05 camry. i know many of you own britax carseats. what kind of car do you have and does it fit well, or do you have to position your seat really close to the steering wheel in order for it to have enough room? and when did you put the carseat in the front facing position since it can be rear facing til 35lbs? do you have experience with the car seat not fitting in your car at all? my husband has a 00 mustang, do you think a britax would fit in it? what kind of foreward facing car seat would you suggest for a smaller car?
2007-09-20 04:46:08 · 6 answers · asked by vern01 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Go to www.carseatdata.org and see if anybody else with your model of car has successfully installed a Britax.
If the seat doesn't fit your car well, it's not safe. You can go to the store and ask a salesperson to help you take the floor model out to your vehicle to try to install it and see if it will be safe. If the store won't accommodate you, go to a different store!
Having to position your seat too close to the steering wheel will endanger YOU, so that's not a viable option.
You should leave the seat rear facing until your child has reached the WEIGHT LIMIT FOR THE SEAT. People will tell you to turn them around at 1 year and 20 lbs. (Like the person above, who is COMPLETELY WRONG to tell you to do this.) Don't listen to them. That's the minimum and it should only be done if you don't have any other choice. My daughter didn't reach the 35 weight limit on her seat until she was 3 years old, so she faced backwards until then. She didn't know any different, her little sister was also rear facing right next to her, and since my son was in the row behind her facing her, she thought it was great.
We turned my daughters around at the same time because they were 35 & 34.5 lbs respectfully (youngest is big for her age). They were 3 & 2-and-a-half.
Yes, I have dealt with car seats that don't fit your car. TAKE THEM BACK TO THE STORE because they will not protect your child. The right seat for you is the one that (A) fits your child and (B) fits your vehicle and (C) is easy enough for you to use properly. If any of these is not true, you need a different seat.
I could tell you horror stories about entire car seats being flung from vehicles, kids slipping out of the straps, etc., etc., etc. MAKE SURE you have (A), (B) and (C) with every car seat, every kid, every vehicle.
Mustangs are super hard to fit because they have contoured seats.
Whatever seat you buy, make sure you get a PROFESSIONAL inspection. These are often offered for free by auto insurance companies, you State Patrol and even some hospitals and fire stations. With 90% of children NOT properly restrained, this is a CRUCIAL step so don't miss it.
2007-09-20 05:07:15 · answer #1 · answered by sparki777 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
The Eddie Bauer seat sucks--the straps get all twisted and the crotch clip is awkward and doesn't seem that safe. You have to clip them together and then push them in the hole. If the buckle gives, then your kid is completely free in an accident as opposed to having one side break, but the other hold the baby. I LOVE the Marathon--the boulevard is outgrown too quickly. Go buy the seat and test it in your car. If it doesn't work, put it back in the box and exchange it for something else. You can't do any better than a Britax seat. The straps are basically impossible to twist, which is safer for your baby. It might be big for the Mustang. However, if your baby is over 20 lbs and 1 year old, it can be forward facing. Make sure you use the LATCH.
Note: I said it CAN be forward facing at 1 year, not it HAS to be forward facing at 1 yr. If you put a 3 1/2 yr old in a rear facing carseat at 35 lbs, I can only imagine how squished and uncomfortable that must have been for her legs on long trips. The reason why they suggest 20 lbs and 1 yr is because of head and neck control. They are safer rear facing for as long as they can comfortably fit and for as long as the seat will allow. That said, just because the seat says it'll hold a kid rear facing at 35 lbs doesn't mean it should. The instructions on booster seats says 30 lbs and 37 inches, but I'd never put a 30 lb child in a booster. In some states it's illegal to have them in a booster before 40 lbs, but the car seat manufacturer doesn't take that into consideration--they're just trying to push out a product.
2007-09-20 04:55:30 · answer #2 · answered by Sit'nTeach'nNanny 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The reason why it's 12 months and 20 lbs is because babies are more suseptible to whiplash in a forward facing position. In extreme cases, a doctor may suggest that you turn them around early, but it rarely happens(I've discussed it w/ my doctor because my daughter is 8 mo old, 21 lbs and 30 inches tall already) You should keep her back facing for as long as she fits comfortably. I also reccommend cosco's scenera(don't use their cribs though, lol), it's extremely cost effecient around 40-50 dollars and works both backwards and forwards. It is also an extremely popular car seat, so there will be extra accessories and covers more readily available. Good luck and wait till she hits that 20 lb mark at least :D
2016-05-19 02:24:30 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have the Britax Boulevard. It fits rear facing in an '04 Chevy Malibu, which I think is comparable to a Camry. I'm kind of short so it didn't bother me, but my husband is tall so he was kind of squished.
My father in law has a Mustang and I'm sure it wouldn't fit in his car. My in-laws have their own seat (I think it's a Graco), and even that doesn't fit rear facing in his car. (They take my MIL's car if they have my son)
I do love the Boulevard for a car seat. My son is now 25 lbs and over a year so we've turned him around. Even if you are a bit cramped while rear facing, before you know it, you'll be turning it around anyway.
2007-09-20 06:23:02 · answer #4 · answered by berrel 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It should fit in the Camry but I doubt it will fit in the Mustang. It all depends on how far back you put the seats.
2007-09-20 04:54:16 · answer #5 · answered by bravenarr 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't get the Eddie Bauer/Cosco/Safety1st Alpha Omega/3-in-1 seats! They're awful and won't last very long b/c of too short harness slots.
