Doing test fits this weekend...

Bonita · May 1, 2015

We are driving up to a larger baby store this weekend (tomorrow), and I was told they'll allow us to test fit the seats to our car...So I'm pretty excited

What should I know before we go? I'm planning on looking at the manuals of the seats that we're really interested in before we go, so we know how to install properly and make sure they install/fit securely to the car.

I see talk about fitting your child to the seat all the time - is this referring to getting the harness correctly fitting (at or below shoulders rear facing) and making sure they're the appropriate weight and height for the seat, or is this something else?

I just want to make sure we get an accurate view of everything while we're there since we're driving 90 miles to do this

joolsplus3 · May 1, 2015

Oh, that'll be fun!
Try searching the reviews at www.carseatblog.com to see if there are any quirks or features about the installs on the seats you like, too.

Yeah, fit to child is mostly about getting the kid in the right seat and getting the seat right (so, no 50 pound toddlers in infant seats, or 3 month olds in harnessed boosters...).

Make sure you like how the harness works. Some have tricky or sticky buttons or tightening straps and you'll be buckling and unbuckling a couple times a day for the next 4+ years. I mean, most aren't a problem, and harnesses are nicer than they used to be, and you can get used to anything, but it's just something to consider while you're testing

AllieK · May 1, 2015

I'm sure some of the techs will chime in and offer great advice! To me, (as a plain ol' mom & not a tech) the "fit to child" thing also means growing room! When my first was born I was totally ignorant to this and spent money on seats he quickly outgrew. I think it's important to know your child's height, weight, seated shoulder height and percentile on the growth charts so you can predict just how long a seat will last you to determine if it's a good investment. It can also be good to know if your child has a long torso or long legs because that will also influence seat choices.

HTH & have fun!

thepote · May 1, 2015

Ooh, sounds like fun!

Yes, set the straps and headrest the right height for the child before you install the seat, and make sure the installation method is right for the weight of the child (latch or seatbelt). Do both installs though to make sure you like how they install in your vehicle. Test in different seating positions. Test FF installs as well to make sure they work for you.

Read the manuals so you don't waste time figuring it out when you're there.

Some seats, all it took was seeing them in person or putting my child in them for five seconds to know I didn't like the seat. Things like I didn't like how bucket-y some were, how much they folded her up, how closed the headrest was, how wide the seat was compared to her, etc. It's funny, I longed for a CCO until I had one and installed it and within a few minutes I was like nope, don't like the way it installs!

Good luck!

joolsplus3 · May 1, 2015

Ah yeah, true, too. If you fall in love with a Coccoro, expect it to only last about 3 years. Most convertibles with 65 pound harnesses have roughly 17" top slots that last average kids to 5ish, though.

I LOVED my first Evenflo, and was so smug that it cost less than a Britax, but the top slots on it were 13", and my kids were too big even FF at 2! They would have fit in the Britax till 4.5, so much for 'saving money', lol.

lgenne · May 1, 2015

joolsplus3 said:
I LOVED my first Evenflo, and was so smug that it cost less than a Britax, but the top slots on it were 13", and my kids were too big even FF at 2! They would have fit in the Britax till 4.5, so much for 'saving money', lol.

Did we have the same kid and the same car seat?

Echoing the advice to make sure it fits now and has plenty of growing room. That Evenflo seat looked SO HUGE to me, having only ever played with an infant seat before. It was rated to 65 pounds! It was going to last forever. He outgrew it 3 years ago and is still well under 65 pounds...

joolsplus3 · May 2, 2015

Different carseats, same marketing team, I bet, lol.

Bonita · May 5, 2015

Well we went and tried out several seats...Our LO was quite the trooper and was happy for the 3+ hours of checking them all out

I am definitely more interested in the Foonf after trying it out in the car...truthfully I'm still waffling back and forth on if we should go with a Foonf or a Boulevard though and I'm driving myself crazy

This is such a big purchase (both in safety and $$$)...Safety-wise I think the seats are pretty comparable, but I think they're a bit different when it comes to size and form and slightly on cost - the Foonf seemed to sit up much higher in the vehicle than the Boulevard did which I think our LO might enjoy, also it could have been an optical illusion, but the Foonf seemed to look like there was more room to move around within the seat and legroom-wise.

Ugh...decisions, decisions!

Cnidaria · May 5, 2015

Bonita said:
Our LO was quite the trooper and was happy for the 3+ hours of checking them all out

Your child is a waaaaaay better car seat shopper than mine are :-D

Hazelandlucy · May 5, 2015

Bonita said:
Well we went and tried out several seats...Our LO was quite the trooper and was happy for the 3+ hours of checking them all out I am definitely more interested in the Foonf after trying it out in the car...truthfully I'm still waffling back and forth on if we should go with a Foonf or a Boulevard though and I'm driving myself crazy This is such a big purchase (both in safety and $$$)...Safety-wise I think the seats are pretty comparable, but I think they're a bit different when it comes to size and form and slightly on cost - the Foonf seemed to sit up much higher in the vehicle than the Boulevard did which I think our LO might enjoy, also it could have been an optical illusion, but the Foonf seemed to look like there was more room to move around within the seat and legroom-wise. Ugh...decisions, decisions!

There is definitely more leg room in the Foonf! I have one, but my 3 yr old is using the Boulevard click tight for a day or so while I clean the Foonf and the difference is really noticeable. I should post pictures!

Doing test fits this weekend...

Bonita

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AllieK

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