Picking a new carseat...how? - Page 2

[sunnymw]

I used to have a Mazda3 (2006) and was able to successfully fit many different types of seats in it, including the Radian in the center at a 45 degree angle for a newborn. 

I am one of "those" people that rear-faces a really long time, because it IS the safest way to travel, for anyone of any age, period. My 4.5yo is still rear-facing but if he asked me to turn him around I would. At 3.5 I would give the option for full-time FF if the child wanted it. He was actually FF for a few months and asked to re-RF and we saved money and bought him a new seat to do so. They ride forward facing for 0.2mi a week with MIL.

You're right... "parents have been doing it for years". That's why we in the US 3-4 children *DIE* PER DAY in car accidents. In Sweden, where they rear-face to age 4 or longer, they lose 3-4 per YEAR. Choose your odds wisely, because a 30mph accident could be fatal to a young child FFing too early or with an incorrectly installed seat. :)

My kids have head slump in some seats and have never complained or woken up sore. They are comfortable in a vast array of unusual positions that look completely painful to me ;) And yes you can install seats more upright... there are tricks to doing so (such as putting your weight where baby's feet would go when tightening the belt/latch strap). Some seats naturally install more upright than others. 

[allisonrose]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonjuanja 

That's not a bad idea!  I am not opposed to it being more upright (I don't think you can change the recline with My Ride...can u?), but I just don't want his neck hanging when he falls asleep.  I want him to be able to sleep comfortably.  But, I think we all want that for our little babes.  :)  I like the Radian.  The evenflow fits, but weight limits are only to 50lbs.  I feel like in 2 years, carseats will have even HIGHER weight limits.  I also like the Alpha Omega, but rear is only 35lb.  Is there a big difference between a child being rear at 35lb vs. 40lb?  How many parents ACTUALLY keep their kids rear through 35-40lbs?  Isn't that like 3 yrs of age?  So many parents turn them forward by 2 anyway...I know it isn't as safe, but parents have been doing it for years.  I don't want to discount the safety, but trying to be realistic here...when I was little, I didn't even have to be in a carseat.  

I don't own a MyRide so unfortunately I have no tips for adjusting the recline. I moved my son from his infant seat to his convertible around 8 or so months of age. I did install it more upright and his head did slump a bit so I reinstalled it a tad more reclined and no problem since then.

I know what you mean about in two years: I bought our True Fit less than two years ago and rearfacing limits have increased since then. The TF has a 35 lb rearfacing limit. I've read that many LOs tend to outgrow carseats by height (both rear and forward facing) before they outgrow them by weight. I do hope to rearface to the extent of our seat's limitations because of the increased safety. I saw a crashtest video comparing rearfacing to forward facing on YouTube which convinced me that extended rearfacing is the way to go. Of course I'm expecting a second child so I would consider playing musical carseats a bit to keep both seated safely. 

[mama2soren]

Originally Posted by Sonjuanja 

Any feedback on strap adjustment with the myride 65?  I just think that if you have to take it out all the time to adjust the straps in weather that changes and layers cause the need to readjust straps EVERY DAY, that would be hard if it needs to be taken out.  Also, neither of our cars have a latch system in the middle seats...

Any seat can be installed more or less upright, including the MyRide.  Push on the part where your DD's feet would be when you tighten the LATCH straps or the seatbelt.  

I had to comment on this post of yours though.  You should NOT be loosening the straps to accommodate bulky winter clothing.  Bulky coats/sweaters/snowsuits/etc. will be compressed in an accident, which causes there to be lots of slack in the car seat straps.  Sometimes enough for the baby to actually  be ejected from the car seat.  

This site shows what I'm talking about with lots of good pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2211036&id=199108530

Strap your baby in to the car seat in "regular" clothes (think, jeans and a tee).  Tighten the straps correctly.  Double check the tightness by pulling up any slack... you should not be able to pinch any slack at the shoulders.  The straps should not be loosened more than this.  You will find that a warm fleece sweatshirt can be added without necessitating you loosening the straps.  Fleece is thin and will not compress much.  If needed, layer warm blankets over her.  

