The Clear Winner For Convertible Carseat

When I did research into carseats, everything I read and everyone I talked to seemed to suggest that if cost was not an impediment for you, there was really only one decision point with respect to what convertible car seat one should buy: should you get the Britax Roundabout or the Britax Marathon? Those seemed to be the "top of class" carseats in the convertible carseat world.

I have a Roundabout for my three and a half year old (Jefferson Tan color) that we have had for three years and one for my 14 month old (Onyx color) that we have had for 9 months.

Here are some of my thoughts on why I chose the Britax Roundabout and why I recommend it without reservation.

What Is A Convertible Carseat? Generally, I think most people, myself included, buy an infant carseat for a baby until he is getting close to 20 lbs. The infant carseat (I like Graco Snugride) can be carried outside the car and snapped into a stationary base. Then, once the child gets to be about 20 pounds, you switch to a "convertible" car seat. This is a carseat that sits upright in the car, is not removed from the car, and faces backwards until the child is one and forwards after the child is one. Depending on the convertible carseat, you use that until your child is approximately 40 pounds, at which point you switch to a booster seat or other older child model.

When Do I Need To Get One? I did not bother to get a convertible car seat when I was pregnant. I waited with both children until they were a few months old so that I would have it in time for that 20 pound moment.

Is It Safe? I am no safety expert, but everything I read about the Britax suggested it was top of its category for safety. I think the buckles feel very durable and are relatively easy for me to click securely. My children have not yet learned how to undo them. There is a nice feature for tightening and loosening the straps to accomodate heavier jackets etc. There is a button in the front that you press and pull the straps tighter or loosen them. This feature is convenient and allows the child to be securely seated regardless of the amount of clothing he or she is wearing.

Is It Comfortable? We bought a less expensive Graco convertible carseat for a grandparent car and the fabric and padding on that was definitely inferior to the Britax. My daughter has a tan suede color. My son's is the black Onyx. Both are soft and well padded. The fabric feels like a nice quality unlike the scratch polyester feel of some other seats. The children fit comfortably in them and are certainly fond of napping on the sides of the seat.

Is It Hard To Install? With the LATCH system, this Roundabout is relatively easy to install. With a seatbelt, I think it is very easy to install when facing forward and a bit more challenging to install facing backwards. In comparison to the Graco convertible seat, it is much easier to install.

Is It Hard To Clean? No. Pop the cover in the washing machine. No problem.

Is It Heavy? Yes. I don't enjoy moving it between cars and the few times we have checked it on an airplane, it has been heavy. But I think this is in part why it is sturdy and safe. To be honest, I don't move it much and so it does not matter much to me that it is heavy.

Is It Attractive? I really like the look of the Onyx. You can often get a better price on the Britax seats if you are willing to do a more garish color combination. I thought that gender neutral, solid colors in tan and black (the Onyx) were nice and looked good in my car.

Why the Roundabout and Not the Marathon? The Marathon is much bigger and can accommodate a bigger child, but it also requires a bigger car if you want to put two carseats in the backseat and still have room for someone else to sit in the center. The Marathon would work well if you had a big car -- not so well with a regular sized car. The Marathon will last longer since it goes up to a higher weight limit. In the end, most of my friends have gone with the Roundabout and been happy. It gives you more flexibility to use it in mid-sized cars.