7 years of car seats
Do what truly stinks? Car topographic point shopping. You inquire online, "Hey, what automobile seats practise you lot recommend?" And of a abrupt you lot are flooded amongst comments, "We bought the ExpensiveGoldPlated topographic point deluxe because nosotros but truly idea our child's security was worth the investment. We are therefore glad nosotros didn't become amongst GenericAffordableSeatYouAreLookingAt because it would receive got said nosotros don't aid virtually the good beingness of our child." It is hard. The prices for each automobile topographic point vary drastically in addition to it is hard to tell amongst each topographic point whether you lot are paying for security or build advert or styling. Obviously every bit parents nosotros aid virtually the security of our children; it but is dainty to know what is truly worth the money.
Before I become whatever farther on automobile seats nosotros receive got owned in addition to currently own, hither is an fantabulous link from Consumer Reports on which automobile seats are safest: Best Car Seat Buying Guide past times Consumer Reports. I loved that article when I read it. It was therefore refreshing to run into inwards side past times side comparing that expensive does non equal safety. Don't autumn for the hype; practise your ain interrogation in addition to purchase what works in addition to what you lot tin afford.
For tips on automobile topographic point safety, hither is the link to the Academy of American Pediatrics Updates on Car Seat Recommendations. AAA also has some helpful links on Rear-Facing Seats, Forward Facing Seats, Booster Seats, and Seat Belts. State laws are also changing regarding automobile seats; AAA has a link to car topographic point laws inwards your state every bit well. For to a greater extent than reading on automobile topographic point safety, such every bit Top Car Seat Mistakes, I highly recommend checking out the AAA website and Car Seats: Information for Families at healthychildren.org. Those links hash out things similar automobile topographic point expiration dates, proper installation, and proper 5-point harness positioning.
So what automobile seats practise nosotros own? With a heavy heart, Dionos. It pains me to say it because I receive got already had novel moms inquire me, "Oh, nosotros were looking at those! We truly desire the safest seats." I experience similar that owning them throws me inwards the same category every bit the people that shout out upward toll = safety. Let me tell you, nope, nope, nope, nope. Why practise nosotros ain Dionos? Because they are narrow in addition to nosotros tin stand upward for 3 children inwards the tertiary row of our mini van. We are expecting our fifth kid in addition to would rather purchase automobile seats than a novel car. Our automobile seats practise non say nosotros dear our children to a greater extent than than your children; they say nosotros practise non desire a automobile payment.
Our 4.5-year quondam twins are inwards the Diono Radian R100 Convertible Car Seats. They are both inwards the 50th percentile for summit in addition to weight (they both weigh in just nether 35 lbs) and therefore nosotros shout out upward that they volition most piece of occupation these seats this twelvemonth in addition to side past times side twelvemonth every bit well. They are able to buckle in addition to unbuckle their seats, though nosotros did accept the headrest off of the 2d row topographic point but to arrive easier to banking company check that they are buckled correctly. This topographic point industrial plant parent facing until twoscore lbs in addition to forwards facing every bit a v indicate harness upward to 65 lbs. It also industrial plant every bit a booster upward to 100 lbs. The summit boundary for all these configurations is 57"
In the 2d row on the captain's seat, our 20-month quondam 20 something lb toddler is inwards the Diono Radian R120 Convertible Car Seat. We bought him a unlike topographic point than the preschoolers because he had but turned 1-year old when nosotros bought it in addition to nosotros wanted his topographic point to receive got a few to a greater extent than creature comforts than the basic seats nosotros bought them. Along amongst to a greater extent than padding, this topographic point has a wider weight arrive at which contributes to its higher toll tag. This topographic point industrial plant parent facing until 45 lbs in addition to forwards facing every bit a v indicate harness up to eighty lbs. It also industrial plant every bit a booster upward to 120 lbs. The summit boundary for all these configurations is 57". We also bought him this Diono automobile topographic point liner in addition to it has been amazing; I recommend the liner to anyone who wants to cutting downwards on automobile topographic point washings.
I unremarkably receive got the other captain's topographic point out of our van inwards the 2d row. When nosotros are going to option upward passengers or receive got out of town guests, nosotros lay it dorsum in, but for twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours use; this gives us to a greater extent than storage infinite inwards our mini van. It is really handy having the topographic point out when nosotros become to Costco every bit mini van's inwards full general practise non offering really much body space, peculiarly when that body has a stroller inwards it.
