https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:38:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2815155 Mon, 09 Apr 2018 10:45:37 +0000 justjules 2815155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: we have a small Mazda. I’m pretty petite and a short 5’1” so I actually already leave the infant seat in and crawl through the front passenger side and back through the middle. I have it down to a science where I can do it in my church dress and heals haha. </p> <p>I did a bunch of research and pulled the trigger on the chicco next fit. It’s actually thinner than the bucket seat so hopefully I can still sit between them. And it comes with a cup holder to attach! </p> <p>Thanks all for recs and advice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814984 Sat, 07 Apr 2018 13:20:51 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2814984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have Clek Fllos and like them a lot. The kids are fine without a lot of cushion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814572 Thu, 05 Apr 2018 13:10:29 +0000 gingerbebe 2814572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would look into the Clek Fllo, which is cheaper than the Foonf, but with the same narrow profile. I do not believe you will be able to sit between two Prias or any of the nicer convertibles like the Britax or NextFits. Alternatively you can get a cheap Cosco Scenera Next, which is very compact and slim, keep it as a travel carseat, and then when your son turns 3, hand the Pria down to DD and move him to the a slimmer forward facing harness to booster. The harness to boosters are cheaper and plenty of them have cupholders. </p> <p> If rear-facing both kids as long as possible is a priority in addition to being able to sit between them, I would personally go buy 2 Clek Fllos. </p> <p>I don't know what kind of car you drive, but I do want to say trying to wedge yourself between 2 convertible carseats is VERY difficult no matter what kind of seat it is - its totally different from having an infant bucket you can move in and out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814563 Thu, 05 Apr 2018 12:57:01 +0000 newlypregnantlady 2814563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a Diono RXT (there is a recall relating to a forward facing installation), and I’ll need a second convertible soon and I’m planning on getting a Chicco Nextfit ($210 on Albeebaby.com right now!). I would love to buy a Clek I just can’t afford it right now. </p> <p>I don’t hate the Diono but it’s not the easiest install (I really only trust myself for installs, definitely not ILs and I’m iffy on my husband’s installs). We rarely move it so it’s not a big deal, but we have a small car and the Diono is super long and it’s tough on my tall husband (which is partly why I got it, because my DD was super tall but is now average).</p> <p>Edit: the Diono definitely has a small/short side so it’s easy for DD1 to crawl in by herself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814368 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 17:00:43 +0000 MrsBucky 2814368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also have a Diono and while I don’t hate it, I wouldn’t buy it again. My husband, son and I all prefer the clek foonf. It was reasonably easy to install, he sits up high rf and can see out, it’s comfy and very slim- like the diono it’s known on one youcan fit three across in most sedans. It wouldn’t be super easy to uninstall frequently, but we have a cosco scenera we use for travel, so I don’t worry about that. The diono was impossible to install so we would never travel with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814339 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 15:43:28 +0000 Becky 2814339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@justjules: I almost added this to my comment, but my kids have been used to pretty bare bones/no frills everything when it comes to transportation (no stroller tray/activity bar and few complaints during long runs; never any complaints about basic car seats being less comfortable than the Graco or Maxi Cosi) so that could be a transition if you have a souped up car seat right now. I wouldn’t make a decision based on that though because my girls go between 4 sets of car seats and never comment on them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814326 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 15:20:13 +0000 Silva 2814326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@justjules: I have a mini van so everything fits! It is a pretty big car seat, I suppose</p> <p>@Jennibenni: It is long but that doesn't seem to be an issue for us? I'm not sure what problem that would cause- I kind of like it because I don't have to go digging to buckle her in, and she can actually do all the buckling independently. She could never get the crotch buckle done on the maxi cosi we had. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814298 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:34:06 +0000 pinkb 2814298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it just depend person to person really. I have a Diono and I hate it, and most people love it. We have had a lot of seats. 2 for my car 2 for DH and then 2 for the babysitter. Ease of use with a cup holder, Britax Pioneer clicktight, a little bulky but we like it. we also have Britax blvd (older model) easy install, easy to adjust, but bulky and the fabric/ cover is too much/ too hot in FL. Favorite overall even though they are super heavy and no cup holder foonf, 2 in our minivan. love the fabric love the height of them in the car, pain to adjust straps because you do have to uninstall, but easy install. I got DS the Diono because he has always been very big for his age and everyone seems to love it. It is heavy, a pain to install, never got it right RF, there is an add on cup holder on ours, and everything is a pain to adjust. Even clicking and unclicking the crotch buckle is a PIA. Graco convertible for babysitter is light weight and for us has been an easy install and had a cup holder, no complaints. Maxi Cosi pria we had and it was in an accident so we had to replace. Big and bulky. Fabric stained with just water touching it. Cover was too much, we live in FL and it was just too hot. It was an easy install and easy to adjust and had a cup holder. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814297 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:34:01 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2814297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@justjules DS does not seem to mind the less padding, he has been in the Dionos since he was around 9 months old. He still naps regularly. I can’t speak to safety regarding the side walls but it has not ever come to mind as a concern. The lower sides have been so much easier as he has gotten bigger to keep him rear facing, I cannot even imagine trying to get him into the Britax right now. We used the Britax for a few months as a primary, I didn’t mind it but much prefer the lower profile slim fit of the Diono now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814291 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:28:20 +0000 justjules 2814291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: how wide is your chicco? That was another one that people seem to mention a lot on the previous threads I read. