[dannic]

In another thread someone mentioned that Britax convertable carseats are too big for newborns. Is this true? Even for larger newborns?
My babies weigh in around 9 lbs, 21" long.
I thought Britax Marathon was everyone's favorite safe carseat? I'm not due til August so I've got time to figure this out, but I really wanted a seat that stays in the car--no dumb carrier.

 

[treehugginhippie]

Yes, they are too big for newborns. You might want to check out the True Fit...

 

[dannic]

Are there any safety articles that cover this? I'm not liking the reviews I'm seeing on the true fit...I'm just frustrated--it shouldn't be this hard to find a safe carseat (and how do I really know?)

 

[HeliMom]

I'm not sure as far as the practical application is concerned but the britax website has a few car seats that are convertibles that they state are for newborns to 65 lbs. For those of you who say it is too big please tell me why? ( curious as I just got a great deal on a new boulevard for my 9 mo old which I'm planning to use with our second baby when that happens)

 

[Cersha]

The lowest setting for the harnesses are too high for a newborn.

 

[HeliMom]

tyvm

 

[dannic]

At what weight and height (baby) would a Britax work? Not 5 lbs, but perhaps twelve? Curious as to your thoughts.

 

[prothyraia]

double post

 

[prothyraia]

My son was just shy of 10lbs and loooong; there's is no way he would have fit in our marathon as a newborn. I have a picture of him in at 6 weeks and he's still a fair bit too small (I didn't know that at the time

)

Edited to add: Here's the picture for a visual reference: http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n...6wkcarseat.jpg
I don't remember his exact height/weight, but he was consistently in the 95+% until almost a year old. You can see the harness slots are still noticeably above his shoulders at this point

 

[Erica09M]

It's not about what weight, or even overall length. It's all about their torso.

Their torso length needs to be at least 10 inches long before even being able to consider using a Britax convertible for a child. A 21 inch long newborn most likely is not going to have a 10 inch torso. That only leaves 11 inches for head, neck, and legs. I'd venture to say that some newborns have 7 inch legs. That would only leave 4 inches for head and neck, if they had a 10 inch torso. Not likely to happen. Not to mention that most newborns are all curled up and don't sit with their backs stick straight anyway.

Some children fit in it ok at a couple months old, it really just depends on how fast they grow. I've seen pictures of some 6-9 month olds that still don't fit.

 

[dannic]

Okay, yeah, I can see that. Thanks for the visual. All my DC have been 20lbs by four months and I don't go anywhere with baby for the first month-two months so I was wondering if it'd work...let's see, my last babe was 12 lbs by 1 month...any other options besides the true fit? (I like one or two options to compare, but would rather not start from scratch again).

ETA: It's just so strange--I was on here a yr ago or so and everybody raved about Britax...

 

[dannic]

Erica. Thanks. I hadn't understood quite what I was looking for. That's good to know.

 

[Erica09M]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannic Okay, yeah, I can see that. Thanks for the visual. All my DC have been 20lbs by four months and I don't go anywhere with baby for the first month-two months so I was wondering if it'd work...let's see, my last babe was 12 lbs by 1 month...any other options besides the true fit? (I like one or two options to compare, but would rather not start from scratch again). ETA: It's just so strange--I was on here a yr ago or so and everybody raved about Britax...

The Graco My Ride 65, Learning Curve True Fit, Evenflo Triumph Advance, Evenflo Symphony 65, and Sunshine Kids Radian, Combi Coccoro, and Cosco Scenera all fit newborns well. I'm sure there are others I'm leaving out, but this is a general list of seats we recommend over on another parenting board I'm on.

Britax convertibles, the Safety 1st Avenue, and the Safety 1st Complete Air do not fit newborns well.

 

[dannic]

Thanks, Erica. Are those all convertibles? I guess I'll have to start looking!

 

[TheGirls]

On the other end of the spectrum, the Britax convertibles don't fit older/bigger toddlers well either. They don't have the shell height to RF as long as you should and they have NO RF legroom for a tall toddler.

A TrueFit or a Graco MyRide or a Sunshine Kids Radian will fit both a newborn and a big/tall toddler better.

 

[chickabiddy]

I agree: I don't think very many child passenger safety advocates would consider Britax convertibles "favorites". They don't fit newborns, they don't get most kids to safe booster age/size, they don't have a high rear-facing capacity (height or weight), they don't have a high forward-facing capacity (height), and test results definitely don't support their reputation as "the best".

 

[chel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannic Are there any safety articles that cover this? I'm not liking the reviews I'm seeing on the true fit...I'm just frustrated--it shouldn't be this hard to find a safe carseat (and how do I really know?)

I've been really happy with the Truefit so far, dd2 is now 3w old. It fits her well and is smaller than the Evenflo bucket (that I borrowed when the TF was delayed in the mail) and fits behind the driver in my honda civic.

the main complaint I've read about the TF was the strap adjuster was hard to reach. I have the TF premiere with the rebound bar and don't have a problem at all reaching the strap adjuster.

 

[mamadelbosque]

I have a truefit premier and its OK. I wouldn't buy it again at this point though. Its a PITA to install because you *have* to use the lock-offs even if your seat belts lock. Its also very tall and wide - it would *not* fit comfortably behind the drivers seat in my accord - maybe if you had it super reclined and it could fit in the crook of the seat infront of it, but once its upright its SO wide. Its a better fit than the radian to be sure, but thats not saying much. The belt adjust isn't totally buried, but its definetly not super easy to adjust either.

I much, much, much prefer my triumph advance. Its super easy to install, has lots of legroom and yet is also compact and fits in my car peachy wonderful fine

It adjusts super easy w/ the knob & lever on the side. Its a great seat. I'd buy it again in a heart beat. Actually, if I could go back, I *wouldn't* buy a truefit, and just get another triumph.

 

[BathrobeGoddess]

My ds is 11 months and 19bs...and he is just over the top strap point of the Marathon. We also have a True fit, a Radian 65...The TF is really wide but man it is an easy LATCH install both rear and forward facing! I can get it in and rock solid in less than a minute with LATCH...belt...not so much. He fits best BY FAR in the Radian but the reason we have it is to make 3 across possible in my dh Versa...so he doesn't ride in it often. I would actually consider moving him into it full time...but don't really see the need to buy another one when I have a seat that works just fine in my car...

 

[~Katie~]

At 27-28 inches my DD could fit in a Britax with the lowest harness slot even with her shoulders, that was around 4 months. She also has a very long torso, if that gives you some point of reference. The True Fit is a great seat, the first install is a learning experience but after you do it once it's extremely easy to do from that point forward. We use those when we visit the IL's. Also really easy to adjust the harness height and the price is good. The Radian is also a great seat with some longevity to it.