What did nosotros receive got earlier nosotros bought the Dionos for our 4 boys?
Normal sized automobile seats that took upward all rows of our mini van. In the tertiary row, our preschool twins are sitting inwards Safety 1st Alpha Omega Convertible Car Seats. (From this angle it looks similar they receive got outgrown the heights, but I tin tell you lot that I ever build certain that I heighten their seats therefore they practise non outgrow the heights.) I liked these Safety 1st Alpha Omega seats, nosotros truly ain 3 of them. This is the topographic point nosotros bought our oldest when he moved to a convertible automobile topographic point in addition to the topographic point nosotros bought our twins when they moved to a convertible automobile seat. It industrial plant parent facing until 35 lbs in addition to forwards facing every bit a v indicate harness until 50 lbs. It industrial plant every bit a booster until 100 lbs. The summit boundary is 52" for all these configurations. Our oldest outgrew this topographic point at 3.5-years old. Our twins are much to a greater extent than average summit in addition to weight and had non outgrown the limits at 4-years old when nosotros moved them to Dionos. Our twins comfortably parent faced until 2-years quondam inwards this seat. (Our oldest did non parent human face upward that long because the recommendation was non at 2-years quondam at that fourth dimension or he would receive got parent faced longer.)
In the instant row, our oldest is riding inwards some other Evenflo booster seat, also from bought at Target. (The link goes to Amazon because Target's webpage wasn't cooperating. Sorry, Target.) I bought him this Evenflo topographic point because it was truly cheap in addition to had expert weight in addition to summit limits. He was over twoscore lbs in addition to it seemed similar a expert fit. He has also been a kid that never challenged his topographic point belt. He is a chip of a dominion follower in addition to has properly sat inwards his topographic point pretty much from the get-go. There was i incident where he tried unbuckling at a halt low-cal because he dropped his toy in addition to "the van was stopped, Momma!" but I chop-chop reprimanded him in addition to he never did it again. Our other boys receive got very different personalities in addition to I practise non run into them beingness therefore good behaved. The new Evenflo booster seat we "upgraded" him to has retention foam padding in addition to is much to a greater extent than comfortable for him, though he never complained virtually this one. When nosotros bought all novel automobile seats, I had bought the Diono Cambria Highback Booster; I at i time returned it. The thing was huge! It was much larger than fifty-fifty the Safety 1st Convertible car seats in addition to was but a highback booster. It has really large wings on the top in addition to did non stand upward for inwards the tertiary row side past times side to the Diono Radians. We at nowadays ain 3 Evenflo booster seats: i for the mini van, i for my husband's Jeep, in addition to i for my parents' house.
The infant is riding inwards the Chicco KeyFit 30 infant automobile seat. This automobile topographic point industrial plant from 4 to 30 lbs. We used it amongst all 4 of our boys, fifty-fifty our twins, who both came habitation from the infirmary nether 5 in addition to a one-half lbs. I similar an infant automobile topographic point for virtually the starting fourth dimension year. We moved our twins to a convertible automobile topographic point earlier they were a twelvemonth quondam because they were but also cumbersome for me to lug around. However, I dear beingness able to drib the infant automobile topographic point inwards the stroller or send it into a eatery spell the infant naps in addition to receive got a comfortable house for the infant to sit. It was dainty amongst our starting fourth dimension son, but fifty-fifty to a greater extent than convenient amongst our fourth. He was happy to sit down inwards his topographic point in addition to spotter us or speak to his brothers every bit they rocked him. We are going to piece of occupation this same topographic point for Baby #5.
Why did nosotros switch to Dionos?
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| Complete laid of automobile seats inwards my parents' Suburban |
Before nosotros moved across country, I stayed at my parents' household spell my hubby went to SOBC. Since nosotros were getting create to motion to the due west coast (and actively trying to receive got our fifth child), I figured it would endure convenient to larn out a laid of automobile seats at my parents' household on the E coast. Leaving a consummate laid of automobile seats was the biggest motivator for buying the Dionos when nosotros did. We knew nosotros would postulate them at some point because of how narrow they are-- eventually nosotros would receive got Baby #5-- but it but made feel to build our lives easier for time to come travel. Over this past times Christmas, I flew past times myself across province amongst our 4 boys (and meaning amongst our fifth child). After that long flight, it was a relief to be picked upward at the airdrome past times my parents inwards their suburban total of automobile seats-- no hassling amongst automobile seats! Now at my parents' household they receive got 2 Britax automobile seats given to them past times friends explicitly for piece of occupation when grandchildren come upward to visit, my 2 Safety 1st Alpha Omega convertible automobile seats, a Chicco KeyFit infant seat, in addition to an Evenflo booster seat. This summertime they volition endure welcoming their seventh grandchild (my fifth infant in addition to my sister's 2d baby) therefore they postulate plenty of automobile seats every bit both my sis in addition to I are Navy wives traveling inwards to catch them!
