My Sweet Blessings
New member
I'm looking for suggestions on an inexpensive infant bucket seat. I want it to still be a great seat, though. Or can newborns fit straight into convertable seats like the Marathon or Roundabout?
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Inexpensive, yet good infant seat? skip infant seat?
- Thread starter My Sweet Blessings
- Start date
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What do you consider inexpensive?
The Marathon and Roundabout are not good seats for newborns. Their bottom slots are too high. If you want a convertible seat for a newborn I'd look at the Learning Curve True Fit, Evenflo Triumph Advace, Sunshine Kids Radian, and the Cosco Scenera.
Wendy
The Marathon and Roundabout are not good seats for newborns. Their bottom slots are too high. If you want a convertible seat for a newborn I'd look at the Learning Curve True Fit, Evenflo Triumph Advace, Sunshine Kids Radian, and the Cosco Scenera.
Wendy
carseatcoach
Carseat Crankypants
Most infants can fit into some convertibles, but not Britax convertibles, which have high slot straps. Straps need to be at or below baby's shoulders when rear-facing.
The Radians and Triumph Advances with infant inserts, and the True Fit, usually work well for newborns.
The Radians and Triumph Advances with infant inserts, and the True Fit, usually work well for newborns.
My Sweet Blessings
New member
Inexpensive as in $100 or less.
I am well aware of where the straps need to be for rearfacing and forward facing
I have just never put a newborn in our seats (MA and BLVD). We didn't get my DS2 his MA until he was like 6 months or so (somewhere around that time). I've used infant seats for both of my boys when they were newborns. .. both Graco Snugrides.
Triumph Advance.. good seat. I considered it for my DS2. I'll have to think about that one.
thanks!
I am well aware of where the straps need to be for rearfacing and forward facing
I have just never put a newborn in our seats (MA and BLVD). We didn't get my DS2 his MA until he was like 6 months or so (somewhere around that time). I've used infant seats for both of my boys when they were newborns. .. both Graco Snugrides. Triumph Advance.. good seat. I considered it for my DS2. I'll have to think about that one.
thanks!
I think you can find the Snugride in some forms for under $100. but it may be a rear adjuster with no foam or padding.
Wendy
Wendy
DaniannieB
Ambassador - CPS Technician
You can often find a front adjusting Snug Ride or Safe Seat 1 (renamed Snug Ride 32) on sale for $100 or less. Check out albeebaby.com. They usually have pretty good deals.
U
Unregistered
Guest
WOW! I didn't know this! I have Boulevards and they say that with the hip pad you can place a newborn in it. I never had anyone under six months in it, but plenty of my friends do and haven't had problems- or maybe they just don't know they aren't in the right way??
My 3 mos old went into a roundabout well also, but he was big for his age.
We just bought a friend as a group gift a Boulevard for her baby due in July because she has no plan to carry around an infant carseat and wants to keep things simple. Can you direct me to more info about the problem with the Britax? I would hate to be giving her something that isn't going to work for her.
CK
joolsplus3
Admin - CPS Technician
http://returnsforsale.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=1206 These are closeouts, not returns, as far as I can gather... nice n cheap...
carseatcoach
Carseat Crankypants
Inexpensive as in $100 or less.
I am well aware of where the straps need to be for rearfacing and forward facing
Sorry -- I'm sure you are, but I tend to err on the side of too much information for the benefit of other readers.
The Avenue ($80ish, RF to 35 and FF to 40) might work, but can be a challenging install rear-facing.
carseatcoach
Carseat Crankypants
Britax used to allow use with the straps no more than 1" above the shoulders: they no longer do and they require that the straps be below the shoulders. It is in the manual -- hang on and I'll search for a page number.
Okay. Page 6:
and in a big red warning box
joolsplus3
Admin - CPS Technician
It CAN be too tall to get a proper 45* newborn recline in some cars, so that's a con. The bottom slots are also a bit higher than infant seats, and the rule of thumb is that harness slots be 'at or below' the shoulders, although some experts don't feel this is a problem in seats with 5 point harnesses (where the lap straps hold the baby down in a crash so they don't 'ramp up' and fall backwards out of the seat)
I think the bottom most slot straps are comparable to the Britax though, 9-10 inches.
OP, if you want a good infant seat, Albee Baby frequently has SS1s clearanced under 100 dollars.
Otherwise, the Evenflo Triumph Advance, First Years True Fit and Sunshine Kids Radians are all convertibles that fit newborns well AND allow for extended rearfacing AND allow for extended harnessing (tough bill to fill!)
JerseyGirl'sMama
New member
I know you said $100, but if you could skip the infant bucket seat and just go straight to one of the convertibles, could you allow more for your budget? You could justify it by not needing to buy another seat in a year or so.
My Sweet Blessings
New member
absolutely! I would deffinately go well above $100 for a convertable. I know we will go from bucket seat to convertable once baby is around 6,7, or 8 months.. depending on when I get tired of using it. LOL Both boys were in convertables by that age. So, yeah, that is why I wanted to keep it under $100 for a bucket seat because I KNOW I wouldn't use it for a long time.
BTW, did I mention we don't even know if I am pregnant
Can never start your carseat hunt too early! hahaha 
My Sweet Blessings
New member
I have noone to borrow a seat from
JerseyGirl'sMama
New member
absolutely! I would deffinately go well above $100 for a convertable. I know we will go from bucket seat to convertable once baby is around 6,7, or 8 months.. depending on when I get tired of using it. LOL Both boys were in convertables by that age. So, yeah, that is why I wanted to keep it under $100 for a bucket seat because I KNOW I wouldn't use it for a long time.
BTW, did I mention we don't even know if I am pregnant
Then you have enough time to save up for the carseat you want! I am planning on getting a True Fit ARB for this baby. I am going to skip the infant bucket altogether.
I'm going with a True Fit, don't know about ARB yet or not. But I've wanted a True Fit longer than I've wanted a baby (still don't want the baby as much as I want the carseat, but I've got another 25 weeks or so to warm up to the baby idea). And welcome to the world of carseat obsession. You'll be wanting more seats than kids I can bet over the course of the next several years, especially when they start coming out with 40 or even 50 pound rear facing seats (hopefully my grandkids will be in these seats), and 100 pound harnessed seats with 24" top slots or something.
I doubt I'll stop drooling just because I don't have appropriate kids for them anymore. LOL I am SO buying Piper's kids' carseats.
Can't wait to shop for those.Wendy
My Sweet Blessings
New member
LOL.. I love carseats! Only reason each kid has one carseat is because we can't afford to try other seats! As far as baby goes, we shall find that out sometime next week. It's too early to test right now... I HATE not knowing!
I really like bucket seats... I like that I can put the baby in there and shield them away from strangers touching them or even KISSING them. I like being able to strap them in while in the house rather than outside, especially when I have to buckle others in! If I am indeed pregnant, I will have a 5 year old (harnessed), a 2 year old, and an infant. I'll need the ease!
I really like bucket seats... I like that I can put the baby in there and shield them away from strangers touching them or even KISSING them. I like being able to strap them in while in the house rather than outside, especially when I have to buckle others in! If I am indeed pregnant, I will have a 5 year old (harnessed), a 2 year old, and an infant. I'll need the ease!
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