Britax Boulevard vs. First Years True Fit--- Which one?

[krace]

Hi there,

I've spent some time on the internet researching, and now I'm confused and was hoping someone here could help.

In the Britax Boulevard there is "true side impact protection" which the Britax Marathon and True Fit don't say they have. Is this worth the money for the extra side protection? We'll have her in the middle seat until baby #2 comes along (not for a long time!).

Also, if cost is not an issue, are Britax car seats any better than the True Fit? From what I see on the internet, there isn't really a difference.

Also, I've read that True Fit is hard to adjust when rear facing. But then I also read somewhere about there being a new model coming out (or just recently coming out) that is supposed to fix this.

Any help would be awesome! Thanks! :)

[Patriot201]

They are both great seats, but I would try the TrueFit. I currently own a Boulevard and did own a True Fit for a short while, and I think I actually preferred the TF. I liked how low-to-the-seat it was. :)

Try them both, though, to see what fits your car and your baby best. See which one is easiest for you to use. :)

[Pixels]

There are no standarized tests in the US/Canada for side impact. Manfacturers can do their own testing, and declare that a seat has side impact protection. Does it have any more SIP than any other seat? Maybe, maybe not. We have no way of knowing.

Because of the was Britax markets two of their seats (Marathon and Boulevard), I think you can compare those two apples. But if you try to compare a Britax seat to a First Years seat (TrueFit), that's comparing apples to oranges.

Are Britax seats any better? Depends largely on how you define "better." Safer? We have no way of knowing that. Easier to use properly 100% of the time (which DOES make a difference in safety)--you'll have to be the judge of that. The best thing you can do to ensure your child's safety is to make sure that they ride in an appropriate restraint that is properly installed and used every.single.time.

Yes, one of the biggest complaints with the current TF is not being able to get to the harness adjuster strap when it's rear-facing. It does have a continuous harness, which means the harness is all one long strap. So you can borrow a bit of harness from the other side. Put kiddo in the seat, pull up on the hip strap to get some slack, put one arm through. Pull up on the other hip strap, which will tighten the first side and give you slack on the second side. Put the second arm through. Even out the straps by adjusting at the hips.

There is a new model coming out soon (I want to say end of April, but don't quote me on that, and of course release dates can always change) with an anti-rebound bar that will help keep the harness adjuster strap from getting buried.

ETA: The Boulevard and Marathon have the same shell height and same top harness position, meaning they will be outgrown by height at the same time. The Britax seats have shorter shells and top harness heights than the TF, meaning the TF will last longer by height. Kids often outgrow seats by height, not weight, so that is significant.

[romanoma]

the boulevard is the marathon only with the side impact protection. So b/w those two, the blvd seems to offer better protection even though we can't call it "safer".

The true fit also has deep sides naturally, so seems to also have very good side impact protection, although you can't directly compare. It also has higher top slots and a taller shell than the blvd so you can use it for FF longer and also can RF longer. It also has 1 year longer lifespan than the blvd.

Even if you wait for the new version coming out in april/may, it will still be less than the blvd. People here tend to really like the TF for comfort and ease of use. So even if cost is not an issue, I would get a new TF with the anti-rebound bar, know that you are getting a very safe, comfy, and very very long life seat (longer than the blvd) for 50-100 less than a blvd (depending on where you buy).

But you should make sure it fits your car and your child! If not, all other info is irrelevant.

[Jeanum]

The Canadian certified Britax convertible carseats don't RF up to 35 lbs. like the True Fit, another safety edge in favor of the True Fit IMHO.:twocents:

[jess71903]

We love our TF and wouldn't have anything else for now. I see that the OP is in Canada, though...will the new TF be released in Canada at the same time as the US? If so, the new one would be my pick. We love our regular TF, though, and the harness adjuster really isn't a problem.

[canadiangie]

Hi there,

I've spent some time on the internet researching, and now I'm confused and was hoping someone here could help.

In the Britax Boulevard there is "true side impact protection" which the Britax Marathon and True Fit don't say they have. Is this worth the money for the extra side protection? We'll have her in the middle seat until baby #2 comes along (not for a long time!).

Also, if cost is not an issue, are Britax car seats any better than the True Fit? From what I see on the internet, there isn't really a difference.

Also, I've read that True Fit is hard to adjust when rear facing. But then I also read somewhere about there being a new model coming out (or just recently coming out) that is supposed to fix this.

Any help would be awesome! Thanks! :)


Hello, :)

Are you shopping for a secondary seat? Are you thinking you'll move the TF to the car and get something new for the truck? Will this seat later be passed to baby?

