Convertible Car Seat Reviews

High Quality Lightweight Convertible Car Seat Options!

mark — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:42:49 +0000

Light weight doesn’t always mean strong when it comes to safety items. But new materials used in car safety seats make them durably strong and lightweight. Think Kevlar.

While that is not used, shells are made of similar materials that function much the same. Lighter car seats are a great choice if you have to carry the seat often, or switch it from one vehicle to another regularly.

Here are our picks for great light weight convertible car seats, that will keep your child safe while limiting the hassle factor for you.

Safety 1st All in One Lightweight Car Seat

The new trend in child safety seats is a very helpful one. In the last decade or so, safety experts have recommended keeping your little ones in some type of car seat until they are much heavier, generally from 80 to 100 lbs. When these recommendations were first made, manufacturers scrambled to make seats to fit larger kids, while parents needed to make another purchase, and sometimes ended up with three separate seats covering the charts from infancy to youth.

Fisher Price Safe Voyage Lightweight Car Seat

Fisher Price is a name almost synonymous with childhood. They make many of the toys our children love the most. When they decided to add a car seat to their product line, they teamed up with one of the best in the business, the Britax Company, to produce the Safe Voyage Convertible car seat. Wise decision! Britax is an industry leader in safety, comfort, and convenience, and all of that goes into this seat. Let’s take it from the top.

Evenflo Big Kid Honeycomb Lightweight Car Seat

If a company came out with one of these with a capacity up to 200 lbs, they would sell a bazillion of them. Maybe more! You and your significant other would forever fight for the right to ride, not drive. Can you imagine a guy doing that? Anyway, the Evenflo Big Kid is a booster car seat that takes your child from 30 to 100 pounds.

Combi Coccoro Lightweight Car Seat

The Combi Coccoro is a great option for parents who drive a smaller vehicle, or who already have a big brother or big sister riding alongside in a larger car seat or booster. While saving space it creates its own safe space for your child. The tough shell and energy absorbing foam padding offer excellent protection in side and rear collision. The padded harness is held out of the way with side holders while you situate your little rider and get them comforatable. It fits securely and

Fisher Price Safe Voyage Convertible Car Seat Review

Five of the Safest Carseats for the Fashion Conscious

mark — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:31:38 +0000

Safety first and foremost doesn’t mean the car seat has to be plain gray or some other purely “functional” color.

Manufacturers know that kids and parents like to live a little, and jazz things up with color and pattern. So, they keep their engineers innovating safety while their decorators search for or create a variety of appealing covers. They range from eye-opening bright, to understated and elegant.

Some are sporty and handsome, while others are decidedly feminine. And many neutrally nice patterns are available, too, for those of you waiting to be surprised! Here is our list of seats that will provide the safety you want in a color pattern you and your little one will enjoy.

Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat Review

The Britax Marathon convertible car seat is a best-in-class award winner. And this endurance champ finishes what it started by keeping your child safe and comfortable all the way to 65 lbs, so you won’t have to purchase an in-between seat for your growing toddler. The contoured base insures a snug fit in any vehicle. Safety features are found everywhere you look at the Marathon.

Britax Decathlon Car Seat

The Britax Decathlon Car Seat keeps your child very secure with numerous innovative safety features including patented side impact protection, versa-tether staged release which stabilizes the top of the car seat to prevent forward motion in an accident, and HUGS, the Harness Ultra Guard System which keeps your child’s head in place and cushions his or her chest if needed.

Graco Nautilus Convertible Car Seat

In no time, the Nautilus has been converted to a forward facing, belt-positioned booster. Several years later and the little man will complete his time in the Nautilus, which can now be a high-backed or backless booster. You know you made the right choice -- 3 options, all the way to 100, without ever having to purchase another seat. There’s more to this chair than just fantastic range. It also features Graco’s award winning, crash-tested safety from stem to stern.

Evenflo Triumph Advance Convertible Car Seat

Sunshine Kids Radian XT 80 Convertible Car Seat

The seat installs using the LATCH system to secure tightly to the vehicle’s existing safety straps, so it won’t move when it shouldn’t. The patented SafeStop harness absorbs impact and slows forward movement without whiplash. Multiple shoulder and buckle positions for the straps make a comfortable fit regardless of your child’s size. As he grows, he will appreciate the shallow sides which provide more shoulder room and freedom of motion. He’ll be able to pester big sister in the next seat over with increased ease and satisfaction!

