Nedra
Car-Seat.org Ambassador
Okay, so after my question about doubling down on a car seat purchase, I realized that I need to get some more help. This probably won't be the last question I ask on this topic because it will be awhile before the decision is actually made, but I want to try out seats now because the weather is getting colder and I'm still on maternity leave and have time.
Here's the situation:
DD1 is 2.5 and will be turning 3 in March. She is petite -- currently 26 lbs, 10 oz and 33.75" tall. She rides in three cars very regularly, so we have a seat for each of them. I want to keep her RF until 4, but she will probably be about 3 and a quarter when DD2 outgrows the Aton 2 (or when I get sick of using it and want to move her to a convertible). DD2 is also petite and following the same growth curve as DD1.
What's the best way to keep my older daughter comfortable and rear-facing for another year without breaking the bank?
Cars: 2010 Impreza (this car was our "tight fit" and was what led us to the Aton in order to keep the front passengers comfortable); 2010 Forester (not a ton of space back here either, but definitely more than the Impreza!) and 2015 Outback (this car belongs to my in-laws and, although it is the most forgiving in terms of space, it requires the most user-friendly seats).
Thoughts on Current Seats:
Nextfit: I like it, but I wouldn't buy another one. It is cushy and fits well in the Impreza, but I find it nearly impossible to adjust the headrest/harness height.
BLVD CT: I also wouldn't buy another one. I am realizing that my kids are so petite that LATCH limits aren't likely to come into play before booster age anyway, so the clicktight feature seems less valuable to me. I don't like reclining the base and the fact that you can't see which of the 7 reclines it's on and have to guess at it. Plus, I hate adjusting the harness strap tightness on this seat and the straps are thick and inflexible and seem uncomfortable for my daughter.
RA G4: This is the only seat I'd buy again. I love this seat. The only thing I don't love about it is the fact that it has those same Britax straps.
We also have a Titan 65. It might work for us FF someday, but it is too big for the Impreza or the Forester when RF and too difficult for my in-laws to use in the Outback. So right now it's just sitting in our garage. It also was the seat that made me learn that hook-on lower connectors don't play well with the deeply-recessed lower anchors of our Subarus. (They were hard to get on, and even harder to take off!)
My current thinking for my in-laws' Outback is that I will keep DD1 in the BLVD CT and move the Roundabout to my in-laws' car for DD2 when she is ready for a convertible. That way, they aren't having to learn any new seats just yet. (Once DD1 is forward-facing, I'm hoping to get them an IMMI Go for her in their car.)
So, that leaves the Nextfit in the Impreza and two open spots in the Forester and one in the Impreza. What three seats would you buy? Would like to keep the total cost under $600.
PS: My 2.5 year old has about 4" of headroom in the Roundabout. I don't know what that translates to as far as how long it will last for her, but I'm assuming that's the only one of my current seats that my petite kids would be in danger of outgrowing before 4 years old.
Here's the situation:
DD1 is 2.5 and will be turning 3 in March. She is petite -- currently 26 lbs, 10 oz and 33.75" tall. She rides in three cars very regularly, so we have a seat for each of them. I want to keep her RF until 4, but she will probably be about 3 and a quarter when DD2 outgrows the Aton 2 (or when I get sick of using it and want to move her to a convertible). DD2 is also petite and following the same growth curve as DD1.
What's the best way to keep my older daughter comfortable and rear-facing for another year without breaking the bank?
Cars: 2010 Impreza (this car was our "tight fit" and was what led us to the Aton in order to keep the front passengers comfortable); 2010 Forester (not a ton of space back here either, but definitely more than the Impreza!) and 2015 Outback (this car belongs to my in-laws and, although it is the most forgiving in terms of space, it requires the most user-friendly seats).
Thoughts on Current Seats:
Nextfit: I like it, but I wouldn't buy another one. It is cushy and fits well in the Impreza, but I find it nearly impossible to adjust the headrest/harness height.
BLVD CT: I also wouldn't buy another one. I am realizing that my kids are so petite that LATCH limits aren't likely to come into play before booster age anyway, so the clicktight feature seems less valuable to me. I don't like reclining the base and the fact that you can't see which of the 7 reclines it's on and have to guess at it. Plus, I hate adjusting the harness strap tightness on this seat and the straps are thick and inflexible and seem uncomfortable for my daughter.
RA G4: This is the only seat I'd buy again. I love this seat. The only thing I don't love about it is the fact that it has those same Britax straps.
We also have a Titan 65. It might work for us FF someday, but it is too big for the Impreza or the Forester when RF and too difficult for my in-laws to use in the Outback. So right now it's just sitting in our garage. It also was the seat that made me learn that hook-on lower connectors don't play well with the deeply-recessed lower anchors of our Subarus. (They were hard to get on, and even harder to take off!)
My current thinking for my in-laws' Outback is that I will keep DD1 in the BLVD CT and move the Roundabout to my in-laws' car for DD2 when she is ready for a convertible. That way, they aren't having to learn any new seats just yet. (Once DD1 is forward-facing, I'm hoping to get them an IMMI Go for her in their car.)
So, that leaves the Nextfit in the Impreza and two open spots in the Forester and one in the Impreza. What three seats would you buy? Would like to keep the total cost under $600.
PS: My 2.5 year old has about 4" of headroom in the Roundabout. I don't know what that translates to as far as how long it will last for her, but I'm assuming that's the only one of my current seats that my petite kids would be in danger of outgrowing before 4 years old.