The BV is marketed as having True Side Impact Protection, the Marathon is marketed as having Side Impact Protection. Whether the BV is safer is something we just don't know. We do however know that your child's best line of defense in a side impact collision is to be rear facing... regardless of what seat they're in. (meaning, having the BV with TSIP headwings does not make it a safER seat in terms of going ff early).

The issue I think most of us have right now with CDN Britax is that their seats still only rf to 30lbs. Other manufacturers have either changed their upper rf limits to 35lbs, or are designing their seats with a 35lb rf limit right from the get-go (the TF is an example of this). From what we understand, Britax has no plans of doing this for CDN customers anytime soon.

That said, if you have a smaller child you may not need the 35lb rf limit to get you to an appropriate age for ff. Most of us suggest an age 2 minimum to go ff... some of us prefer to rf for even longer, and it's then that the 35lb rf limit makes a huge difference. I recently upgraded Sophie's seat to one that allows for rf use to 35lbs. Meaning, I moved her from a Britax seat into something else (RadianXT).


The differences in the TF and the MA/BV are certainly there, but like someone mentioned above, it's like comparing apples to oranges. The TF has a few features that I wish my MA's had... the BV has a few features that the TF also has... the TF excels in things like rf leg room, taller seat shell, and taller top harness slots for when baby is ff. The BV and MA have a harness adjuster that is more easily accessed for rf... but the TF is more comfy for older kids when it comes to rf (this is a bit of a subjective statement, but in theory having more leg room is more comfy)...

The price increase on Britax seats is getting to the point of being ridiculous :twocents:. Yes, they've been around a loooong time, yes they are nice seat, but to be literally twice the price of a TF... :confused: I can honestly say that if I was just starting out buying seats today I probably wouldn't get a Britax. I'm a staunch believer in rf for as long as possible, and so the 30lb vs. 35lb rf weight limit would be a deal breaker for me.

[krace]

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for your responses so far! Certainly helpful!

Canadiangie- You caught me! I'm asking this question for my friend who is just about to move her little one from a bucket to a car seat, so this question isn't essentially from me. I knew everyone on this site (you included;)) would be a great place to help me answer her questions.

Does anyone know for sure when the True Fit Premiere is coming to Canada? And where to get it?

I'm still a little confused about this whole anti rebound bar- How does it make the finicking with the harness adjustment better? What does it actually look like? I've noticed that some people have said it isn't a consideration if a child is FF, is this true? Why?

Thanks again!

[canmom]

Hi. As far as the new TruFit goes, I don't think it is coming here until 2010... so I wouldn't hold out for it at this point, where looking at a year min.

I'm not sure if they have repositioned the adjuster or if it is easier to get to because of the ARB... maybe it sits a little further off the seat?? (although this isn't the purpose of it, it is to prevent rebound). I have a TF and honestly, I don't find it much harder than any other seat to adjust when rfing and with the continuous loop harness I find it is a little easier than seats without this.

Just wanted to say I agree with canadiangie... if I was buying seats today I wouldn't being going for Britax, their prices have gone up by a lot and I think there are lots of other seats on the market that are just as good :twocents:.

[JamieB]

I called the Learning Curve to find out when the new True Fit would be out in Canada and was told January 2010:thumbsdown: I really wanted one too, but coulnd't wait for it.

[snowbird25ca]

ETA: The Boulevard and Marathon have the same shell height and same top harness position, meaning they will be outgrown by height at the same time. The Britax seats have shorter shells and top harness heights than the TF, meaning the TF will last longer by height. Kids often outgrow seats by height, not weight, so that is significant.

The BLVD is outgrown by height about 1/2" sooner than the MA. The adjuster mechanism used to raise and lower the headrest eats up some of the harness space, so in effect the BLVD is only 16.5" and because kids seem to magically lose torso growth room in the Britax convertibles it would likely be outgrown even before then.

Hi. As far as the new TruFit goes, I don't think it is coming here until 2010... so I wouldn't hold out for it at this point, where looking at a year min.

Just wanted to say I agree with canadiangie... if I was buying seats today I wouldn't being going for Britax, their prices have gone up by a lot and I think there are lots of other seats on the market that are just as good :twocents:.

I've been told by First Years that the True Fit with the ARF won't be available until January 2010.

I'm in agreement with Angie and canmom - I don't think (personally,) that the Britax seats are worth the money. 3yrs ago there wasn't much choice. Now there are a lot of good comparable options - some of which excel past the Britax convertibles. And unless there's a redesign of the seat, we're not going to see a 35lb rf'ing limit on the Britax convertibles either.