Convertible Car Seat Up To 50 lbs or All in one?

mark — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:06:03 +0000

Most convertible car seats are designed for children from birth (5 lbs minimum) to about 50 lbs. That is enough of a range to carry most children through the toddler years, and meets the suggested limits of most child safety experts. At 50 lbs, children are usually large enough to be kept safe with the vehicle’s safety belt. But many experts also recommend assisting child safety to 80 or 100 lbs with the use of a booster seat, which elevates the child and causes the shoulder strap of the vehicle to be more effective.

Many manufacturers like Britax and Recaro are now making all-in-one car seats that convert from rear facing to forward facing, then convert again to a booster at 50 lbs. So, which is right for you? Here is our suggestion: If you have a newborn, go convertible only, not all-in-one. Booster seats are relatively inexpensive, and can be purchased a few years from now when needed. That car seat might be looking a little haggard by then, anyway, and everyone might be ready for a change. In addition, safety innovation is a constant in the car seat industry. By the time your newborn is old enough to switch to booster mode, new safety data may be available that dictates different design.

If you are searching for a new seat for a growing toddler, then an all-in-one is a better choice. The seat will be the last product you have to purchase for him or her, and will likely still be in good enough condition to get the next child started, or bring a decent price at resale.

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3 of the Highest Safety Rated Convertible Car Seats

mark — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:00:29 +0000

No car seat gets to the market without demonstrating that it meets minimum Federal safety standards in crash testing. But some seat manufacturers raise the bar, and develop their own standards that surpass these. Side impact safety is one area in which recent innovation in materials and design is yielding great results when it comes to child safety. Some harness and tether systems are also better at slowing a child’s forward motion in a collision without causing an abrupt stop that may cause whiplash.

These three seats feature some of the best safety records in the industry.

Britax Roundabout Convertible Car Seat

Excellent Side Impact Protection distributes the impact of any crash from the side, a factor in about 25 % of all accidents. And since most vehicles do not possess the same protections for these events as for front impact, this is vital technology. The shell is designed to guard your child from broken glass, and the keep them within the protective barrier of the car seat. Added to this is a snug, easily adjusted 5-point harness, impact absorbing crumple zones, firm lock down straps that prevent seat movement in an accident, and much more.

Graco MyRide Convertible Car Seat

The Graco MyRide is tested and tough. It secures quickly with any vehicle’s restraint system using the patented LATCH coupling, and your child loads with ease. Three attractive fabric schemes complete the package on the durable Graco MyRide. Both boy and girls will ride in style, sporting the Streamer, Alma, or Edgemont Dots fabric schemes. When you are grateful for the opportunity to give your best to another, consider the Graco MyRide. You and your child will be glad you did!

Evenflo Triumph Convertible Car Seat

The Evenflo Triumph meets or exceeds all federal safety standards, because the standards Evenflo designers set for themselves are even more stringent. Your child will be given the best protection in the industry, no matter what type of collision occurs. The structural integrity of the shell holds when tested at twice the impact federal law demands. Once in the seat, the harness is essential to your child’s safety. The Triumph Advance LX features a one-hand easy-lock clip and patented Tension Right adjustment so the proper hold is always achieved. The foam lining absorbs shock and provides comfort, too. The seat reclines when facing forward or back, so your child can rest or sit up straight. The cushy seat liner is easily removed for washing.

Top 5 Convertible Car seats for 2009

mark — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:13:13 +0000

Convertible car seats are offering parents versatility in their child transportation needs. The same seat can be used for different children of quite different size, or for the same child as they grow from infant through the toddler years, or from toddler-hood to youth age. There are many quality manufacturers of convertible car seats. All seats on the market must meet standard Federal safety requirements, and are rigorously tested. Some on our list excel at safety features, going the extra mile through design innovations to keep children secure. Others provide good safety but really stand out where comfort and convenience counts. Use our guide as a place to start, as you look for just the right seat for your precious cargo.

