Question Help picking car seat - time to switch

davina_21

New member
Hello everyone,

I have a 16 month old baby and at his doctor's appointment today, he measured at 32 inches. I currently have him in a Peg Perego 4-35. The height limit is 32 inches.

I have not been looking at the next stage of car seats yet - thought I had a bit more time. He still has some room above his head(one more click on the head support) so I know he is not in danger, but rules are rules.

Would you please provide some suggestions for the next seat? With my older son, we had Britax Boulevards and Sunshine Kids Radians.

Please let me know what seat you would pick if money is no option and then the mid range seat. If the most expensive seat is the best for good reasons, then I would buy it. I just don't want to pick the most expensive just because it is the name brand. I believe there are some good mid price range seats on the market (compared to 7 years ago). I won't go to the least expensive either, mostly because they don't seem to have as much padding and we spend a lot of time in the car. We need two seats.

The seats will be installed in a 2012 Mazda 5, captain chair and in a 2013 Kia Optima, passenger side. I have had no problem with seats in the Mazda but the Kia can be a problem because the belt is forward of the bight (i will try to get a pic of this)

My aim is to keep him rear facing as long as possible. I don't need the seat to turn into a booster. I had a Britax Frontier for that purpose and it was a dud - way too wide to booster my skinny 6 year old.

Please note: I am in Canada so some of the wonder US seats are not available.

Thank you for your help!
 
ADS

Mary_Ann

New member
If I was buying a seat today, I would go with a Clek Fllo. I have a Foonf that I bought new for $400 2.5 years ago. They are now $600!!!

The Foonf/Fllo is an amazing RF seat and a great FF seat too. I think it's my favorite seat, although I also love my Britax (first crush, LOL). It's a huge seat, but I think it would fit well in your Mazda 5.
 
Here's a good starting list:

http://vicarseattechs.com/our-favourite-seats/infantchild-seats/

For forward-of-the-bight seatbelts, I would avoid the Diono seats. Graco, Evenflo, and Britax seats are generally okay with those belts. I love the Peg, but haven't found an excuse to buy one yet LOL!! Not sure how it or the Clek seats do with FOTB belts.


I have little to no knowledge of growth curves or what is considered "normal" growth for young toddlers, but in regards to the Peg - My tall, 36" 2yo (2 in Jan) is about an inch away from outgrowing it by height RF. She was 32" at 17mo.
I love the seat otherwise, but wasn't expecting to have to buy another seat to reach our RF goals.
In retrospect, I wish the Graco Dimensions/Contender had been available when we were looking!
 

Nedra

Car-Seat.org Ambassador
If I lived in Canada, I would buy a Graco Dimensions. I am kind of in love with that seat and it's not available in the U.S. I think it has the perfect blend of features -- premium lower anchor connectors, simple flip foot recline, easy change of UAS strap from FF to RF. Yeah, it looks a lot like the Size4Me and the Contender that we can get in the U.S., but it's better than either of them.



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TechnoGranola

Forum Ambassador
I have little to no knowledge of growth curves or what is considered "normal" growth for young toddlers, but in regards to the Peg - My tall, 36" 2yo (2 in Jan) is about an inch away from outgrowing it by height RF. She was 32" at 17mo.

My 41" tall 4y3m old still has a quarter inch for rear facing in the Peg. I seem to have kids with shorter torsos and small heads.

Is yours still in diapers? If so, you may gain some room when she's not.
 

Keeanh

Well-known member
If I lived in Canada, I would buy a Graco Dimensions. I am kind of in love with that seat and it's not available in the U.S. I think it has the perfect blend of features -- premium lower anchor connectors, simple flip foot recline, easy change of UAS strap from FF to RF. Yeah, it looks a lot like the Size4Me and the Contender that we can get in the U.S., but it's better than either of them.



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Except that it has a 35lb RF limit :(

And OP, I wasn't suggesting the Peg. It is on the shorter side. I was just commenting that I don't have any personal experience with it ;)
 

Nedra

Car-Seat.org Ambassador
Except that it has a 35lb RF limit :(


Oh that's sad. :-( I think in my case I am still in love with it because 35 lbs would likely still get my kids to 4 years old, but for the OP it's likely not going to be the best option.


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