@Jules08, what seats have you used? I think we've decided to go directly to a convertible. I made the mistake of showing DH the Peg Perego SIP that's coming out in camo print in the spring, so he's got his heart set on that now. He can get camo for his truck and I'll get the pretty aqua one for my car Only downside is they're pricey, so hopefully we get at least one as a registry gift!
Ha, there are so many seats out there! If you go directly to a convertible, I would just pay attention to the fit (and ease of installing in your vehicles) as well as minimum and maximum weights.
We used the Graco Snugride 22 when DS was an infant (as far as the bucket seats go, I just don't see the point of anything that holds a baby weighing more than that - who in the world wants to carry around a 35lb kid + the weight of the seat!? What I didn't like about the Snugride that we had, is that you had to re-thread the straps to adjust them. A PAIN IN THE TUSH.
DS is currently in a convertible - the Evenflo Triumph 65. This seat typically gets really good reviews and is so easy to adjust to kids as they grow. You can rear-face to 40lbs (or 1" below the top of the shell), and forward face to 65 lbs. At 4 years, DS is just 40lbs. (Height wise, we had to turn him a few months after he turned 3). It'll be a few years before we move to the next seat which WILL be a 5pt harness booster. I am just starting to look into those, but have a few links saved.
--------MAJOR QUOTE BOX FAIL---------
@Jules08 we recently transitioned from a Safety 1st convertible that DS outgrew height-wise to a Graco Nautilus - it works as an extended 5-point harness until 65#, then high back booster to 100#, can also be a basic booster. I tried to meet somewhere in the middle pricewise while finding the highest 5-point harness weight limit. He'll be 5 in Jan and is around 45#, I think he'll outgrow his seats by height before weight though still. Point being - I like that seat, it's user friendly and it was around ~150$.
I am hoping to find a high back booster w/ 5pt harness that goes beyond 65 lbs. Our Evenflo Triumph (convertible) forward faces to 65lbs. Obviously I am not sure at what age DS will hit 65 pounds, so my concern/ hope is that he isn't in a belt positioning booster before he can properly sit in it (and stay that way if he falls asleep in it). I've seen too many kids slouched over or constantly leaning while in a belt positioning booster and that gives virtually zero protection in an accident then
@k&elizabeth who we can't tag (booooooo), are you a member of car seats for the littles on fb? They're kind of intense about their board (dont use the reply feature on a thread for example), but they have amazing information. Basically post your vehicle, your kids stats, your budget, and they'll help!
For anybody worried about installing and using a car seat safely, they're a great resource for that too!
First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
Proud SAHM to our little monkey H.
Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
And as a cold weather mama I can tell you I got the hang of strapping my 2 year old in the seat and using her coat as a cover up and I even got into the flow of things as far as putting her coat back on and getting her bundled up before stepping outside. You can also sit in the back seat to do it too if you don't want to be exposed by the elements. Once you get a system going it's not as difficult as doing it the first time.
cold weather moms: fleece and layers are your car seat friends!
Also my friend sells fleece ponchos that are super easy for car seat safety (she's as obsessed with it as I am). She embroiders them with adorable character designs on the hoods. If anybody's interested I'll send you her way. We have an embroidery chat together bc were nerds. Let me find a pic from her
First BFP 12/2012, MMC at 9 weeks
Second BFP 6/2013, resulted in DS, born 2/23/14 :-)
Third BFP 5/2015, natural MC at 6 weeks
Fourth BFP 8/2015, hoping for sticky little brother or sister to H!
Proud SAHM to our little monkey H.
Pro Vax, extended breasftfeeder, ring sling and stroller loving mama. I don't judge you unless you don't vaccinate!
Revamping this with a question about latching/middle seat for STMs.
I have a 2008 Saturn Vue and it doesn't have latches for the middle seat. So I read the next safest thing would be to stay in the middle but use the seat belt. But something just seems off about it. The middle seat kind of bumps up and seems almost harder than the outside seats. It just doesn't seem as tight as it should be. So I moved it behind the passenger seat and used the latches and it seems tighter but I can't get it out of head that she would be safer in the middle. I'm scheduled for an inspection at the hospital but they couldn't fit me until April 1 and it's just bugging the perfectionist in me that I can't figure it out so I thought it'd be nice to hear from other ladies until then. I'm hoping that I'm just doing something wrong and that the inspectors can get it nice and snug in the middle seat.