Safety 1st All in One Convertible Car Seat

Recaro Como Convertible Car Seat

Recaro is a company known for safety. They make seats and harnesses that keep race car drivers secure. That wealth of technical knowledge is focused on the child safety seat business, using their acquired skills to keep children protected in the event that something goes wrong. Superior materials are integrated with high quality safety engineering to create a secure zone for your child in the Recaro Como Convertible car seat.

Evenflo Symphony Convertible Car Seat

The Evenflo Company has kept up with the changing demands of parents for high-quality security coupled with the convenience required in a busy lifestyle. The Evenflo Symphony convertible car seat hits all the right notes with a product that transitions seamlessly from an infant car seat, through the toddler stages, to those in between years when safety experts recommend your child still be in a safety seat up to 100 lbs. You gain the peace of mind at purchase that your child will be secure and comfortable for years to come.

Graco Nautilus Convertible Car Seat

When you first gently place your newborn in the infant car seat, he looks so tiny. You can’t imagine that he’ll ever outgrow it. Fast forward two years and more than twice the size, and your big fella is bursting out of it. You make the decision to purchase the Graco Nautilus 3-In-1 Convertible which will be available for service until he reaches 100 lbs!

Britax Boulevard CS Convertible Car Seat

When planning a trip, many of us base our route on the type of road we prefer travelling. When time is important, we take the highways. When a leisurely drive is on the schedule, we prefer the byways. When we want to drive through the nicest part of town, we opt for the avenue. But in order to keep our child as safe as they can be on any road surface, we take the Boulevard CS from Britax the whole way.

Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite Convertible Car Seat Review

mark — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:53:26 +0000

Safety from A to Z

Fans of the Greek language will recognize Alpha as the first letter of the Greek ALPHAbet (imagine that!), while Omega is the last. If you guessed that Beta is the second letter, give yourself a cookie! But we digress as you munch. The point Safety 1st is making is that the Alpha Omega Elite convertible car seat will cover your child’s safety requirements from infancy until they transition out of car seats altogether.

Alpha Omega Elite Convertible Car Seat

The Alpha Omega Elite installs with a simple snap of the LATCH connector. The arms pivot out of the way to make it easy to load your child from the side. Your infant will ride easy on the padded head rest insert. When the terrible two’s hit, your toddler will appreciate the harness pad and pillow. The Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite features attractive microfiber fabric that is stain resistant. It can be wiped with a damp cloth or removed for hand washing. The color scheme is a neutral gray with plush black accents. It’s not too grown up for an infant, and your young boy or girl won’t complain of it being babyish, either. Looks like they’ve got it covered A to Z!

Alpha Omega Elite Size and Weight Recommendations

Rear facing capacity is 5 lbs to 35 lbs. Forward facing riders are safe from 22 to 50 lbs, while the belt-positioning booster seat will handle your big guy or gal from 40 to 100 lbs. Their security is the goal every step of the way, and solid materials and design make it possible. The sturdy, durable shell shields your child and diverts impact energy, while the EPP foam lining absorbs it. Good side impact protection is provided, too, and the safety harness adjusts for a secure and comfortable fit.

Sunshine Kids Radian XT 80 Convertible Car Seat Review

mark — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:50:24 +0000

Tall, Strong, and Good Looking!

When you know a product is built the right way, you are much more comfortable using it. The Sunshine Kids Radian 80 Convertible car seat has what it takes to give parents great confidence. A tougher than nails steel alloy frame is at the core of this product, providing stability should any type of accident occur. It is lined with energy absorbing foam panels that eliminate shock transfer, and increases the side impact protection of the unit.

Sunshine Kids Radian XT 80 Convertible Car Seat

Convenience comes in the form of a low profile to the car’s seat, which allows the little guy to load himself into the car seat, ready for you to buckle him in. And when you need to take the Radian 80 with you, fold it up into a compact size you can sling over your shoulder using the handy strap.

Radian XT80 Car Seat Size and Weight Recommendations

The Radian 80 is perfect facing the rear for children 5 to 35 lbs. When you turn it around, it has an industry best 80 lb capacity for forward facing children. Manhattan is a tasteful gray and velvety black; Monaco is all tan velveteen; Super Cool sports gray mesh fabric that breathes; and Princess is pink floral velveteen all the way!

