Car Seat Recommendations - Anchorage,AK

I've done a lot of research and found the Britax Roundabout to be a great car seat! It is a little pricey but so worth it and soft! Plus, it is convertible so you can use for rear-facing and then forward-facing.

I would get the five point harness convertable booster seat. It is two pieces locked together to make up a one piece forward facing car seat that can later be taken apart to become a booster seat. It is much more cost effective because you won't have to buy a booster seat when he outgrows his forward facing carseat. You will already have one! I hope that this helps, H. mom to Ethan(4) and Emma(3).

5 point harness car seat...Looks like these straps

http://www.albeebaby.com/evenflo-titan-elite-5-point-conv...

P.S.Its also what race car drivers use

No question - Britax. It may be a little more spendy but if you check the weight ranges you'll see that it holds your child longer. Also it has great heavy-duty straps that don't crinkle and make getting into and out of the car a chore later on.

Hi C.,
We ended up with the Safe Seat from Graco. It has higher weight and height limits than most other infanct seats, which was great, since Alyssa was in the 90-95th percentile for height and weight until her 1st bday. It's a little heavier than others, but at 9 months, you're probably not taking the car seat in and out so much anymore.

~J.

The britax are the best, they are a little spendy but the best out there. Everyone I talked to recommended them. The nice thing is though that they allow for a little larger kid so you can use them longer than some of the other brands so that helps offset the cost.

When I upgraded my daughters car seat I researched, researched and researched until I was sick of convertible car seats! I finally found one I was truly happy with and I have loved it ever since I bought it (and so does my daughter)!

I bought the Evenflo Triumph Advance LX. This is my 10th carseat that I've bought (out of 4 children) and by far my favorite with the most ease of use of any carseat I have ever encountered. This has all the same perks of the Britax without the high price tag and is a little more roomier.

I would highly recommend it. I was even able to go to the store and take the demo product out to my car to make sure it was going to install correctly in my car before I bought it!

My daughter was 8 months old and only 14 pounds when I upgraded her car seat. She still sits rear-facing at 15 months and 18 pounds.

I would recommend getting one with a weight limit of at least 60 pounds, possibly even 80. He will have to be in a carseat until 8 years and 80 pounds. Because your son is only 9 months old, you will have to get one that can be rear-facing as well. Look for one that easily adjusts the tightening of the straps, because every time he has a coat on, you will have to loosen them. Most carseats have the tightening strap in the front between the feet, but notice that when it is rear-facing, you can't get to that strap. The Cosco Alpha Omega is a good carseat that goes to 100 pounds, but it has that strap that is hard to tighten. I have an Evenflo Triumph, and love it. It has dials to turn that make tightening and loosening very easy...the problem with it is that it only goes up to 50 pounds. I went this route because using the convertable car seats as a booster with the seatbelt is a huge pain because they are so big. I just bought a good booster too.

I just had to buy two new seats because the ones i had were in a car accident. But the ones we got my husband did days of research on to make sure they were the best they are by RECARO. they are a little pricy but well worth it they will stretch and grow with the kids as they get bigger. I purchased mine at the Right Start Store in Bellevue. You can also check them out online to i believe at RECARO.com. Good luck i know carseat shopping can be worse then buying bras or jeans!!

Hi,

We love our Britax Roundabout! We also have a different one (can't remember the name of it) that is a real pain because the straps are hard to adjust. With the Britax, you just push a button and pull the straps out further- for bulkier clothing and pull the straps tighter when they have less bulky clothing. We wish we had spent the extra money to have Britax car seats for both of our cars. They will use this car seat for several years (many ins and outs), so make sure it's one you like!

I have the Britax Boulevard and the Roundabout. They are both fantastic car seats. My son has always been off the charts in height and weight and these seats have worked perfectly for him. I actually turned him around at 9 months as he would no longer fit facing rear as his knees were bent to his chest and it was too difficult to tighten his harness straps. I would highly recommend either seat.

we love out Marthon by Britax...it is a bit spendy, but i love how you can adjust the straps once the kid is in and buckled. we live in Alaska, so in the winter he is bundled up and in the spring it is either or. so it is really nice to be able to quicky adjust the straps. i read all the reviews on Amazon.com and it seemed the best. the seat sits up higher so they can see out better as well. i think it goes up to 40 lbs. when our 2 month old needs a new seat we'll definatley get another one!

