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Product Rating
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I Like it, BUT.......
by Lucky Dog 2007-07-07
I bought this because it is made by Britax and it was half the price. It came out on top (as far as safety), so I felt good about that.
The pros and cons: It is moderately easy to install. It wasn't really clear in the instructions as to whether or not I should use the latch and the seat belt at the same time. Eventually I ditched the seatbelt and just used the latch. Then I wasn't certain if I should use the tether system on the back. An amazon reviewer gave me a site to check and I found that I should use the tether and the latch system together. The instructions that came with the sear are unclear and difficult.
Another pro...I like the color. Another pro: My baby will never be able to hit or pick at the lever by the crotch, in order to undue herself. I don't think she will be able to undue this, like the some of the other Britax seats. (There have been many, many complaints about some of the newer Britax having this problem.)
Now, the cons. After purchasing this seat, I wondered if the other Britax seats were a tiny bit softer to sit in. They might be just a tad cushier. This Fisher Price seat isn't hard, but it isn't super cushy either, in my opinion. I don't have a lot to compare to, though. I'm not certain if I would want to sit on this seat for a long period of time. As mentioned, it isn't really hard, but I just wish they'd made it a tad softer. Another con....There isn't a lot of cushion and protection on the sides to protect against side impact. Maybe it doesn't matter, if you have side airbags in your car? But, the newer Britax seats (Boulevard) included a cushier, tighter fitting, side impact cushions. It makes a snugger fit and a bit of a cushier ride. (The old Britax models are shaped like this Fisher Price seat, though.) Another con....the head pillow is worthless and just gets in the way. Just take it off! Another con.....My baby sits quite erect in this chair, so her head slups when she sleeps. Again, I don't have much to compare with, so maybe this is normal with all of the seats, but other people don't seem to have a problem with this, when they give a review on the other Britax seats. Maybe I pushed the back of the Fisher Price seat too far back, against the car seat? But, it seems safer this way, and I don't think I have the option of sliding it forward. My baby seems to be sitting quite erect. I wish there was a way to allow her to lean back, just a tad, so her head doesn't drop forward. I compared this Fisher Price with the Britax seats and I am not certain if the Britax is any better. But, many parents that reviewed the Britax said that the head didn't slump forward. I don't know. Another con: The padding on the shoulders doesn't have that attachment so that the chest latch will stay in place, by the chest, like the other Britax. Although, I noticed that this feature on the Britax makes it quite thick and larger. My baby is very thin, so she seems to be able to slide the chest thing down and then wriggle her arms out. Overall, I'd say that this seat is worth the money. It is made by Britax and it does come out on top (by the Highway Association), so I know it is safe. BUT, since my baby is super thin and seems to be able to wriggle her arms out AND since I would like it if her head doesn't slump AND I would like maybe a tad more cushiness, I think I may try the Britax Boulevard instead. It is really hard to bite the bullet and pay double for the Boulevard, just to test it! (Plus there have been complaints about the Britax Boulevard too.) So, if I do it, I will be back to let you know how it goes! Still, as mentioned, I am pretty happy with this seat. If you can't afford the Britax, I'd say that this is still a pretty good seat to purchase.
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