Here is our automobile topographic point history inwards pictures, starting amongst our starting fourth dimension infant in addition to ending at my electrical flow pregnancy amongst infant #5:
1 baby: dorsum topographic point of the Jeep
For our starting fourth dimension son, nosotros owned 3 unlike automobile seats: the Chicco KeyFit, the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Convertible Car Seat, in addition to an EvenFlo automobile seat bought to receive got a spare automobile topographic point inwards my husband's Jeep later on nosotros bought the mini van. (We bought the mini van spell I was meaning amongst twins.)
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| Our oldest inwards the Chicco KeyFit infant automobile topographic point Jan 2009 |
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| Our oldest inwards the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Convertible Car Seat March 2010 |
3 children (toddler + infant twins)
Toddler inwards the tertiary row of the mini van in addition to twins inwards the 2d row
When our twins were born, nosotros bought a instant Chicco KeyFit infant carrier, this fourth dimension a KeyFit 30. When they moved into convertible automobile seats, nosotros bought them each Safety 1st Alpha Omega Convertible Car Seats. Our oldest boy stayed inwards the automobile seats he already owned inwards the tertiary row of the mini van. We could non stand upward for 3 automobile seats across amongst our twins parent facing, fifty-fifty when our oldest moved to an EvenFlo Highback Booster.
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| Our oldest inwards the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Convertible Booster Seat in addition to our twins inwards Chicco KeyFit infant automobile seats May 2011 |
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| Twins inwards Safety 1st Alpha Omega Convertible Car Seats September 2011 |
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| Safety 1st Alpha Omega Convertible Car Seat March 2012 |
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| Oldest inwards EvenFlo Booster Seat in addition to twins inwards Safety 1st Alpha Omega Convertible Car Seats June 2012 |
3 children (preschooler + toddler twins)
Fit all 3 inwards 2d row of mini van amongst forwards facing automobile seats
When our twins were able to forwards human face upward inwards their Safety 1st Alpha Omega Car Seats, nosotros could stand upward for 3 automobile seats across inwards the 2d row of our mini van. Our oldest is riding inwards his EvenFlo Booster Seat.
For to a greater extent than links on plumbing fixtures 3 automobile seats across inwards a vehicle, banking company check out The Crash Detective and The Car Seat Lady.
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| Oldest inwards EvenFlo Booster Seat in addition to twins forwards facing inwards Safety 1st Alpha Omega Convertible Car Seats Apr 2013 |
4 children (kindergartner + toddler twins + infant)
Toddlers inwards tertiary row of mini van, kindergartner in addition to infant inwards 2d row
Toddlers inwards tertiary row of mini van, kindergartner in addition to infant inwards 2d row
When our infant #4 came along, nosotros moved our twins to the tertiary row of the mini van. It didn't build feel plumbing fixtures 3 across inwards the 2d row because i of the children would receive got to climb over a wall of automobile seats to larn to their topographic point inwards the tertiary row. None of the automobile seats nosotros owned at this fourth dimension stand upward for inwards the tertiary row of the mini van, which is much narrower than the 2d row. At this fourth dimension nosotros knew nosotros wanted to receive got i in conclusion infant in addition to therefore nosotros researched which automobile seats nosotros would postulate to stand upward for inwards the tertiary row of the mini van in addition to decided to purchase Diono automobile seats for the children to build our electrical flow vehicle piece of occupation when nosotros had 5 children. We bought our twins their Diono Radian R100 Convertible Car Seats first, in addition to therefore our oldest his novel EvenFlo Booster Seat, in addition to therefore infant #4 his Diono Radian R120 Convertible Car Seat when he moved out of the Chicco KeyFit 30 infant automobile seat. Once our twins had their Diono automobile seats, nosotros could motion our older 3 boys to the tertiary row of the mini van. We receive got truly enjoyed that seating organization every bit it gives us an extra topographic point inwards the 2d row for a rider (or 2, if nosotros squelch someone on the jump seat) or extra storage if nosotros completely withdraw the instant captain's seat.