I know you've gotten a lot of responses...lol But I thought I'd add mine in.
I have the Eddie Bauer 3 in 1 Convertable carseat. It is good from 5 - 100 pounds.
The best thing about it is that you can adjust the shoulder strap height from the front of the carseat.
I haven't seen another carseat that does this (not even Britax).
It's really durable too. It is kind of hard to get the seat cover off to wash it. I only did that once...
My daughter got a Gogurt and popped it in the carseat, so when we got home, I scrubbed it with laundry soap and a dish brush, and then I hosed it out. Easiest way to clean a carseat that I've found. lol Dries really fast too...
It's really great b/c you don't have to take the carseat out, re-thread the shoulder straps, and then put it back into the car.
It was on the more expensive side, but it does have a higher safety rating than the cheaper ones.
I love this carseat so much, I've bought 2, one for each of my girls. (well actually 3, b/c one got stolen out of my car...that's how you know you've got a good carseat..when it gets stolen instead of the digital camera on the seat next to it...lol)
Anyway, hope this helps!!
C.

Both of our kids are in the Alpha Omega Elite convertible car seat and we love it! Our son is currently in the rear facing position and our daughter is forward facing. The Safety review for this car seat are great the price is around $150. The only thing with this seat is the Booster rating isn't the best but we figure; at least for our family having small kids, we wont have to worry about that because the car seat will be expired by the time we need the booster seat position. Best of luck finding one that works for you and your family. JIC here is the site for the one we bought!

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2401317

Oh and here is a great link to look at for car seat ratings

http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/nhtsa_eou/info.jsp?type=infant

Get a Britax!!!!! Best safety investment you will ever make. our first lasted through two kids and we would have used it for our third, but we passed the seven year use limit. so we purchased another!! Britax has a five point harness convertable chair with the LATCH system that will hold your child to 65 pounds and can be purchased at babys r us. I have found only one other five point harness seat that goes past 40 pounds, but it reviewed poorly unlike the Britax. Every other seat I looked at becomes a booster using only the shoulder harness between 30 and 40 pounds which is NOT your safest option! the five point harness is!!! The chairs are expensive, but well worth the investment and piece of mind! my husband is a firefighter/paramedic and sees a bit of everything and would highly encourage the five point harness for as long as possible.

I highly recommend car-seat.org. There are amazing techs on there who can help you.

We have 2 Britax Marathons and love them!!!! Our daughter is still rearfacing at age 3 and will be able to forward face later until 65lbs. It should last us until she is truly ready for a booster with seatbelt.

Hi C.,
There are certain features you should look for in a car seat. First and most important, look for HIGH weight and height limits for rear facing. That is the safest possible position, and your little guy should stay rear facing as long as possible; some 4 year olds are still rear facing, and my daughter is at 3 1/2. They can be perfectly comfortable that way, and it protects them so much better!
Second in importance: high weight and height limits for a 5 point harness; one of the most common car seat problem we see as techs is kids put in boosters too early (my 9 year old, for example, still fits properly in a 5 point harness in a couple of seats), and they are easily thrown from the car in a crash. The 5 point harness is SO much safer; so look for a seat that has high limits.
Third is fit to your car; wherever you go to buy your seat, ask to actually try installing it in your car to be sure it is compatible. Most are, but some small cars and big seats do not work well together.
Fourth is brand; there are some that are known to have a better safety reputation than others. Sunshine Kids (the Radian car seat) and Britax (Marathon, Boulevard, and Regent) are the "big names" in that respect.
LAST is cost; this is the most important safety money you will spend, because it could literally save your son's life. So do NOT cut corners or accept a used seat.
Finally, be sure you install and use the seat correctly: the seat should not move more than an inch side to side (preferably not at all), and the harness straps should be too tight to pinch above the shoulder, with the clip at armpit level. If you have more specific questions, please e-mail me. If you live in Salem, Burlington at Lancaster mall is having a car seat safety breakfast Saturday morning at 9, and a car seat clinic at 10 in the parking lot. There will be three of us there who are car seat techs and can help you install and answer questions, and it is free. Good luck!!
E.