So far as the harness adjuster, how hard or easy it is to access really varies on the vehicle and how upright the seat is installed. In my truck it's easy when it's close to a 45* angle, and useable when it's more upright. I tried one in a Mazda3 sport yesterday and with how upright it would be (10 month old,) the adjuster was usable. In vehicles with super flat back seats though, it can be very difficult to access when the seat is more upright and that's where the continuous harness that somebody else described makes things easier.

Being out in Hinton I realize your options are more limited (assuming your friend is out there as well.) Is your friend planning to drive in to the city to try seats, or order online? If you can post what type of vehicle she drives then we may know if there are any compatibility issues to take in to consideration before she orders. :thumbsup:

[canadiangie]

Here's an interesting thread about the ARB TF:

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=60147&highlight=TruFit+pictures

I know it's not coming here for at least a year, but it's a really neat thread to read IMO, and you can see some pics, etc.


What vehicle does your friend have?

Let me know if I can bring a seat with me when I come. Saves her a trip to the city, or paying shipping, or whatever. :)

[krace]

Hi everyone,

Again, thanks so much for the help.:)

My friend has a Torrent. She lives in St. Albert, so can probably go to TRU to try out both seats (assuming TRU has the BB?).

[canadiangie]

Yes, TRU has the BV. They may only have the "click safe" edition though, which is $389 I think? Maybe $369? I dunno, but it's uber pricy, and most parents don't need an audible click to know when their child's harness is snug enough. (the idea is that you hear a click once the harness is snug enough.. but in real life we find that the seat sometimes clicks too soon [harness is still too loose], or provides too many clicks which confuses parents).

If she decides on the BV, then advise her to get the regular edition... it'll look the same but won't have that particular clicking feature.


And then her TRU should also have the TF on display. Let her know she can leave her DL at the counter and then try each seat in her vehicle before she buys.

Hey! since she's in St. Albert maybe she can go into Trudy's (snowbird25) TRU in Edmonton and shop there?? Possibly Trudy can go outside with her and oversee the install and give pointers. :thumbsup:

edit to add: duh, forgot to mention, Trudy works at a TRU.

[snowbird25ca]

Yes, TRU has the BV. They may only have the "click safe" edition though, which is $389 I think? Maybe $369? I dunno, but it's uber pricy, and most parents don't need an audible click to know when their child's harness is snug enough. (the idea is that you hear a click once the harness is snug enough.. but in real life we find that the seat sometimes clicks too soon [harness is still too loose], or provides too many clicks which confuses parents).

If she decides on the BV, then advise her to get the regular edition... it'll look the same but won't have that particular clicking feature.


And then her TRU should also have the TF on display. Let her know she can leave her DL at the counter and then try each seat in her vehicle before she buys.

Hey! since she's in St. Albert maybe she can go into Trudy's (snowbird25) TRU in Edmonton and shop there?? Possibly Trudy can go outside with her and oversee the install and give pointers. :thumbsup:

edit to add: duh, forgot to mention, Trudy works at a TRU.

Hehe, yep, if she happens to come in on a night I'm working and I'm not having some crazy thing going on I often go out with customers to do a test fit in the vehicle. One of the employees always accompanies customers out when they try seats. :)

The west end store has the BLVD, BLVD Click'n Safe (which I agree, huge waste of $40 for a parent who is already properly tightening the harness,) and the True Fit in stock right now.

The click'n safe BLVD is up to $399 now, with the regular BLVD being $369. Crazy prices.

[sparkyd]

I'm just going to throw another vote in for the True Fit. I think it is the best way to go; excellent value for money. I cringe at all the people paying big bucks for BVs because of the Britax reputation; they lost all their appeal for me when they didn't come out with a 35 lb RF limit on their seats. I bought a Marathon last year because it seemed like the best option at the time, but I recently replaced it with a True Fit.

As previous posters have mentioned though, the best seat is the one that will be installed and used properly at all times. My only concern with the True Fit is that some people may not adjust the harness properly because of the access issue when RF. I can see people getting frustrated early on when getting used to the seat and deciding it is "tight enough" when it really isn't.

Other than the price and 30 lb RF limit for the BV, it is a nice seat. The only other thing I don't like about it is that it seems really hard to tell when it is outgrown by height RF. That big headrest makes it tough. At least for me so far.