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| 3rd row: our twins inwards the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Convertible Car Seats 2d row: our oldest inwards the EvenFlo booster topographic point in addition to infant #4 inwards the Chicco KeyFit 30 Feb 2015  2d row: infant #4 inwards Chicco KeyFit 30 infant seat March 2015 |
4 children + meaning amongst #5 (1st grader + preschool twins + toddler)
Older 3 inwards tertiary row of mini van thank you lot to Diono automobile seats, infant inwards 2d row
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| 3rd row: oldest inwards EvenFlo Booster Seat; twins inwards Diono Radian R100 Convertible Car Seats 2d row: infant #4 inwards Diono Radian R120 Convertible Car Seat August 2015 |
When Baby #5 makes her entrance this summer, nosotros volition receive got to a greater extent than shifting around to practise inwards our mini van seating arrangement. We innovation on keeping our older 3 boys inwards the same seating assignments they receive got now, inwards the tertiary row. Baby #5 volition ride inwards the Chicco KeyFit infant carrier. Baby #4 volition plow 2-years quondam in addition to therefore in addition to nosotros volition forwards human face upward him. The 2 of them volition ride inwards the 2d row of the mini van.
To me, automobile topographic point shopping is stressful. It is hard to projection everything you lot volition desire when investing inwards your starting fourth dimension automobile topographic point purchase, peculiarly if you lot are undecided every bit to how many children you lot may desire or what vehicle you lot are hoping to all stand upward for inwards to. It was expensive buying a consummate instant laid of automobile seats for all of our children-- peculiarly Dionos-- but I am glad of the convenience of having a consummate laid of automobile seats at my parents' household when traveling. I suppose I should address a few opinions I receive got on the diverse automobile seats nosotros receive got owned. Mind you, this is all opinion.
The Chicco KeyFit infant carriers receive got been great. They seem to piece of occupation every bit good every bit other infant carriers in addition to come upward inwards a lot of cute prints, peculiarly now. (My sis but bought a chevron print! Jealous!) They are super slow to install amongst the latch scheme in addition to tin fifty-fifty endure safely buckled without the automobile topographic point base of operations using exclusively a topographic point belt. I dear the ease of piece of occupation Chicco has mastered. They receive got levels on the side of their automobile seats in addition to bases that exhibit you lot if the topographic point is installed correctly in addition to their instructions on installation are slow to follow. I liked our Chicco seats a lot.
The Safety 1st Alpha Omega Convertible Car Seats were great-- really affordable. I happened to purchase our twins' automobile seats when they were on sale at BJ's Wholesale in addition to combined them amongst a coupon. We paid $90 a topographic point at the time. They are slow to install (not similar Chicco, but slow enough). I receive got a hard fourth dimension installing a parent facing automobile seat, but I could practise it amongst these seats, if I had to. (After installing them parent facing-- the fourth dimension I had to-- I did drive to our local burn household in addition to receive got them inspected starting fourth dimension thing.) Forward facing I tin install them, no problems. They are slow to adjust every bit your kid grows in addition to slow to clean. They are non narrow similar Dionos past times whatever means, but they are non huge cumbersome automobile seats similar some models I've seen. They worked bang-up for locomote because they are non also heavy (19 lbs) in addition to because they are slow to install. They are non hard to receive got the proper 5-point harness positioning in addition to they are slow for the parent to buckle in addition to unbuckle. I liked these seats too.
