Britax and Cosco New Car Seat Models.......pictures

[dallaschildren]

Thought you'd like to see the newest offerings from Britax:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/s...en=1&sm=0&sl=0

Britax Decathalon is a convertible seat. Rearfacing up to 33 pounds, and forward facing up to 65 pounds.

Britax Wizard II is also a convertible seat with RF up to 33 pounds and FF up to 65 pounds.
Looks the same as the Wizard but with wider wings.

The Parkway picture is the new seat cover that Babies R Us will be carrying.

Decathalon release date is early spring and no release date as of yet on the Wizard II.

The last seat is the Cosco Apex. Combo seat harnessed to 65 pounds and then a BP booster to 100 pounds.

http://www.nsrinc.org/pub_prd_detail...ber=22-530-CDY

DC
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats

[bec]

Hey, Thanks!

I do have a question for you, so long as I've got you here, not to go completely OT.

My oldest is starting to approach the limits of her Britax Roundabout, and I was thinking of getting her a booster seat when she does. Do you have any recommendations? You can PM me if you feel more comfortable.


Bec

[dallaschildren]

Hey Bec...how old and how big is your DD?

[bec]

She is going to be 4 in March, weighs 31 pounds (I know we have a bit to go until we hit the limit for that, but want to start my research now), and is about 38-39 inches tall. Her ear is almost even with the top of the seat, though, which is why I am starting to really wonder.


Bec

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by bec

She is going to be 4 in March, weighs 31 pounds (I know we have a bit to go until we hit the limit for that, but want to start my research now), and is about 38-39 inches tall. Her ear is almost even with the top of the seat, though, which is why I am starting to really wonder.


Bec

Have you considered another Britax with a higher weight limit? Keeping your child in a 5 point restraint for as long as possible, is recommended. Britax is pricey..but I noticed in your case, you have another younger DD....you could possibly recoup the initial cost of a Britax because you have another one who could inherit it when her older sister is moved to a booster. Also, another option is to purchase a combo seat which will keep your DD internally harnessed up to 40 pounds and then it would function as a booster until usually around 100 pounds (weight limit depends on the make of seat). Some other things to consider...is your DD mature enough to stay seated while in a booster? Where is your youngest DD's car seat now? If you decide to put your oldest DD in a booster, I would place her in the rear center seat for added protection and your younger DD in her CRS in an outboard postion.
Here is a link of different types of seats and their ratings. Please remember that you should try each seat out in your car (s) to ensure it fits well size wise, installation wise, and it fits your DD well.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/CSSRating/Index.cfm

and a link to carseat compatibility in actual vehicles:

http://www.carseatdata.org/database.html

Dallaschildren
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats

[bec]

Thanks for the information. Yes, she would stay put in a booster. I'm not worried about that. Expense of another 5 point harness seat is definitely an issue. I also have a smaller car, and am unable to safely install the seat in the center position, because of the second carseat. If I get a new car (would love a van), that will no longer be an issue, but for now it is. I'm also not sure if a marathon will fit in my car (probably would because it would be forward facing).

You've given me a good place to start my research, though! Thanks!



Bec

[dallaschildren]

Sorry Bec...I don't think I was much help. I get so frustrated when a parent asks me what they should do about a booster, and the only thing I am able to say is "get a Britax" because 5 point restraints are safer, knowing they are pricey as hell and that is the only choice out there that accomodates high weight limits. I have been e-mailing some of the car seat manufacturer's to get information on their plans to release higher weight limit 5 point restraints, and it is like beating my head against the wall. They..never mind...I won't even get into it. Let's just say it's people like me...as a CPS tech and as a parent, that indirectly and directly affect their sales. This squeaky wheel WILL get greased.

DC

[slightly crunchy]

So will the Wizard II replace the Wizard? Maybe then the regular Wizards will all go on sale and I can get a deal.

What is different about the Decathlon? More foam/padding? Will it replace another seat?

[sweetfeet]

The decathlon has the button adjuster like the current roundabout. It also has the infant comfort foam inserts.
Hey DC before I type my saga do you feel up to a carseat shuffle challenge?:LOL It involves picking a new Britax for me;l)

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by slightly crunchy

So will the Wizard II replace the Wizard? Maybe then the regular Wizards will all go on sale and I can get a deal.