[krace]

Thanks Canadiangie and Snowbird. Do you work at the WestEnd store? I'll let her know to go check it out there!:)

[snowbird25ca]

Thanks Canadiangie and Snowbird. Do you work at the WestEnd store? I'll let her know to go check it out there!:)

Yes, I'm at the west end store. :) I'm usually in Friday and Saturday evenings. (5:30 to close)

[Unregistered]

Everyone's advices has been very helpful for me. I Googled this converstaion and have been reading the responses.

The only thing is that no one has talked about the car seat being used during accidents? Has anyone, or does anyone know, from experience how the TF holds up in a car crash?

I appriciate all of you for being honest about your experiences with the TF and the BLV/MA. You can't get info like this from the companies.

[canmom]

Hi, and welcome to c-s.org!

I will try and answer your question the best I can. All we know is that every seat on the Canadian market is safe because it is required to meet the Canadian standard of testing (CMVSS). The answer as to which seat holds up better, really isn't known.

There are a lot of factors at play in a collision (speed, point of impact etc) so every crash is different. What we do know is that a child's best line of defence in any collision is being rfing, so we advocate children rf as long as possible. The other important thing to mention is no matter what seat you have is that it is installed and used correctly. The best seats (which ever ones they are) aren't going to perform as intended if they aren't used correctly each and every time.

Not sure if this was part of your question, but I just thought I should mention car seats need to be replaced after any collision in most cases.

[Unregistered]

you can actually order the new first years tf with the rebound bar at this web site ( witch i love, they tell u if the car seat u want can be ship to canada or not by a little canadian sign under the picture , if it dosen't have the sign that mean u can't have it ship to canada) and all dutie are calculated in the check out price( all US $)( i already order from that site multiple time and they are quick and cheap! )
I just order the new tf with the rebound bar and i live in northern alberta!!! :)
hope it help

http://www.strollers.com/The-First-Years-Y11051-COM1071.html

[QuassEE]

Strollers.com should NOT be sending carseats to Canada. That seat you just ordered is an American seat, and is not approved for use in Canada. In fact--it might well get seized at the border.

-Nicole.

[dogmelissa]

I realize that the OP's issue has probably already been solved (though I'm curious to know which seat they went with!!), but I thought I'd add my own question to this thread...

I am currently expecting my first lo. I'd like to buy a seat before baby arrives (s/he is due in February and I really don't want to be sending DH on an emergency trip to the store during a blizzard!!) but I'm really confused.
I'd like to keep lo RF as long as possible, and though I do have the option of inheriting a 13 month old Evenflo infant seat (travel system) from my sister in law, I'm leaning more towards just getting one seat before birth that will see our lo through as long as possible.

I really like the Britax seats, but recently I'm reading more about how they're overpriced. Now I'm seeing (at BRU website, but not at Britax.ca) the Advocate CS is RF to 35 lbs and FF to 65 lbs which brings this seat in line with the TF (but the Adv is hella expensive for an extra 5 lbs RF?). But there's also the AOE, which RF to 35 lbs (though FF only to 50 lbs).
As I see it right now, we have:
Britax options:
- Adv (RF 5-35 lbs, FF 20-65 lbs) $450 TRU
- Blvd (RF 5-30 lbs, FF 20-65 lbs) $360 TRU (I wouldn't get the CS version)
- MA (RF 5-30 lbs, FF 20-65 lbs) $330 TRU
Compass/First Years:
- TF (RF 5-35 lbs, FF 23-65 lbs) $200 TRU
Cosco:
- AOE (RF 5-35 lbs, FF 22-50 lbs, Booster 40-100lbs) $240 TRU (I'm looking at the Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1, not sure if this is really the one called AOE in the Canadian car seat list)

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated. Should I get the Evenflo infant seat and wait to see which one fits baby best? Obviously I have no idea if we're going to have a tall/narrow baby or a short/chunky one (or any other combination). Price isn't really a concern, though obviously if the seat that works best for us just happens to be the least expensive of the high-RF weight limits, bonus.
If it makes any difference, the seat will primarily be used in a 1994 4 door Grand Am (read, no LATCH), but we will either be buying a second seat or transferring it into a truck for camping (we haven't bought the truck yet). So ease of installation since we are fairly unlikely to spend an additional $400 on a seat that is only used every other weekend for 3-4 months of the year.

Also, I'm in Calgary, Ab, if that changes things. (I will go to TRU and other stores if necessary to try these seats in our car before buying.)

Thanks in advance,
Melissa

[featherhead]

If you are wanting to use it from birth, the only one there that will work for sure would be the True Fit. The others all have much higher slots, so unless you have a baby with a long torso, they may not work so well. I personally despise the Evenflo infant seats, so I wouldn't use it. But you may like it, I don't know. If you want to use that for a while, and then purchase a convertible seat, that's a fine idea.

