Cheap Car Seats for sale!

   

Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat Granite
From Britax USA

Keep little ones safe and comfortable during trips with this quality car seat that can be adjusted to two positions (rear- and forward-facing) depending on your child's development. Features: Rear-facing position holds up to 33 pounds; forward-facing holds up to 65 pounds. Patented Versa-Tether. Comfortably fits larger, older children. Removable, washable fabric cover. Patented HUGS system. Belly pad for comfort and protection. Built-in lock-offs. Sculpted base for a perfect fit. Flexible buckle LATCH system. Comfort foam and EPS protective foam. Tangle-free polyester 5-point harness. Belt holders keep belts aside for boarding. One hand recline adjustment. Recommended Ages: Birth - 3 Years.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19867 in Baby Product
• Brand: Britax USA
• Model: E9L0627
• Dimensions: 22.00 pounds

Britax International has been manufacturing innovative, industry-leading child products for over three decades. Their dedication to safety, comfort, and convenience is certainly apparent in this convertible car seat. Its ample attributes—both for parents and baby—and amazing attention to safety standards, make the Marathon a true front runner.

Safety first is a good rule of thumb, and one that Britax certainly heeds. The Marathon offers features you might find on many other car seats, such as convertibility, a five-point harness, and the LATCH system. But Britax enhanced and then went above and beyond the norm when creating the Marathon.

The Marathon can be easily rear-facing installed with today’s LATCH system.

Their five-point harness system is made with strong polyester webbing, fits snugly over baby’s shoulders, collarbone and hips to provide a secure fit, and the straps are designed to remain tangle free. There are also four adjustable height positions so the seat grows with baby. A patented "floating" HUGS™ (Harness Ultra Guard) system better distributes the webbing loads, reducing head movement and minimizing harness irritation on baby’s neck in case of an impact. HUGS also reduces the chance of improperly positioning the chest clip.

Located near a vehicle's seatbelts, factory installed anchor points provide a secure and easy LATCH connection. In conjunction with this push-button release system, the Marathon also offers Britax’s Versa-Tether®, an anchor aid that provides additional security in the forward facing position for children weighing more than 50 lbs. The Versa-Tether® fastens the top of the car seat to factory installed automobile anchor points, minimizing the possibility of a head injury.

The Marathon can also be safely used in cars without the LATCH system.

Need more? The Marathon provides built-in lock-off clips that keep the seat tightly in place when using only traditional seatbelts at installation. A simple handle pull allows the car seat base to be easily reclined when rear-facing. A smooth ride is guaranteed for baby through the comfy padding and soft fabric cover, which is stain resistant, removable, and washable. The Marathon is Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213 compliant, making it approved for airplane use as well.

It should be noted that the Marathon is larger (28"H x 19.5"W x 25"D) than most car seats, and can be a tricky fit, especially in the rear facing position in a smaller car. Allow for 31" of backseat space to properly accommodate this model. With its bigger size this car seat is also heavier than many. Completely empty the Marathon weighs nearly 18 pounds. But these same features are what allow the car seat to have a higher weight capacity and therefore last well into childhood.

A simple handle pull allows the car seat base to be reclined when rear-facing.

Since car seats are mandated by law, it’s nice to know that Britax is at least making the choice simple for you. The Marathon is easy to install, super comfortable for baby, available in a wide range of colors and patterns, and, most importantly, safe!

Comparing Britax Car Seats
If you’re debating between the Britax Marathon and the Britax Roundabout, think of the latter as the little sibling. They are identical in comfort and convenience features, but the Marathon has a higher weight maximum, and is therefore larger than the Roundabout.
The Britax Decathlon is also similar to the Marathon, but offers two features you might need. First, the Decathlon offers additional padding for newborns with an infant positioning system, giving more peace of mind to first time parents. Second, the Decathlon offers an adjustable three-position crotch strap, which makes the seat more comfortable for toddlers consistently at the top of their height percentage.

The legendary Britax Marathon convertible car seat is renowned for safety, comfort and convenience and for the ability to keep your child in a harnessed child restraint up to 65 pounds. Unique features including a sculpted base, push button release LATCH system with patented Versa-Tether, and built-in vehicle belt lock-offs, make a tight installation in your vehicle quick and simple. The tangle-free polyester 5-point harness helps to effortlessly secure your child every day. The Marathon also offers a patented HUGS system, belly pad, and a plush & washable seat cover for that ultimate comfort experience for children rear-facing from 5 to 33 pounds or children forward-facing from 1 year old and 20 to 65 pounds.

Potential Safety Concern for Rear-Facing Installation
Before identifying a potential problem with this carseat, let me say at the outset that we purchased a Britax Marathon for our toddler two years ago, and it is, hands down, the best car seat I have ever owned. Now that my eight month old is outgrowing her infant seat, we are most likely going to purchase another a Britax for her. As a busy mom, I appreciate that I have never had to fight with twisted straps or straps that snag and won't tighten the way they should!

