Carseat opinions needed

[accountclosed6]

Hi- I'm expecting my first in April. We are homebirthing and not planning on venturing out in the car very much, if at all, in the first weeks. My plan all along has been to get a Britax convertible seat and use it from the beginning. But I am wondering which Britax I should get- the Boulevard or the Decathalon. Does one recline more than the other? Also, I have an Acura TSX, so it's not a tiny backseat or anything, but if one of those seats is a bit smaller, I might be more inclined to get that one just so that there is a bit more room for someone to sit in the back next to the carseat (which will be in the middle seat).

I know many people are inclined to get a baby bucket system for the beginning and then switch to a Britax. My gut is telling me to skip the bucket because I know it would not get much use- we won't have a stroller base for it, and I won't be carrying it around- it would stay in the car, and we are definitely minimalists when it comes to gear. But of course my baby's safety is most important, so I suppose I could be convinced to get a bucket and the Britax if there is good evidence that a Britax is totally inappropriate for the first 2-3 months.

Those of you who've been there, done that- which Britax would you get- the Decathalon or the Boulevard and why? And do I REALLY need a bucket seat too?

[starlein26]

Initially, I use a "bucket" seat (graco snugride) because if/when you're using the car, and baby falls alseep, you don't need to wake them. For me, that's the major hassle about not using a bucket seat. Safety wise, I don't see how britax would fail an infant. Personally, I use the britax boulevard for dd (rear and forward facing to 65lbs). Ds uses the regent (forward facing only to 80lbs).

Congrats!! And good luck...

[alegna]

Boulevard- no question. The decathlon has some bugs that a lot of people are not happy with. AND the boulevard has TSIP and a knob to adjust the headrest and straps so NO rethreading.

And just as a declaimer- I use a bucket at first. The britax bottom strap slots are too high for nearly all newborns to fit safely.

-Angela

[merry-mary]

Personal opinion here ...

I have the decathlon. I bought it because at the time, I believe it had the highest weight limit, and I found it easier to use and cushier than the Marathon. DS was 7 months when he grew out of his bucket (Graco Snugride).

Personally, I cannot imagine putting a newborn or a small infant in the Decathlon, even with the infant insert. It is just such a large seat. DS, who was an average 7 pounds when born, was swimming in his infant bucket for the first month or so.

I don't know if there is a difference safety-wise. I am sure many mamas have done just fine with the convertible carseat alone. But given my experience with my first baby, I cannot imagine not having that bucket carseat. I didn't put DS in it all the time like you see a lot of mamas do - he wouldn't tolerate it and wanted to be held or slung. But I did find it essential for car travel.

Good luck on your decision!

[alegna]

Originally Posted by merry-mary

I have the decathlon. I bought it because at the time, I believe it had the highest weight limit,

Just for the record- the decathlon has always had the same weight limits as the marathon and boulevard

-Angela

[glamazon]

well...I don't know
We got the graco snugride and my tall dd has just outgrown it at 4 months!!:

So the britax boulevard has just arrived. She's about to have her first ride in it today. It is a big seat in terms of height and depth...but it isn't unusually wide IMO. It has lots of padding and inserts for little ones, but I don't know how well a completely floppy newborn would do in it.

[AkRotts]

We have the Britax Decathlon and LOVE it!!!!! We did start out with the "bucket system" (ours is Graco Snugride) and switched when Camryn turned a year old.

Caitlyn is 5 months old and we are still using the Graco Snugride but plan on switching to a Decathlon for her ASAP. I no longer use it to carry her in places, which is the main reason I used that instead of the Decathlon. She prefers to sit in a shopping cart, stroller or high chair instead of her car seat (which she HATES!!!!)

[Tiffany_PartyOf5]

If you dont want a baby bucket, Id start with the new Britax convertible seat. Its the same size as a Roundabout but has the TSIP.. and then eventually you will need to move to the next size up but thats years away at 40 lb.

We have a Roundabout, 3 Decathalons, and 1 Boulevard and the Boulevard is my all time favorite for bigger babies (4-6 months and up) but the Roundabout is my choice for new babies but that new seat has the Roundabout beat.. and will be getting one for our new baby

[merry-mary]

Originally Posted by alegna

Just for the record- the decathlon has always had the same weight limits as the marathon and boulevard

-Angela

Ah. I must have chosen it over the Marathon for the cushiness then

[alegna]

Originally Posted by Tiffany_PartyOf5

If you dont want a baby bucket, Id start with the new Britax convertible seat. Its the same size as a Roundabout but has the TSIP.. and then eventually you will need to move to the next size up but thats years away at 40 lb.

