STMs - Tell me about your front facing carseats

knitsandgiggles · December 2013

DD has pretty much outgrown her rear facing carseat, particularly lengthwise. She is 30 inches long and 18 pounds so we have a stringbean. What FFCS do you have and would you recommend it? I want to take advantage of these holiday sales!

INmommy871278 · December 2013

We got the safety 1st air something 60 and hate it! I would highly recommend one that is self reclining and make sure the straps are easily adjustable. It takes 20 minutes to get the straps tightened once DS is fastened.

lynnyrd80 · December 2013

Are you talking about convertible carseats? Most can safely stay rear facing until 40-45 pounds in a convertible carseat and the current AAP recommendations are that children should stay rear-facing until they are two or reach the rear facing weight limit which ever is later.

We have a Britax Pavilion and it's good, but we don't love it because the straps tend to get twisted easily.

iris427 · December 2013

Do.you mean she outgrew her infant seat? I put both my kids in Graco MyRide 65 seats that RF to 40 lbs and then FF to 65, once they outgrew their infant seats. I prefer to keep my kids RFing as long as possible because it is so much safer.

shanaynerz · December 2013

Ideally, get her a convertible car seat (we have the Britax Advocate, a bit pricey) and keep her rear facing until about two years old. My DD is about 32 inches and 27, maybe 28 pounds now.

runrinserepeat · December 2013

iris427 said:

Do.you mean she outgrew her infant seat? I put both my kids in Graco MyRide 65 seats that RF to 40 lbs and then FF to 65, once they outgrew their infant seats. I prefer to keep my kids RFing as long as possible because it is so much safer.

Pretty sure we have the same one. DD is 32" and about 27 lbs, and she's still comfortable rear facing.

cookieinva · December 2013

We have a Britax and I actually forget if it is the Marathon or the Boulevard but they are fairly similar. We like it. It is easy to get him in and out and I think he feels it is comfortable. It is easy to attach but it is heavy so if you will have to be moving it around or carrying it then you might tire of that. Like others have pointed out, it can be used RFing until like 40 lbs then FFing when you choose to switch.

bullybutt · December 2013

Team RF as long as possible. DS is 33+ inches and 26lbs and still has PLENTY of room to grow in his seat. We don't plan on turning him until he's 2+ years and even then I'll consider whether or not to turn him.

Edit: We have him in a Diono Radian (my suv) and a Recaro (SOs truck)

jnnfrrose6 · December 2013

Agree with others. Doesn't sound like she needs to be FF yet based on her size. Look for a convertible that will allow both options. We got a Peg Perego for DS (he's about 30" now too) and have no issues with him being "too long" for it. We'll switch to FF sometime around his 2nd birthday.

nolongerdinks · December 2013

We have the RecaroProride convertible for DD2. It rear faces up to 40 pounds I think, then forward faces to a much higher weight. DD1, who is 4 and 42", 40 pounds is in the Recaro Prosport which is a 5 point harness, which converts to a belt positioning booster. Sounds like you are transitioning from an infant seat. How old is your LO?

[Deleted User] · December 2013

We have a Britax Marathon.

knitsandgiggles · December 2013

Thanks for all of your ideas. I started reading that it is safer to keep them as rear facing as long as possible so it looks like I need to find a convertible seat that will keep her rear facing and then can switch to front facing when she is closer to 2 yo.

What we have now is an infant carseat so that explains why it is marked for ranges of 30 inches or less and 5 to 30 pounds.

I'll look into convertibles!

bullybutt · December 2013

High-five team!!! ::claps own hand::

mlebates · December 2013

This is very similar to the seat we have.

knitsandgiggles · December 2013

When does one stop feeling like a noob with all of this? Sometimes I feel like I've got "it" down and others I'm smiling and nodding while kicking myself.