What is different about the Decathlon? More foam/padding? Will it replace another seat?

I do not believe that Britax is planning on replacing the W with the WII. so maybe no deals to be had. But you may want to contact Britax direct and verify this. CRS manufacturers change positions on things daily.

www.britax.com

As for the Decathalon...yes...more padding and a harness adjustor like the present Roundabouts. Do not believe it will replace any model right now.

DC

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by sweetfeet

The decathlon has the button adjuster like the current roundabout. It also has the infant comfort foam inserts.
Hey DC before I type my saga do you feel up to a carseat shuffle challenge?:LOL It involves picking a new Britax for me;l)

Sweetfeet...I would be happy to help you. I am leaving for a short time to run some errands. Go ahead and post your dilemma, and when I return, I will address it.

DC

[sweetfeet]

I have a niece who is 2.5 months and 12 pounds currently. I promised my sister that I would take care of getting Emma's carseats. Right now she is in a snugride that my dd used for a few months. My dd is 33 pounds, 39" and 2.8 years old. She is currently in a marathon. She is on the top slots.
I have an 03 Saturn Ion2. My sister has a 94 Ford Taurus. Her car requires locking clips so I either want to pass her my marathon and get Sophie a new seat or get her a new britax and keep the marathon for Sophie. Sophie is at the top slots though. She is 1.5" below the top slot.
So how do I shuffle this so that everyone has a seat to use for awhile? I was thinking of doing a husky for Sophie but there aren't any local retailers and I have no idea of the fit with my car. I checked the database but there aren't any checks for my car and the husky.
Cost isn't really an issue here. I just want an easy to use seat with lock offs for Emma and a seat that will have Sophie harnessed to 4-5 (at least).
Oh and I sorta boycott Cosco for their crapiness and advertising ethics.
So help me if you can

Here is a picture of Sophie in her marathon. To me it seems that there isn't much growing room... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../inthecar2.jpg

Oh and we took Sophie to try the wizard at BRU last week and she wouldn't put her head in the wings. It did look however like there is a touch more harness space because of how that seats harness adjusts. I'm willing to work with her to get her head in the wings because I want to put her outboard because she is getting heavy and I have a bad neck. Do you think that trimming the wing foam like Britax says that you can would help at all? Any experience with the trimmed foam?
Oh and you're a saint for reading this..

[Throkmorton]

For Bec with the tall dd who is 31 lbs...
Have you looked at an inexpensive combo booster with higher harness slots (and back) than the Roundabout? Specifically, I am thinking of the Evenflo Chase. The top harness slots are 2" higher than the Roundabout, and the back is about 3" taller.
While the harness adjuster isn't as nice as an RA, and it doesn't have as many ease-of-use features, it is still a pretty good seat that seems to function well as both a booster and a harnessed seat. Best of all, it looks like the US version is only about $60 which seems to be a pretty standard price for boosters as well.
I have used the older version of this seat as both a booster and a harnessed seat (DS is too big for the harness) and it seems to work pretty well. I also don't understand how people claim that using a booster is easier, as it is a PITA to reach over the kid to get it buckled in.

Another option like this is the Graco Platinum Cargo, but you said price was an issue, and it costs more.

[StephandOwen]

thanks for posting those! any idea on prices? NAK....

[sweetfeet]

I think the decathlon will be msrp of $269.99. I wonder if the wizard2 is going to cost more. The only difference that I see is the widened head wings.

[milk4two]

What is the difference between the decathalon and the marathon?

[sweetfeet]

Originally Posted by milk4two

What is the difference between the decathalon and the marathon?

The adjuster has a button like the roundabout instead of the metal lever like the marathon currently has. It also has the infant foam inserts. I'm not sure what the guidelines are for using the inserts though. Like how long etc, what age or weight...