That being said, I think it is important to be aware that Consumer Reports, a non-profit organization which tests and rates consumer products, noted in a recent test of this carseat that, when the carseat was installed in the rear-facing position and attached with the LATCH system, the seat tilted back on impact more than the federal standard allows. (This was not a problem with the Roundabout model). To avoid potential injuries from this problem, Consumer Reports recommends installing this carseat with the car's safety belt instead of the LATCH system.

Obviously, if you are purchasing this car seat for a toddler and will be installing it in the forward-facing position, this is not a concern. However, if you are planning on installing it in the rear-facing position, I believe this is something parents should be aware of.

Wish they made them in my size
We have 2 car seats. An Evenflo Triumph 5 in a 2003 Honda Accord and the Britax Marathon in a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport. We went the "economic" route first and bought the Evenflo ... we find that it's a cumbersome piece of equipment (my wife hates it). Then we bought the Britax ... wow ... LOVE it! I know the Britax is considerably more money, but if you can afford it, I would recommend spending the extra cash. It's a nice seat. For long trips, we generally drive the Honda and switch the seats for his comfort and our convenience.

Pros:
- Getting our son in and out is very, very easy
- He can comfortably sleep in this seat without any head bobbing
- Easy installation; of course the LATCH system is nice in general (Honda has it the Cherokee doesn't) but Britax takes it to another level (at least compared to Graco and Evenflo) with seatbelt-like push button releases so you don't have to dig your fingers in the crack of the seat trying to unhook to straps
- The back of the seat is open so you can slide the belts through easily

Cons:
- A little bulky. This car seat is in the Cherokee and if I'm driving, I have to keep the driver's seat scooched forward a little so our son has enough leg room (I'm 6'). My wife doesn't really have this problem (she's 5'7"). However, the Cherokee is a relatively snug SUV in general, so I'm not sure this is a big issue. We do not have this problem when the seat is in the Honda.

In short, the additional $130 makes a very small part of your life so much easier. We'll buy a second when our baby outgrows his Graco ... if we have the extra cash :)

DANGER - Toddlers can loosen shoulder straps
My toddler son can easily reach down, lift the Velcro fabric patch, lift the metal release clamp and loosen the straps on his car seat. This happened the first time when I was driving in the HOV lanes during morning rush hour. It was quite a shock, and created a very dangerous situation. Fortunately, I did not have an accident, as my child would surely have been seriously injured.

We own the Wizard car seat, but the Britax Boulevard (the replacement for the Wizard) and the Marathon seats all use this faulty shoulder strap system. Many other parents of toddlers have reported the same problem with these seats, and there is at least one other specific complaint re the Marathon on this comment page.

We are loyal owners of Britax car seats (we own one Roundabout and two Wizard car seats), but I am appalled with the design of this strapping system and outraged by Britax's response to my complaint.

Britax first denied this was a design flaw and informed me that I need to teach my son the meaning of the word "no". Then they told me that I should use a safety pin to secure the fabric cover. Other parents posting on BabiesRUs and Babycenter.com have reported this same response to their complaints.

I also filed a written complaint with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and with BabiesRUs. Since Britax is not voluntarily responding to this dangerous situation, parents must take action. Take a look at the placement of the metal clamp on the Blvd., Marathon or Wizard seats. If you have had a problem with your child pulling up the clamp and loosening the straps, or if you just agree that this situation is dangerous, first file a complaint with the NHTSA at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/, then post your comments on this web site. Of note, the NHTSA ratings give all three seats the top A rating for "ease of use" for securing the child. I agree the seats are easy to use; however, they are so easy to use they are DANGEROUS.

   

Britax Monarch Booster Car Seat Rockport
From Britax USA

German-designed and engineered to meet the highest safety standards, the Britax Monarch Belt-Positioning Booster was developed to grow with your child. It features True Side Impact Protection and innovative comfort features. Deep head and side wings cocoon the child's head, shoulders and entire torso in the event of a crash, spreading the force over a larger area reducing risk of serious injury. The strong sturdy shell is made to prevent the car from invading the seating area, further protecting the child.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18507 in Baby Product
• Color: Rockport
• Brand: Britax USA
• Model: E9053L3
• Released on: 2007-10-15
• Dimensions: 13.00" h x 18.00" w x 20.00" l, 25.00 pounds

The Britax Monarch belt-positioning booster is a revolution in child safety. Designed to grow with your child, this seat boasts True Side Impact Protection and innovative comfort features. Deep head and side wings cocoon the child's head, shoulders and entire torso in the event of a crash, spreading the force over a larger area reducing risk of serious injury. The shell is made to prevent the car from invading the seating area, further protecting the child.