Or, use/make a car seat poncho like this: http://www.carseatponcho.com/SAFETY.html (note that the back of the poncho should be draped over the back of the car seat, and should not come between the child's back and the car seat.

All that being said... yes, the MyRide harness is quite easy to adjust.  You really should not have to adjust it often though.  Find the proper tightness and leave it there until your DD has a big growth spurt.  

[leighi123]

Originally Posted by sageowl 

I had the same problem as you not too long ago.  Not fun.

I was originally looking at convertibles, since he still had at least 6 months of rear-facing left, but this was before I found out about the 3-in-1.  (If you have a big babe, you might as well go with a solution that will take you all the way through the carseat years, so you don't keep bumping up against weight limits--otherwise you'll probably just have to do the same thing all over again in a few months).

As much as everyone rants and raves about Britax, I couldn't afford one if my life depended on it.  I did some online research, then I went to the local department store to look at my top 3 choices, and ended up getting an Alpha Omega, and that's working just fine.  (While rear-facing, it DOES restrict how far you can put the front seat back, but it's something I can live with).  The babe seems just fine with it, and I like the fact that I'll never have to go carseat shopping again!

I would not get an AOE, because of the slot heights, it doesnt last long at all forward facing (many 2-3yr olds have outgrown the harness by height, even if they are well under the weight limit).  And the booster is awful.   Its not the 'last seat' you ever need because there is a gap where the kid wont fit the harness and is too small/young for the booster.   You will for sure need another FF harnessed seat/booster after this one. 

I really dont like britax seats, they sit too high up for me to see over in small cars, and there is hardly any leg room.  

I would get any of these:

compleate air

radian 

truefit

EFTA

myride

My ds had a truefit, and I LOVED the seat, but I sold it to get a Radian because we travel a lot and its nice that it folds up for carrying it around the airport.  It RF to 45lbs and my ds is only 25lbs, and he is 3yrs 4months old.   He will ride rearfacing until he outgrows his seat rearfacing by height or weight. 

[sunnymw]

Yep. 3-in-1s are "Jack of all trades, master of none". They are outgrown in height rear-facing long before you should turn your LO, then they outgrow the harness WAY before they are close to ready for a booster, and then... sha-zam... the lap-belt fit is atrocious for 99% of kids so you have to buy a new booster. So... 3-in-1 has very small window of use for each "mode" :lol 

[oaktreemama]

I know this is an older thread but I have a Mazda 3 and the MR65 fits just fine rear facing. My guy is also petite so I figure we are probably good to go for a long time. He is 30 mos old and still has plenty of room.

[rachie]

I was going to get Britax (this now would be my second choice - and you can get them pretty inexpensive at albeebaby.com.  They also take up less space in the back seat (for rear-facing) than the seats I chose - and they come in adorable colors, have a rear-tether and you can buy a marathon or similar one that will take a child from infant all the way to a booster. 

I decided- for our situation - to go with the "expensive" Sunshine Kids Radians.  They are more $$ up front but in the end I figured will actually SAVE me $$$.  Because....  I'll never have to buy another seat - probably not even a booster.  We bought the pink seat for our newborn, who fit snuggly in it.  This seat will rear-face her all the way to 45 pounds.  To give you some idea - my 5 year old son is not even 40 pounds yet (I have skinny kids) - he is rear facing in the same (not pink, though) seat in the middle of his 4mo and 2yo sisters - all three rear-facing and three in a row in our little mini-suv.  The other reason I bought these seats is because I CAN fit all three in a row!  It was that or buy a van.  Lastly - after reading about the safety tests and features - these seats seem to me to be the safest on the United States Market.  They are re-enforced with steel and the model I bought (XT SL) has head wings with foam to absorb impact on child's head and re-enforced with metal (aluminum, I think??).  They, as do the Britax (the ONLY two on the market that I know of), have a rear-tether for rear-facing child.  The seats are comfy - well padded.  What can I say - I LOVE the seat!  And I probably won't even have to buy a booster for any of my kids.  So instead of buying my new baby and infant seat, then a convertible seat then either a bigger convertible or a booster (think of how that adds up!) just this one seat will do!  I'm very happy with all three of my seats!  And again - if you don't have three-in-a-row to worry about the Britax seats are a GREAT alternative! 