The new True Fit with the Anti-rebound Bar is due to be released January 2010 (though it could change). If you are able to wait for that one, that would be my first choice. I'm hoping my LO fits in her infant seat till then... but I'm not counting on it.

[bobandjess99]

I personally think the ritax seats are overpriced, and since i believe the TF and AOE are comparable seats for less money, i would personally pick one of them. I really love them both, but dorel has to be a buttmonkey of a tail-licking company (I'm really trying to cut down on swearing) with outrageous crap they pull, so I'd probably get a truefit, since it is an awesome seat for a good price, and the company, while having numerous complaints in the customer service and marketing arenas, has not yet shown itself to be morally reprehensible like dorel. which bites, ;cuz I REALLY like the AOE. Pppfft.

[dogmelissa]

I personally despise the Evenflo infant seats, so I wouldn't use it. But you may like it, I don't know. If you want to use that for a while, and then purchase a convertible seat, that's a fine idea.


What's so hideous about the Evenflo? Given that it'd be free to us, I'm really feeling hesitant to turn it down.
If we did get that one, then we'd be able to wait for the new TF, or at least add it to the list of comparisons (and hopefully by January Britax has the specs up on the Adv on their site!!).

bobandjess - not sure that customer service is a real concern, but just in case it is, what kind of issues are people having with both of them? I don't want to support a company that tells people to take a flying leap if they phone with questions/concerns!

Thanks again!
Melissa

[SavsMom]

I have/had all of the seats discussed (Marathon/Boulevard/True Fit). I initially started with a Marathon and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. In looking for another seat in addition to the Marathon - I looked at both the True Fit and the Boulevard - while I really wanted to get another Britax seat I came across a great deal on the True Fit. When I got the seat I was really impressed. It was easy to adjust, good shell height, nicely padded etc etc. I then put it in my car and was sad that it just didn't work for me :( It took a long time to get a good install (2006 Escape) - and getting to the harness adjuster was next to impossible. Since we are in and out of the car quite a bit on any given day - that was really a deal breaker. I traded it on swap and got a Boulevard instead and am happy that I did.

Keep in mind this is just my experience - the True Fit really is a great seat in my opinion - it just didn't work well in my car and I wanted a seat that was going to be easy for me to install and a seat that I would use correctly every time I put my daughter in it.

I would see if you could try out both seats in your car. See how easy it is to install and use both seats. Put your child in and out of the seat a few times, adjust the harness, etc etc. The seat that is easiest for you to use is the best one to go with :)

[TechnoGranola]

Strollers.com should NOT be sending carseats to Canada. That seat you just ordered is an American seat, and is not approved for use in Canada. In fact--it might well get seized at the border.

-Nicole.:yeahthat: And I do believe that the TF Premier isn't actually released yet, so what you did was PRE-order the seat. I'm betting that when the seats come in and they go to process your order and notice you are in Canada, that they will cancel your order.

[featherhead]

What's so hideous about the Evenflo? Given that it'd be free to us, I'm really feeling hesitant to turn it down.
If we did get that one, then we'd be able to wait for the new TF, or at least add it to the list of comparisons (and hopefully by January Britax has the specs up on the Adv on their site!!).

bobandjess - not sure that customer service is a real concern, but just in case it is, what kind of issues are people having with both of them? I don't want to support a company that tells people to take a flying leap if they phone with questions/concerns!

Thanks again!
Melissa

I'm pretty sure they are all rear-adjust (though I could be wrong on that). The handle MUST be down in the car. And I just hate the Z handle to begin with. But like I said, try it out, you might like it.

The new True Fit makes it much easier to reach the harness adjuster, which is why I'm hoping I can wait for that one. My seats are somewhat sculpted (though not as much as some) and I know it is quite hard to reach the harness adjuster in my car.

[April]

Well, in terms of Dorel, some of us are feeling a bit sore from their recent response to the British Medical Journal recomendation of rear facing to age 4. But that is another issue aside from "which seat will work best for YOU".

I'd personally be looking at the True Fit, as its a great seat, with a few quirks, but even with the quirks, you get used to it pretty quickly (or I did).

The Advocate is in stores - I installed one on Sunday, and let me tell you, that is a heck of a nice seat! Very unlikely to fit a newborn (whereas the True Fit likely will), and crazy expensive. Would I personally buy an Advocate for the price of 3 True Fits? No, not a chance. But if money is no object, then yeah, it is a very nice seat. Oh, and it does in fact, rf to 35lbs.

And yeah, I still vote for the True Fit.