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| Picture from Amazon How on Blue Planet would a parent wearable this automobile topographic point in addition to wrangle their kid at an airport? Especially me... a parent amongst 3 incredibly heavy Diono automobile seats + pregnant + 4 children. Nope. |
The Diono Radian seats are inwards a whole unlike ball game. They are steel framed automobile seats. We receive got the Radian R100 in addition to Radian R120 in addition to they weigh 26 in addition to 23 lbs, respectively. They don't concur it good either. There isn't an slow spot to catch on to the topographic point to arrive an slow 23 or 26 lb weight. The sparse straps they come upward amongst to wearable the topographic point on your dorsum spell lugging a kid through the airdrome (what?! run into to a higher house picture) cutting into your shoulders in addition to therefore the topographic point is but heavy. It does plication flat-- super neat feature-- in addition to therefore you lot could plication it apartment in addition to stick it on the bottom of the luggage cart, I suppose. However, these seats are a beast to install. They are therefore apartment in addition to narrow that the topographic point belt is truly taller than the seat. If you lot are flying somewhere in addition to getting a rental car, you lot powerfulness non receive got the tools on mitt to properly install the automobile seat, if you lot are unfamiliar amongst what vehicle you lot volition endure driving there. My hubby had to YouTube properly installing these seats in addition to they went inwards amongst much swearing. The seats are properly in addition to securely installed inwards our vehicle, but nosotros practise non popular these things inwards in addition to out. It is a process. This would not endure the automobile topographic point I direct every bit a Navy married adult woman flying past times myself amongst children, similar I did amongst our starting fourth dimension son. It is awkwardly heavy in addition to incredibly hard to install, peculiarly inwards a vehicle that isn't your own-- unremarkably what you lot drive when traveling. That is the negative side to the Diono seats in addition to pretty much the exclusively negative side (well, exterior of the cost). The plus side is they are super narrow in addition to accept upward hardly whatever room. With a Diono inwards our 2d row of the mini van, nosotros tin lay inwards the jump topographic point in addition to the captain's topographic point in addition to send 2 additional passengers, plus whoever is riding inwards the rider seat. My mini van tin at nowadays send 4 children (3 inwards tertiary row, 1 inwards 2d row) and 4 adults (2 inwards 2d row, 1 inwards rider seat, in addition to the driver)! What! They are slow to build clean in addition to a breeze to buckle in addition to unbuckle every bit the parent. They basically buckle inwards the right 5-point harness positioning (chest clip at armpit level). Once you lot larn them installed properly, those seats aren't moving anywhere. They are depression on the topographic point in addition to therefore our preschoolers tin easily larn inwards in addition to out of them themselves. I truly dear their ease spell buckling in addition to unbuckling. I but never innovation on taking them out of the mini van. Those things are installed, man.
The EvenFlo Booster topographic point is great. No complaints. I practise recommend the retention foam padding. It is ridiculous because our 1st grader's topographic point has LED lights in addition to retention foam padding in addition to loving cup holders, but whatever. His topographic point is to a greater extent than comfortable than when nosotros had the basic highback booster amongst no retention foam padding, peculiarly at nowadays that he is heavier. It is narrow in addition to slow to buckle. Good to go!
The in conclusion things I volition recommend when dealing amongst children + automobile seats are a distich accessories.
We receive got the Diono Stow'N'Go Car Organizers. They cost nether $10 each. We practise non piece of occupation them every bit topographic point organizers, but every bit topographic point protectors. Our children are ever using the topographic point backs to force off of when they larn inwards their seats in addition to they protect the dorsum of our seats from children's shoes. They practise receive got nifty pockets, though all our kids ever lay inwards them is trash. We did receive got the Thirty One dorsum of the topographic point organizer. That thing industrial plant bang-up in addition to completely covers the seat, but it is $40 a pop-- definitely non what I desire to pass for each topographic point dorsum inwards our mini van.
I dear the Diono Ultra Dry Seat. This fits inwards your Diono automobile seat. If I infant #4 gets crumbs in addition to dirt all over his seat, all I receive got to practise is popular this piffling thing out in addition to milkshake it off (or launder it) instead of dismantling the entire automobile topographic point to launder that. It would receive got been super helpful during the potty preparation times amongst twins, I tin tell you. We also bought the Diono Angle Adjuster for our parent facing Diono seat. We receive got never bought angle adjusters for other automobile seats-- employed the towel method instead-- but this was worth the $9. It made installing our Diono topographic point but a smidgen easier (only a smidgen though).
My in conclusion recommendation, no affair how quondam your infant is in addition to no affair what automobile you lot drive, is some sort of seat protector. Car seats are truly hard on your vehicle, peculiarly when kids are involved dropping crumbs in addition to liquids downwards nether your tight installation, no affair how strict your nutrient rules are. This was non something nosotros idea of when putting our starting fourth dimension son's automobile topographic point inwards in addition to nosotros regretted it (cloth seats too-- yeah, tears were shed).
What are your favorite automobile seats? What are your favorite automobile topographic point accessories? How did you lot determine on the automobile seats you lot bought for your vehicle?
(Note: Any bashing comments will endure deleted.)
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