As for the Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon fitting, it should, but no, the person seated directly in front of it won't have a whole lot of room. Did an infant carrier fit? If it did, than the Britax should fit. I have a tiny Honda Civic coupe and it fit, and my 6'4" ex sat in front of it a few times, he was a little squished, but its a necessary evil, so no big deal. The best way is to take the car (s) to Babies R Us (or another baby boutique) and actually try the seat in the car. It will fit in the Mustang, I mean, you could likely install it, but wouldn't leave room for someone to sit without squishing in front of it. The car seat database lists a Roundabout (slightly smaller than a Marathon and ONLY goes to 40lbs instead of 65lbs :( ) as fitting but pushing the front seat all the way forward. What I would do with the Mustang is buy a $40 Cosco Scenera at Walmart. It can rear face to a whopping 35lbs (keeping most kids rear facing until 2 years old!). It kind of stinks as a forward facing seat, but once the child can turn forward, then you could get a Marathon without any fit issues. The database does list a Marathon forward facing in a '98 Mustang. The car seat database does list a rear facing marathon in a Camry with no issues. So buy 1 Marathon and 1 Scenera. Get another Marathon later (preferably in September or February during a Britax sale!!!) for the Mustang once the child is forward facing.
Don't think of it as 'when can he...' think of it as 'when does he have to...' Each stage in car seats is not a graduation, it is a demotion in protection. With every phase you pass through the child is protected less. Keep him rear facing until he reaches the rear facing limit of a good convertible car seat.
A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 4 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age. A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
In the age of the internet its amazing so much misinformation exists! Please please do not listen to people telling you to turn your child forward facing 'at your judgement' or when her legs touch the seat. In truth, most children LIKE resting their feet on the back of the seat in front of them. Check out this photo album exclusively of rear facing kids, many of them much older than 12 months: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum.aspx
It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (see sources) that ALL babies stay rear facing as long as possible, up to the weight/height limits of their seat. Most seats go to 30lbs rear facing, some go higher, check your manual. They are too tall for an infant carrier when the head is within an inch of the top of the shell. Too tall for most convertible seats when their ears reach the top of the seat. Has nothing to do with how long their legs are! There isn't a single documented case of a child breaking their legs b/c they were rear facing in an accident. There are, however, lots of cases where children have been killed and seriously injured where a rear facing seat would have protected them better. They are safest rear facing b/c their bones have not yet completed the ossification process that bonds/hardens them like adults. They need the bracing support that a rear facing seat offers to withstand a crash. 20lbs AND 1 year is the bare minimum as far as the law is concerned, but the law is the bare minimum of safety, and who wants to do the bare minimum for their child? 20lbs/1 year is outdated advice.
Forward facing really shouldn't have any issues just b/c a car is small. My son's Marathon fit easily in my coupe and so did his Britax Regent, which is as big as they come. :) Not all car seats are compatible with all cars, though, I could not get an Evenflo Chase (its combo seat, harness and then booster, and kind of stinky one at that!) to work in my car. Just can't get it tight. Because of the way the Britax seats are made, they are notorious for fitting easily in most cars. And, they are very easy to use and last a long time b/c of tall harness slots.
Here's a run down of convertible seats:
The Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon (These 3 are the same seat, just different variances of luxury additions, with the Marathon being the cheapest base model) can be found for regular price of $269, and on sale at Albee Baby online for $209-$219. The Marathon a wide open easy to route belt path, which makes using it correctly a lot easier, as do the built in lockoffs, which mean you never again have to use a locking clip. I can get it into 4 different vehicles in under 2 minutes. Because of the way the base is made, it fits in most cars. And, it is worth the money, b/c it lasts usually twice as long as most other car seats (all car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture) lasting a baby till they are 5-6 years old, where most at Walmart will only last till 2-4 years old. Rear faces to 33lbs, then forward to 65lbs. and top slots 17inches tall, lasts most kids to ages 5-6 years old.
The Recaro Como/Signo (Signo is the more expensive version) is a brand new seat, the Como is $249 with free shipping at many sites online. It rear faces to 35lbs, and front faces to 70lbs, and has top slots at 19inches, taller than any other convertible on the market, so this will outlast even the Britax Marathon, for a slightly cheaper price. Very plush seat, too. It even has the built-in lockoffs! They're easy to install, like the Britax seats, and include infant and toddler padding. With the goals of rear facing as long as possible and staying in a harness as long as possible, this seat is great.
The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. $150 version at Babies R Us has padding similar to Britax seats, top slots of 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. $120 Walmart version just has little less plush padding. Wide open belt path, easy to install, though it doesn't have built in lockoffs. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It's one of only 2 seats that does this (The Britax Boulevard is the other, I believE), and it has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. No more tugging straps to tighten them either. You tighten and loosen the harness using knobs on the side of the seat. As a major bonus, it can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode. Awesome for kids who still sleep in the car. I LOVE THIS SEAT! LOL My son, who is too big for every other car seat at Walmart has the same amount of room in this as the Britax Marathon.
The Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe Convertible seat is great, it is made by Britax, without all the frills. It's the same shell as a Marathon, but for less than half the price. $130 at Albee Baby online with free shipping, or at their eBay name, babysurplus. Rear faces to 33lbs, forward to 55lbs. Easy to use, fits in most cars.
These are the best you can buy that will give you the most bang for your buck. As a single parent I'm always watching the budget - I have no money to speak of, and these are what I would buy. (My son has a marathon and is soon getting a Britax Regent). They will last the longest. I only wish someone would've told me all this before I had him, I coulda saved some money for the extra seats I started out with!
All seats in the US must meet the same safety criteria to sell, so technically they all are safe, however, if its hard to install, then it won't be used correctly and that makes it unsafe. Also, they only must meet the guidelines, some seats barely pass, some exceed them. Britax exceeds the guidelines and is easy to use.
2007-09-21 03:26:54 · answer #6 · answered by littleangelfire81 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