Sunshine Kids Radian XT 65 Convertible Car Seat Review

mark — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:50:14 +0000

It’s What You Don’t See that Really Matters

A building is only as strong as its structural framework. Go cheap where you can’t see it, and you risk everything in view. That principle applies to many things, including child car seats. The engineers at Sunshine Kids have solid structural design training and have put it to good use building car seats like the Radian 65 with the strongest “bones” in the industry.

Sunshine Kids Radian XT 65 Car Seat

The steel alloy frame is sturdy, and also designed to absorb the energy of a collision, so that force is not transferred to the occupant. The shell is then lined with cutting edge EPS foam proven to absorb shock, as well. Good side impact protection is also present, although the sides of the Radian 65 do not extend as far forward as others on the market. The harness system offers multiple positions for a customized fit for your blossoming child. The harness system also features the patented Safe-Stop system that slows forward movement on impact to prevent quick-stop whiplash. In all respects, this product meets or surpasses all Federal Safety regulations for car seats.

Radian XT65 Size & Weight Recommendations

The Radian 65 accommodates rear-facing children from 5 to 35 lbs, and growing children may face forward from 20 to 65 lbs. As children grow, the head rest and harness adjusts to give them the room they need. The chair is also designed with shallow sides to allow for more shoulder room for bigger kids. Granite and Champagne are the two color schemes available to choose from. Nothing fancy, just solid structure and reliable security.

Safety 1st All in One Convertible Car Seat Review

mark — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:49:50 +0000

From Infancy to 100 Pounds, Kleenex Not Included.

Safety 1st All in One Convertible Car Seat

Now, companies like Safety 1st are offering products such as the All-in-One Convertible car seat that accommodates them from the first trip out as a newborn to their last ride in a car seat at 100 lbs. But you will have to furnish your own tissues for the tears that may accompany that ride, Mom! Here are the exact recommendations for this unit: Little ones 5 to 35 lbs face the rear; at 22 lbs you may turn them to forward facing until 50 lbs; and converting the All-in-One to a belt positioning booster allows them to ride high from 40 to 100 lbs.

All in One Size and Weight Recommendations

That convenience is only worth it if the seat is safe, and the All-in-One from Safety 1st delivers. Good rear and side impact protection is built in with the reinforced frame that resists transferring the impact to your child, aided by energy absorbing foam. The patented QuickFit harness easily adjusts to optimum tension, snug but not tight. All in all, the All-in-One meets or exceeds all Federal safety standards, so the convenience you enjoy is backed by full confidence in your child’s safety. Tasteful color schemes will look great through the years, too: VSS is gray and maroon, STL is light gray/dark gray and maroon, and SCT is beige and chocolate brown.

Safety 1st Three Phase Convertible Car Seat Review

mark — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:49:30 +0000

A Seat to Grow with Your Child

Safety First lives by its motto, which they made the company name. Keeping children safe in automobile collisions is something worth dedicating a career to. People with that goal populate this company, and every design that goes from the drawing board to prototype to rigorous testing to production exudes that purpose in every detail.

Safety 1st Three Phase Convertible Car Seat

The Alpha Sport 3-Phase convertible car seat flawlessly covers the chapters of your child’s development. The safety standards the company adheres to far surpass Federal standards, and that gives parents the kind of confidence they desire in any child product they use. Infants 5 lbs to 35 lbs are secured in rear-facing mode. The infant head support and body insert is crafted for this phase. Forward facing position is right for kids 22-40 lbs. When the Alpha Sport 3-Phase is converted to a belt-positioning booster chair, your child will ride safe and comfortable to a full 80 lbs. No detail has been ignored that would assist in keeping your child safe. Quality components begin with the rigid shell lined with EPS crash-energy absorbing foam. Adjustable headrest and 5-point safety harness keep your child right where he or she needs to be in the event of an accident.

Safety 1st Three Phase Size and Weight Recommendations

When looking for the right convertible car seat, it is nice to know there is a company out there where parents like you work to insure the safety of their kids and yours. Very attractive style meets safety in the Alpha-Sport 3-Phase convertible car seat with 5 fabric schemes featuring nicely contrasting colors.