Great Car Seat for the Long Haul, both Distance and Years
Pros:
Weight range. Convertible: rear to front facing. Side impact protection. Very adjustable. Small base footprint.
Cons:
For newborns, not removable with sleeping child inside, like a carrier can do.
The Bottom Line:
A great seat for the long haul, from newborn to a school age child. Very comfy and plush on long trips. Easy to install and fit. Great seat!
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
IMHO, the best car seat by FAR, even for the price (~$300) , is the Britax Boulevard.
It is an improvement even over the top rated the Britax Decathalon. Dont even bother with a Britax Marathon or Roundabout as they are bargain version of these for sale at stores like Target without the extra side impact of the Boulevard.
The Boulevard has the best safety ratings, the longest life (from 5 to 65 lbs!) and can go front or rear facing and be installed with or without latch. We LOVE LOVE LOVE ours. We had it professionally installed and it does not BUDGE. We got a different seat for Grandmas car and am amazed at how much the quality is better in the Britax than in the Graco car seat she has.
I cannot say enough good things about this car seat. Our favorite feature (silly I know) is that the straps have velcro on them to attach out of the way on the sides when the child ISN'T in the seat, so that they arent UNDER the child when you put them in the seat. If you have ever had to struggle to get the straps and buckle out from under your squirming kid, you know what I mean.
Here are some specs and a comparison of the Britax seats. This seat was also very highly rated by Safey Angels, and the person who installed it (a police officer at a baby safety day) was amazed at how much nicer and more secure with better features it had than any other seat he installed before.
Our baby was premie (4 lbs) and he fit into this seat nicely right out of the NICU, although we did use a travel system some also in our other car. It has extensive layers of padding which are removable in pieces as baby grows. We turned it around when he got to 24 lbs, and put it right in the middle of our SUV back seat and it will be with him for several more years to come! We got ours at Albee Baby with free shipping I think.
Lastly, it comes in a virtual rainbow of classy and pretty fabrics, both bright and neutrals, which seem totally resistant to all stains. We have had this seat for almost 2 years now and still love it.
Dont believe me, do the research, see this seat at somewhere like BabiesRUs (but dont buy it there, way $$$$), and then you will choose this seat also.
Car Seat Type Convertible
Seating Direction Forward Facing
Stay-in Car Base With Detachable Base
Restraint System 5-Point Safety Harness
Other Features
Weight Limit 5 - 65 lbs.
Head Protection With Headrest
Additional Features Latch System
Miscellaneous
Product ID 25723425
Britax Comparison:
The marathon, decathlon, and boulevard are all 5-65 pound convertible seats.
The marathon is the first and most basic. It features 4 harness heights, double straps anchor attachments with bars (instead of using the belt path). It can be tethered rear facing and used rear facing from 5-33 pounds and forward facing from 20-65 AND over a year old.
It has a a lever-type adjuster. Harness height adjustment you remove and re-thread the straps. Crotch strap has one.
The decathlon features additional infant padding that makes this a very plush seat and very supportive for newborns. It use a single anchor strap routed through the belt path. It has 3 different crotch strap settings and 4 harness heights. It can be tethered rear facing
and used rear facing for 5-33 pounds and forward facing 20-65 pounds AND over a year old. It has a has a push-button adjuster. Harness height adjustment you remove and re-thread the straps. Crotch strap has three crotch strap positions.
The boulevard also has additional padding for infants, as well as side 'wings' marketed br Britax as "True Side Impact Protection." These EPS lined wings help to contain the child's head in a side impact crash. The harness on this seat is adjusted with a knob and can be adjusted 1/16 of an inch at a time, allowing for a perfect fit every time. It has double anchors straps that are hooked to bars and not routed through the belt path. It rear faces from 5-33 pounds and forward faces from 20-65 pounds AND over a year old. It can also be tethered rear facing. Harness height adjustment has a knob you turn to move the harness height up and down without removing straps. Crotch strap has one.
