[waiting4katie]

Okay, I have found a great crib...fantastic deal on a top of the line stroller...but the car seat search is driving me crazy! I have walked in several times, squeezed the padding, been flabbergasted (sp?) by prices (it has been 4 years since I have shopped for a convertable car seat, prices have definitely gone up!) only to leave in total confusion! Do you get what you pay for in this market? I have seen the government site, and honestly, it didn't help me much. I have seen opinion polls from moms on seats that range from $200. - $300.+ ...and moms who say you can get a great car seat under $100. Aaargggh! Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated for my sanity's sake!!!

[mom23boys]

I have three boys ages 7 and under- all are still in seats or boosters. I have had every brand car seat there is ( stroller too ) and I would say- hands down- BRITAX is the brand to go with. They have a few models- depending on how big the baby is and if you want it to go to a booster and such. It took me all the way to my third son to try this brand- as they were expensive- but had I known what I know now- I would have saved myself a lot of money in the earlier days looking for new seats each time- as I hated the ones we bought- or the straps were too hard to do or tangled all the time, or could not get clean because the seat padding was so hard to take off- or because my kids hated the way they felt when they sat in them- you get the point. BRITAX- expensive but worth the money in safety and comfort!!!! GL with your choice!

[journeytograce]

We have bought Britax seats for our kids since they were infants (oldest is now 5 in the Parkway Booster), and have been very pleased. Check out their website. They are extremely safe, and very well made. They are on the upper end when it comes to price, but I think they are worth it.
HTH,


....We posted at the same time Jennifer! Two thumbs up for Britax!!!

[kgembs]

I am just the aunty but transport my nephew 4 days a week and bought a Britax. FABULOUS!!! His parents bought 4 different carseats, their two cars and the grandparents and they all wish they had a Britax. Yup they are expensive but for EASE OF USE,durability and comfort they are hands down the best. How old is your little one?

[Threekids4me]

Had to chime in here on Britax.

We LOVE it , too!

It is worth every penny, IMHO.

[DCMomLady]

It's BRITAX for us, too.

(We were given a trendy Eddie Bauer carseat and we threw it out because I couldn't even make myself give it to anyone else because it was so uncomfortable.)

[angelkisses0102]

Another vote for Britax...we have 4 right now, 1 covertable (can't think of the name,) 2 Regents (actually one was a Husky which is now called Regent) and 1 Booster.

My DD is a peanut...not quite 40 pounds or 40 inches at almost 5...DS is long and skinny and Britax seats just work best for them.

They are worth their weight in gold...just knowing my kiddos are safe and comfortable...great peace of mind.

[sak9645]

In the interest of fairness, let me say that I bought, several years ago, a high back Britax seat that could be used either with a five point harness or as a booster, and it was a disaster.

My daughter, who is as thin as can be, found that it cramped her hips and confined her head unduly. One of her American-born friends, who is a big girl, couldn't fit into it at all, even though she was under the maximum weight for the seat.

Now, it could be that my daughter had problems because she was older than the average booster-user. She needed a car seat and booster much longer than most kids because she was so petite, especially in weight.

Her doctor also likes to see kids in boosters until they reach 80 lb. (more strict than the law in Maryland, where we live, but it IS the law in NJ, where we visited last year.) Becca is almost 11 and has just hit 60 lb. We got the Britax when she was around 7or 8.

Sharon

[Happy2Bhere]

Hindsite is always 20/20.
When we were going to adopt, I bought a "cute" carseat. It wasn't practical. If I only knew then what I know now- I would have bought a good, expensive carseat, one that grows with your child.
I have bought several cheaper walmart ones, when normally most people would only be on their first or second car seat.
I think carseats are worth the money- get a good one, and "justify" the money by knowing you can use it again, or resell it, or just that it will be SO much more convienent or easier to deal with if you get one you like, and that grows with your child!
Isn't it great to have the "problem" of having to pick out a carseat for your child? :-) I mean, motherhood is SOOO awesome! I've lived for these "issues" for the first 34 years of my life :-)
Best wishes!
MElissa

[chinagirl2006]

Thanks for the carseat advice. I had a hard time choosing 1 also. After I heard that Britax was the easiest to use, I decided to put 1 of them on our registry. That's the next "big" purchase we'll have to make if we don't get it at 1 of our showers before we leave.

[richard p.]

Britax too! FYI both Volvo abd SAAB sell Britax on their sites. We have the older version of the Parkway and my 8 year old can sit for 12 hour drives without a peep. It is also designed with side impact protection.