My son just turned 6 months and is a few inches away from out growing his infant seat. He is currently in the Aprica 30/Graco Snugride 30. I'm looking for a convertible that will allow as long of use as possible. He is 26 inches 17.5 lbs right now. Our main car the seat will be in is a Nissan Rogue, so I need to make sure it fits well in a crossover, and a mid size car (he won't be in that as often). A couple of features I'm looking for are harness straps that don't need to be rethreaded, good side protection, a high RF height limit, and easy install/removal as the seat will be in and out of my car daily for daycare.
I was looking at the Chicco NextFit would this be a good option? I don't know much about theconvertibles sorry . I just don't want to buy one and have to turn around a buy another $200+ seat in less than a year.
I know this was asked below, but I wanted to hear any feedback if there was a better seat for my situation. Thanks for any help!
Re: 6 mth old convertible seat recommendations
The Nextfit, height wise, is the second longest lasting seat on the market. And as long as side impact protection goes, merely rf provides excellent side impact protection. As far as that feature on the Nextfit or any other car seat goes, they may test it in house, but because there is no federal regulation on that feature, you won't know whether it performs well as compared to another seat because there is no measuring stick that you can compare one seat to another.
Your other tall options are (starting with the tallest) the Graco MySize/Size4Me/Headwise, ::insert Nextfit here::, Diono Radian (all models are the same dimensions) and the Clek Foonf. But based on the fact you need to be reinstalling a seat daily, I really really wouldn't recommend that.
The Rogue isn't overly roomy, I'd actually stick with either the Nexfit or Radian R100 (be sure to purchase the angle adjuster, it will need the more upright install - at his age with good head control and able to sit, he'll likely be able to use it). In the other vehicle I'd look at getting the Size4Me or Evenflo Sureride (40" rf limit, will last longer rf than all these seats, good budget seat).
Unfortunately most seats that last long rf won't always have the no rethread harness, but you so rarely have to move it up a notch it's no big deal.
If you go on Nissan's website they have a list of recommended seats for best fit in your car. They vary from model to model but it is helpful info.
IMO it is better to buy both a $150-$200 seat and a $80-$100 seat, have them professionally inspected and installed than to move a $300 seat from car to car and risk it not being installed correctly.
https://www.nissanusa.com/snugkids/manuals
Edited to add list.
We have the Graco MySize70 and Diono Radian. My 3 yo is rear facing in both with room to grow. She's approx 35 lbs and 41". They're both great seats.
The Graco MyRide is another highly rated, less expensive seat that might work well for daycare. It's around $130 and rear faces to 40 lbs. Or there's the Cosco Scenera which is about $40, and rear faces to 35 lbs. My only problem with the Scenera is that the top harness slot is pretty low (14.75"); DD2 would have outgrown that seat by 2.5 years.
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