2nd convertible car seat

brandyleighxx · November 2013

I know the car seat discussion has gone around and around but I am being very indecisive about what to choose for our second car seat. We currently have an Evenflo Tribute Convertible in my civic and it's ok, but I don't love the straps. We need to get a 2nd seat for the mini van asap. I would LOVE to stay under $75. The Evenflo Tribute was only $45. The Cosco Scenera is getting good reviews. Anyone using it?

HALP PLEASE

PaisleyRuth · November 2013

I don't really have car seat advice (we have a Britax Marathon & a Britax Boulevard, but I didn't do tons of research or anything), but I just wanted to say that we have a Civic & a minivan too

. Yay, car twins!

austenfan919 · November 2013

We have had 2 Sceneras, one for my 3 year old DD, which she just switched out of, and one DS still uses. They have held up well. Obviously we liked DD's enough to buy another for DS.

My only complaint on them is they are outgrown rather quickly. They don't RF for a very long time (though DD RFed in hers until she was 27 months, so it should get you to 2 years at least). And even though the height limit for FF is 43 inches, my 36 inch DD was close to being too tall for the highest slot for the shoulder straps.

The straps do twist some, too.

Overall, I like the Scenera, but if the Tribute has higher weight/height limit, I would consider sticking with that.

britvahok · November 2013

I would suggest becoming a part of the Car seats for Littles group on FB. They have a document on their page with reviews of car seats. For "small budgets" they recommend the following car seats:

Small budgets:- Convertible seats: Cosco Apt, Safety 1st Guide 65, Evenflo SureRide- Combination seats: Evenflo Maestro, Harmony Defender- Boosters: Evenflo Big Kid, Graco TurboBooster, Harmony Literider

brandyleighxx · November 2013

PaisleyRuth said:

I don't really have car seat advice (we have a Britax Marathon & a Britax Boulevard, but I didn't do tons of research or anything), but I just wanted to say that we have a Civic & a minivan too . Yay, car twins!

Oh wow haha. Blue 07 civic here & 06 white kia sedona for us

brandyleighxx · November 2013

thanks for the scenera reviews, @annieluvsjordan and @austenfan919

@brithavok thanks! I saw this group earlier on the nurseries & gear board and requested

sdlaura · November 2013

I looked into buying the Scenera for air travel, because we wanted a lightweight seat, but we ultimately went with the Evenflo Tribute, since we have an Evenflo Symphony that we like in DH's car. It's fine, but not nearly as cushy or quite as easy to use as the Chicco NextFit or Evenflo Symphony that we have in our cars.

lynde129 · November 2013

My Mom has a cosco scenera in her car for DS. Its not bad... she said it was a PITA to install. My only issue with it is there is no padding around the straps that go down his chest and it I make it tight I digs into my chubby LO's double chin/neck... So i try to make sure he is wearing a hoodie so there is a barrier between the strap and his skin.

jessalynn521 · November 2013

we have one, and really it isn't bad. Once you get the hang of the install it is cake. I would recommend it as an inexpensive seat option.

austenfan919 · November 2013

annieluvsjordan said:

We had a Scenera as our "spare" in the less used car, and now have it as DS's main seat. I like it well enough. It is a pain to install RF, but not impossible, just look online for tips. We recently took an 8hr each way driving trip and DS said he was uncomfortable in it. It doesn't have padding and is pretty bare bones but is affordable, safe, and just fine for normal driving. I am looking into another convertible seat when we get another car and will put the Scenera back to "spare" status.

Also, DS is 39" and has not grown out of it yet. I guess it depends on the build of your kid.

That is interesting. My DD must have a long torso or something.

ETA: There is also a version of the Scenera that can RF longer. It is the Cosco Apt 40RF. It is a little more expensive than the Scenera, but I think I have seen it at Kmart for $50. The FF height/weight limits are the same as the Scenera, I think.

RNbock2 · November 2013

We are using a Cosco Scerena while visiting our family here for DS1, he is 3 years old, FF, 3 feet tall, and 28 pounds. He probably won't fit into it for much longer. He must have been comfortable, because he has fallen asleep in it on several occasions.

PaisleyRuth · November 2013

brandyleighxx said:

PaisleyRuth said:

I don't really have car seat advice (we have a Britax Marathon & a Britax Boulevard, but I didn't do tons of research or anything), but I just wanted to say that we have a Civic & a minivan too . Yay, car twins!

Oh wow haha. Blue 07 civic here & 06 white kia sedona for us

We have a red '99 Civic and a blue '10 Odyssey

.

brandyleighxx · November 2013

PaisleyRuth said:

brandyleighxx said:

PaisleyRuth said:

I don't really have car seat advice (we have a Britax Marathon & a Britax Boulevard, but I didn't do tons of research or anything), but I just wanted to say that we have a Civic & a minivan too . Yay, car twins!

Oh wow haha. Blue 07 civic here & 06 white kia sedona for us

We have a red '99 Civic and a blue '10 Odyssey .

Ahh ok, I thought it would be super freaky if we had the same colors or models haha.

NeneCakies · November 2013

Not to hijack car comparisons, but we are flying with B in a seat in January. Will probably get the Scenera or Tribute based on what y'all have said here. Any tips on how to install a car seat on a plane?? Last time we flew she was 6 months old and slept on a boppy pillow on my lap! Ah, memories.

sdlaura · November 2013

NeneCakies said:

Not to hijack car comparisons, but we are flying with B in a seat in January. Will probably get the Scenera or Tribute based on what y'all have said here. Any tips on how to install a car seat on a plane?? Last time we flew she was 6 months old and slept on a boppy pillow on my lap! Ah, memories.

You just have to check out the instructions with your seat. With the Tribute you just loop the seatbelt through holes in the back. It's easiest to get it installed if you put the armrest up while you're doing it. Even though DD still RFs in our cars, it is much easier to install our convertible seat FFing on the plane, unless we are in the front/bulkhead row, which we were lucky enough to get on Southwest the last time we flew.

NeneCakies · November 2013

L12541 said:

NeneCakies said:

Not to hijack car comparisons, but we are flying with B in a seat in January. Will probably get the Scenera or Tribute based on what y'all have said here. Any tips on how to install a car seat on a plane?? Last time we flew she was 6 months old and slept on a boppy pillow on my lap! Ah, memories.

You just have to check out the instructions with your seat. With the Tribute you just loop the seatbelt through holes in the back. It's easiest to get it installed if you put the armrest up while you're doing it. Even though DD still RFs in our cars, it is much easier to install our convertible seat FFing on the plane, unless we are in the front/bulkhead row, which we were lucky enough to get on Southwest the last time we flew.

Thank you that was exactly what I was fishing for.

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