Recommend inexpensive convertible care seat

ChelsiAnn13 · August 2013

Our main cart seat is a Foonf and we love it. Problem is that it is 45 lbs not the easiest thing to switch cars. It was wonderful while I was a stay at home mom but DD will be starting daycare full time soon and her grandparents will be picking her up since DH and I won't be able to.

Money is tight right now but we may be willing to pay a little bit more for something that will last longer.

What convertible car seat do you recommend that isn't going to hurt out wallets?

TIA

Meery82 · August 2013

Since you bought a Foonf, I'm not sure what you would consider inexpensive, but we have Chicco Nextfits and love them. They, like the Foonf, allow for longer rear facing time. Retail is $300, you can get a good deal at BRU with a 20% off coupon or Albeebaby.com.

ChelsiAnn13 · August 2013

Lol. That's a good point. I'm looking for $100 and under preferably. My parents will only be using it to get her from daycare not even 5 min away and then for the occasional outing to the mall or something.
I just got accepted to the College for Creative Studies and are paying out of pocket so money has buckled down a lot since we bought the Foonf a year ago. I hadn't applied yet and wasn't sure I would get accepted at all.

I will look into it though, we loved out Chico key fit 30.

Meery82 · August 2013

The Nurseries and Baby Gear board would be very helpful as well.

dufferoo · August 2013

Britax Roundabout 50 Classic is $119 at walmart.com. We have it and have no complaints.

ChelsiAnn13 · August 2013

Thanks! I may also look into the ones that transform into a booster later on but DH and I are nervous about h IMF her forward facing lol. We are a bit over protective when it comes to the car

Meery82 · August 2013

ChelsiAnn13 said:

Thanks! I may also look into the ones that transform into a booster later on but DH and I are nervous about h IMF her forward facing lol. We are a bit over protective when it comes to the car

Me, too!

sunnyday016 · August 2013

I would look at the Cosco Apt or Scenera or the Evenflo Sureride for inexpensive options. All of those will last her RF for a good amount of time longer.

Skip the ones that will eventually become a booster. There is not a seat on the market that will RF, FF, and booster well. All of those seats provide a potentially deadly belt fit in booster mode because they position the belt on the abdomen, rather than on the hips. (They are fine & safe as harnessed seats though).

JENandJEH · August 2013

I agree with SunnyDay - Apt, Scenera or Sureride but if you're willing to bump up to $150ish, I would look at the Graco Size4Me/MySize/Headwise. They have one of the highest shells on the market and will last quite awhile rear facing. They are incredibly easy to install as well.

Meery82 · August 2013

sunnyday016 said:

I would look at the Cosco Apt or Scenera or the Evenflo Sureride for inexpensive options. All of those will last her RF for a good amount of time longer.

Skip the ones that will eventually become a booster. There is not a seat on the market that will RF, FF, and booster well. All of those seats provide a potentially deadly belt fit in booster mode because they position the belt on the abdomen, rather than on the hips. (They are fine & safe as harnessed seats though).

WTF?! I didn't know this! I'm glad I didn't buy one that goes into booster mode!!

ChelsiAnn13 · August 2013

I didn't know that ether! I had been looking at the Evenflo Chase. It doesn't go rear facing, is it still bad?

ChelsiAnn13 · August 2013

I found the evenflo secure kid. Do you recommend that.

Katie829 · August 2013

We have the Cosco APT 40 for an extra seat. It is a great seat for the money, to RF, super light and easy to install. She should be in it until about 3 RF which is awesome. I think they around $54 at KMart/Target.

Agree with PPs about 3&1 seats. They are terrible. I left a link on why they are terrible.
https://csftl.org/the-alpha-omega-why-its-neither-the-first-nor-the-last-nor-the-elite-car-seat/

JENandJEH · August 2013

The SecureKid is a forward facing only seat. There are many complaints that the straps dig into kids necks and it doesn't come with strap covers.

