Infant seat vs convertible seat My mom has offered to get us a car seat for our son (due in November) and told me to pick one out. However, she seems adamant to get a convertible seat that goes from rear facing to forward facing. I would like an infant seat that we can remove and carry our son inside without waking him if he falls asleep while we are driving. I am also concerned about safety with the rear facing convertible seat as many of the reviews I have seen complain about the tilt when they are in the car and baby's head leaning forward too much. When I read the reviews on here for the Britax Marathon 70 (which is the one my mom wants to buy) it seems everyone who has given a review didn't start using it until their child was 6+ months. Would appreciate any feedback on if this is a good choice for 0-6 months or not. Thank you. Infant seat vs convertible seat My mom has offered to get us a car seat for our son (due in November) and told me to pick one out. However, she seems adamant to get a convertible seat that goes... » Read More Infant seat vs convertible seat My mom has offered to get us a car seat for our son (due in November) and told me to pick one out. However, she seems adamant to get a convertible seat that goes from rear facing to forward facing. I would like an infant seat that we can remove and carry our son inside without waking him if he falls asleep while we are driving. I am also concerned about safety with the rear facing convertible seat as many of the reviews I have seen complain about the tilt when they are in the car and baby's head leaning forward too much. When I read the reviews on here for the Britax Marathon 70 (which is the one my mom wants to buy) it seems everyone who has given a review didn't start using it until their child was 6+ months. Would appreciate any feedback on if this is a good choice for 0-6 months or not. Thank you. « Show Less
470021
I don't have this carseat yet, but I am going to buy one in the near future. As far as I know, the velcro is to keep seatbelts out of the way when you position your baby in the seat.
131031
I agree completely. I had the bulky travel system with my first child and decided to skip that and just get Britax straight away. We are getting a lightweight stroller for when baby gets bigger but I plan on mostly carrying them with me with the help of a moby. The infant carriers are overrated and unnecessary.
1362736
recaro proride is better than britax. it's way stable and sturdier feeling than britax. i have no problem with recaro proride convertible. but if you want something that would be user later after your lil. one is more than 2 yo then go with britax frontier 85 because after 2 yo your lo will want a cup holder and snack slot. trust me on this part. i have 3 recaro proride, 1 recaro prosport, 2 britax boulevard, 1 britax marathon, and lastly britax frontier 85. i buy them as my lo grows.
1890488
I think this product only works with the B-Safe infant car seat. The next size up car seats are convertible, meaning that your child will sit in them rear-facing until they reach a certain weight then you'll turn the seat around so they sit front-facing. This base would not work with such a seat because it's too high in the front. Ironically I had the same question yesterday because I'm ready for an upgrade and I just did some research on convertible car seats this morning. I like the Britax brand and I think I'm going to go with the Britax Boulevard G4 for my next car seat.
833746
I am a car seat tech, and an ER RN. I have seen kids become quadriplegics due to forward facing at young ages. My almost 4 yr old and my 28 month old are still rear facing and will be until they are 45 lbs. It would be my expert opinion that your child will be up to 4 times safer if kept rear facing. As a parent, please consider their safety. It is easy to keep them rear facing if it's all they know. You can get a seat that will rear face up for 40 lbs and harness to 65 lbs. That would be my suggestion for you. The newest recommendations from the AAP is to keep kids rear facing until age 2 or they reach the weight limit of their convertible seat, whichever is LONGER. Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of PREVENTABLE deaths of kids in the US. And there has never been a documented case of leg injury from extended rear facing. Please don't think I am preaching, I just try to do what I can to keep kids safe! Any questions, feel free to ask.
1834578
For Safety 1st years the average is 6-8 years from the date of manufacture. I don't remember the window of time for this one specifically, but it will def get her through the years you would want a good carseat and solid booster! Most kids want the smaller less obvious boosters when they get close to reaching the age that they ALMOST don't need one anymore. And it can be used as five point harness seat for a LONG time. My son is almost 4 and still has LOTS of weight and height to go before he meets the recommended requirements for the booster option! I love the Alpha seats, all three of my kids have them :) For Safety 1st years the average is 6-8 years from the date of manufacture. I don't remember the window of time for this one specifically, but it will def get her through the years you would want a good carseat and solid booster! Most kids want the smaller less obvious boosters when they get close to reaching the age that they ALMOST don't need one anymore. And it can be used as five point harness seat for a LONG time. My son is almost 4 and still has LOTS of weight and height to go before he meets the recommended requirements for the booster option! I love the Alpha seats, all three of my... » Read More For Safety 1st years the average is 6-8 years from the date of manufacture. I don't remember the window of time for this one specifically, but it will def get her through the years you would want a good carseat and solid booster! Most kids want the smaller less obvious boosters when they get close to reaching the age that they ALMOST don't need one anymore. And it can be used as five point harness seat for a LONG time. My son is almost 4 and still has LOTS of weight and height to go before he meets the recommended requirements for the booster option! I love the Alpha seats, all three of my kids have them :) « Show Less
1175453
I would love to hear what others have to say about this. We had this car seat on our registry, but I just read a review on another site that stated the First Years True Fit is the only convertible car seat that truly fits newborns. We're thinking of getting that instead.
1428791
This car seat is only rear facing. The base is designed to face to the rear. It cannot be safely secured to the seat of the car if you attempt to turn the base forward facing. By the time your child is old enough to face forwards, they will need a new (larger) more upright seat. I bought the Radian R120... which is good for up to 120 pounds. I will have no problem with this seat as my daughter grows.
