Hi, I am slightly confused on car seats. I went to babiesrus to buy a graco Argos 80 elite and spoke with a car seat technician who recommended I stick with a convertible like the britax marathon 65 for my kid who is a smaller kid, he is 3 yrs old, 27lbs and 36" tall. What are your thoughts and why? TIA.
Most techs will recommend to keep our little ones rear facing to a minimum of age 2 years up to the limits of the seat, b/c rear facing offers so much more protection in a crash. To our knowledge, there is no reason to think that the added protection is diminished just because a child is over 2 or even 3 or even over 4 or because the child is larger. Since your child is tiny, he can likely fit rear-facing for another year or more. If he's comfortable with that and you are comfortable with that, it's a completely rational and reasonable decision.
Obviously, though, it is not unreasonable to forward face him at this age. At his size, he can continue to rear-face in the Marathon and it may last him till nearly 6 or older, at which point you could buy him a dedicated high back booster, like a Britax Parkway or Graco Turbo booster. OR you could buy the Nautilus/Argos and turn him...and use it as a booster later.
My oldest rear faced till he was 3.5, when he outgrew our Decathlon rear facing (Marathon clone). My middle child rear faced till 26-27 months, when he outgrew the same seat rear facing, b/c he is tall and really long in the torso. He was only about 35 inches tall, but couldn't rear face, b/c he was too close to the top of the seat.
My youngest is still a baby, but I intend for her to rear face to age 3...and then go from there...she may stay rear facing longer. We'll see.
When you're ready for him to forward face, remember to learn how to properly use the top tether and use it whenever it is possible..
hths