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.
259264
I believe the laws in most states state that you can turn forward facing at 1 year, but that it's recommended to wait until at least 2 years old, and then only turn when they don't fit in their seat rear-facing anymore. Britax probably put that in their manual because, while it's not against the law, it is definitely not best-practice. Statistically, rear-facing children are something like 5 times safer than forward facing children in the case of a collision. I would definitely return it, and mention that to the salesman so he's aware he's going against britax's recommendations.
1907160
It's ideal to keep a little one rear facing until you exceed the limits on the rear facing seat - SO much safer. It's ideal to keep them in a harnessed seat until they exceed the height and weight - think of what happens to a body during an accident. My 7-year old is still harnessed and will be until he exceeds the height and weight - I recent experienced a serious accident (without kids) and the forces on your body are brutal.
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!
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.
2250081
We have had this Recaro booster/car seat for going on 3 months now and our 2 year old still loves it. She is very comfortable her head while asleep rests over to the side into the padding instead of leaning forward. We have a britax in our other vehicle and whenever she falls asleep in that she slumps forward.We have this in our GMC Yukon for long car rides as she is the most comfortable in this. It doesn't recline, which I was worried about but you could always put a pad under it to adjust it as needed. We haven't needed to do that as she just loves this seat and has no problems falling asleep super comfy for long car rides! We have had this Recaro booster/car seat for going on 3 months now and our 2 year old still loves it. She is very comfortable her head while asleep rests over to the side into the padding instead of leaning forward. We have a britax in our other vehicle and whenever she falls asleep in that she slumps forward.We have this in our GMC Yukon for long car rides as she is the most comfortable in this. It doesn't recline, which I was worried about but you could always put a pad under it to adjust it as needed. We haven't needed to do that as she just loves this seat and has no problems falling... » Read More We have had this Recaro booster/car seat for going on 3 months now and our 2 year old still loves it. She is very comfortable her head while asleep rests over to the side into the padding instead of leaning forward. We have a britax in our other vehicle and whenever she falls asleep in that she slumps forward.We have this in our GMC Yukon for long car rides as she is the most comfortable in this. It doesn't recline, which I was worried about but you could always put a pad under it to adjust it as needed. We haven't needed to do that as she just loves this seat and has no problems falling asleep super comfy for long car rides! « Show Less
986198
I started using this once she was over one year. I used a different Graco infant carrier from 0-1yr. The babies do sort of lie down/prop up in an infant carrier. Once transitioned to this carseat, she sits with her back fairly straight. It is not as straight as she will be once she's in a booster seat with no backing, but I wouldn't not consider this reclined like the infant carrier. She has never complained about this seat. She seems very comfortable and I feel safe with it.
22307
How far it leans back depends on the seats of your car. I have an Impala and when my 6 month old child sleeps her head has never leaned forward, same with wife's car. We have both a Marathon 70and Advocate 70. Tried an Evenflow seat and just couldn't get the correct angle rear facing.
1148243
I got this for both my 4 y/o and my baby who is now 11 months. We've used them a few months and love them. I don't feel it's rough or uncomfortable for either of them. We had a britax convertible... that was softer but he got hot in it a lot. And our infant seat was a chicco which was comparable to this graco. Hope this helps!
1588958
I had it rear-facing in a Saturn, and I found it difficult to get my almost-2-year old in the seat without hitting her head on the door of my car. However, my daughter is pretty big and was almost 30 pounds at the time. The seat fit perfectly fine in the car however. I now have it forward facing in a PT Cruiser and am still able to fold down the other 2/3rds of the back-seat next to her. I am able to see out of the back perfectly. I find that the seat is very sturdy. I turned my girl around before she was 2, but I consulted my local DMV car seat specialist and he said he saw no problem given her size and the safety of the seat. I had it rear-facing in a Saturn, and I found it difficult to get my almost-2-year old in the seat without hitting her head on the door of my car. However, my daughter is pretty big and was almost 30 pounds at the time. The seat fit perfectly fine in the car however. I now have it forward facing in a PT Cruiser and am still able to fold down the other 2/3rds of the back-seat next to her. I am able to see out of the back perfectly. I find that the seat is very sturdy. I turned my girl around before she was 2, but I consulted my local DMV car seat specialist and he said he saw no problem... » Read More I had it rear-facing in a Saturn, and I found it difficult to get my almost-2-year old in the seat without hitting her head on the door of my car. However, my daughter is pretty big and was almost 30 pounds at the time. The seat fit perfectly fine in the car however. I now have it forward facing in a PT Cruiser and am still able to fold down the other 2/3rds of the back-seat next to her. I am able to see out of the back perfectly. I find that the seat is very sturdy. I turned my girl around before she was 2, but I consulted my local DMV car seat specialist and he said he saw no problem given her size and the safety of the seat. « Show Less
136659
Britax's website (I don't think I can post a link here but it's their name, then usa, .com). They have a great tool for side by side comparison for all of their seats, height & weight restrictions, etc) If I'm reading the specs right (please don't quote me on this), the height restrictions are the same (49'). It's the weight that's the big difference. It goes up to 40lb rear facing, 70lb front facing. My son is on the smaller side (he's 18 months and just now getting into 12-18 mo clothes) and I bought this seat because I knew it would last a while rear facing.
515340
hello greetings, if the inclination refierere car always got in position 1 is the most comfortable to go out with the baby for a walk today my son is 2 years old and is really long as you do not use me sleep on the way then I place it in position number 4 I hope is the information you expected Greetings
1805631
I have twin girls and my husband and I bought two chicco infant car seats that came with bases. The bases stayed in my car and he used the seat belt to secure them when in his car. I have since bought two foward facing seats for my car and the infant seats are still in his car with the base. We will have to buy forward facing soon for his car. So we have bought 4 so far and will need to buy 2 more. I suggest you buy two convertible seats, and let them buy 2 infant seats if they want them.
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.
2200161
We got it when she was 6 months old - it did recline in the rear position - she loved it! It sits very high so she can actually see out . It has a few options when forward facing - no problems. I feel it is extremely safe and while some of he car seats have more recline options - it is definitely worth the peace of mind for the safety aspect.
294469
You have to do what you feel is safest for your little one. That being said, the seats do lean back as far as you want them to. I think a 5 month old would be just fine. I'm not sure what model year I have. We bought it new in January of 2014. I love it even more now than when I wrote the original review.
1820517
Listen to Scmoopy. Much safer to rear face at that age. And like he/she said, you can get a Cosco rear-facing seat for less. Don't take the risk.