Which carseat is best?

[Mom2Jared]

Which carseat is best?

It is so frustrating needing a new carseat right now. I have a new car with LATCH but the new carseats won't be out until the Fall. I know this it a tough question to answer, but this is what I want:

LATCH-equipped (I don't want a kit to intsall)
Safest available
Easy to use

Is the Britax Expressway a good choice? I hear the HUGS harness can be difficult to use. I don't even know what HUGS is!?! I don't mind that IF it is the safest available. My son is 30lb and 33 inches.

I also need a convertible LATCH seat for an infant who is growing out of his infant seat (18 lb, 27 inches). I don't have a KMart in my town. Is there any place I can still get a Costco Triad? I haven't liked what I have read about the Safety First Forerunner.

I currently have the Fisher Price Safe Embrace. I wish I had known enough to buy the FPSE II's when they were available!! I understand that the FPSE has a special plastic/foam that makes it very safe. Are there other carseats similarly made? I guess what I really want is a carseat as good as the FPSE but has the LATCH system.

Can you help??

 

[Caviller]

Only a little help....

First, if you haven't seen it, please check out our LATCH information with current LATCH models and kit compatibility:

www.car-safety.org/latch.html

The Expressway is a nice model. I have not used one, but they do have replacement harnesses available for some people who didn't like the original ones. See this earlier thread:

pub59.ezboard.com/fcarsaf...=172.topic

Unfortunately, the Forerunner is basically a Cosco Touriva with a Cosco LATCH kit included. The Touriva is a safe carseat, but as a budget model it does lack some features of higher-priced models. On the other hand, it fits well in many vehicles, has a narrow base, and has a 35-pound rear-facing limit. I've only seen the Triad at Kmarts, but it's possible other retailers carried it.

As for the foam in your FPSE, the Britax Roundabout/Advantage and Evenflo Triumph also have this feature. The Triumph can be used with the Evenflo LATCH kit.

New models will be introduced as the September, 2002 deadline approaches. Even so, I suspect many will meet the requirement by simply including a LATCH kit with an existing model carseat.

Good luck with your purchase!

 

[Robert]

Re: a little more help

Since you don't have a Kmart in your town you can order my mail for Kmart at www.blulight.com