Foward facing carseat for big girl - Big Girl Carseat

I love my Alpha Omega carseat. I got it when my daughter finally was big enough to use a forward facing seat. It is pretty easy to remove the seat pads to wash them (which I do a lot now that we are potty training) and it still looks new. Also it was the most practical for my family because my daughter will also use it as a booster seat with the regular seatbelt whenever she gets that big and then if the laws change to 100 pounds its rated for that weight too. It's a little more expensive than some of the others but less than the Britax or Peg-Perego and I won't have to buy another one so I 'm saving money in the long run and it matches my car upholstry.

Check Baby Bargains or Toddler Bargains for ratings of all carseats, including safety, day-to-day usage, cost, ability to clean, etc. These are great books for ALL baby and toddler gear. Consumer reports also rates carseats. Britax is the brand that comes out on top in most all ratings. There are changes all the time, though, and you will not need a booster for your child for about 2 years. Most boosters are relatively cheap, about $50. Since they may change, I would stick with a conventional, highly rated, best carseat (whether converts to a booster or not) and then buy the latest best booster when your child is ready. My baby will be one next month and we have the Britax (Roundabout I believe). Also, the baby must be 12mo AND 20 lb to face forward. Backward facing is considered safer and you can continue with the "big girl" car seat facing backwards if you want. My sister turned her kids around at about 18mo, but they were all on the small side.

If she is at least 22 lbs, look into the "Britax Regent"! I LOVE THIS ONE!!! It is a forward facing "booster" that uses 5 point harness to 80 lbs. and 53 inches! This is what we bought our son when he turned 2. He had already out grown a traditional convertible style- coming in at 40 lbs, 40 inches. Most of the other seats we could find only used 5 point to about 45 lbs, and we new that we wouldn't be ready to place him in the shoulder buckle seats any time soon.

Pros: LONG life of usefulness- HIGH safety ratings- Comfortable (my son has sat in this seat for 3 hours straight, while awake, and didn't complain)- Affordable when you consider how long it will last (CA is moving toward 8 years/ 80 lbs in booster)- As opposed to many of the others recommended here, it uses 5 point harness all the way to 80 lbs, many of the others (including the Alpha Omega Elite) only use it to 40-45 lbs.

Cons: BIG! and bulky (If you do not have a bigger car, it may not fit)- Was on back order when we bought (due to such high demand)- A LOT of securing points to fasten (which depending on your view may be a pro)- Pricey up front ($269.99 at Bergstroms, where I also just read “now in stock”)

Hope you find what you're looking for, ~J.

BTW- it doesn't offer any recommendations, but has a lot of GREAT info- http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

There's tons of choices. One way, is to go online and look at Amazon or Toy's r' Us. Research it and look at the starred ratings from people who actually bought the item, and the safety ratings. These ratings and reviews will tell you more than a person in a store can. It's VERY helpful. And it saves time from having to actually go to the store and standing there talking to someone. Online, you can do it right from home. Like the other response, Britax is good and well rated. But there are many different price-points, and many different and good car seats. For me personally, I like the car seats that has a higher weight limit... my girl & boy are tall and big for their age. But, we bought a separate 'booster seat' as well for the older child. We got a Britax.... they make the best booster seats....it's an actual seat with a back that protects their neck and head, versus being must a platform to sit on. For car seats, we had Graco, & Britax. As a tip: when you shop from Amazon.com, some items are 'free' shipping. It's convenient, to me, and same cost (or even less) than in the store. Good luck!

Hi B., i read the other responses, and saw that alot of them had recommended the Britex, its good, good safety ratings, but your gonna be shelling out big money. A friend of ours had at on her baby shower list, i went to get it for her and it was on back order, i bought her the Eddie Bauer instead. It was about $120.00 less then other one. We have had the Eddie Bauer 5 in 1 for more then 4 years now, i bought it when my oldest was just over a year old, my 3rd child is now using it, its dark in color and the material is easy to clean, its safe, comfortable and you can use this seat rear facing or till they are 100 pounds. The main reason i bought it is cause of this, my children always fall asleep as soon as we hit the road, it was one of the only car seats that held thier head up pretty good, when you turn your baby into a front facing seat, you will realize how important that is. I highly recommend this one. It gets an A+ with me in every rating. Good Luck!
A.!

Hey there...

There are soooo many choices out there but honestly..dont go out and pay 2-400 dollars for a carseat. A $400 carseat is no more safer than a $100 carseat. I have friends who paid hundreds for britax and other high priced brands. Me and my girlfriend went out and paid $140 for an Alpha Omega by Cosco...I got mine from The military exchange but they also have them at Wal-mart and K-mart. They all run about the same price. It is awesome. It is from 5-100lbs, rear to forward facing, and into a booster. It has a 5-point harness and adjustable seat, a drink holder and a washable interior. It is also approved for airplanes as well. Everyone I know who has this one absolutley loves it. But it is all a personal choice so go to Amazon and check on the customer reviews to see what others think of the brands you are looking for. There is also websites that feature like a consumer reports section on carseats from ease of use to safety to price. So do some research and I am sure you will find just what your looking for. The best tip is to look for something that will last till your child no longer will need to be in any type of seat. Happy hunting and Good luck.

Hi B.,
We transitioned our daughter from the infant carrier to the Britax Marathon a few months ago . She will be 1 in August and we have it facing the rear but we can use it forward facing until she is 6 yrs and or 45lbs. It is pricey but well worth the money. My recommendation for you is to go to Babies R Us and speak to someone there about the differences. They were very helpful when we were searching. Also, this model came highly recommended from many members of my mommies group. I hope this helps. Happy Shopping!

Please consider keeping your child rear-facing for as long as possible in the 'big girl' car seat that you do decide on.

Watch these videos;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7QrC8

Britax is a great carseat, but is very big,but it has a lot of comfort and is one of the safest out there. We bought a Eddie Bauer one that turned into a booster,and to tell you the truth it got so dirty and trashed, I think by the time you need a booster just go out and buy one, plus you can use the britax rear facing if your child were to out grow it and you did have another one.Say your daughter is 4 and 40lbs. moves up to the booster and you have another little one.

Remember, she has to be 20 lbs to face forward also. Don't rush into it, they are safer facing backwards. That said, I have 2 kids now, and it is great that my older one can buckle her own carseat. My younger one (now 2) has a crazy buckle that only an adult can figure out how to buckle. I love that my big girl can hop in and buckle herself, but my little one gets really frustrated that she can't buckle herself. (I have to unbuckle both of them, which is really how it should be) So when shopping, get one that is easy to get those little metal things into (but not out of) the holes!

Oh yeah, and be sure that the cover can slip off without too much effort for easy washing (potty training will be here before you know it!) Mine is a day-long project to reassemble after an "accident" cleanup!