Toddler car seat recommendations

[Neilk]

Our little girl turned one last month and is about to outgrow her rear facing baby seat. We should have gotten a convertible seat that would have lasted longer, but oh well. I don't want to have to buy a third seat, so I'd like to get something that will go from 20lbs to 70+ lbs.

Since Pelicans tend to be good researchers, what front facing toddler seats did you get?

Here's a picture of the little one rolling down the neighbor's driveway.

[jyl]

My research is about 8 years old (my kids are older) but the five-point harness seats seemed best. The "shield" seats were more convenient but some didn't hold the child securely in accidents. I used the Consumer Reports tests, mostly. As a bonus, there were (maybe still are) some models of five-point seats that fit in the 911 rear seat. Also, the harness type seats will usually be usable as boosters when the child gets older.

[Neilk]

Monday AM bump

[dan79brooklyn]

Britax are the best, but don't easily fit in the back of a 911 (if that is the intended car you might have to do some minor mods).

[gr8fl4porsche]

Britax is the way to go if you want quality. Pick up a Britax and any other car seat and you will feel the difference.

We just switched to a bigger seat for my soon to be 4 yr old daughter. Went with the Regent which should be the last one she will ever need. Good through 80lbs. It is very sturdy, has a 5 pt harness and is big and comfy.

It will set you back about $269.

[Palum6o]

I had done some research on these before and chose Britax. We have two Britax seats (both excellent quality): a Roundabout and a Marathon. Of the two, I'd recommend the Marathon, its taller and the latch sockets are attached better to the seat. I bought a Roundabout thinking I'd take it with us when travelling but never took it with us. Like mentioned earlier, they won't fit in the 911 unless you place it on the front seat.

[dan79brooklyn]

For the 911 this is the seating I chose to go with (it's limited)
For the first year we have been using the Britax Companion:

They retail for over $200, but I found a new one on craigslist for $100.
It's very well built and has great inflatable airbags for head protection and support.
Without the base it fits well in the backseat, but the front seat has to be pretty far forward. When he outgrows the companion in a few months he will be in this Romer Prince:

This is the exact same design as the Porsche seat:

These are a bit hard to find, I had to order on ebay uk, the romer was cheap but shipping was a lot. The Porsche seats do show up on ebay from time to time.
I hope he won't mind the forward facing seat as it doesn't look as comfortable as the rear facing seats which allow for a lot more recline....

Both the Romer and the Porsche seat are built by Britax in Europe

[livi]

There are plenty of studies showing that children are much safer travelling in a rear facing seat up till the age of 3-4 years! Significantly less risk for serious outcome including death.

[HardDrive]

I have a Porsche seat for my Boxster. They retail for some insane amount of money, so if you are going that route, watch E-bay and craigslist.

[HardDrive]

Oh yeah.....CUTE BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ErVikingo]

We use Britax (two of them). They are tough and also adjustable. Not cheap but "if you have a $2 head you get a $2 helmet..."

We decided to turn the seats around not only based on age but on weight (over 20 lbs) and ability to hold themselves up.

[stomachmonkey]

We used Britax.

The kind that went from rear facing to front facing.

20-70 lbs. is a pretty big range.

Don't think I've seen one cover a range that large.