CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT MOMS!!!

dragonfly321 · December 2015

Amazon has what seems like pretty good deals on their convertible car seats--
I know they're all Put up to the same safety standards. What are y'alls preferences?
I'm looking at 4 different Graco "brands": Nautilus, MyRide 65, 4ever all in one and Size4Me.
Thoughts appreciated!
(I've already picked up the infant seat with base; just planning ahead)

2-Step · December 2015

I've had Evenflo, Graco, Britax and Cosco. For us the very best carseats of all are Britax. Graco comes in second and the other cheaper brands I hated. It wasn't so much the safety, although they did seem flimsier, it was the ease of use and how the buckles work. The cheap brands constantly tangle, twist and the clasps seem cheap. We have the Graco Nautilus and it has held up pretty good, once we replaced the recalled buckle. The Britax are still obvious front runners in quality and ease of use IMO. Mine are the only seats that will have lasted through all three kids and still look and function great! I've already retired a Graco, Evenflo and Cosco seat.

skruhmin · December 2015

Whichever one you choose, make sure it will fit in your car rear facing (this goes for infant seats too). A lot of the convertibles can be too tall at the reclined/rear facing position, so depending on your car, may touch the front seat, which is technically a safety issue (plus you'd have to push your front seat up and it may not work with a comfortable driving position. I know that Dionos have this reputation.

dragonfly321 · December 2015

One of the car seats is like $99 if you have prime.

@2-Step does the nautilus have the standalone booster or is it a high back?

@skruhmin we're working with a 4 door truck and eventually will have an SUV. I'll definitely take that into consideration! I don't need to be sitting in the dashboard

skruhmin · December 2015

dragonfly321 said:

One of the car seats is like $99 if you have prime. @2-Step does the nautilus have the standalone booster or is it a high back? @skruhmin we're working with a 4 door truck and eventually will have an SUV. I'll definitely take that into consideration! I don't need to be sitting in the dashboard

Seriously! We have a 2002 Tundra (NOT double cab - it has the suicide doors) and my knee is like 2 inches away from the dash.

2-Step · December 2015

dragonfly321 said:

One of the car seats is like $99 if you have prime. @2-Step does the nautilus have the standalone booster or is it a high back? @skruhmin we're working with a 4 door truck and eventually will have an SUV. I'll definitely take that into consideration! I don't need to be sitting in the dashboard

It does convert to a high back and a standalone. It's been a good seat despite the buckle problem which I think is now resolved. It is still much harder for my DS to unbuckle and buckle than the Britax, but it works and is pretty good quality. We've had it for about 3 years and I think it still looks decent and functions well.

We used to have a truck with the suicide doors and we had to put the rear facing convertible in the center so it could sit between the buckets, there is no way it would fit behind the passenger.

dragonfly321 · December 2015

@2-Step good to know! The Nautilus is pretty high on my list now. Thanks!!!

jess9802 · December 2015

The Nautilus is not a convertible seat; it's a harnessed booster seat, and if you're following guidelines on rear facing should not be used before the age of two.

The MyRide 65 is not a recommended seat because it is quite large and doesn't last as long rear-facing.

I've heard great things about the 4Ever.

I have used the Size4Me/Headwise for DS and been very happy with those seats. I didn't intend to rear face past the age of three, but could have easily. The Britax Marathon 70 I'd paid a lot more money for was very nearly outgrown RF by the time DS turned three and I turned him to FF. It's a great seat, and I'm considering the Marathon Clicktight for this baby for at least one of our vehicles, but I really do like the Size4Me (and its clones).

dragonfly321 · December 2015

@jess9802 great advice! I feel like the 4ever and britax seats are above what I am comfortable spending. I'll have to do more research on the Size4me. It sounds like you've had a positive experience with it!

GinnyJ2012 · December 2015

I'll say that even with a pathfinder I have to move my seat up for my RF 16 month old in a Britax marathon, but it's 4 years old. I just upgraded DS1 to a Graco upright that will convert to a booster later. I don't have any reviews on it yet because it's a Christmas gift. I bought a Chico key fit 30 for this new baby. It fits well in our pathfinder and Corolla. Britax marathon and contour both fit well FF in our Corolla, but neither fit RF unless no one sits in the passenger seat.

cmerribury · December 2015

You may want to pop over to some websites that do comparisons on safety before you make your choice. They are all put up to the same standards, but some far exceed those standards.

We've never owned anything other than a Britax (outside of the infant seat, which was a Chicco). My cousin, formerly a Graco lover, got a Britax and swears she'll never go back. They are SOOOO easy to use, buckle, maneuver compared with others. My mother had a similar experience with the Evenflo she bought. It was such a pain that she ended up selling it and getting a Britax. Just something to consider since it will be something you use day in and day out.

dragonfly321 · December 2015

I've been looking at the websites (lucie's list and such)
I want real time advice- moms who have BTDT. The fit in vehicles, ease of use, durability, etc. y'all have been super helpful with that!

redfallon · December 2015

We have the Chicco Nextfit for my 2 year old.

red3ye · December 2015

Britax and recaro all the way for us. I use a pumpkin (infant) seat for the first 3-4 months, but alot of convertible seats aralso suited for infants. Recaro actually offers an infant insert for their convertible seat

2-Step · December 2015

jess9802 said:
The Nautilus is not a convertible seat; it's a harnessed booster seat, and if you're following guidelines on rear facing should not be used before the age of two.

The MyRide 65 is not a recommended seat because it is quite large and doesn't last as long rear-facing.

I've heard great things about the 4Ever.

I have used the Size4Me/Headwise for DS and been very happy with those seats. I didn't intend to rear face past the age of three, but could have easily. The Britax Marathon 70 I'd paid a lot more money for was very nearly outgrown RF by the time DS turned three and I turned him to FF. It's a great seat, and I'm considering the Marathon Clicktight for this baby for at least one of our vehicles, but I really do like the Size4Me (and its clones).

True, we didn't purchase the nautilus until my older DS was 3 and we were handing down his convertible, prior to that we had an Evenflo convertible that I hated! The britax marathon is my all time favorite convertible and if you plan on having multiple kids it's well worth it's price. I think I got mine on diapers.com and it was a close out color with a promo code it was around $190.

Knottie1442268460 · December 2015

I used a coupon at bru & got the Chicco next fit. I'd get the zip!
Definitely read reviews at car seat for the littles.

g8trkim · December 2015

We love our Nautilus but it's not a convertible, it's a ff harness booster.

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CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT MOMS!!!

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