We have a Roundabout, 3 Decathalons, and 1 Boulevard and the Boulevard is my all time favorite for bigger babies (4-6 months and up) but the Roundabout is my choice for new babies but that new seat has the Roundabout beat.. and will be getting one for our new baby

I would never waste money on the roundabout sized seats unless I had no other option. It is NOT smaller so far as fitting new babies better. The bottom straps are the SAME height as the marathon/decathlon/boulevard.

It just doesn't last as long. A total waste of $$ IMO.

-Angela

[accountclosed6]

Originally Posted by Tiffany_PartyOf5

If you dont want a baby bucket, Id start with the new Britax convertible seat. Its the same size as a Roundabout but has the TSIP.. and then eventually you will need to move to the next size up but thats years away at 40 lb.

We have a Roundabout, 3 Decathalons, and 1 Boulevard and the Boulevard is my all time favorite for bigger babies (4-6 months and up) but the Roundabout is my choice for new babies but that new seat has the Roundabout beat.. and will be getting one for our new baby

I don't see another seat on the Britax website- what is the name of the seat you are talking about? I see that they have the Companion, which is their baby bucket, and then the convertible seats: Roundabout, Marathon, Decathalon, and Boulevard.

We are definitely going with the Boulevard, now the only decision is whether or not to get a bucket too for the first few months.

[Drummer's Wife]

I've always used a bucket type infant seat for the first few months. My babies have all been average size 7-8+ pounds and 22 ish inches but none of them would have fit safely into convertible such as a marathon for a while. Heck my tall 6 month old is barely good using the bottom harness slot. Otherwise it's just too much space between the top of their shoulders and the strap.

[newbymom05]

I used a Graco Snugride and ds absolutely hate hate hated it. He would scream non-stop whenever he was in the car for however long he was in it. Out of the car it was ok, but strapped into the car it tilted him in such a way that (we think) really aggravated his reflux. Sooo...is there a better bucket out there? I was just at a LLL meeting where there were 8 buckets--all Snugrides. We're expecting #2 and I'd like to avoid screaming car rides if at all possible.

FWIW OP, I thought I would never use the bucket at all, but it was actually super handy for the reasons people said. We had a lightweight SnapnGo and it was great just placing him into it when sleeping and out and about, opposed to waking him up, calming him down and slinging him--all while in a parking lot of course. :

[ThreeBeans]

Please consider a bucket for the early months. I am huge Britax fan, but the seats are simply not good fits for a newborn. You need either an infant carrier or a convertible with lower bottom slots. If you want to skip the infant carrier, the Radian65 is a good choice and will fit a newborn very well.

The Roundabout does not fit any better than the larger Britaxes. The Diplomat is what Tiffany is referring to, and I wouldn't buy that either.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by ralphie76

I don't see another seat on the Britax website- what is the name of the seat you are talking about? I see that they have the Companion, which is their baby bucket, and then the convertible seats: Roundabout, Marathon, Decathalon, and Boulevard.

We are definitely going with the Boulevard, now the only decision is whether or not to get a bucket too for the first few months.

There are two new Britax seats- the Diplomat is the roundabout sized seat with the TSIP.

The other one I am blanking on the name, but it's a Boulevard for $100 more that has lights that tell you if it's in tight enough.

-Angela

[ThreeBeans]

Originally Posted by alegna

There are two new Britax seats- the Diplomat is the roundabout sized seat with the TSIP.

The other one I am blanking on the name, but it's a Boulevard for $100 more that has lights that tell you if it's in tight enough.

-Angela

The Advocate....a huge waste of money. Thumbs down to Britax on that!

[alegna]

Originally Posted by ThreeBeans

The Advocate....a huge waste of money. Thumbs down to Britax on that!

Ah! thanks. Couldn't remember the name for anything

Yeah, not something I'd buy....

-Angela

[Tiffany_PartyOf5]

the diplomat is the one im thinking of

[eclipse]

I have a two year old who only recently moved to the second shortest strap height in his Marathon. There is NO way he could have been safely in a seat with even the lower stap height as a newborn. We didn't get the Marathon until he was 15 months old, and he was only barely tall enough to fit in the bottom straps. He's a small toddler, granted, but my older two who were tall babies would bot have fit until at least 6 months. I think this something that the bucket seats are good for, definitely. If you don't think you'll use one for very long, maybe a trusted friend has one you can borrow (assuming it hasn't been in an accident and isn't expired.)

[geckoed]

LOVE my blvd. We used it from birth. The body support helps it fit really nicely really early.