Which toddler CAR-SEAT do you recommend?

mike_bianca · October 2010

We have outgrown our infant car-seat and wondering what the best ones are out there. 1st is safety, then $$, and last style. Please let me know what you gals recommend?

Thank you!!

AMYfromKY · October 2010

We have the Britax Boulevard CS (click safe). I'd definitely say stay away from the CS version, but I love the actual car seat because I can rear face him way past a year.

dragon_chica · October 2010

Please keep in mind that ALL carseats (at least the ones in the US) are required to pass all the safety standards that are put out there so any carseat you buy should be absolutely safe for your child. Expensive carseats tend to be pricey because of bells and whistles, NOT because it's supposedly safer.

We have Safety First Alpha Omega Elite. We got it at Costco for $70 or $80 and it works for us. DD is totally content with it and it eventually turns into a booster.

Mrs.Christie · October 2010

Sunshine Kid's Radian! This seat will rear face to 45 lbs (3+yrs) and then can be used forward facing to 80lbs. It would be the only seat you need to buy until your child is moved to a booster. It is nice and narrow so it leaves room for other passengers and it even fits in airplane seats. It has a metal frame so it is solid, but quite heavy. The seat part fold up and you can get a carry strap for it which helps when traveling with it.

I have a Britax Boulevard in my car and my mom has the radian. I so wish that I had gone with a radian myself. I want to keep DD rear-facing as long as possible and to do so I will have to buy another seat when she exceeds the RFing weight limit on the boulevard. For baby#2 I will buy a radian when we switch from the infant seat.

deltagirl79 · October 2010

We have two Britax Boulevards and we love them. They are easy to instal and use.

Shayna0182 · October 2010

We have the Britax Roundabout for our suv and the Cosco Scenera for our car. We love them both.

Mrs.Hizzo · October 2010

We have a roundabout, roundabout 50, boulevard and advocate CS, all from Britax. I don't care for the CS system too much, but beyond that, they are great seats.

As pp said, though, they've all passed govt. tests and most techs will tell you that the "best" seat is the one that fits your car, is easy to properly install, and is used correctly. That might be a different seat for different people.

macchiatto · October 2010

Mrs.Hizzo:
As pp said, though, they've all passed govt. tests and most techs will tell you that the "best" seat is the one that fits your car, is easy to properly install, and is used correctly. That might be a different seat for different people.

Ditto this. We have the First Years True Fit convertible seats for our boys and overall are very happy with them. They rear-face to 35 lbs (our boys are each about 26 lbs now so they have some time before they reach that or the height limit), and forward-face to 65 lbs so these should last until they're ready for boosters, too.

goodheartedmommy · October 2010

dragon_chica:
Please keep in mind that ALL carseats (at least the ones in the US) are required to pass all the safety standards that are put out there so any carseat you buy should be absolutely safe for your child. Expensive carseats tend to be pricey because of bells and whistles, NOT because it's supposedly safer.
We have Safety First Alpha Omega Elite. We got it at Costco for $70 or $80 and it works for us. DD is totally content with it and it eventually turns into a booster.

While you're right that all seats pass the same safety tests, the AOE is usually discouraged for a couple of reasons. 1, the top harness slot is not usable, but most use it, which is unsafe, and 2, it has never fit any child properly as a booster ever.

Anyway, find one with a good tall shell for extended rear facing and harnessing as long as possible, one that fits your budget, and one that fits your car. Sunshine kids radian, first years true fit, safety first complete air, evenflo triumph 65, graco myride, and lastly the britax seats are my recommendations.

katekirschner · October 2010

We have two evenflo triumphs and love them. Super easy to use and install and very safe. Also about $100 less expensive than britax.

ZacksBride · October 2010

we have the graco my ride 65 and really like it so far.

MrsBeckO · October 2010

We have a Graco MyRide 65 in my car and Britax Marathon in DH's car. We like them both, and they are both very easy to install.

LuvinMyKids · October 2010

We also have the Graco My Ride 65 & have been very happy with it. We have been using it for just under a year now. DS2 will be 2 years old in less than 2 weeks & is still RFing comfortably in it (he's 33lbs & is also tall).

almariebennett · October 2010

Mrs.Christie:

Sunshine Kid's Radian! This seat will rear face to 45 lbs (3+yrs) and then can be used forward facing to 80lbs. It would be the only seat you need to buy until your child is moved to a booster. It is nice and narrow so it leaves room for other passengers and it even fits in airplane seats. It has a metal frame so it is solid, but quite heavy. The seat part fold up and you can get a carry strap for it which helps when traveling with it.

I have a Britax Boulevard in my car and my mom has the radian. I so wish that I had gone with a radian myself. I want to keep DD rear-facing as long as possible and to do so I will have to buy another seat when she exceeds the RFing weight limit on the boulevard. For baby#2 I will buy a radian when we switch from the infant seat.

This. I love my Radian!

viety82bur · October 2010

We have two Britax Boulevards and two Britax Roundabout 50's. I bought the Boulevards for each of our cars when DD was born and have since found great deals on the Roundabouts. The Boulevard is easier to install and adjust since you never have to rethread the straps which is AWESOME and it seems overall a bit cushier than the Roundabout. It is, however, huge. I have a company car and I'm kind of stuck with what they give me car-wise and it was a bit big and hard to get DD in and out of in my Ford Fusion. I'd buy the Boulevard again in a heartbeat, but it's just too big for my car so she's in one of the Roundabouts. You can get a great deal on the Boulevard at albeebaby.com and Target stocks a Roundabout for $150. Overall, I'm very happy w/Britax and have found them to be very easy to install correctly, especially the Boulevard.

Lesley0228 · October 2010

katekirschner:
We have two evenflo triumphs and love them. Super easy to use and install and very safe. Also about $100 less expensive than britax.

We have this one too and love it. Very easy to use and adjust.

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