1066162
Hi Mary, I am a certified Child Passenger Safety technician, and Safe Kids and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend having your child in a rear facing car seat for two years at minimum, preferably to the height/weight limits of the convertible car seat. As this forward facing only car seat is intended for older children, Britax specifies that the child must be at least 2 years old and I believe 25 lbs to use this particular seat. I would recommend looking for a convertible car seat for your 13 month old. Hope that helps!
1761374
States have different laws now about what age with front and rear facing carseats. AAP now says 2 years and that is what I'm going by. I was going to buy this car seat but since it doesn't rear face I went with Britax instead.
1428793
It is only to be used rear facing. Keep your child rear facing as long as possible. I was recently in an accident that totaled my car and because I had kept her in a rear-facing car seat (not this one because she outgrew it because of her height) she walked away without a scratch.
1926844
Yes, we are using it for our 29 month old son in a rear facing position. He will be rear facing in it unitl he out grows the limits for it, and then we will most likely use it for our four year old daughter because it has a higher harness level than our Graco Nautilus so we will be able to harness her much longer. LOVE LOVE LOVE this car seat!
691768
I would say for 5 month olds. The only con I see in this car is that the front seat does not layd (?) as much as the back one, if both kids are facing front. Sometimes I use the car for my old boys (2 and 4 years old), sometimes the 2 yo with the baby (6 months). But it is very easy to change the seats (I do it even when my 2 yo is seated and start kicking the front seat. i simply put him facing me).
1522769
No infant carseat reclines.It has a stable base that when in rear facing, there is a gauge on the side showing in proper position.Just strap it down, pull it tight, and you are good to go.Best thing about this model is that not only is it rear facing, but when child reaches height/weightrange - it then can be switched to front facing. Very good carseat - no complaints from us - and infactbought a 2nd one for Grandparents to use in their car.
1541183
The seat does not recline completely (sleeping position). It folds to about a 45 degree angle to allow the infant car seat to snap into place if the car seat is in the front position. So far we have only had the infant car seat in the back and our toddler sitting in the front part, but have set it up both ways. As for the whole stroller, it does not fold flat due to the wheels like the other reviewer stated. We just traveled across the world with our stroller, through four airports and three flights. We are very happy with the sturdiness of it and even after three gate checks it looks brand new. The seat does not recline completely (sleeping position). It folds to about a 45 degree angle to allow the infant car seat to snap into place if the car seat is in the front position. So far we have only had the infant car seat in the back and our toddler sitting in the front part, but have set it up both ways. As for the whole stroller, it does not fold flat due to the wheels like the other reviewer stated. We just traveled across the world with our stroller, through four airports and three flights. We are very happy with the sturdiness of it and even after three gate checks it looks brand... » Read More The seat does not recline completely (sleeping position). It folds to about a 45 degree angle to allow the infant car seat to snap into place if the car seat is in the front position. So far we have only had the infant car seat in the back and our toddler sitting in the front part, but have set it up both ways. As for the whole stroller, it does not fold flat due to the wheels like the other reviewer stated. We just traveled across the world with our stroller, through four airports and three flights. We are very happy with the sturdiness of it and even after three gate checks it looks brand new. « Show Less
1583089
My daughter is very tall also, 100% for her age group. At 18 months and 35inches, she is at the next to the top shoulder strap. The manufacturer recommends turning it forward facing when they reach the top strap holder. I just asked our pediatrician at our 18 month check up what we should do when she reaches that point as I am sure it will be soon, and before she is 2 which is the law in CA. His response was to turn her around when she reaches the top strap even if it is before age 2 as she will then be big enough. That being said we bought this carseat for traveling. It is the smallest and lightest carseat we could find. She seems very comfortable in it. The bottom strap to attach it via car latches does not adjust on both sides which makes getting a perfectly tight fit impossible. It has good safety ratings but in comparison to the Britax carseat we use for every day, it really doesn't seem as safe or tighly secured in the car. Hope this helps.
1799575
we got the black and used it through one summer without problems regarding it being too hot. the black material is softer feeling and seems like it would be pleasant to lean your head against. My son had no problems with comfort in this seat. HOWEVER if your child is tall, I would highly recommend not getting a Britax seat because the headrest is not reinforced, meaning that when your child's head is 1" from the top of the SHELL of the seat (NOT including the headrest), he/she is too tall to ride rear-facing. This typically happens when the child is wearing size 3T. Just wanted to mention that in case it saves you the trouble we went through. we got the black and used it through one summer without problems regarding it being too hot. the black material is softer feeling and seems like it would be pleasant to lean your head against. My son had no problems with comfort in this seat. HOWEVER if your child is tall, I would highly recommend not getting a Britax seat because the headrest is not reinforced, meaning that when your child's head is 1" from the top of the SHELL of the seat (NOT including the headrest), he/she is too tall to ride rear-facing. This typically happens when the child is wearing size 3T. Just wanted to... » Read More we got the black and used it through one summer without problems regarding it being too hot. the black material is softer feeling and seems like it would be pleasant to lean your head against. My son had no problems with comfort in this seat. HOWEVER if your child is tall, I would highly recommend not getting a Britax seat because the headrest is not reinforced, meaning that when your child's head is 1" from the top of the SHELL of the seat (NOT including the headrest), he/she is too tall to ride rear-facing. This typically happens when the child is wearing size 3T. Just wanted to mention that in case it saves you the trouble we went through. « Show Less
1213775
I used it with my daughter at 5 months. You're fine. It is only for use with an infant carrier though, not for use with a convertible car seat.