovemarfa said:

this is a recent pic of ds1 in it at 3 1/2. He still had plenty of room to grow- and he is super tall for a 3 1/2 yr old.

I never said there was anything wrong with them I said for their price they are not as long lasting. That's just a matter if math, not opinion. They have shorter shells and aren't cheap. There are less expensive seats that last longer. I also said that if someone loves them to go for it

At three and a half some people would still want to rear face and this would be close to outgrown. I'm not trying to crap on your decision I just want people to know the pros and cons of every seat and know that pricier doesn't mean safer.

ASmallWonder

VASC said:

Our DD is tall, all legs. She's in the Graco Size4Me that we got on Amazon for a steal over the summer. We also have a Cosco Scenera from Walmart ($40) as a backup seat in case DH needs to get DD from daycare in a pinch (he'd have to call a taxi or borrow a car).

This is our set up (well, toss in a few more seats for another kiddo lol).  Aiden had a Britax in my car and a Scenera in DH's car because he rode in it like 6 times a year.  Now Aiden has a combination seat in my car and Q has a Size4Me and the Britax and Scenera are in DH's car.  

momofcatan

@germaphobE Did you look at the Evenflo Sureride? That's what I have and am happy with it. It tightens buy pulling a strap at the bottom (like most of the infant seats). I paid $100 on sale in Canada. Its a tall shell, so long lasting, but takes up a bit of space RF. I think it is also sold under the name Evenflo Tribute65.

ASmallWonder

Yeah the triumph is no bueno. You could try the sureride also known as the Titan 65. Make sure it's the 65 though and it's hard to find. The sureride is the nicer version and easier to find.

cynthia2007

@ASmallWonder‌, thank you and the other ladies. We are now debating between chicco nextfit and graco 4ever. You guys saved me a lot of research time! My H thanks you too

ASmallWonder

I keep arguing with myself about getting a 4Ever  But having a 4 year old who has a Batman combination seat, I know Q is going to want a cool seat when he forward faces too so I can't justify it at all.  I'm also drooling over the new Britax seats but can't justify one of those either lol

ASmallWonder

@sctiger she's not big so it should last you a long time.  The drawbacks are the bulkiness and that it's not as long lasting (by height) for taller kids.  There are a few options that are more compact for your DH's car, it just depends on what you're looking to spend.  The Guide65 at her weight can be installed much more upright so it's one of the more compact seats (if she's not quite 22 pounds it would need more of a recline but I doubt you're running out and getting it today ) The NextFit and the Graco4Ever are also very compact but at the higher end of the price range for convertibles (though the 4Ever can be had for a steal right now with coupons and rebates).  Next down the list would be one of the other Graco seats (MySize/Size4Me/Headwise/Fit4Me).  They're supposedly compact but the headrest extends back vs up so it obviously becomes less space efficient as they get older.

fabumama

We bought the Recaro Performance Ride and love it! It's also good for tall babies. I almost got the Chicco Nextfit but the fabric seemed like it would not be good in a hot climate (no offense to anyone, I know a lot of you are passionate about this seat).

LaBellaVida

I just bought O the 4 ever. I love it!

ASmallWonder

@LaBellaVida so jealous!

cynthia2007

I ended up going with the 4ever and we love it too!

LaBellaVida

I was thinking about getting another one for the new baby, but DH would flip since I had to have the infant one with Owen. That was 300 bucks when we bought it!

I'm so glad I waited to buy Owen a convertible seat. It is prefect!

LaBellaVida

I'll eventually get the new baby one, but not now. Next year.

GraceInCA

kari5186 said:

We have a chicco nexfit and we love it! It's so easy to install that DH and I spent 10 minutes trying to figure out where we went wrong lol!

We had pros install ours (Highway Patrol). The two guys were in there for like 30 seconds, then they both got out of the car, checked off some list on a clipboard, and handed it to me to sign.  My husband and I were like, "Why did we bring this here to be installed? We could have done this ourselves."