You mentioned earlier you're nervous about turning her forward facing so for that reason, I would still recommend the Graco Size4Me/MySize/Headwise because it will last you awhile longer rear facing and will probably get her to booster age forward facing. Essentially, it will most likely be the last seat you would need to buy until she's ready for a booster (age 5 or 6ish) and those are pretty inexpensive anyhow.

On AlbeeBaby.com you can get the Size4Me for $152 and free shipping (there is a 15% off promo right now).

eyenigh · August 2013

You mentioned the College for Creative Studies-- are you in the Detroit area? If so, earlier this week, the Target at Eastland mall had a TON of great convertible car seats way marked down, to the point where I almost bought another one that I didn't need! I had a meeting near there and just swung in to pick up a couple things and was surprised at how much good clearance there was. My Target was already picked clean!

Aurora_Borealis · August 2013

For under $100 I like the Safety 1st Guide 65. It RFs to 40 lb and FFs to 65 lb. Wal-Mart carries the Guide 65 Sport for about $80 and my mom got the regular Guide 65 on sale at Kmart for about the same.

I prefer it to the Apt because it has a higher overall weight limit and more harness slots. Plus it has a smaller footprint.

Irishsapphire · August 2013

I just ordered this Evenflo Car Seat for my daughter online at walmart.com.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Evenflo-Tribute-Convertible-Car-Seat-Kristy/12960870

The inlaws got an Evenflo car seat for their car for our son, so I have been wanting to buy this car seat for my daughter for a while. She is moving out of her infant car seat and needs a convertible car seat.

We got the Evenflo Chase LX for my son when he was closer to 3 years old.

https://www.diapers.com/buy?s=evenflo%20car%20seat

https://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_query=evenflo+car+seats&Find=Find&search_constraint=0&_be_switches=reviews_flag:on

ChelsiAnn13 · August 2013

eyenigh said:
You mentioned the College for Creative Studies-- are you in the Detroit area? If so, earlier this week, the Target at Eastland mall had a TON of great convertible car seats way marked down, to the point where I almost bought another one that I didn't need! I had a meeting near there and just swung in to pick up a couple things and was surprised at how much good clearance there was. My Target was already picked clean!

I am. I will for sure check that out! Thank you!

sunnyday016 · August 2013

ChelsiAnn13 said:

I didn't know that ether! I had been looking at the Evenflo Chase. It doesn't go rear facing, is it still bad?

At not even 2, I would look for one that will allow your LO to RF for a great deal of time longer. RF until 2 is a BARE minimum. RF to 4 is ideal.

ChelsiAnn13 · August 2013

I am going to go look at the safety 1st guide 65. It is light, the price is doable, and it will last until 65lbs like our Foonf. It shouldnt get much use and I am just not ready to forward face her I agree. That's why I bought the Foonf lol. If she stays in the average I could keep her rear facing until like 6! Ha!

sunnyday016 · August 2013

The guide is a great choice!

preggersin2011 · August 2013

Our backup seat is a $50 cosco one- it is no thrills, plastic frame with a 5pt harness on it. It is light and i use it to travel with(airplane/train) and to put in someone else's car if they are picking up LO. LO hates being in it since there is no padding to it but it gets the job done

forestdancer · August 2013

I wanted to save money but wanted a decent seat and I had to buy 3 because I did not want to switch seats all the time. 1 for me, husband and nana who watches her.

I ordered safety first Guide.. no thrills got good reviews.. I ordered it for $60ish. It was good but I wanted a little more cushion so I gave it to my MIL to use. My husband car we got a safety first air, for about $125. and I ended up with a Britax - I was going to get a roundabout but with the money i save(tell you about below) I was able to get more thrills model Boulevard.

**How I save a good chunk on all car seats!!!** Pick whatever car seat you like and search Kohls to see if they have it. If they do:If you have a khols card wait till you get 30% (or use someone you know.) Plus free shipping because its over certain amount! That really helped out and a lot of my friends who bought car seats were surprised!

ChelsiAnn13 · August 2013

Thanks everyone! I went with the Safety first Guide 65. It seems nice but haven't used it yet. Should be good for as our backup!

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