Recommend your carseat

stoneycakes · December 2013

Does anyone have a convertible carseat that they love? We bought a really inexpensive one because DS suddenly outgrew his infant seat and we needed one like NOW. Getting him buckled into it drives me crazy. The belts always have to be untwisted and it's hard to click everything together. Plus, it's not very padded and DS has been fighting the carseat like crazy lately. I'm starting to wonder if he finds it uncomfortable. So what models should I look at?

Roxie5739 · December 2013

Britax Marathon G3 is what we have and love it. Simple, seems comfortable and high safety ratings per consumer reports

Blackvelvet · December 2013

We have two Britax seats a roundabout and a marathon DS was RF until after he was 3. He is about to out grow them in height though he must have a lot longer torso then normal as he is only 40 inches but the straps are just about at his shoulders.

sarenu1 · December 2013

I like my roundabout. I want to get a Diono.

CLLDLL · December 2013

We have a Chicco Nextfit and a Britax Boulevard. We like them both a lot. I think I like the Chicco slightly better because I think we'll be able to RF in it longer. But the Britax is nice too.

We bought a Graco My Size first based on good reviews, but I could never get the straps tight enough. It was a huge PITA. So we exchanged for the Chicco.

unaveragejane · December 2013

I have a Riccaro ProRide, and I like it a lot. The straps don't get twisted near as easily as they did on our Graco infant seat, and they have a stripe down one side so you can tell at a glance if they are twisted. I also like the fabric on it. The infant seat we used had a lot of velour, and it just seemed very hot. This one has a very breathable cottony material. The downsides are that it advertises handy little pockets for the chest buckles when it's not in use (to make it easier to get the kid in without him laying on top of the buckles), but I never can get the buckles into the pockets without the straps being too loose. The other downside is that the little padded part over the lower buckle never stays put. I finally left it off since it wasn't really padding that much anyway.

kjsmith9 · December 2013

We have a diono radian r120 in both of our cars and I love it! We use the angle adjuster since it's a super long shell (the adjuster helps it sit more upright). I don't think I've ever had twisted straps, and she's been in it for almost 9 months now. It's heavy, but easy to install with superlatch. A lot of toddlers outgrow the britax convertibles in height way before weight... DH and I are both tall, so we avoided that seat - I want her to rear face as long as possible.

nanabanana06 · December 2013

Here's my list of seats I reccommend: Diono Radian r120 or RXT, Clek Foonf, Chicco Nextfit, and Graco Headwise/Size4Me/MySize. I like these seats because they have the longest shells on the market. RFing to me is super important. I've seen the crash tests and it's shocking what the difference is. I will say that if your child is on the heavier side to not do the Chicco or Graco as they only have a 40lb weight limit. The Radian has a 45lb limit and the Foonf has a 50lb limit. The Graco though does have the tallest shell, but the others will let you RF easily to 3-4 (sometimes to 5). I personally have a Radian and a Foonf in my car. However, for a nice well rounded seat I love the Radian as it will grow with your child the longest as it also has a really long FF life.

Now, I will advise against new Britax seats. When the new car seat recommendations came out they redesigned their seats to allow a higher RFing weight limit. When doing this they shortened the shells on their seats. Now you'll be pretty lucky to get a child bigger than 30-50%tile to RF til 2 in one (I stuck Cade in a roundabout the other day and he has 2 inches till the top of the shell ack!). They used to be the car seat of choice 3 years ago when my daughter was a baby, but things have changed and they haven't caught up. There are many people that do not agree with this information though as Britax has some very clever marketing scheme's out there. This is the facts on ERF in a Britax though.

Any questions please let me know.

Mandmeesh · December 2013

I plan to get the Diono Radian RXT because it looks super cool. I'm going to RF until I get weirdo looks from everyone- and for M's safety of course

stoneycakes · December 2013

Nana_Osaki06 said:

Here's my list of seats I reccommend: Diono Radian r120 or RXT, Clek Foonf, Chicco Nextfit, and Graco Headwise/Size4Me/MySize. I like these seats because they have the longest shells on the market. RFing to me is super important. I've seen the crash tests and it's shocking what the difference is. I will say that if your child is on the heavier side to not do the Chicco or Graco as they only have a 40lb weight limit. The Radian has a 45lb limit and the Foonf has a 50lb limit. The Graco though does have the tallest shell, but the others will let you RF easily to 3-4 (sometimes to 5). I personally have a Radian and a Foonf in my car. However, for a nice well rounded seat I love the Radian as it will grow with your child the longest as it also has a really long FF life.

