BLAH.
The BLVD70 that I ordered is going back.
If you read Darren's review, you saw pictures of my 35#, 37" DD in the MA70. Despite having less than 1" of height growth, I decided to order the BLVD anyhow because I've just adored all of my Britax seats to date. We weren't feeling the love for the Complete Air or Radian here so my DH told me to just do it.
First, I was able to work on the seat and easily installed it at 30 degrees and found that my DD actually had closer to 2" of growth available at that angle and with more precise measurement. Our original review with Darren was a VERY hot day so we were working quickly. :thumbsup:
But the :thumbsdown:. The seat is sooooooooooo narrow where my DD's shoulders hit. She is literally pinched into the seat and in addition to that the SIP actually rests on her shoulder because of the set positions for the straps. This is where I really appreciated the continuous threaded harness on the BLVD65. Its a perfect fit, as opposed to this design.
My DD screamed that the seat was too tight. It was upon inspecting her more closely that I realized how she was literally pinned into the seat in many places.
I will try to snag a few front view pictures tomorrow before I send it back.
I'm curious if there is any difference at all between the BLVD and MA in this aspect because I don't recall the MA being so tight. :shrug-shoulders: Obviously the SIP is different so maybe that was bothering her the most.
Anyhow, so all that complaining about shell height and that didn't even turn out to be the deal breaker for us.
The BLVD70 that I ordered is going back.
If you read Darren's review, you saw pictures of my 35#, 37" DD in the MA70. Despite having less than 1" of height growth, I decided to order the BLVD anyhow because I've just adored all of my Britax seats to date. We weren't feeling the love for the Complete Air or Radian here so my DH told me to just do it.
First, I was able to work on the seat and easily installed it at 30 degrees and found that my DD actually had closer to 2" of growth available at that angle and with more precise measurement. Our original review with Darren was a VERY hot day so we were working quickly. :thumbsup:
But the :thumbsdown:. The seat is sooooooooooo narrow where my DD's shoulders hit. She is literally pinched into the seat and in addition to that the SIP actually rests on her shoulder because of the set positions for the straps. This is where I really appreciated the continuous threaded harness on the BLVD65. Its a perfect fit, as opposed to this design.
My DD screamed that the seat was too tight. It was upon inspecting her more closely that I realized how she was literally pinned into the seat in many places.
I will try to snag a few front view pictures tomorrow before I send it back.
I'm curious if there is any difference at all between the BLVD and MA in this aspect because I don't recall the MA being so tight. :shrug-shoulders: Obviously the SIP is different so maybe that was bothering her the most.
Anyhow, so all that complaining about shell height and that didn't even turn out to be the deal breaker for us.
Thank you for giving me another reason not to spend the money on the BLVD. 
