I'm looking for recommendations for convertible car seats. We have a Maxi Cosi Mico infant seat for the beginning. Researching car seats is hurting my head with all the information and options out there...what should I be looking for? What do you mama's recommend?
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@teacherbee: What's your budget?
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I can tell you, do not get this one! I HATE it!
https://www.amazon.com/Chicco-NextFit-Zip-Convertible-Seat/dp/B00LT5OUHO
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@bluestriped bee: I haven't decided on a firm budget yet. Exploring my options at the moment.
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@oskarsmommy: What is it that you don't like about it? I really don't want to drop a bunch of money and then hate using it for the next few years haha.
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@teacherbee: It's very "bucket-y" it's hard to lift the kids over and in. Plus, the way the straps are designed my son always ends up sitting on them and I have to dig them out, sometimes scratching him in the process. I thought the zip feature was cool, but its such a pain in the ass to get the cover off, that I have never even taken it off to wash it..
we also have this one, and while it's not perfect, I much prefer it
https://us.britax.com/car-seats/advocate/
why don't manufactures make a very obvious hook, where you can keep the belt straps out of the seat while the child climbs in?!
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Although expensive, I really like the Clek foonf ( the cheaper option is the fllo and I'm sure it's comparable.)
I specifically chose it because it has extended rear facing, and doesn't expire for 9 years. You can fit 3 in a row as well. It sits up high so the kids can see out the window easily which they love.
I don't like that it's super heavy (30lbs!) but that's really my only complaint. We have 2, and will likely get another for the new baby as well. -
We have enjoyed both the Britax Frontier and the Diono Radian RXT.
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We love our Clek Fllo. We got it because I wanted extended rear facing, ability to fit into a small car (we have a Honda Fit), sits relatively high (my kid gets carsick), fabric easy to clean and not known for getting too hot (she used to sweat like crazy in her bucket seat), and frankly because I liked that it came in hot pink. It's a little more affordable than the Foonf and a little bit less heavy, both of which were also pluses.
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You didn't mention how old LO is, but I really like our NextFit (we don't have the zip...I don't clean our carseats that often..ha) for young toddlers (<3y) because it is so bucket-y! I think it mimics the infant bucket seat in shape, so they seem safer and comfortable. It also has pretty good clearance when rear-facing (doesn't take much room front-to-back), and it's by far the easiest carseat we have to install. It is heavy though for travelling.
For my 4y LO, we have a Diono R120. I love that it is lower profile, so it's easy for me/guests to climb over if we need to use the middle seat. It's also way easier for LO to get in/out of on her own.
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Funny, I was going to rave about how great the Next Fit Zip is! My LO was a chronic car sickness kid in his Recaro Pro Ride and I think it was because of how uncomfortable he was/the angle he was siting at. Since we have switched him to the Next Fit, he has been doing great and no sickness (knock on wood). It seems like the seat is MUCH more comfortable and he has a lot of leg room. I think it depends on what kind of car you have too though, because the Pro Ride really did not work in our Grand Cherokee.
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@teacherbee: we recently upgraded to the clek fllo and I love it! Before we had a graco one that was perfectly fine but this one sits nice and high and uptight and my car hating child almost likes it! Haha
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I really like our Diono Rainer. I love it even more now because some idiot rear ended us a few months ago and my daughter woke up at the initial impact but fell right back to sleep without one scratch.
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I like our Chicco Nextfit too!
I mean, after filtering out budget, and your car size (to see if you want to get a more narrow one or something), and knowing the ratings on many of the popular brands, we just went into the store with 10 month old DD and see which one seems the most comfortable.
Ours is currently in the middle seat, and I'm like 5'1 and pregnant and have been lifting DD in and out who is 21 months. I like that it's roomy and that she's comfy in it! I like the easy installation, and the bar on the side that lets you know if it's leveled right.
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Add me to the list of NextFit lovers. Easiest seat ever to get a tight and correct install which is the most important factor in safety in a crash.
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I like my two Diono Rainiers for my twins. I got it because it is narrow. (I have a CRV so I wanted the ability to have someone sit in the back seat with them comfortably.) But it is heavy. It is very comfortable for the kids. With the memory foam, the kids instantly fell asleep the first time we put it in them.
Another down side is since it has head flaps and it a tall car seat to accomodate the abiltiy to use it until the kids are like 7 or 8 (don't quote me). It does give me a bad blind spot if I put it behind the passenger seat. So both seats are behind me and in the middle position.
Oh, they are $300 seats retail but I got them for under $200 at a local Diono warehouse sale. For airplane travel, I bought a cheap $49 Evenflo Tribute that is light and travels well. This evenflo seat is only rated upto 40 pounds. The Diono is good to at least double, I think.
