Convertible Car Seats - Hanover, MA

Whatever you do, she should stay rear facing as long as possible. We went from the Graco snugride to the britax marathon and have been extremely happy with it. My son went into it at over 14 months and he is now two and still using it. We picked it because it had great safety ratings and reviews. I don't know anything about the evenflo symphony, but you can probably find reviews and ratings online.

We have a Britax Marathon. IMO this is one of the best seats because it's easy to install using the latch system, allows you to RF longer up to 35 lbs and it seems very comfortable for my little one. I got it at Bed Bath and Beyond using a price match, 20% off coupon and free shipping at Christmas time.

I've also heard good things about the new Graco My Ride seat which allows for rear facing (RF) until 40 lbs. (http://carseatblog.com/?p=2556) which might also be an option. We switched DS around 7 months old -- he did not hit the weight limit of his seat, he just got too heavy for me to carry like that.

Good luck

I had a Graco safe seat for my daughter up till 13 months, then switched to the Britax Decathlon. She's tall (93%) and thin (15%), so I picked this particular brand because in online comments/reviews they seem to handle tall kids better.

I'm sure your seat is fine, and the Britax is a great brand. We decided to do the Britax in the "family car" and a less expensive but reliable brand in my husband's car (he does daycare pickups 3 blocks away and some grocery runs, nothing extensive).

Perhaps you can use the Evenflo in the 2nd car (if there is one), and get a Britax for the 1st car.

You should also check out http://www.car-seat.org, and search for similar threads of conversation (particular to your brand) and you can even post a question. I found the site extremely helpful when researching our 2nd car seat. The people online are all experts, and their advice was excellent.

Good luck!!

What is the weight and height limit on your chicco infant carrier? I ask cuz u an keep because u can keep her in there until the max is reached. I know the new chicco carrier goes to 30 lbs so u have a while unless she maxes out with height first. The AAP now recommends you keep a child rear facing for at least 2 years or as long as possible. The symphony is a great seat. It has a real nice recline while rear facing until around 35 lbs I think. But then you will have to forward face her for only anther 5 lbs. U can only use the 5 pt harnesp up to 40 lbs then u have to use the car seat belt. I would want to keep her in a harness longer cuz its safer. I bought a britax marathon cuz harnessed it goes up to 65 lbs.

We just changed our six month over to his convertible too! Its an Evenflo Triumph (can be used up to 50lbs) and I use it with my two year old as well and so far they both love it! Its easy to put in and easy to put them in :)! Britax are good carseats as well they are just really pricey-but remember whatever carseat you choose they all have to pass the safety regulations so its really what fits your family the best-fits in your car, comfortable to your little one, and easy for you to operate! Good Luck!

Hi,
I would not stress over what brand other people have. You obviously bought the one you did for a reason. As long as it can be rear facing and then turn around, you are good to go. A cup holder is a nice feature if it has one also. Your seat that she is in now will havea length or weight tht you go by to decide when to move them to the next seat. Once she reaches that length or weight, you switch to the rear facing if it is before 1 year. At 1 years old, they can be front facing. Good luck! :)

The very most important concern you have is that she is to face backward until she is BOTH one year and 20lbs. The rest is up to you in terms of if you like the way the seat works, the color, material, etc. Push your hand down on the seat part - does that feel like something you would want to sit on? Mostly people go with what they like in terms of how the straps get tightened. Some car seats are very annoying when it comes to that.

I also have a Chico infant carrier, and I have a Britax Roundabout for a convertible. I picked both because they got really good ratings for safety and ease of use on Consumer Reports. I've been really happy with both of them. I no longer have a subscription and don't remember what rating the Evenflo got, but if you are having doubts about your choice I would just try to find some safety ratings online (maybe there are others besides Consumer Reports, or maybe you can purchase a one-month online subscription, which I think is very cheap -- around $5 if I remember correctly) and decide which seat you would buy if you were doing it over again.

We switched our son to the convertible seat around 6 months, but rear facing until he was one. I would have loved to put him front facing earlier as he hated the carseat from the time he was born, but as far as I know its mandatory to keep them rear facing until they turn one.
He's fine in his carseat now. We don't have a britax and I know lots of kids who are not in britax seats. Too expensive for our budget! =)

S.,

Your daughter should out grow her Chicco seat before you move her to the convertible car seat. It can be that she is too long for the seat or that she out weighs the maximum weight limit but she needs to out grow it first. My ped was very clear on this point.
As for your choice. I don't know the evenflow model but other than the Britax another seat to look at is the Radian 65 or 80. It is a slimmer model and easier for travel than the Britax.

Hey S.,

I switched my Daughter to a carseat that holds up to 40lbs when she was 22 lbs 23 inches long 11 months. Her legs were hanging over the bucket seat and she was trying to look out the windows actually straining herself.
I used it facing back till she was 13 months old then I switched it when I was ready to use my rearview window as a travel buddie.
I see that you sell Tupperware, I was looking to buy 6 sippy cup tops from you if possible.
Let me know @ ____@____.com

Good luck with your choice of brand names, I just got what I felt was safe for my child not what was most popular. Unfortunately, $ does not allow it on this end

Looking forward to hearing from you,
G.

i bought the britax marathon - b/c it went up to 65lbs and because of the LATCH buckles - they are like car seat belts that they just clip in and when you ahve to take them out you press the red buttton to release it. also it is easy to pull the straps to tighten the Latch belts to secure the car seat - easy enough that i can do it myself. with other car seat's my husband had done and sometimes it needed both of us.

i do have to say the britax, rear facing - makes the person in the front seat have to sit really upright. if you can stay in the carrier while rear facing - just use it as a car seat, always leave it in the car. it will give the person in the front seat a little bit more room. but the britax rear facing allows the child to sit up more - where the carrier is a bit more reclined. my kids liked this better b/c with my explorer windows they could see out the windows better in the britax.

i went from the carrier to the carseat when my daughter was 7 mos old (15lbs)and when my son was 5 mos old (19lbs). the carrier was just getting to heavy to carry in and out of the house etc... since it was mostly me doing the daycare drop off and pick up it was just easier to carry the kid instead of the whole seat.

Hi S.- I don't really have advice on which seat you should purchase, but wanted to respond about switching to the new seat. I kept my kids, now age 2 1/2 and 7, in their travel systems for as long as I could because they fit better in the car facing backwards. Even if you never take out the travel system to carry them around in, they are designed to face backwards where the convertible ones aren't as much. Infants should stay facing backwards until they are at least 1 year old. I would also definitely recommend taking your car and whatever seat you have to your local fire department for a safety check to make sure you have the seat fitting properly. You would be surprised! I also found a quick reference website about car seat safety that will hopefully be helpful.
www.aap.org/family/Carseatguide.htm
Good luck! -E.