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814290 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:26:48 +0000 justjules 2814290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jape14: I’m kinda the same way. We have never have huge issues with it but I see people hating on it all the time so I’m always wondering when the other shoe will drop/ maybe I don’t know what an “easier” seat would be like </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814289 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:25:34 +0000 justjules 2814289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: @MACSUNSHINE: Dionos look so minimal to me. Is it comfy for littles to sleep in? And from the pics it looks like it doesn’t have a side, which seems less safe? I don’t know much about car seats so I’m just going by pics off of amazon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814286 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:22:36 +0000 JennyPenny 2814286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have all Britax seats and find them very convenient but also huge. I can sit between them in the middle in the back if necessary but it is not comfortable. In the future we'll probably trade everything in for Dionos so we can get 3 across. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814282 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:18:08 +0000 justjules 2814282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ah this is making me all confused again! The other threads seem to love the britax. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814281 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:11:01 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2814281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would you ever pass the current convertible to DD? And get something else for DS? </p> <p>We have Diono Radian RXTs and it is the only seat I will buy going forward. It takes up a lot of room rear facing but I love the ease of use and longevity of it. Plus the low profile makes it very easy to get my DS in and he seems comfortable rear facing. Our back-up seat is a Britax and I find the thing to be a pain, I also don't think it is comfortable rear facing for my DS who is 26 months but 90 percentile for height and weight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814280 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:08:29 +0000 Jennibenni 2814280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: Do you find the crotch buckle on the MyFit to be long? I read a couple reviews complaining of that </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814279 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:06:13 +0000 jape14 2814279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FWIW we have a Maxi Cosi Pria with DS (3.5) and got another one for DD (9 months - we just switched her into it this past week). I've never had any trouble with it at all and I seriously am confused by the complaints I see. Our backup seat for DS used to be a britax and I found that way more annoying to deal with, so maybe I'm just weird? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814272 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:53:18 +0000 Becky 2814272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How about a Diono? If I could buy all my car seats again I’d definitely go all Diono. My husband and MIL have Gracos for DD1 and they’re pretty eh when compared to the Diono Radian R100 and Britax Pioneer seats we have. We have had a really hard time getting the Graco seats securely installed, and also the straps tend to twist which after using the Diono and Britax seems baffling to me since they have literally never gotten twisted (why can’t all seats have Diono buckles?!). The Dionos are so narrow which would be good for sitting in the middle, and unlike the Britax ClickTight look like more of a big kid seat once you turn them around so that might help you keep them in it longer. Our Maxi Cosi was the worst baby equipment purchase I ever made. Sure it’s cozy, but the straps always get twisted and its so hard to tighten. We got our Diono for DH’s car but I immediately switched it into my car and gave him the Maxi Cosi after trying it out since I was driving around with DD1 much more often than him, and he’s stronger than me so can tighten to Maxi Cosi straps (I can’t). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814269 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:48:14 +0000 Silva 2814269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a different model of Maxi Cosi and for some reason after a few years it basically became un-useable. I can't loosen the straps. I can't tell if its just from gunk build up, or what, but I've heard from others who have the same issue.</p> <p>We have a chicco nextfit zip and I love it. I'm sticked to chicco car seats. I find them incredibly easy to use and install. I just got my oldest a myfit and its great too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814264 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:37:20 +0000 Iced Tea 2814264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two of them: the Graco and Britax. </p> <p>I like the Graco for the straps. They are really easy to adjust properly; even newbies (think relatives, etc.) can do it right the first time. I also appreciate the narrow width and the materials of the cover. What I don’t like is the lack of lock-offs for easier installation. It’s more difficult to install on our leather seats. It can be done, if I’m the one doing it, but I don’t trust relatives to install this one tightly. </p> <p>The Britax is easy to install tightly, for sure. It’s also heavy and bulky as fuck, which unfortunately negates some of that trading-cars convenience for me. I’ve decided that, for us, the straps are borderline dangerous because the uninitiated folks aren’t tightening them properly. The straps give a lot resistance long before they get tight, which makes them think the job is done when it isn’t. I also don’t love the material of the cover. </p> <p>I feel comfortable with the Graco slimfit as my usual seat since I install it myself and leave it in place. But if it was switching cars much, I’d look for something with both easy install and easy straps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/convertible-car-seat-questions-1#post-2814259 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:21:02 +0000 justjules 2814259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ok, I know there are already a million threads like this but I am working myself up into buyers paralysis for DDs convertible car seat. </p> <p>DS (2.5) is rear-facing happy in his Maxi Cosi Pria 85. The car seat is.... fine. I like the look of it, he is comfy and he loves having a cup holder (super random I know). </p> <p>Right now DD is in a chicco keyfit 30. It’s a tight squeeze but I can sit in between them if we have 3 adults or if it’s a long car trip and they need help. that middle seat being available to sit is a big priority for me. So that is a big factor. </p> <p> Here are the three car seats I’m thinking about:</p> <p>1.) (another) Maxi cosi Pria 85<br /> Pros: I like the look, they have the same one (is there ever jealously over this?)<br /> Cons: it’s a little more bulky (worried about being able to sit in the middle seat) people seem to complain that it’s hard to use so maybe I just don’t know what I’m missing</p> <p>2.) Britax Clicktight<br /> Pros: people seem to really like it<br /> Cons: looks wider- worried about being able to sit in the middle, no cup holder (since DS loves his I’m worried this will be a factor) </p> <p>3.) Graco Slimfit<br /> Pros- thin, does have cup holder<br /> Cons- maybe not as nice as the other two? </p> <p>What do you all think? </p>