Oh, Diono seats are known for their solid steel frame. Heavy seats but sturdy. All car seats are safe but I got a good deal. I don't regret it now that I moved the seats so they aren't a big blind spot for me anymore.
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We have and love a graco milestone. It seems to be somewhere in between graco's size 4 me and their forever all in one. It's easy to install, not huge, is not bucket like--my kid hated her bucket seat with a passion--and kiddo seems comfortable and safe.
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Chicco Nextfit- so easy to install, adjust straps, and strap LO in. I prefer that one over Maxi Cosi Pria. In fact, I'm going to suggest DH and I switch seats.
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If you are still pregnant and plan on using an infant seat to start I would wait on picking a convertible. New seats come out all the time and different seats will be better if your LO is really tall or really heavy. And if you buy early you lose a lot of time off the expiration.
That said, we have Graco 4ever seats that we love! But I wish the Extend2Fit had been out when we were purchasing, it came out 3 months later.
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We have the britax boulevard click tight and really really like it!
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We just bought a nextfit, based off of recommendations I got on here a week ago! I love it so far, but it's only been a couple of days! The installation and recline positions are so easy!
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@catgirl: I second catgirl's recommendations.
I have an addition: the Graco Milestone is very similar but has removable cup holders, which gives more potential to seat two side-by-side because you can decrease the width by removing the cup holders. It is our favorite seat. The harness is way easier to adjust than our britax. I just wish it came with lock-offs for easier seat belt installation.
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I am a big fan of the britax click tight (any model - those depend on what you need and what you wish to spend. We use the marathon.) The click tight feature is SO helpful for a seatbelt install (as opposed to latch).
I also found the info on Lucie's List to be helpful in narrowing down seats by features and price.
http://www.lucieslist.com/gear-guides/best-convertible-car-seat/#summary
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We love our NextFit. The install is super easy which was the most important thing, followed by ease of adjusting straps. Removing the cover to wash it was a pain in the ass (its the non Zip version) but totally doable as a once or twice a year project. We just ordered a second one in the Zip model to keep on hand for our second baby. Our son is very tall at 2 years and he still has plenty of room to grow with the NextFit, the seat is very comfy and padded, and while it is buckety with the high sides, it seems very secure and protected.
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I love the Britax Marathon Clicktight! It has great reviews, is super easy to install, and has DD will be able to rear face in it as long as I want her to.
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Another vote for the Britax seats. I love being able to install with seatbelts because not every car has convenient latch configurations.
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I disliked our NextFit when it was rear facing in my Escape. I like it much better forward facing in our Pilot. Like a PP said, it was too buckety and hard to maneuver my large toddler into it without hitting her head on the door frame and the straps are always under her and have to be dug out. I don't have the zip and it's a pain to take the cover off to wash. It was easy to install.
We also have a Evenflo Symphony Platinum series which is a huge PITA to install, but I love the heat trapping material. My LO is never a sweaty mess like he was in his infant carrier.
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I love our evenflo symphony premium seats. We have 3 if that's any indication. Super easy to install properly and has places to store the buckles making it easier to buckle my kiddos.
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@Iced Tea: I third it,
I've really liked the Graco 4evercomfy, lower sides so he can see out and fits comfortably in the car ( DH is 6'5" so this is an issue)
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Great, thank you so much for all the recommendations! I'm looking into all of them to see what will work best for us.
@psw27: We have a Grand Cherokee as well so that's good to know.
@catgirl: Yes, still pregnant but wanting to research and get a good idea of what will work best for us and then purchase in a few months.
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I'm with @LindsayLou and @Iced Tea. I love the Graco Milestone. We have a mazda3 and we picked it because it fit rear-facing comfortably for my toddler and left me some leg space. The removable cup holder means I can stick it in the dishwasher too haha!
We ended up buying two car seats for two cars because installing car seats repeatedly is just awful (although our cheap one is terrible in every way but weight). The milestone wasn't bad to install, but I'm reaaaaaaally glad that I can take off all the cover in pieces without having to uninstall it. And with the snaps and elastic loops, it isn't hard at all. My only complaint is the black fabric on the one I got. It gets pretty toasty if it sits in the sun, so I usually cover it with a blanket while we're out.
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Another Chicco Nextfit lover! DS is super comfortable in it and I actually don't mind getting him in and out of it.
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Another vote for Graco 4ever, DS 13 months has been in it since he was about 9 months. We had a chicco infant seat but decided against the Nextfit because of the high sides - seemed tough to get in and out and hotter (we are in FL). So far the Graco seems comfortable and easy to use. We also use it in 2 small cars - a Saab and a Civic - no problems.
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