Peglet · December 2013

We have an Evenflo Symphony. Got it because of the SureLatch system - we switch it between cars a lot and it's easy to do so. No problems with it.

iris427 · December 2013

knittylady said:
When does one stop feeling like a noob with all of this? Sometimes I feel like I've got "it" down and others I'm smiling and nodding while kicking myself.

You mean with parenting? I still feel like a noob and I've been parenting for over 5 years now. I'm guessing I will feel this way for many years to come.

iris427 · December 2013

Also FWIW my daughter RFed until 3.5 years old, and my son is 2.5 and still RF. So you don't have to switch them FF at two years.

katnipeverclean · December 2013

Definitely ERF! I'm not sure what the laws are where you are but in both TN and MS your child needs to be 1 yr AND 20 lbs to be switched to FF. Having said that we kept DD rear facing til 2.5 and now that it's no longer 100*F heat I am considering switching her back to rear facing.

taylorjeanne84 · December 2013

I have a skinny, tall DS. We have a Britax Marathon and really like it.

Edit: Autocorrect changed "tall" to "yall." Yes, I'm in TX. Lol

AKbadwolf · December 2013

My DD RF'ed till she was 2.5 then we turned her FF. I have used a MyRide 65 since we moved her out of the infant carrier about 7 months. I highly recommend it. Before this LO comes, we are getting a Diono radian for DD since it is slimmer than the MyRide.

LyndseylovesHugh · December 2013

We have the Clek Foonf in my car, which I love so much, but bit was very expensive. We should be able to RF DD in it until 4. In my H's car we have the Evenflo Sureride which also has high RFing height and weight limits and was like a fifth the price of the Foonf. I would recommend both of them.

mrscurlygurl · December 2013

iris427 said:

knittylady said:
When does one stop feeling like a noob with all of this? Sometimes I feel like I've got "it" down and others I'm smiling and nodding while kicking myself.
You mean with parenting? I still feel like a noob and I've been parenting for over 5 years now. I'm guessing I will feel this way for many years to come.

While I don't have 5 years experience yet (DS is 20 mon), I agree that you probably don't stop until your oldest is like 18. Think of all the first stages we have yet to go through...potty training, school, puberty! That's why these forums (and the FB groups that spin off...waaaay later) are so awesome. I learned so much from my March 12 mommies. Don't worry girl...we've got your back

Big+Lil · December 2013

INmommy871278 said:
We got the safety 1st air something 60 and hate it! I would highly recommend one that is self reclining and make sure the straps are easily adjustable. It takes 20 minutes to get the straps tightened once DS is fastened.

I hate this seat too! RF as long as possible, but it's hard with the tall kiddos. She outgrew the RF height before she was two in that seat. If I were to do it again, I'd get the RF seat with the highest RF height limit.

flmomof4 · December 2013

We love our Britax Marathon. Easy to use and DD seems comfortable.

INmommy871278 · December 2013

Big+Lil said:

We got the safety 1st air something 60 and hate it! I would highly recommend one that is self reclining and make sure the straps are easily adjustable. It takes 20 minutes to get the straps tightened once DS is fastened.
I hate this seat too! RF as long as possible, but it's hard with the tall kiddos. She outgrew the RF height before she was two in that seat. If I were to do it again, I'd get the RF seat with the highest RF height limit.

We have a string bean too! He is almost too long at 15 months, so we are going to have turn him around soon :-(

Jillybean100 · December 2013

We have the Britax Marathon and our 17 month old is RF in it. We plan to keep her RF as long as possible.

bullybutt · December 2013

INmommy871278 said:

Big+Lil said:

We got the safety 1st air something 60 and hate it! I would highly recommend one that is self reclining and make sure the straps are easily adjustable. It takes 20 minutes to get the straps tightened once DS is fastened.
I hate this seat too! RF as long as possible, but it's hard with the tall kiddos. She outgrew the RF height before she was two in that seat. If I were to do it again, I'd get the RF seat with the highest RF height limit.

