Now that Addie is weighing in at 19.5 lbs (yes, you read that right...she's almost 20 lbs at 7.5 months old!) we need to get moving on the next carseat. Her infant carseat only goes up to 22 lbs or 29 inches, whichever comes first. She's also 27 inches tall, so probably within the next month and a bit she'll have surpassed the weight limit and will be close to the height. The whole carseat world...well, it's confusing. And complicated. And there are SO many carseats to choose from. I've been researching online until my eyes are burning from staring at the computer screen, and I'm still not sure what the best way to go is. I'm leaning towards a Britax seat, mostly because they get really high safety ratings, are made in the US, and I know a few people who own them and are very happy with them.
Here's our dilemma: We have an SUV and a Jetta. The carseat will live most of the time in the SUV, so a bigger seat isn't so much a problem there, but if we do need to put it in the Jetta...I'm worried we won't be able to get one that will fit well. I'm compelled to get one of the bigger Britax seats, that supposedly go up to 65 lbs, because the longer a child is restrained in a 5-point harness system the safer they are (it's recommended that kids stay in these seats until they're 6 years old). The smaller Britax seat, which would fit better in the Jetta, only goes to 40 lbs and if Addie is already almost 20 lbs...I'm concerned that one won't even get her to her 3rd birthday.
Also, there is the whole side impact safety thing - some of the seats have added side impact protection, which is more important if the seat sits on either side of the car versus in the middle. Do we pay the extra for the side impact protection? I'm wondering how much more protection these seats offer over the regular 5-point seats, which are also supposed to be really good with side impact safety (did you know that 1 in 4 accidents involving kids are side impact crashes?)
Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone out there has a car seat they love, or if any of you have a Britax model. Would love to get some reviews!
Here's our dilemma: We have an SUV and a Jetta. The carseat will live most of the time in the SUV, so a bigger seat isn't so much a problem there, but if we do need to put it in the Jetta...I'm worried we won't be able to get one that will fit well. I'm compelled to get one of the bigger Britax seats, that supposedly go up to 65 lbs, because the longer a child is restrained in a 5-point harness system the safer they are (it's recommended that kids stay in these seats until they're 6 years old). The smaller Britax seat, which would fit better in the Jetta, only goes to 40 lbs and if Addie is already almost 20 lbs...I'm concerned that one won't even get her to her 3rd birthday.
Also, there is the whole side impact safety thing - some of the seats have added side impact protection, which is more important if the seat sits on either side of the car versus in the middle. Do we pay the extra for the side impact protection? I'm wondering how much more protection these seats offer over the regular 5-point seats, which are also supposed to be really good with side impact safety (did you know that 1 in 4 accidents involving kids are side impact crashes?)
Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone out there has a car seat they love, or if any of you have a Britax model. Would love to get some reviews!