Reviews were good, the price was great (Cartwheel discount FTW!), and is forward-facing up to 65 lbs. I wanted to buy a seat that would last a long time.
Chicco Nextfit because of the high weight and height rear facing limits which will allow us to do extended rear facing. Also it has a smaller back to front profile, which is a plus for my Civic and it's easier to install, which was crucial for me since the safest car seat is one that's installed properly!
I got a great deal at Target with a 20% off deal, then 20% off of that with cartwheel and my redcard. I think I paid $170 with tax and it's normally $280.
I am sort of torn between the Nextfit and the Britax Roundabout. I was wondering what about the Nextfit made it SO much more expensive than the Britax. I have loved our Britax travel system, and I know they have a high safety rating.
I have no clue. The hardest part is finding one that will be good in the back seat of a truck! I've looked at an Eddie Bauer one and some Evenflo ones.
We have a Britax Advocate and a Diono Radian. DD1 loves the radian because she can see so much more. We like both of them and they will allow us to do extended rear facing.
Chicco NextFit for the reasons stated above. Though I'm not really sure why everyone is switching already. My baby is 19lbs and really long, but I don't feel the need to switch at all yet... I like being able to easily switch cars. The only time I tote her around in the car seat is when I am putting it right in the stroller to go shopping.
Not ready to switch this minute, but inevitably it will take me some time to decide, save up a little extra cash and buy it, then I will schedule a time to have the firemen look over the install. Mine is also a big (fatty fat) guy, and his length is all in his torso and his head is almost to the top of the seat.
We got the Maxi Cosi Pria 70 as well. It has good reviews and allows for a little more height while rear facing since DS is pretty long waisted and I want to rear face as long as I can. My sister also has it for my niece and has loved it. I've had DS in it a few times and he likes it more than his infant seat.
I just picked up the Chicco Nextfit at Target this morning! We were between the Radion and the Nextfit and with all the deals that Target was running, that made up our mind. Plus we have the Chicco Keyfit now and I love it, so I figured that I'll be happy with another Chicco.
I just bought the Graco My Size 70 at Target. It was on sale for $130 & there was a $20 off coupon in the Sunday ad. Total I paid $118 for a $160 seat.
It had good reviews & it has good weight for front & rear facing.
It got really good reviews and when we looked in person months ago that just ended up being the one we liked most.
@allymp13 that is actually one of the only seats NOT recommended by most car seat experts. Apparently it is really hard to get a good install. The fb group, Car Seats for the Littles, has a link devoted to why it's not a good seat. Just FYI.
We have a Graco MyRide for DD1. I love everything about except for three things: the hard to LATCH hooks, the seat material is very porous and holds stains, and how hard it is to get to the strap length adjuster when rf.
But, and this is going to sound silly, I love those dang built in cup holders and how long it can last rf. DD1 is almost three and still had one more strap level before she outgrows it rf.
We will either use it for DD2 and turn DD1 ff (gives major anxiety though) or keep her rf and purchase a new seat for DD2. I'm thinking the Britax marathon because it has a wipable seat cover and the latch hooks work like a seat belt.
We are going with 2 Graco MySize 70s because it is the highest RFing limit on the market and we plan to do extended RFing. It's also cost efficient. We are using 2 25% of BRU coupons from the trade-in. Our local BRU is allowing is to use them now since the Gracos were on recall. We also have a bunch of BRU gift cards left over from baby shower gifts.
It got really good reviews and when we looked in person months ago that just ended up being the one we liked most.
@allymp13 that is actually one of the only seats NOT recommended by most car seat experts. Apparently it is really hard to get a good install. The fb group, Car Seats for the Littles, has a link devoted to why it's not a good seat. Just FYI.
Oh ffs great! Well thanks for the heads up. They were in our registry you think I can still return them at this point?
Eta/ sorry I sound more annoyed than grateful. Thank you for the info I appreciate it! @kimbo1216
Graco my size 65 (apparently this is replacing the 70). It has the tallest back of any other on the market and I have a tall LO. It also rear faces up to 45 lbs. the reviews say it's easy to install and not too bulky.
BFP #1 - 12/30/12 - EDD 9/13/13 - CP
BFP #2 - 2/13/13 - EDD 10/24/13 - born 10/29/13 - Kian Edward
BFP #3 - 7/16/15 - EDD 3/27/16 - born 3/23/16 - Liam James
Stupid question but when do y'all plan on making the transition? I have a britax bsafe stroller/car seat travel system. LO is 21 lbs and 26 inches.
I'm trying to wait until I find a killer deal, but there aren't many good deals up here for convertible seats. Most likely we will transition by May 1st. DDs infant seat goes to 30lbs/28.5 inch and she is 15.8 lbs/26.5 inches
I literally just bought the nextfit at target because I was able to get it for $151 as opposed to $289 with the above mentioned discounts. I really like the recline positions and it has the same "quick tight" harness system as my bsafe infant seat which I love.
We have a Britax Pavilion we received as a shower gift, but we are still using our BSafe with bases in both cars. I have been in between the NextFit, Recaro Proride and Radian RXT as our second seat... We will deft need one for both cars. But with the Target deal (which I had no idea about until this thread- thank you O13ers!) it may be the decision maker to get the NextFit. The only thing I don't like about it is it doesn't have a tether for RFing like the Radian and the Pavilion but I don't think that's a deal breaker.
I'm still trying to decide if we want to try to exchange our Pavilion for a Radian. DS is already 18lbs and at least 24 in so he's on the bigger side...
Britax people- are the bases basically useless after converting to a convertible seat? I seem to remember wanting to stick with the same brand for some reason, but now I don't remember.
