Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry has free admission through the end of January, so JP and I decided it was a good day for a family outing. Landon doesn't get much out of the exhibits yet (although he seemed to like the giant airplanes hanging from the ceiling), so the free price tag meant we didn't have to care if he decided it was time to leave after only 15 minutes. We tried out his umbrella stroller for the first time and he was definitely much more comfortable than in his infant car seat* (which makes me very sad because I love the convenience of that seat and it's stroller frame). The new stroller made it possible for him to sit up and really look around, and we ended up spending a very enjoyable hour and a half wandering amongst the colors, lights, and sounds of the museum.
Driving back home along Lake Shore Drive, we passed a guy in a red convertible with the top down. At first I didn't think anything of it, but then I remembered that we were driving along a partially frozen Lake Michigan, in January, in Chicago. Now I'll admit that the 30 degree temperature felt balmy compared to the below zero weather of the past two weeks, but it's not quite top-down weather. Only in Chicago.
*This means it's time to buy a convertible car seat, and I need recommendations. They all look the same to me- huge, expensive, and far more plush than any chair I'll ever get to sit in.
Temple to Radiate
7 hours ago
I've always wanted to visit that museum, what a great idea for a family outing!
ReplyDeleteHey LL- We got the Evenflo Triumph Advanced from Target...it got very good ratings on Amazon and didn't break the bank (which were my 2 requirements). I just couldn't see spending $200 on a carseat! This one was under $100 and JP looks considerably more comfortable in it than the infant carseat-which, I must admit- I hated! The infant seat was too big for me to lug around- JP has been using the "big boy" seat (as I call it) for almost 2 months now.
ReplyDeleteA lot of times (not all the time), you get what you pay for with convertible seats. Last year we got a Britax Boulevard for our little boy and we have been SO GLAD that we did. My husband was very turned off by the price tag at first but after he played around with it at Babies R Us, he changed his tune. It's so easy to install (safely!) and our son is so comfortable riding in it! The features have more than paid for themselves (we used our tax return... wee!). I recommend this seat to everyone who asks, I just love it that much.
ReplyDeleteOur son just grew out of his Britax Roundabout. Want to buy one or both of them? It's the highest or second highest rated carseat. Ours were not in car accidents. They are slightly different models, but both v easy to install safely and comfy for the kiddo.
ReplyDeleteRayne: I would def. be interested. I couldn't find an email address on your blog, can you email me at lagliv@gmail.com whenever you get a chance?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
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ReplyDeleteSorry - above comment was accidentally under my husband's account so I deleted it. Anyway.........
ReplyDeleteI have the Britax Marathon for my 2 year old - it goes to 65 lbs, so I didn't mind paying the price. I plan on getting the same for my own 6 month old.
My kid outgrew the infant carseat at 3 months . . . he's been in a Britax since then. We LOVE it - it's expensive, but baby's safety is well worth it.
ReplyDeleteI don't get the top-down thing in January in the Midwest. People out here drive around with their windows open in negative 30 degree weather - I still can't figure it out. I thought maybe they were smoking, but I never see a cigarette. Weird.
ReplyDeleteCheck out www.car-seat.org More info than you ever wanted to know about carseats.
ReplyDeleteI just got a Chicco C5 for Bear's birthday in Red. I can't wait to try it out. We bought two new car seats for him to face forward in our cars. One is an Evenflow Titan DLX it is 99.00 at Target http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html?asin=B000PD55NO&colid=34Y9UP5EZ8XEZ&coliid=I1HL57OM0THAVN. We love this seat. It will be a transitional seat that we can use for the next baby too because it goes from 5 pounds to 35 pounds. We also picked up an Evenflo DLX Chase as our secondary seat for my husband's truck http://www.target.com/Evenflo-Chase-Booster-Seat-Brown/dp/B000PD16RS/qid=1201492600/ref=br_1_3/601-6640707-6520918?ie=UTF8&node=3665421&frombrowse=1&rh=p%5F3%3A%2450-%2499%2Ctgt%5F3%3AEvenflo&page=1.
ReplyDeleteGet the Britax Marathon - It is way easier to install than any model we have had, straps are easy to adjust, it is very comfy and the weight limit is high. We move ours from car to car and it really is a snap. My neighbors cheaped out and got a Graco model and they had a heck of a time installing it properly, particularly when rear facing. Since installation is key in carseat safety (and sanity if you switch between cars), I recommend the Britax.