[DahliaRW]

Yes, you will need a booster after the radian.  Sorry to tell you that.

[Kelley13r]

www.albeebaby.com has some great deals right now, we just got a britax for $189 with free shipping, no tax and a free cupholder!  Really can't beat that!

[sunnymw]

Rachel, you will still need a booster after the Radian ;) but dedicated boosters are pretty inexpensive. Your child needs a booster until they pass the five step test, not just until the law says it's okay. :)

[nic060810]

For a small car try the Combi Coccoro (  http://www.combi-intl.com/Products/Item.aspx?Item=12 ) -  it was actually designed to fit small cars.  The website even has a demo showing install/fit in a Toyota Corolla.  I have a Mitzubishi Mirage (about the size of a Toyota Corolla) and three kids in the back seat all in some kind of car seat (Evenflo Chase, Evenflow Embrace, Combi Coccoro).  The Combi Coccoro fits wonderfully both rear facing and forward facing and is super easy to install.  It only goes to 40 pounds - but at that weight a kid could go into a booster.  I have my 2.5 year old in it now - he's about 28lbs and could still be rear facing (it goes RF to 33lbs), but I turned him around last spring.  I'm not sure about stores that carry it.  I ordered mine online and even managed to find free shipping.  It runs about $150 and comes in tons of cute colors.  I would love to get another one for my 10 month old who is outgrowing his infant seat.

[chickabiddy]

The Coccoro is not likely to get most kids to a safe booster size/age as it will almost always be outgrown by height before 40# (and not all 40# kids are booster-ready anyhow) -- just like a Radian will not get kids to a safe seatbelt size/age as it will almost always be outgrown by height before 80# (and not all 80# kids are seatbelt-ready anyhow).

[nic060810]

But for small cars, you don't have lots of options (especially if price is a factor) - I searched high & low for car seats to fit mine small car because we could not buy a new car at the time (and still haven't, but will be soon).  If the OP needs to keep the small car(s) for a while, a seat that takes a child extended RF or to higher weight/height ranges probably won't fit - that was my experience anyway.  I expect to move my 2.5 yr old to another seat because he will out grow it at some point, but not for a while yet (he's less than 30lbs and around 36 in tall - I think).  My 4 yr old will fit in the Coccoro - he's less than 40 in tall (height limit) and less than 40lbs (but he is on the slim & small side).  Just offering my personal experience in trying to shoehorn carseats into a small car.

[mama2soren]

An older baby can sit more upright, as upright as 30*.  There are many larger seats that fit in small cars when they are installed at a 30-35* angle.  The Radian fits beautifully in our older Corolla, with plenty of room for the front seat passenger.  So does the Complete Air.  These are the tallest two convertibles on the market!

The Coccoro can be a handy seat, and it is definitely cute.  But my small guy was too tall to RF in this seat before he was 2 years old, even though he only weighed 25 pounds.  We would have needed to buy a new RF seat.  And then another FF seat, since kids outgrow this one before being booster-ready.  Most 4 year olds will have long outgrown the seat, way before reaching 40 pounds because the shell is so short.  The seat is outgrown if the child's shoulders are above the level of the top harness slot OR the top of the child's ears are above the shell OR the weight limit has been reached.  The Coccoro is handy for parents who need a 3 across with a baby and/or as an alternative for an infant seat since it fits newbies so well and doesn't take up much space at a 45* angle.  I wouldn't buy one for an older baby or toddler, unless I knew I'd pass it down to a new baby.  

[sunnymw]

Yeah, there's absolutely no way I believe that the Coccoro will get a child to a safe booster age. My 2.5yo won't even fit in it FF if the measurements I've seen are correct... and he's darn sure not ready for a booster! I know 100% that my 4yo has outgrown it as he's super tall (at 34lbs) but he's nowhere near mature enough for a booster. It's a great niche seat... 

There ARE options available for small cars and extended harnessing and extended rear-facing. It'll cost a bit more, but your child will be SAFE and it's still cheaper than a new car. ;)