Car seats, all the same or one better than the others?

[hansonian]

The missus and I are expecting our first kid this summer. Not wanting to wait until the last minute to research and buy things I got to looking at car seats and realized I know absolutely zero about what I need. My plan is to buy one for her car, a 2012 Mini Cooper Clubman and one for mine, a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Is it ok to just install the car seat in each car and not worry about taking it out until the kid has outgrown it? Putting a kid in the Mini doesn't look like it will be that big of a issue, the Clubman has a third door on the passenger side for easy access to the back seat areas. My Jeep has the fold and flip front seats but to be honest it looks like a royal PITA to constantly install and remove a car seat. Anyone have any experience with this? Are there "safer" car seats to purchase or do they have meet the same standards? Should I be worried about the rear seat flipping up with the car seat installed (don't know if this is possible but it crossed my mind so I figured I'd ask).

Thanks!

[Idlehour]

Congrats!
Infant seats can be tricky because they have to be rear facing at first and that takes up a lot more room. On my 09 unlimited I couldn't put the drivers seat to where I needed so we had to move the infant seat to wherever my wife was sitting because she didn't need as much legroom.

Many infant seats come with a base system, you can install one in each car and the seat just clicks into it. Infant seats become the kids little space capsule. You will end up taking it out so they have somewhere to sit in the grocery cart(they click right in), the restaurant(flip the highchair upside down and it clicks right in), at the movie theater(joking, don't be that guy), from the car to house and pretty much every where you go. Some kids sleep in their car seats in the house instead of the crib. They are curved on the bottom so you can rock them.

If you have not bought the clubman yet, it might be best to bring the seat to the test-drive
To see how it fits. They only stay in rear facing seats until they hit a certain size/weight and can support their head. then you can mount the seat front facing and you get your leg room back.
I think all seats meet the same standard, they just have different features. There is a book out there - "best buys in baby gear" or something like that, it's a consumer reports for baby stuff.

[Pedro]

Check out this thread: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/44759-Car-seat-suggestions

My money is still with Recaro. We have two of them. They are a bit on the big side, but my daughter will fit in them until she is ready for a booster.

[Keanan]

I know Britax makes good seats. Child seats are not something you want to go cheap on.

[LaOutbackTrail]

Anyone have any Recaro or otherwise very protective car seats that they'd like to sell?

Our second kiddo will be here in mid March, and I'd like something a little more protective than the run of the mill Graco.

[Pedro]

I know Britax makes good seats. Child seats are not something you want to go cheap on.

They also make some pretty crummy seats too. My inlaws have a Britax Runabout and it has nearly no padding and my daughters head has little protection. I can't believe they paid that much money for it.

[Pedro]

Anyone have any Recaro or otherwise very protective car seats that they'd like to sell?

Our second kiddo will be here in mid March, and I'd like something a little more protective than the run of the mill Graco.

our first Recaro was purchased for ~$180. So if you shop around you will find some for less. The second one was free. I entered and won it from Rally America and New England Forest Rally last year.

[hansonian]

Thanks for the input. I will look into the Recaro and Britax seats.

Is it better to buy one for each vehicle or just get one with a base and detachable seat and move it between the two vehicles?

[Pedro]

you won't find detachable bases in the Recaro line. I don't know if Britax does them.

we did use a hand me down infant carrier for a few months because my daughter was very small. but it was cumbersome and too heavy after a couple months.

Rear facing seats with LATCH (the bars under the seat) are super quick to move from vehicle to vehicle. From your sig line both of your trucks will have it. just make sure you tighten it again after the first day in position. the seat foam will compress a bit and make the seat a little loose.

[kjp1969]

I would suggest buying a new seat rather than using an old one- they are padded with the same kind of styrofoam as motorcycle helmets and don't get better with age. You're supposed to replace them every five years (and after any accident). Not that everyone buys into that, but for the relatively small price, we did.

+1 on kind with the click in base. It stinks to FINALLY have your child fall asleep and then have to unbuckle them to take them inside. Ours would continue their nap even after moving the detachable seat inside.

Double check the Clubman- the rear facing seat takes up so much space it's silly. Way back in babytime we had an '89 Prelude that held one adult and one baby- when the kid was in the rear passenger side seat, the front seat had to be slid all the way forward.