ReplyDeleteBuy online though - I got mine at www.specialtybaby.com for no tax, free shipping, and a significantly better price than Babies R Us.
We have Britax Boulevards. I chose them because they have extra side impact protection and since I have twins, they are both on the sides with no one in the middle. I love them though, easy to use, easy to adjust, very comfy.
ReplyDeleteBritax Marathon here, too. I've got a very big kid, and he's been it from 4 months until now (over 3). We bought it online, and it's been well worth the money.
ReplyDeleteBritax Marathon here. We haven't installed it yet--I'm like you, I LOVE the infant seat in the stroller frame. It's so convenient. After I come back from L.A. next month (I'm taking Sam to see grandma and grandpa--meaning I have to navigate Sam + all our stuff through security MYSELF--eek!) we'll install the new one.
ReplyDeleteWe picked the Marathon because it goes to 65 lbs. There's a place near us that helps with car seat installations, so we'll use that, but I've heard the Britax models are pretty easy to install.
I did a lot of research and bought a Britax Roundabout (on sale for $170 with free shipping). But I've never used another seat -- safety-wise I don't think there's much of a difference, and it's hard to tell what your kid will like. Do you have any friends with convertible seats? Maybe you could take Landon on a test drive.
ReplyDeleteDelurking to say:
ReplyDeleteWe LOVE our Alpha Omega Elite convertible. Easy to install, especially with LATCH, but not terrible with seatbelt. Can be rear-facing up to 35lbs, I believe. He was rear-facing well past his first birthday, until his legs got too long to fit that way anymore. It's larger than an infant seat, obviously, but still small enough to fit properly, rear-facing, the in backseat of my Corolla. The absolute best feature, however, is that you can adjust the height of the shoulder straps without having to unthread them. There's a nifty bar thingy on the back of the seat that you just pull out and up. Easty as pie. It was pricey, apx $170, I think, but we used leftover Babies*R*Us giftcards. This is our superfancy, long trip carseat.
In our second car we have an Eddie Bauer convertible from Sam*s Club. It's basically exactly the same seat, although doesn't have the nifty adjustomatic thingy for the shoulder straps. It was $70 with our club membership.
HUGE LOVE for our Britax Roundabout. It's easy to latch (or seatbelt), easy to clean, and my son has always seemed very comfortable in it. In fact, we had to drive across country (PA to CA) and he rode happily in it for 8 hours of driving each day. And it will fit him until he's 40 pounds! It's FANTASTIC.
ReplyDeleteWe have a Britax Boulevard and LOVE it! Our daughter just hit 30 pounds, which is the Boulevard's limit for rear-facing, so at almost 20 months old, she is now forward facing. Her seat goes to 65 pounds, so we'll be using it for quite some time.
ReplyDeleteIt's an expensive carseat, but it's very easy to install, and she seems very content to ride around in it.
there was just no way that we could afford a Britax...plus, I didn't find any (at the time) that went past 40lbs or so.
ReplyDeleteSo we got this car seat for both my boys:
http://www.target.com/Eddie-Astoria-Enspira-Deluxe-Convertible/dp/B000JJMF50/qid=1201553939/ref=br_1_2/602-6241636-1055055?ie=UTF8&node=3579961&frombrowse=1&rh=p%5F3%3A%24100-%24199&page=1 and since we were buying for both cars, we really needed something safe, yet reasonably priced. They're $120 each. Even better bargain when I know that my kids will be in these seats until they're 7 years old (per Virginia law...not sure what it is in IL or TX).
Obviously Gavin's is an older model, but it's essentially the same. Good for 5-100 lbs, once they're age 4 you pull out the 5-point harness and use the car's seat belt with the belt-positioners. My car is old and lacks the lower anchors for LATCH, so we just use the Mighty Tite and I get all the car seats installed in under two minutes (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2267437).
Good luck with the search! :)
Britax Roundabout-- it is so easy to install and use, and it fits great either rear facing or forward facing in our smallish car.
ReplyDeleteWe also have an Alpha Omega Elite for our slightly bigger car, and it is okay-- a bit harder to install and clunkier.
Britax. they were the first high weight limits. they are the easiest to install. money shouldn't be any object. The marathon is the plain jane variety. Roundabout only if you have a smaller car (it's smaller, but you won't get as much use out of it) and the straps dont' twist and it's a dream to install. Another good seat if you have a lot of room is the Sunshine Kids Radian 65.
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