Now, I will advise against new Britax seats. When the new car seat recommendations came out they redesigned their seats to allow a higher RFing weight limit. When doing this they shortened the shells on their seats. Now you'll be pretty lucky to get a child bigger than 30-50%tile to RF til 2 in one (I stuck Cade in a roundabout the other day and he has 2 inches till the top of the shell ack!). They used to be the car seat of choice 3 years ago when my daughter was a baby, but things have changed and they haven't caught up. There are many people that do not agree with this information though as Britax has some very clever marketing scheme's out there. This is the facts on ERF in a Britax though.

Any questions please let me know.

So how do you like your Radian vs. the Foonf? What kind of features on the Foonf make it worth the extra money?

One of my concerns is that we'd like to have another baby in the near future, which means putting two carseats in the back. I'd like to make sure that the whole family could fit comfortably in our mid-sized car.

nanabanana06 · December 2013

Well, I drive a 2001 Chrysler Concorde. So my car is a midsize sedan. I have my massive Foonf on the passenger side and Rosie's Radian in the middle. I can then very comfortably fit a full grown adult next to Rosie or Ein's crate. They both are very narrow based. Now for the pro's and cons for them. The Radian is a slimmer seat (with the angle adjuster), takes up very little space, has a low profile (good for getting kids in and out and so they can climb in themselves), I like install a bit better than the Foonf (the foonf has locking clips and you have to remove the seat bit to install, our locking clips broke once already and had them replaced. We also do belt installation), and it has a really nice long RF and FF life. The Foonf in all reality you buy it for the name (since it's the hot mommy item right now) and for the crumple zone technology for FF. Really, that's about it. The seat itself is gigantic, isn't easy to put together or install, and sits very high up (so I bonk my kids head often). I do like both seats, but we'll be replacing my Foonf with the new Radians when they come out and Rosie will get the Foonf for FF.

runningyogimama · December 2013

I have a graco MySize in my ford focus hatchback because I needed 2 seats able to RF until my lease is up-- it barely works, but it's the only one I could get to work! We've only had it a month, but no complaints so far!

Rrrrrachel · December 2013

We have a marathon and a my ride. The marathon straps are thicker and less likely to get tangled. I love the cup holders on the my ride, though.

LatteLady5 · December 2013

We just got an Evenflo Sureride DLX 65. I wanted something that was good for ERF and reasonably priced. It has a 40lb 40inches RF limit. I've seen the seat as low as $75ish dollars and as high as $100, so not super pricey. The weight limit wasn't a concern for us as DD is 2 and just over 20lbs but she is getting closer to outgrowing our other seats height wise. We've only used the seat a handful of times as we just got it but I have no complaints so far. DH installed it and said it was an easy install. It won't fit RF next to our infant bucket but that's not a big deal I just have to put the bucket behind the drivers side rather than in the middle. It's not a huge seat but it's not super small either.

YellowLily2013 · December 2013

@nana
What's your stance on the Recaro?? I'm looking for a convertible and this one has caught my eye.

nanabanana06 · December 2013

I'm not a huge fan as it sits pretty high up. I haven't played with one too much really. Lol

musicalsilver · December 2013

Mandmeesh said:

I plan to get the Diono Radian RXT because it looks super cool. I'm going to RF until I get weirdo looks from everyone- and for M's safety of course

This. I just ordered ours this weekend. Our DCP and some mom at daycare were making faces about the relatively recent change to RF until 2. I can't imagine what they would say about attempting to RF until 5 like I want to. Luckily I don't care what they think!

Angela814 · December 2013

I love our Graco MySize. I was sold by the adjustable headrest that made it possible to actually rear face up to 40 lbs. (My 3.5 yo is 37.4 lbs and 41" and still rfing comfortably.) My 52" tall 7 yo also fit in the seat (barely) when we first bought it, so it's truly a convertible seat that will last to booster age. I haven't had any trouble adjusting the harness. I know that was an issue when the seat first came out, but from what I've experienced, it was resolved.

Kelly11235 · December 2013

sarenu1 said:

I like my roundabout. I want to get a Diono.

I want to get a Diono too, but they are crazy expensive.

Also, they're HUGE.

tjkdlhb · December 2013

Britax Marathon

nanabanana06 · December 2013

Kelly11235 said:

sarenu1 said:

I like my roundabout. I want to get a Diono.