But this is basically a long-winded post to ask if it's just possible to have a car where the middle seat just doesn't work out? I know it can't be THAT big of a deal to put them on the outside because if you have more than one kid, somebody has to be but I'm also a paranoid first time mom and want make sure I'm doing things right! Like I said, I do have an inspection scheduled but it's always nice to hear what other moms have to say as well.
@katynnewthe safest seat location is where you can get a good install. Some cars do have a bump/birm in the middle seat that makes this challenging, so if you can't get a good install there, go with one of the outboard seats. The safety difference between middle and outboard is very small.
The other thing you might want to do is join the facebook group Car Seats for the Littles and post a picture of your install there - they can help critique/troubleshoot if you want some peace of mind before April 1. It could be that your middle seat will work just fine - you might just need some tips to get a solid install in that seat - or you might get confirmation that the middle seat in your vehicle is problematic and an outboard seat would be better.
@katynnew Yes, it is definitely possible to have a middle seat that just can't get a good install. Like PP said, wherever you can get the best install is the safest place for them (even latch vs. seatbelt, whichever one you can get more secure is safer).
Re: Never too early for car seat safety
@Jules08 we recently transitioned from a Safety 1st convertible that DS outgrew height-wise to a Graco Nautilus - it works as an extended 5-point harness until 65#, then high back booster to 100#, can also be a basic booster. I tried to meet somewhere in the middle pricewise while finding the highest 5-point harness weight limit. He'll be 5 in Jan and is around 45#, I think he'll outgrow his seats by height before weight though still. Point being - I like that seat, it's user friendly and it was around ~150$.
I am hoping to find a high back booster w/ 5pt harness that goes beyond 65 lbs. Our Evenflo Triumph (convertible) forward faces to 65lbs. Obviously I am not sure at what age DS will hit 65 pounds, so my concern/ hope is that he isn't in a belt positioning booster before he can properly sit in it (and stay that way if he falls asleep in it). I've seen too many kids slouched over or constantly leaning while in a belt positioning booster and that gives virtually zero protection in an accident then
For anybody worried about installing and using a car seat safely, they're a great resource for that too!
It's a boy! Grow baby, grow! EDD: 4/22/2016
Also my friend sells fleece ponchos that are super easy for car seat safety (she's as obsessed with it as I am). She embroiders them with adorable character designs on the hoods. If anybody's interested I'll send you her way. We have an embroidery chat together bc were nerds. Let me find a pic from her
I have a 2008 Saturn Vue and it doesn't have latches for the middle seat. So I read the next safest thing would be to stay in the middle but use the seat belt. But something just seems off about it. The middle seat kind of bumps up and seems almost harder than the outside seats. It just doesn't seem as tight as it should be. So I moved it behind the passenger seat and used the latches and it seems tighter but I can't get it out of head that she would be safer in the middle. I'm scheduled for an inspection at the hospital but they couldn't fit me until April 1 and it's just bugging the perfectionist in me that I can't figure it out so I thought it'd be nice to hear from other ladies until then. I'm hoping that I'm just doing something wrong and that the inspectors can get it nice and snug in the middle seat.
But this is basically a long-winded post to ask if it's just possible to have a car where the middle seat just doesn't work out? I know it can't be THAT big of a deal to put them on the outside because if you have more than one kid, somebody has to be but I'm also a paranoid first time mom and want make sure I'm doing things right! Like I said, I do have an inspection scheduled but it's always nice to hear what other moms have to say as well.
The other thing you might want to do is join the facebook group Car Seats for the Littles and post a picture of your install there - they can help critique/troubleshoot if you want some peace of mind before April 1. It could be that your middle seat will work just fine - you might just need some tips to get a solid install in that seat - or you might get confirmation that the middle seat in your vehicle is problematic and an outboard seat would be better.