[snowbird25ca]

I'm pretty sure they are all rear-adjust (though I could be wrong on that). The handle MUST be down in the car. And I just hate the Z handle to begin with. But like I said, try it out, you might like it.

The new True Fit makes it much easier to reach the harness adjuster, which is why I'm hoping I can wait for that one. My seats are somewhat sculpted (though not as much as some) and I know it is quite hard to reach the harness adjuster in my car.

Most of the Evenflo infant seats are rear-adjust, but the current ones at BRU/TRU are front adjust both the stand-alone seat and the travel system. My guess is with an older seat there's a high likelihood of it being back adjust though.

For me the biggest issue with Evenflo infant seats is that they take up a lot of room front to back in vehicles due to the handle needing to be down and the requirement that it have 1.5" of clearance between the vehicle seat and the handle.

That being said, if it's free, you know and trust the history of it, and you're able to use it and install it correctly, then there's no reason to not use it until you're ready to move to the larger seat. :thumbsup:

[mommycat]

Well, in terms of Dorel, some of us are feeling a bit sore from their recent response to the British Medical Journal recomendation of rear facing to age 4.
I missed this. Anyone have a link?

[sparkyd]

New convertible seats seem to be coming out fast and furious now, with more and more of them having 35 lb RF limits, and talk of a 40 pounder on its way. I'm a fan of having an infant seat (carrier) in the early months, so I'd be inclined to get one of those and see what is on the market (and what my child might need) when it is time to move on. A tiny little peanut will have different convertible needs than a child that hits 30 lbs before they are a year old or one that is super tall.

As for getting the used Evenflo seat, I don't have an opinion on the seat, but I personally would never use a used seat from anybody. Maaaybe from a few of the people on this board, but not from any of my friends, as much as I love them. :o (One caveat - if I couldn't afford a new seat and truly did believe that the used one had been used properly and well cared for, that is another story).

[sparkyd]

I missed this. Anyone have a link?

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=87209

[mommycat]

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=87209
Thanks!

[dogmelissa]

As for getting the used Evenflo seat, I don't have an opinion on the seat, but I personally would never use a used seat from anybody. Maaaybe from a few of the people on this board, but not from any of my friends, as much as I love them. :o (One caveat - if I couldn't afford a new seat and truly did believe that the used one had been used properly and well cared for, that is another story).

I can understand this concern. We can afford a new seat, and I do 100% trust that my sister-in-law had used this seat properly (I can't vouch for the installation or harnessing but in terms of like not wrecking the straps or using any chemical cleaners on it, yes) and I know for a fact that it has never been in a crash.
The biggest thing I'm struggling with right now is that this baby is going to be born in February, and we live in Calgary - where we're pretty much guaranteed to have some nasty cold and snow until April or later (this year it snowed TWICE in May and once in June!). If we go directly into a convertible seat or even an infant seat that isn't the carrier-type, then how are we going to keep the baby warm when transferring in and out of the car? S/he won't be bundled up in a big ol' snowsuit, cause I know I can't have padded clothing under the straps, so even if the car is warmed up before we get to it, it's going to be at least a few seconds of cold exposure before I can get blankets over top the straps. And if we're going to go to the doctor's or something, then I have no idea how I'm going to get baby back out of the car and bundled up and into the building.... which is why I'm leaning towards an infant carrier one at least until summer. And of course because it's winter, there's realistically a higher chance of being in a crash, so I want whatever is the safest but also that won't cost a small fortune to replace if we do get in a crash.
Off topic: Does anyone happen to know if there's a $ value limit on car seat replacement in vehicle insurance, or is this something that would be specific to my policy and I should call the insurance company?

I have to admit that I'm still leaning towards the Britax. On a different forum, a posted just got a new Mazda Tribute and turned their TrueFit back to RF from FF (it was turned FF because it simply didn't fit in the Honda Civic they had when the lo fractured her leg and had a cast above her knee). Her complaint is that the seat is so big that it blocks their ability to do blind-spot check on the passenger side (I assume that's where the seat is installed). Granted, our car is older and doesn't have the 'stadium-style' seating which puts the rear seat slightly higher than the front, so this might not be a problem, but I just keep hearing about how much bigger the TF is, how much more difficult it is to adjust... though the price does make it very tempting.

Urgh, why can't this be easy? Ok, I just need to take a deep breath. I have a *long time* before we have to make this decision.

In the meantime, does anyone have any links/info on the specs for the TF that's supposed to come out in January so I can have a look at what it might do and see if it would be worth waiting for? Any idea of whether it'll be priced similarly to the existing TF?