I want to get a Diono too, but they are crazy expensive.
Also, they're HUGE.

Honestly, next to my Foonf and my old MyRide the Diono are heavier and taller (maybe not for the foonf), but they are soooo much slimmer and lower. It makes them seem smaller. Add in the angle adjuster and they look so nice in the back seat. Not nearly as big and bulky as my Foonf or MyRide or even some of the Britax seats I've seen.

stoneycakes · December 2013

Thanks so much for the suggestions! I'm thinking I really like the sound of the Diono.

Habs2Hart · December 2013

I don't know about others, but one of the things that drew me to the foonf was that the fabric doesn't have toxic flame retardent chemicals on it.

cukimerrydoll · December 2013

Habs2Hart said:

I don't know about others, but one of the things that drew me to the foonf was that the fabric doesn't have toxic flame retardent chemicals on it.

I'm mostly a lurker, but in the US it is illegal to use flame retardant chemicals in children's products. So, that shouldn't be a problem.

YellowLily2013 · December 2013

cukimerrydoll said:

Habs2Hart said:

I don't know about others, but one of the things that drew me to the foonf was that the fabric doesn't have toxic flame retardent chemicals on it.

I'm mostly a lurker, but in the US it is illegal to use flame retardant chemicals in children's products. So, that shouldn't be a problem.

I don't believe this is true. I actually the they are required to use them. Especially on things like pjs. Unless you buy "snug fit" kinds.

nanabanana06 · December 2013

YellowLily2013 said:

Habs2Hart said:

I don't know about others, but one of the things that drew me to the foonf was that the fabric doesn't have toxic flame retardent chemicals on it.

I'm mostly a lurker, but in the US it is illegal to use flame retardant chemicals in children's products. So, that shouldn't be a problem.
I don't believe this is true. I actually the they are required to use them. Especially on things like pjs. Unless you buy "snug fit" kinds.

I think baby items it's illegal, not baby clothes. For some reason.

YellowLily2013 · December 2013

Nana_Osaki06 said:

YellowLily2013 said:

cukimerrydoll said:

Habs2Hart said:

I don't know about others, but one of the things that drew me to the foonf was that the fabric doesn't have toxic flame retardent chemicals on it.

I'm mostly a lurker, but in the US it is illegal to use flame retardant chemicals in children's products. So, that shouldn't be a problem.
I don't believe this is true. I actually the they are required to use them. Especially on things like pjs. Unless you buy "snug fit" kinds.

I think baby items it's illegal, not baby clothes. For some reason.

Weird.

nanabanana06 · December 2013

I do think many places are getting away from that though. Which is nice.

Cindergurl · December 2013

I also have the Diono love, it is crazy heavy though!

Rrrrrachel · December 2013

I thought car seats were required to be flame retardant?

PipSqueak0313 · December 2013

From what I have seen the Dionos are narrower than the Graco and others, correct? With the angle adjuster, how do they compare for front-to-back in terms of amount of space needed for the seat to rf?

I like the Diono but not sure about ability for an adult to sit in the seat in front of a rear facing Radion (we have a 2003? Subaru Outback wagon and a 2011 Ford Focus sedan if that helps)

nanabanana06 · December 2013

PipSqueak0313 said:

From what I have seen the Dionos are narrower than the Graco and others, correct? With the angle adjuster, how do they compare for front-to-back in terms of amount of space needed for the seat to rf?

I like the Diono but not sure about ability for an adult to sit in the seat in front of a rear facing Radion (we have a 2003? Subaru Outback wagon and a 2011 Ford Focus sedan if that helps)

They are very very slim with the angle adjuster. I'm 5'7" and my SO is just shy of 6'. So, neither of us is short. Our roommate is 6'7" as well. My SO's car is a 2013 Dodge Dart, so pretty small. Smaller than any of your cars at least. We have 2 RFing in that car. 1 is behind the passenger and the other is behind the drivers. Neither of us is cramped. We didn't even have to move the seats to fit them in. Our roommate can even sit in the passenger seat without eating dash. They are the slimmest seat on the market and the angle adjuster is fabulous. It also helps give extra leg room for toddlers.

PipSqueak0313 · December 2013

Thanks Nana.

Want a personalized experience?

Recommend your carseat

Re: Recommend your carseat

Choose Another Board

Search Boards