It got really good reviews and when we looked in person months ago that just ended up being the one we liked most.
@allymp13 that is actually one of the only seats NOT recommended by most car seat experts. Apparently it is really hard to get a good install. The fb group, Car Seats for the Littles, has a link devoted to why it's not a good seat. Just FYI.
Oh ffs great! Well thanks for the heads up. They were in our registry you think I can still return them at this point?
Eta/ sorry I sound more annoyed than grateful. Thank you for the info I appreciate it! @kimbo1216
@allymp13 you should still be able to return them if they are still in the box. When installed correctly, the seat is perfectly safe--as is every other seat on the market as they all have to pass the same safety standards. But the key phrase is "when installed correctly". As I mentioned though, this one is apparently difficult to do so. But because they are all held to the same standards, really, you just need to pick a seat in your budget that fits your car.
Diono Radian RXT. The only convertible seat I will need. Converts to a booster. Extended RFing. Slim profile. Perfect for my big kiddos. People say it's heavy (steel frame) but we don't have a need to carry it anywhere...
yup! with the angle adjuster it fits rfing behind my seats and my super duper tall toddler is still rfing. plus you can fit 3 across the backseat, so i can fit 1 more kiddo in my sedan before i have to move to a minivan. love this carseat. fyi you can buy it at buy buy baby and use the 20% off coupon.
I have 2 of these. DS has been in one since the beginning, and DD2 is in one. They actually fit in the same row with DD1 Britax Frontier too.
My 2 girls, both born on a Friday the 13th, are exactly 2 years, 2 months, 2 hours and 2 minutes apart! And Baby Boy joined us October 11, 2013!
Britax people- are the bases basically useless after converting to a convertible seat? I seem to remember wanting to stick with the same brand for some reason, but now I don't remember.
@sweettwilight16 You don't use a base with a convertible. Only the infant seat/carrier.
I plan to get the Diono too. All the same reasons listed above, plus I like the fact that it folds up for easy travel and the steel frame is a comfort to me.
Oh, and then there is this photo of a car that was smashed when a parking garage collapsed:
We are big fans of both the britax advocate and the diono radian RXTs. We used the advocate to rear face my 99th percentile in height daughter until she turned two--and then bought the RXT to rear face even longer.
What sold me on these brands was the fact that they go above and beyond the "minimum" in safety testing and the RXT is very tall and narrow.
Stupid question but when do y'all plan on making the transition? I have a britax bsafe stroller/car seat travel system. LO is 21 lbs and 26 inches.
The B Safe goes to 32lbs or 32" or head 1" from the top of the shell so you have some time.
We'll more than likely switch before Beau hits the limits if he's anything like his sister and wants to sit more upright when he can sit independently.
Beau will be in our Combi Coccoro for a while. Definitely will be using it as his (airplane) travel seat until he outgrows it RFing. We'll get him a new seat sometime in the next year to year and a half. Maybe there will be an even better seat on the market by then than the NextFit? (DD has the NextFit and we love it!)
Yay - Maxi Cosi Pria FTW! I am awaiting its release in Canada end of April. LO has to hold on till then in his bucket seat. We currently have the Maxi Cosi Mico and I love it, but I wasn't sold on the convertible until I found this comprehensive review on seats:
Re: Convertible Seats
https://www.toysrus.com/buy/car-seats/safety-1st-alpha-elite-65-convertible-car-seat-blake-cc075bzr-18188516
It got really good reviews and when we looked in person months ago that just ended up being the one we liked most.
Reviews were good, the price was great (Cartwheel discount FTW!), and is forward-facing up to 65 lbs. I wanted to buy a seat that would last a long time.
https://m.toysrus.com/skava/static/product.html?type=TRU_product_us&url=/product/index.jsp?productId=34354836&cp=&parentPage=search&domain=http://www.toysrus.com
UUUUUGGGGHH! I am so sick of researching baby equipment!!! I want someone else to make this decision for me. TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!!
Our friends have it and recommend it
It had good reviews & it has good weight for front & rear facing.
But, and this is going to sound silly, I love those dang built in cup holders and how long it can last rf. DD1 is almost three and still had one more strap level before she outgrows it rf.
We will either use it for DD2 and turn DD1 ff (gives major anxiety though) or keep her rf and purchase a new seat for DD2. I'm thinking the Britax marathon because it has a wipable seat cover and the latch hooks work like a seat belt.
*Disclaimer: I'm totally joking. That is NOT my child. Most likely the Keyfit!
Eta/ sorry I sound more annoyed than grateful. Thank you for the info I appreciate it! @kimbo1216
BFP #2 - 2/13/13 - EDD 10/24/13 - born 10/29/13 - Kian Edward
BFP #3 - 7/16/15 - EDD 3/27/16 - born 3/23/16 - Liam James
I may look at the Diono though. Haven't decided yet.
I have 2 of these. DS has been in one since the beginning, and DD2 is in one. They actually fit in the same row with DD1 Britax Frontier too.
You don't use a base with a convertible. Only the infant seat/carrier.
Oh, and then there is this photo of a car that was smashed when a parking garage collapsed:
My sil use the next fit and really likes it, plus chicco has amazing ratings, which is actually more important.
What sold me on these brands was the fact that they go above and beyond the "minimum" in safety testing and the RXT is very tall and narrow.
We'll more than likely switch before Beau hits the limits if he's anything like his sister and wants to sit more upright when he can sit independently.
Beau will be in our Combi Coccoro for a while. Definitely will be using it as his (airplane) travel seat until he outgrows it RFing. We'll get him a new seat sometime in the next year to year and a half. Maybe there will be an even better seat on the market by then than the NextFit? (DD has the NextFit and we love it!)