C., it looks like you're getting some great advice. I'd add one more thing to this list, though it's not a brand/model endorsement.

Every vehicle's seats and belts are a little bit different. A good car safety seat will only function as it's meant to if it's installed correctly in your car.

The State of Oregon has an organization called the Safety Seat Resource Center which provides training and assistance to assure the best installation of safety seats in YOUR vehicle. It takes only a little time (20-30 minutes), and it's free, but well worth the while.

The Safety Seat Resource Center's calendar of events can be found at this site: http://www.childsafetyseat.org/ As you'll see, they hold them at various locations around the state, so just look for one that is convenient for you.

I have the Britax Boulevard and I love it my son is 30lb and still has plenty of room. We got it when my son was about 20 lbs it was a little roomy at the stage but still worked. We also the Evenflo and it is nice for when the are still kind of small. I haven't used it in a while to tell how my son would fit now. I seen some respones say not to invest in one until the need to face forward, I can't disagree with that more. The infant seat usaully only go to about 22lbs so your son is denfantly almost there I would find it to be unsafe to go over the weight limit. consumer reports gives rating for car seats. Good luck

I'll second (and third) the britax marathon recommendations! It goes up to 65 lbs. and is super comfy and easy to install. I bought it after a car accident when we replaced an infant seat, and was in two more accidents shortly after, one really bad, and my daughter wasn't hurt. They're expensive, sometimes you can find them used but be careful of that. In my opinion after three accidents, there is no price that's not worth it for your kids' safety!

Another option is the GRACO Nautilus. 5pt harness to 65 lbs, then converts to a seat belt booster and finally a backless booster. Good to 100 lbs. Hoping it is our last one for him.

I have an older car that does not have the LATCH system which eliminated my use of some of the seats since they required LATCH or the top tether for child weights over 40 lbs.

You have go and look and if you have more than one child take a tape measure with you to find the skinniest width so it will fit in your car easier. I had a hard time finding a car seat for one of my boys because he is big for his age and his legs were so beefy that I had to find a seat that had the buckle farthest from the back of the seat so that I wouldn't end up pinching his diaper area. Every child is different! you need to take your little one with you and try them out.

J.

I would highly recommend the Britax Marathon. It is not the smallest car seat on the market, but last I knew was the safest and has held up very well for our now 4 year old son.

My biggest piece of advice when it comes to carseats is to get a convertible one! We found ours for about $50 at Target and it's the type of carseat that is good from birth clear until they do not need a booster anymore as it changes from a reverse carseat to a forward facing one and then to a booster seat when they're ready for that. When we have our next, we're getting another one!

If you can afford it, I highly recommend the Britax Roundabout. We had to move our now 11 month old to a convertible car seat at about 9 months. I chose the Roundabout for it's safety reputation. However, I have fallen in love with it's features. Our daughter is snug and safe, yet has room so she isn't screaming to get out anymore. The straps don't tangle. I love the headrest that adjusts with the twist of a knob. While it is a tight fit in the back seat of our car with the car seat still facing rear, in a few weeks when we can face it forward it will be a better fit.

I have to say if money is not a major issue the Britax carseats that run just under $300 are the BEST!!! I love the one I have. I have had both kidsn, the cheaper and now this very expensive one and I would never go any other way! Cleaning it is so easy and I love the sides that support my sons head so it does not bob when he is trying to sleep! It is SO worth the money and very highly rated in the area of safety. Isn't that our main concern safety and comfort of our child! The Britax is the best in my opinion!