ETA: Looks like I won't be getting the Dorel/Cosco seat... I'm terribly disappointed in their recent press release (linked above). Boo on them.

Thanks again,
Melissa

[featherhead]

You can see it on the Learning Curve website (http://www.learningcurve.com). It is already available in the US. There are a few people on this site who have gotten one already. If you do a search I'm sure you will find a few posts about it.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=TechnoGranola;889252]:yeahthat: And I do believe that the TF Premier isn't actually released yet, so what you did was PRE-order the seat. I'm betting that when the seats come in and they go to process your order and notice you are in Canada, that they will cancel your order.[/QUOTE



On strollers.com they only ship to canada car seat that are allow in canada, i know that because i've try to order a different one that was not for canadian use before, when i call they say that the one that are legal in canada are the only one they will ship and they are mark by the icon '' ship to canada'' , there is only a few but the new tue fit w/rebound bar is one of them.
I' not saying you are wrong but my order is set to come in before july 21th so i'll keep u updated!

[TechnoGranola]

On strollers.com they only ship to canada car seat that are allow in canada, i know that because i've try to order a different one that was not for canadian use before, when i call they say that the one that are legal in canada are the only one they will ship and they are mark by the icon '' ship to canada'' , there is only a few but the new tue fit w/rebound bar is one of them.
I' not saying you are wrong but my order is set to come in before july 21th so i'll keep u updated!The thing is there are NO U.S. retailers that sell Canadian seats. They ONLY sell FMVSS approved seats. Did you actually ask if the seat is CMVSS approved and has the maple leaf sticker? Unless they are also a Canadian company, there is no way they can sell CMVSS approved seats. And even if they were also Canadian, the TF Premier is NOT yet released in Canada, so there is no CMVSS approval for it yet. It is not expected to be released in Canada until early 2010 I believe. Point being, even if they ship your seat, even if it makes it across the border, it is going to be illegal to use because it will not be approved for use in Canada. There are NO seats that have dual approval for both Canada and U.S.

You can easily confirm this yourself by calling Learning Curve and ask if the TF Premier is for sale in Canada yet and call Transport Canada and ask if an FMVSS approved seat can be used in Canada.

Trust me, I would like to be wrong because I'd like to get my hands on a TF Premier. :)

ETA: on this page of Learning Curve's web site http://www.learningcurve.com/product/detail/Y11040?locale=en_US, it clearly states that this model is not available in Canada

[bubbaray]

I still love my MAs. Seriously. I would still buy a MA over other Canadian seats. I love the covers. I love the ease of installation. I don't *love* the 30lbRF weight, but my DD#2 just hit that at age 2.5 and I'm a-OK turning her FFg at this point.

[KeepingItTogether]

I am loving the TrueFit. I installed a few days ago. It was not the easiest install (3 noodles to get 45 degrees) but it is rock solid now.

The seat is easy to use, I can reach the harness adjuster but I barely have to due to the continuous loop, and my 6 month old baby seems super comfortable. It is a great fit in my car (for now, not sure once she hits 22lbs and I need the headrest on!) and it is nice and low to the seat. My 6 year old also sat in it (in the house HR on) and loved it and had a good inch inch and a half left in the slots and loads of inches in the shell...she wanted it instead of her Radian.

I am not a fan of Britax. I have no problem with them, but they are way overpriced and the hype is mostly remaining from back in the day when they were the only high limit seats IMO. Maybe the Adovocate truly is better, but at $450, I wont be finding out anytime soon!

Of course, I live in a suburb where everyone buys Britax because it is the "best", and do not erf or eh anyways! grrr...

[TechnoGranola]

On strollers.com they only ship to canada car seat that are allow in canada, i know that because i've try to order a different one that was not for canadian use before, when i call they say that the one that are legal in canada are the only one they will ship and they are mark by the icon '' ship to canada'' , there is only a few but the new tue fit w/rebound bar is one of them.
I' not saying you are wrong but my order is set to come in before july 21th so i'll keep u updated!Here I am beating a dead horse....but I did send an email to strollers.com and asked whether the TF Premier was CMVSS approved and they replied telling me that ALL of their car seats are only approved for the U.S. and NONE of them can be shipped to Canada. The "ships to Canada" logo on a few of the seats was an error (which appears they have now removed for the one TF Premier I asked them about). The CS rep also said that if you add it to your cart, you should have got a message that said "does not ship to Canada". I tried, and the TF Premier that no longer has the "ships to Canada" icon, gives me this message. The seats that DO have the "ships to Canada" icon DO appear to allow me to place an order for them.