[RAFoutdoors]

Having been a Child Safety Seat Technician for our local Police Department, there are many things you will need to consider. The Child Seat CAN NOT go in front of an airbag unless it can be disabled by a switch. Your infant will be rear facing until they are one year AND 20lbs although Pediatricians are suggesting 14-16 months. Seats do have weight limits. Folks are right, they all must pass safety tests by the National Highway Traffic Safey Administration (NHTSA). They have a website that has tons of information on car seats. This IS one of the most important items you will buy to keep your child safe. The best seat is the one you can use correctly everytime.
You might want to see if you have a local "Safe Kids" Coalition in your area. They have car seat clinics for information and installations.
Child Safety Seats have a lifespan (There is a date of manufacture on each one) and will only last 5-7 years. DO NOT BUY or USE a previously used seat. They are effected by sunlight and temperature extremes and although it looks like new, it could fail in an accident. Good luck and congrats.

[Bad Karma]

Recaro all the way... best design in my opinion.

[murryconst]

http://us.diono.com/
We have one and wish would have got one for the older two kids
Not bulky easy to put kids in, wife is short
Can put three across in almost any car
Well built

[Frank]

I own 3 Recaro's and love every one of them.

The best way to secure a car seat, sit in it and have someone else fasten it. Also, we got a life size baby doll to get the straps situated so we weren't doing it the first time out of the hospital. -of course minor adjustment was needed, but we weren't putting it together at the hospital, either.

[Pedro]

I own 3 Recaro's and love every one of them.

The best way to secure a car seat, sit in it and have someone else fasten it. Also, we got a life size baby doll to get the straps situated so we weren't doing it the first time out of the hospital. -of course minor adjustment was needed, but we weren't putting it together at the hospital, either.

That is a great way to do it. I don't know if you have the new Pro-sport or whatever they are calling the convertible seat now, but it has the knob adjustment for the belt height as well as the head restraint. It is such an improvement to the seat. Our older one is the rethreading the belt type so it doesn't get used as much as the new one.

[kjp1969]

I own 3 Recaro's and love every one of them.

The best way to secure a car seat, sit in it and have someone else fasten it. Also, we got a life size baby doll to get the straps situated so we weren't doing it the first time out of the hospital. -of course minor adjustment was needed, but we weren't putting it together at the hospital, either.

That would work well. I usually put all my weight on it to squoosh the auto seat padding, then cinch up the belt. You don't want it to move at all when its installed.

[Frank]

Pedro, I have 2 with that knob and one without. The knob adjustment is great.

Kjp, yeah, same concept. -it's just easier to do it with 2 people though can be done solo.


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[hansonian]

I appreciate all the input. I have a much better understanding on what I need to be looking for now.

[mdz79]

Hello Hansonian,

I have 4 different recaro seats and 1 Chico. I can recommend Recaro only.

When my first son was born I bought this:
RECARO Young Profi plus http://www.recaro-cs.com/en/products/child-seats/ece-group-00.html
and ISOFIX BASE http://www.recaro-cs.com/en/products/child-seats/isofix-base.html

I can only recommend - no problems or anything.

Then, later (after 9 months of age of my son I bought)
RECARO Young Expert plus - http://www.recaro-cs.com/en/products/child-seats/ece-group-i/recaro-young-expert-plus.html

You can still use the same ISO-FIX base
Why to use ISO-FIX base - it is more secure. The seat is mounted to the base and the base is fixed directly to the car's "bones"


Then I bought:
RECARO Monza - http://www.recaro-cs.com/en/products/child-seats/ece-group-iiiii/recaro-monza.html
Again, because it has iso-fix system.


One very important thing to consider is the Seat protector - If you use iso-fix base you do not need it.

If you have questions just let me know.


mdz

[Pedro]

Hello Hansonian,

I have 4 different recaro seats and 1 Chico. I can recommend Recaro only.

When my first son was born I bought this:
RECARO Young Profi plus http://www.recaro-cs.com/en/products/child-seats/ece-group-00.html
and ISOFIX BASE http://www.recaro-cs.com/en/products/child-seats/isofix-base.html

I can only recommend - no problems or anything.