When my son grew out of his infant seat, I bought a 5-80 pound carseat. It was kind of expensive (it was $120.00 at the time), but it was a transitional carseat where it would turn into a booster when he came of age (he's 6 now). In the long run, it will save you money. I had to buy an Infant Carseat, then a bigger one after that, and then a booster (for my 12 year old son). I didn't want to buy a carseat that he would be in for another 8 months to a year only to have to buy another carseat once he was 2 or almost 2. Just make sure it has a 5 point harness-that is very important. My 6 year old was small for his age, and he would "twist" out of his infant carseat. The one I got reclines, so I could continue to have him the way he was with his infant carseat (they can't be forward facing until they are 20 pounds I think, I forgot what the weight limit is)-and, it had extra padding in it that you can remove when he gets older, it had a little sun-shade thing that was removable too. There are so many carseats on the market now, but almost all of them have a "tether" that bolts behind the seat, and then there is a strap behind the carseat that fastens on it, it's like an extra precaution. Babies R Us in Alderwood has the best, and biggest selection of carseats. You will have to find one that suits your needs the best. It's been 6 years since I bought his carseat, and I'm looking into buying him a new booster, just because, it's time.

Once you get his exact height & weight, go to www.actsoregon.org - this oregon website gives the Oregon State guidelines and lists suggested seats. The guidelines are in compliance with the Federal governments best practice guidelines. Hope this helps!

We bought two (we had two cars) Graco Convertible carseats from wal-mart when my first was 9 months old and weighed 22 lbs. We bought the cheapest ones they had because we had to buy two, but we're really happy with them! My son is almost three and weighs 35 lbs and STILL is using the same carseat. My second is now using the other carseat at 9 months and 22 lbs also. They are great because you can face them to the rear (you just stick a rolled-up towel under the front to recline it) and then in a few SHORT months, you can face it to the front.

Hello! I would recommend the Britax line of carseats. They are more spendy but well worth it. I bought the Marathon for my son who is now 20mos. old. It is good rear-facing up to 33lbs and forward facing up to 65lbs (so no need to rush him into a booster seat since he is safer in a five-point harness anyway). The covers are easily removable and very easy to clean or you can order a second one through Britax and never be without your carseat. You can find them at Target and Babies 'R Us.

There have been many instances lately where a child at 20-25lbs has been turned forward facing at a year but was seriously hurt in a car accident because they still were not heavy enough to be safely riding forward. I am currently 8 months pregnant and plan on leaving my daughter rear-facing until she is 30lbs since it is safer.

M. Webster

I've heard great things about Britax but they were too expensive.
A great car seat, still not the cheapest, is the radian 65 or the newer radian 80. They have weight limits of 65 or 80 lbs respectively. I plan to keep my daughter in the safer 5 point harness as long as possible rather than switch to a booster seat.
It is easily adjustable, acceptabed by FAA for flying. Narrower based than many seats so if you might have multiple car seats in a car it is a plus. The one down side is it is heavy to move between cars regularly.

I have 2 graco comfort sports that you can get at babies r us for about $99 I was looking at the $79 graco ones but they had little to no padding for the seat. They have adustable bars in the back so you can recline the seat when it is rear facing. My 6 month old is in one and my 2 yr old has been in the other since he was about 8 months old they are quite comfortable for longer rides and both boys seem to enjoy them.

We used the Britax Roundabout seat and our son was able to use it for a very long time. They have the lowest amount of recalls and a five point harness. It is reversible also, incase you have another child and want to use it from birth. Check out their website at http://www.britaxusa.com/

I use only Britax car seats! My mother researched online for the safest seats, fewest recalls, etc and found Britax to be one of the very best. They are expensive but, mine (the Roundabout model) goes up to 40 pounds and my almost 3 year old is still using it. It is soft and cushy and has a great safety rating! Good luck finding one you like!!!

I love the Britax seats. I got the Roundabout but I would recommend the Marathon. The Roundabout is great but it is a little smaller, my daughter is tall and has almost outgrown it but is still not heavy enough for a booster.
They are a bit spendy but definitely worth it

HI-
I have both the Britax Decathalon and the Cosco Scenera. I love the Britax, but it is big and bulky and to heavy to change between cars. However my daughter loves it and is very very comfortable in it. It goes up to 65 lbs and it has an adjustable crotch strap which many car seats don't have. It was very expensive, but I plan on using for a long time, so I was ok with the price. Before you buy a Britax, make sure it fits your car. They are huge.
I also love the Cosco seat. It was very inexpensive and we got it as a second seat for my husbands car, grandma's car and airplane rides. It was less than 50.00. It is a no frills seat, however, my daughter also likes it. It is roomy and pretty comfortable for her. I love it because it is lightweight.
It is not an easy decision. I fretted over it forever. Good luck.
A.