So, to reiterate, the seat you ordered is NOT CMVSS approved and is illegal to use in Canada. Strollers.com does not ship ANY of their child restraints to Canada, so they should catch their error before they ship the seat to you. If the shipping guys aren't aware of the policy, it's possible it will get shipped out accidentally (since you said you already placed an order) but it could get seized at the border in which case you'll be out your money as CBA does NOT ship them back to the retailer for you to get a refund.

One last thing, on the description page for each True Fit (even the ones with the "ships to Canada" icon) at strollers.com it DOES say This Car Seat is only approved for use in the United States.

[sparkyd]

The seat is easy to use, I can reach the harness adjuster but I barely have to due to the continuous loop, and my 6 month old baby seems super comfortable. It is a great fit in my car (for now, not sure once she hits 22lbs and I need the headrest on!) and it is nice and low to the seat.

It should still fit fine in the car when you start using the headrest, because you will also be able to lose the noodles and install the seat more upright. When the seat is more upright the headrest doesn't really take up any more room back-to-front than the seat itself. You could actually do that now if you wanted - depends on how your little one would be most comfortable. I lean towards keeping them more reclined until 8 or 9 months, but really once they've got good head control and don't fall asleep with their head hanging down all the time you can put them more upright. The True Fit can be as upright as 35 degrees. The harness adjuster will be harder to reach though. ;)

[KeepingItTogether]

Thanx Sparky. I know she could probably be more upright now...but like you I prefer to wait until later in the first year, and since I can fit the TF at a 45 degree angle, I do. Once she hit 22lbs (or the red line...but I am pretty sure she'll hit 22lbs first) I'll do it!

I am so glad I got it. originally I was going to give the baby ODDs Radian and let ODD use her TB, but I just wasn't ready so I got the TF for the baby instead to keep ODD harnessed longer.

When I moved ODDs Radian recently, I tried and it realized, there is no way I could have fit the Radian with any sort of recline at all!

[Unregistered]

For anyone dealing with winter and a newborn, I strongly recommend a bucket seat until baby is a bit older. It is way too cold here in Calgary to be taking a baby in and out of a seat, plus they tend to fall asleep!

Thanks for this thread; my one year old daughter is too small for my son's old evenflo, plus I just realized that it doesn't work rearfacing! Argh! Time to buy another carseat and I'm going to go with the true fit partially for cost but it seems to be a good seat

Jen

[Grayden09]

Hi There,
I am a little confused by some of the posts since it sounds like some people are able to use the Britax for a really long time in Canada. Our three month old son is currently in a Chicco Keyfit seat and I am doing some advance research into convertible seats but probably won't need one until about November. I was really leaning towards a Britax because they seem to have a good reputation but the Canadian instruction manual on the Marathon and BV (online and in store) say that it can only be RFing until 32 inches. My son is in the 97th percentile so he should reach 32 inches by 12 months. I really want to keep him RFing as long as possible and the same manuals for the US counterparts don't have this height limit (just the one inch below the seat limit) and I'm not sure why. I called Britax this morning and they said the US seats are different and the Canadian seats cannot be used with a child over 32 inches. Is this correct?
What seat would you recommend for a tall baby? It will primarily be used in a 2009 CRV and price is not an object.
Thank you for your help!
Susan

[snowbird25ca]

Hi There,
I am a little confused by some of the posts since it sounds like some people are able to use the Britax for a really long time in Canada. Our three month old son is currently in a Chicco Keyfit seat and I am doing some advance research into convertible seats but probably won't need one until about November. I was really leaning towards a Britax because they seem to have a good reputation but the Canadian instruction manual on the Marathon and BV (online and in store) say that it can only be RFing until 32 inches. My son is in the 97th percentile so he should reach 32 inches by 12 months. I really want to keep him RFing as long as possible and the same manuals for the US counterparts don't have this height limit (just the one inch below the seat limit) and I'm not sure why. I called Britax this morning and they said the US seats are different and the Canadian seats cannot be used with a child over 32 inches. Is this correct?
What seat would you recommend for a tall baby? It will primarily be used in a 2009 CRV and price is not an object.
Thank you for your help!
Susan

I'm going to copy your question in to a new thread so that we can address it further. It's quite a common question and one that unfortunately isn't really easy to answer. Thankfully some of the newer Britax seats are coming without the 32" rf'ing limit in the manual - but there are other nice choices that don't have any numerical height limit at all - and for a kid who is tall they may be a better choice anyways. :thumbsup:

[mommycat]

Is there a link available to the new thread? ;)

Never mind, here it is: http://car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=94200.