Then, later (after 9 months of age of my son I bought)
RECARO Young Expert plus - http://www.recaro-cs.com/en/products/child-seats/ece-group-i/recaro-young-expert-plus.html

You can still use the same ISO-FIX base
Why to use ISO-FIX base - it is more secure. The seat is mounted to the base and the base is fixed directly to the car's "bones"


Then I bought:
RECARO Monza - http://www.recaro-cs.com/en/products/child-seats/ece-group-iiiii/recaro-monza.html
Again, because it has iso-fix system.


One very important thing to consider is the Seat protector - If you use iso-fix base you do not need it.

If you have questions just let me know.


mdz

In the USA we do not get the ISOFIX base or the same seats. This is our lineup: http://www.recaro-cs.com/us/home.html

[BIGdaddy]

I have 3 kids, here's my thoughts:

Baby/infant seat: Buy the graco stroller travel system.
http://www.amazon.com/Graco-Passage-Travel-System-Morgan/dp/B002RL7US0

With it you will get:
-Baby seat
-Stroller that the baby seat clips into, that will eventually be able to hold a larger child
-Seat base
THEN, add to this purchase a spare base for each additional car. $30.00 or so: http://www.amazon.com/Graco-SnugRide-Infant-Seat-Silver/dp/B00007DWBH/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1328287456&sr=1-1

This baby seat will be rear facing only
______________________________________________
Child/toddler seat: Graco Comfortsport convertible infant/toddler seat. cost is around $100
http://www.amazon.com/Graco-ComfortSport-Convertible-Seat-Zara/dp/B005WHQKEG/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1328287522&sr=1-3

We've had two of these, and the quality/ratings are high. These are seats that will rearface, and then be able to forward-face when you're/they're ready.
__________________________________________________ _________________
Toddler/preschooler seat: Cosco 5-point booster. Around $40.00 @ walmart/target
http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Juvenile-Highback-Booster-Polka/dp/B004EBUXC6/ref=sr_1_6?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1328287603&sr=1-6

This seat has high ratings and is as big as it needs to be and as small as possible.
__________________________________________________ _______________________

Our oldest is six, so we've had a long time to form our opinions on these products, and their cost vs. value. I know some will put thousands into their child restraint systems but honestly the ones above have been beat to crap in our cars and by our kids, and are still very functional. By the way, that graco stroller is the one we choose when we go to theme parks even though we have a graco double (front/back like an f14 fighter) stroller. It will hold 3 kids with creative placement which is especially useful at the end of the day when everyone is pooped out. :)

[mdz79]

In the USA we do not get the ISOFIX base or the same seats.

Ok - I had no idea. I thought it is worldwide.

[enigmadsm]

I have 2 Recaros, one goes from rear facing to front facing, the other goes from standard front facing to booster seat. I can't imagine having anything else

[Lynn]

With our two girls we went through a ton o' stuff.

We had one Britax, which are supposed to be among the best, but bulky. We've also had several others. We pretty much looked over them closely and decided what looked best to us. IIRC Consumer Reports did a test of car seats a couple of years ago and they pretty much all failed. Not too encouraging, but brought me to the point I wouldn't go by brand.

Definitely go with some form of drop-in infant carrier. As mentioned earlier, you don't want to disturb the critter any more than necessary. Also nice when visiting a friend. Pop out the carrier and bring it in the house for a kid seat. Most I've seen have a rounded base so that they can be rocked. Matter of fact, for a few weeks our daughter would only sleep in the infant carrier.

Restaurants usually have a hammock thingy for the infant seat, as well.

And the infant carrier has a nice handle that babies lack. When you're bringing the groceries home you can set the carrier on the driveway, load up your armload of groceries, and just pick the carrier up and go. So much more convenient that trying to cradle a baby in your arms while trying to do other things.

Also recommend one of the simple strollers that the infant seat clicks into. Here's an example I snatched off the web, but we had a simple one we bought at a consignment store for about $20:

88382

We had one of the graco 'systems.' IMHO the strollers are really heavy and bulky. Pretty much need a minivan or truck to haul it around.

After the kiddo gets too big for the infant seat, just get a cheap umbrella stroller. So light and easy to deal with. The only advantage to the big strollers is using them as a shopping cart on major mall trips. My wife even did one black Friday sale with the stroller and no kids...

YMMV