C.,

I have the britax marathon for both my children (almost 3 and 11 months) and they are really comfy in there. My older child loves it. It is really great when it comes to safety, They are easy to clean, adjust and strap child in. They are more expensive than others, but have had the less amount of recalls on and are such a great product, They are a little on the big side, so I would see how fits in your car first.

Hey. You can't have your little one front-facing until he is both 1 year and 20 lbs. I know is is over the 20 but he must be 1 year. I would just wait until he hits that mark before investing in a new seat. When my little one turned 1, I took him with me to Babies R Us and actually tried him in all the seats until I found one that worked for us the best. Good luck!

I would go to your local fire station. They can help you with that information. Hope this helps :)

It's a tough decision, but I have both the Britax Roundabout and Marathon for my kids and love them both. I think the best part of them, besides safety (and there ARE other carseats that are just as safe) is the ease of getting the kids in and out, and that the straps are simple to adjust and don't tangle. That was a big deal for me.

I found a lot of great advice and info on the Babycenter bulletin board devoted to car safety. It is a VERY active board and there are many safety fanatics there who can give you all kinds of great info on carseats, what works best in what car, what not to get, what's the best deal (if price is an issue) etc.

Hi
I have the same problem I have a grandson that is 22lb at 7 months. I just called Head Start and she told me a child has to be 1 yr and 20lbs before they can be turned around to face the front. So you will have to get a toddler car seat that face forword and backword and with that car seat he can use until he is 40lbs. Heat start in Oregon has it where you can rent a car seat for $10.00 dep. and $4.00 a month until you can buy your own.Sorry about any miss spelled words. I hope this will help.

Here is a link to the seat I have. I love it. It reclines while in the rear facing position and is very comfortable in the forward facing position. My son slept through a 10 hour flight to south america in it.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2739371

Hi!~

I was told by my sons' pediatritian,and the local health department that it is okay to upgrade from an infant carrier,to a carseat that can be placed facing backward,and frontward,because you want to wait to face the car seat forward for when they turn 1 and or 25-30 LBS.The reason for this is because you are supposed to let their neck muscles become stronger before you can face them forward,so in the mean-time you can face them twoard the back seat.

Hope this helps:)
A.

I love my Britax Roundabout. I've had occasion to use other brands while traveling, and comparatively, the Britax is really easy to use, and seems more comfortable for my baby. (Her head doesn't loll down to her chest in the Britax, but rests to the side. Also, since the straps are easier to adjust, i think the seat fits her better on a ride-to-ride basis.)

I absolutely love my Britax. Very well made, comfortable (my 2 boys have never complained at least), and easy to install.

We love our Eddie Bauer 3 in 1 Elite convertible carseat! My son is 4 and a very tall boy and is working wonderful for a booster seat! We had the Evenflo Triumph, but we went on looks and comfort and it only went to 40lbs. So when he outgrew the weight on that one, we had to make the next purchase! So, we have spent alot on carseats! This Eddie Bauer one is the last one we should need to get as it goes to 100lbs! it was $179.99 at Babies R Us. A steal for a multi functional seat! Goodluck!

I recommend a car seat that can hold as much weight and height as possible since oregon passed a new law that requires a child be in a 5pt harness until 40lbs. Most convertible carseats hold a max of 40 lbs and 42 inches (the height varies a little). It's common for kids to outgrow the max height before they reach 40lbs, then by oregon law you have to buy a new one! I've really researched this lately and found that evenflo convertible carseats and britax hold 50+lbs (50lbs and 50inches for 2008 evenflos and 65lbs for britax marathon) - both are rear and forward facing and both of them are in the very top for safetly ratings! Take your baby to a store and put him in them and see which one looks comfortable. I am happy with the evenflo triumph for my twins (because of the recline feature) but the evenflo titan is just as safe and comfortable for a lower price. I used the graco comfortsport convertible for my older son and it's not nearly as nice - I don't recommend that one. Not comfortable, easy to install or as safe. Good luck! D.