We have a string bean too! He is almost too long at 15 months, so we are going to have turn him around soon :-(

Or upgrade to a new/better seat. Let your future LO have his old seat.

twister22 · December 2013

We love, love, LOVE the Evenflo Symphony. That's what DS(5 yo) has been using since he was 2. We actually have 3 (my car, DH's car, my mom's car) although that's pretty unnecessary as this car seat is the easiest to move from one car to another, and is super easy to adjust. It's also easy to take apart to wash the padding. I like the removable cup holder for easy cleaning. It's a great convertible car seat for not a bad price. DD(11 mo) will be getting one once she outgrows her infant seat.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=evenflo+symphony

allardr · December 2013

We have a Radian as our convertible one and I love it, plenty tall too! It folds so easily works for travel (we flew with it this summer- it's approved for airplanes) and it fits 3 across in a car for later down the road. Plus it works infant to booster so it's the last seat we'll ever by for DD.

twister22 · December 2013

allardr said:

We have a Radian as our convertible one and I love it, plenty tall too! It folds so easily works for travel (we flew with it this summer- it's approved for airplanes) and it fits 3 across in a car for later down the road. Plus it works infant to booster so it's the last seat we'll ever by for DD.

@allardr you have me very intrigued. It folds and you can fit 3 across in a car? Is this it? This may just have to be the type of car seats we put in DH car...
https://www.amazon.com/Diono-Radian-Convertible-Seat-Shadow/dp/B005MQRAAK/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386283888&sr=8-1&keywords=radian+convertible+car+seat

pfeilele · December 2013

We have the chicco nextfit and really like it. You can adjust the seat without having to put anything under the base of it. It also fits great in smaller cars.

alyss0nl · December 2013

We have the Safety 1st Complete Air 65 and we like it. No issues with adjusting straps or putting it in the car.

abrazz · December 2013

We have 4 Cosco convertible carseats. We drive trucks so the back fits correctly in the back seat. I had another one, can't remember the brand, but we had to return it because we couldn't get it to fit with the angle of the seat. My parents have 2 sets of the same kind. They are very expensive and have good safety ratings.

allardr · December 2013

@twister22 We actually got the older version. Reason being I heard the head "bumpers" as I call them, on the newer version can cause issues if your child is really tall, like it more at their cheek/neck height. We have not personally tried 3 across but it looks like it'd be possible. I also bought the bag for travel. Folds super quick, and though heavy to carry DH did manage to run while carrying it to catch our one flight

https://www.amazon.com/Diono-RadianR100-Convertible-Seat-Stone/dp/B005MQR794/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1386297340&sr=8-2&keywords=diono+radian

LexisMommy05 · December 2013

Had the britax marathon for my now 8 year old and loved it!

twister22 · December 2013

allardr said:

@twister22 We actually got the older version. Reason being I heard the head "bumpers" as I call them, on the newer version can cause issues if your child is really tall, like it more at their cheek/neck height. We have not personally tried 3 across but it looks like it'd be possible. I also bought the bag for travel. Folds super quick, and though heavy to carry DH did manage to run while carrying it to catch our one flight

https://www.amazon.com/Diono-RadianR100-Convertible-Seat-Stone/dp/B005MQR794/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1386297340&sr=8-2&keywords=diono+radian

Good to know. Thank you!

ErinAlanna29 · December 2013

We love the Britax Marathon and as other ladies have mentioned - I was able to keep my kids rear facing well over 2 years in that seat. My DD who will be 3 in March is still comfortably RF.

stella_blu · December 2013

We just upgraded to the Diono Radians for both kids after our other seats were in an accident. If you plan to have more kids I highly suggest these seats. They are super slim so will easily fit 3 across in our Durango and in most cars I believe. They rear face for an extended time and then after they outgrow the 5 pt harness forward facing (which is not for a long time) they can be used as a high back booster. Love these seats!! I've never had a seat feel so secure in my car either.

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