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by sweetfeet

I have a niece who is 2.5 months and 12 pounds currently. I promised my sister that I would take care of getting Emma's carseats. Right now she is in a snugride that my dd used for a few months. My dd is 33 pounds, 39" and 2.8 years old. She is currently in a marathon. She is on the top slots.
I have an 03 Saturn Ion2. My sister has a 94 Ford Taurus. Her car requires locking clips so I either want to pass her my marathon and get Sophie a new seat or get her a new britax and keep the marathon for Sophie. Sophie is at the top slots though. She is 1.5" below the top slot.
So how do I shuffle this so that everyone has a seat to use for awhile? I was thinking of doing a husky for Sophie but there aren't any local retailers and I have no idea of the fit with my car. I checked the database but there aren't any checks for my car and the husky.
Cost isn't really an issue here. I just want an easy to use seat with lock offs for Emma and a seat that will have Sophie harnessed to 4-5 (at least).
Oh and I sorta boycott Cosco for their crapiness and advertising ethics.
So help me if you can

Here is a picture of Sophie in her marathon. To me it seems that there isn't much growing room... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../inthecar2.jpg

Oh and we took Sophie to try the wizard at BRU last week and she wouldn't put her head in the wings. It did look however like there is a touch more harness space because of how that seats harness adjusts. I'm willing to work with her to get her head in the wings because I want to put her outboard because she is getting heavy and I have a bad neck. Do you think that trimming the wing foam like Britax says that you can would help at all? Any experience with the trimmed foam?
Oh and you're a saint for reading this..

First off, your little Sophie is too PRECIOUS! Love her big smile and that cow-mooflage cover is so cute!
If money is not an issue, then I would do this...I would buy the Husky for Sophie and give Emma the Marathon. Emma could realistically use the Marathon quite a bit longer than what Sophie may have left in it. BUT...keep in mind that the Husky is a forward facing ONLY seat..just something to keep in mind if you are considering it could be used for Sophie's younger siblings in the future. As for not having any retailers in your area..I have the Husky and tomorrow I will go out and get exact measurements for you and post them.
And for your reference...my DS #1 is 54 pounds and 4 ' 1" tall. The harness straps are on the second slot from the top. We just moved it up. He's got a lot more height to grow room before we have to move it to the last slot. Also remember that overall, most kiddos growth slows somewhat at around 2 1/2 yo-4 years of age and then kicks in again. If I remember right, DS # 1 has been in his Husky for about two years.

Dallaschildren

[eilonwy]

It's amazing that you'd post this now as I am in the midst of some carseat changes now, too. :LOL

My son weighs 27 pounds and is about 33" tall; in other words, he's still got a bit of rear-facing growing room in his Evenflo Titan (which I hate ). My daughter, however, is on the verge of outgrowing her Graco Snug Ride. Even though her overall hieght is below the limit and she's got about 8 pounds of grow-room, her head to buns length is really maxing out the seat and the top of her head is right at the top of the seat.

I was wondering if, rather than turning BeanBean's seat around and buying a new one for BooBah, I could find another seat for him which accomodates slightly larger rear-facing kids? Then I could move BooBah into BeanBean's Evenflo. I'm totally paranoid about turning his seat around because we were in an accident last year (after he could have been turned, but wasn't) and I know that if he'd been forward facing he would have been seriously injured or (God forbid) killed, because my husband had a very heavy jack which slid forward and actually moved the back seatback.

We're going to be able to get a new carseat with our tax refund, and that's very exciting because we'll be able to spend more than $80 on it. Any thoughts?

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by eilonwy

It's amazing that you'd post this now as I am in the midst of some carseat changes now, too. :LOL

My son weighs 27 pounds and is about 33" tall; in other words, he's still got a bit of rear-facing growing room in his Evenflo Titan (which I hate ). My daughter, however, is on the verge of outgrowing her Graco Snug Ride. Even though her overall hieght is below the limit and she's got about 8 pounds of grow-room, her head to buns length is really maxing out the seat and the top of her head is right at the top of the seat.

I was wondering if, rather than turning BeanBean's seat around and buying a new one for BooBah, I could find another seat for him which accomodates slightly larger rear-facing kids? Then I could move BooBah into BeanBean's Evenflo. I'm totally paranoid about turning his seat around because we were in an accident last year (after he could have been turned, but wasn't) and I know that if he'd been forward facing he would have been seriously injured or (God forbid) killed, because my husband had a very heavy jack which slid forward and actually moved the back seatback.

We're going to be able to get a new carseat with our tax refund, and that's very exciting because we'll be able to spend more than $80 on it. Any thoughts?

Just wanted to acknowledge your post and will be back to post my thoughts later. In the meantime, would you like to look at this?

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/CSSRating/Index.cfm

DC