Convertible Car Seats - Chesapeake,VA

Hi,

My son outgrew his infant car seat at 5 mos. I bought the Britax convertible car seat (Marathon model). It's a bit pricey but I have been very happy with it. It's super-easy to install--we've moved around a lot since I bought it--and I like that he can stay rear-facing up to 35 pounds. Then it can be converted to forward-facing up to 65 pounds.

We have Britax and Graco. Both work well. I like the Britax a bit better because there is more room side to side and I don't feel like she is all bunched in.

One thing to keep in mind is that most convertible seats go up to 40 pounds, which is around 3 1/2 - 4yrs. Britax can go up to 65pounds. So you pay more for Britax now, but it will last you 5-6 years. However, going with a lesser weight one is fine too becuase then you're freeer to change it up as your child gets older, taller, etc.
M.

We have a Britax Roundabout and love it. It's easy to clip in, he never compalins being in it and we often take in/out of the car w/o any fuss. Because we just got a second car, we wanted another car seat, and a Graco Nautilus was suggested to us by many people and the ratings are very high.

Hope this helps!

Spend the extra $ and get a Britax. I did EXTENSIVE research on car seats and they were always rated very high, usually the highest. www.albeebaby.com - almost always has a sale on a discontinued pattern so you can get Britax quality at a great price. I paid $179 for 1 and $199 each for 2 others. It was a lot but he will be in them for a good long time so it will be cheaper than buying a car seat at each stage. We are very happy with all 3 seats. They are designed very smartly. Also check out Amazon - they occassionally have a sale!

Hi

We have the Britax Marathon , very easy to install & reclines. It is a little bulky when in the reverse posistion but if you have a bigger vehicle then not too much of a problem. They are quite pricey though , around $250 I think?

We have a Britax Marathon RF in my Saturn SL1. It fits in the center with the tether connected to the slide for the passenger side seat. DD seems to like it. We did get a little help from the firefighters on install, but I'm pretty confident I could re-install in any car now and if you have LATCH, that would be even easier (I don't). The Marathon seems to be popular among the families at my DD's daycare and I got it because a friend's daughter is still in hers and she's 4. It goes to 65lbs FF, 35 RF.

another vote for the britax roundabout. my daughter still fits in it at 3.5 yo! when you spread the cost over how long it lasts it's much cheaper than the infant seats.

W have the Britax Roundabout (still rear-facing for as long as she'll tolerate it) and we love it. It's comfy, looks good, and is easy to install. You can find great deals on them on craigslist.

i think all convertables are hard to install rearfacing. id recomend getting an infant et that goes to 35 pounds. they make those now and i think its awesome. one thing you can do though is to go to babiesrus and tke their seats out to your car to try them out and see if they fit before you buy one. when you do pick out a forward facing seat i would recomend one that goes to 65 pounds though so that hewont outgrow it. but if you get another infant seat to last the next 6 months you can get it cheap on craigslist then whn you are done resell it there. side note ...i wouldnt get the roundabout sense it only goes to 40 pounds. i got the graco nautilus and LOVE it. it goes to 65 pounds then goes to 100 pounds as a booster. its not a rearfacing seat though so you cant use it til he's 1.

I purchased the Britax Marathon when my son was 6 months old (he also outgrew his infant car seat!) and he was in it until he was 4 1/2 (that's when we got him the booster). He has always been a big kid and he was comfortable and had plenty of room in the Britax. A lot of money up front but well worth it in terms of safety and comfort!
K.