Yes, save yourself some money and do some thinking about your needs and then do really good research. We have a 1969 mustang that only has a lap belt and I won't let her sit in that car without a 5 point harness. I bought a Costco Alpha Omega but, I don't want to use it as a booster. I have done more extensive research and I am buying a Britax Regent Car seat. I found it at Albeebaby.com for the cheapest ($219.99) and free shipping. Here is the site http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch?catalog=alb...
I tried her in it at Segal's before I purchaed online. They have great technicians. Britax had the best saftey rating of all the child seat company's. Any 3-in-1 or 3-Phase car seat would probably take care of your needs but, if you can wait I think the Britax Regent would last longer and be more comfortable for your child.

I don't remember what we use and don't want to run out to check, (it's nap time and I am finally sitting down), but I do suggest that before you purchase, make sure the seat fits in your vehicle correctly. We had this problem when we got our twins' convertible carseats. We bought them, got them home, and then they didn't fit right!! So we had to bring them back and go through the whole process over again. FRUSTRATING!! Turns out my sister in law had the same issue. Most stores will accomidate (sp?)this request and just send an employee out to the car with you.
Good luck on your hunt!

Hi, C.,
Call your local state patrol non emergency phone number. They should be able to tell you what is required in your state.
P. W.

C.,
We looked at the Consumer Reports online site to help us with this. We ended up purchasing a Cosco 5 point harness seat with an anchor. That was 7 years ago, so the recommendations may have changed now.
Car seats are expensive, but worth the security. If you are unsure that you have buckled it in correctly, check with the hospital or local fire station and they can tell you when they are having a carseat safety check.
Be Well.
A.

Your son should be in a rear-facing carseat with a harness until he is both 1 year old AND 20 pounds, but the longer the better. My son also outgrew his infant seat before that time, so I had to buy another... I ended up with the Evenflo Titan Deluxe, which goes to 35# rear-facing, but only 50# forward-facing. It was about $80 on sale. Of course, he grew too tall for it at only 2 years old! However, the next (and last!) car seat I bought I highly recommend. That is the Graco Nautilus. It costs $140-150, but once your child faces forward, it is the last seat you will need (and still a lot cheaper than Britax!!!). It's 5-point harness can be worn up to 65# (and the longer the child is in a harness, the better), then the harness comes off and the seat is a high-back booster... or you can take the back off for a more portable traditional booster seat. (www.gracobaby.com).
I would recommend buying a less expensive convertable car seat until your child faces forward, then invest in the Nautilus. Or maybe you even have a friend or relative with an unused seat you can borrow. (Just be sure, of course, that the seat has never been in an accident and is less than 6 years old.)

I just got the Britax - a convertible seat. I like it so far.

I have the Radian 80 by Sunshine Kids. I love that it is the only carseat I will have to buy for my daughter. It goes rear facing til 30lbs and forward 5 point harness til 80. There is also a 65lb version. It is also much narrower across the outside base than a Britax so you can fit multiples across the seat of your car.
I got it at www.mypreciskid.com
Hope that helps,

When my kids were ready to move up, I took them with me to stores that had a wide selection of car seats(like Babies R Us or Target) and just tried them all out. Every baby is shaped a little differently, so I just bought the one that my baby looked the safest and most comfy in.

It looks like you have a lot of advice... I will be quick with mine... I have a son and he was the same at 9 months also. We are in the car for about 3 hours a day and he doesn't complain much about the seat he is in. I found ours at Bi-mart for about $75 on some baby sale. I LOVE LOVE the car seat and am very pleased with it. Here is a link to the one we have... although it doesn't have the arm rests... maybe they are attachments like the cup holder? Other wise this one look JUST like it! Here is a link! Good luck darling!
http://www.babyage.com/products/22-155hmr_cosco_cosco_alp...