Excellent Booster
I recently purchased this booster for my 5 1/2 year old son who is around 50 pounds and 48 inches tall. I did a ton of research before deciding on this one. I love the Britax brand and have used many of their seats for my three kids, currently 5 1/2, 3, and 9 months old. My 5 year old was in a Roundabout as a baby and toddler and my two girls currently both ride in a Marathon. I looked for a new seat for him after seeing the youtube video (which I know so many parents saw) about the little boy who was killed in his booster seat when the seat belt unlatched. Previously he was riding in a Graco Turbo Booster in my husband's car and the Britax Bodyguard in my car. I felt that the Bodyguard was safe, but it was a pain to use (due to the latches) and my son had trouble buckling himself. When I saw the Monarch, I knew it was the best solution for him. It is incredibly plush and comfy for him, and I love that side wings for side impact protection go all the way up the seat protecting his entire torso, unlike the Bodyguard. The head rest is also wonderful and he loves that he can lean his head to rest. I also like that the back rest detaches from the base so that when he is much older he can just use the base if need be. I plan to keep him in this booster as long as possible, and that will be easy since it goes up to 100 pounds. He has no trouble buckling himself, and although I check every time to make sure he did it right, he almost always is perfectly buckled in. I thought about buying the Britax Regent because it has a five point harness, but it is so huge and took up too much room in the back of my minivan. I would not have been able to put a passenger in the middle seat. And since my son is too heavy to use the latch system anyway, we would have been using the seatbelt for the Regent anyway. The Monarch has been a great solution and I feel very confident that all three of my kids are very safe in the car.

The King of Booster Seats
Safe, comfortable, and fashionable. What else can you ask for? We bought a Britax Parkway booster for our oldest and decided to buy the Monarch for our youngest. Both are excellent but the Monarch definitely is an upgrade from the Parkway. The fact that our sons love the Britax booster seat and find them comfortable, the higher prices paid for them are worth it!! You will not be disappointed with this choice!!!!

Britax Monarch Booster - not well thought out
This is my 4th britax product. The other 3 were easy to use, tho I had some installation issues with the Wizard, and of course the inadequate cupholders on the parkway booster.

The Monarch seems well built, comfy and safe but the armrests are driving me out of my MIND. According to the instructions, the belt is supposed to go under the the armrests, on both sides. The armrests are very low - way to low to actually be used as armrests in fact. It's necessary to pull the strap way out - hook the seatbelt - then carefully work the seatbelt up under both armrests. My 5 year old can no longer buckle herself in safely, tho of course she wants to try, especially if we are in the carpool line with about 50 other cars behind us waiting to retrieve their own kids.
Perhaps, if I drove a taller vehicle it might not be as difficult for me to do. Currently, I'm driving a BMW sport wagon and am having a hard time bending way over and buckling her in.

I am aware that many 5 year olds can and should remain in a traditional carseat with a 5 point harness but my daughter is very tall for her age so this seemed the safest alternative.

The cupholders on this model are still too shallow to be effective, plus they are pressing into the seat of the car. I wonder if they will snap off in time. They do not sit level in this car, so they are useless for drinks. My dd uses them for crayons, which end up scattered all over the back seat.

The only improved function of this seat over the parkway is that the seat belt retracts very freely thru the shoulder bracket, whereas I felt sometimes that the parkway restricted the seatbelt movement a little too much.

Despite my usual love of Britax products, I would not recommend this booster. Stick with the Parkway, for children that meet the weight/height limits and have the ability to sit safely and keep the straps in position.

   

Avoiding The 15 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make: A Pediatrician'S Perspective
By John J. Mangoni M.D.

Author John Mangoni, M.D., tells parents the short and skinny on the nuts and bolts to parenting in the modern world. He provides guidelines, recommendations and tells it like it is on a wide range of topics. From the formula to good health to issues concerning the overly active and overly pampered child to combating childhood incidences of obesity, here is the template to good parenting. Refreshingly candid and at times brutally honest, this book examines the child-parent relationship with the goal to help good parents be aware of issues and help prevent difficulties affecting today's children.

About the Author
A graduate of the University of Illinois Medical School in Chicago, John Mangoni, M.D. is board-certified in pediatrics and has been involved in his specialty for over thirty years. Currently in private practice, he has served as Chairman of Pediatrics and is on active staff at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, California. As a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, Dr. Mangoni has been an on-camera spokesperson for Abbott Laboratories and appeared on ABC and CBS network television as a medical spokesperson. Featured in many newspaper articles including the Los Angeles Times and Pasadena Star-News as well as radio segments on various timely pediatric topics, Dr. Mangoni was recently presented an award by the city of Pasadena for outstanding immunization services and his commitment to keeping children healthy. The American Cancer Society has given Dr. Mangoni a certificate of appreciation for notable service in the crusade to conquer cancer.

The best book for parents or future parents!
I really enjoyed this book and found it most informative. I really think this book would help parents and future parents wishing to avoid parenting mistakes. I think preventing a mistake is paramount over trying to solve one. Even if your kids are older, I found this book very helpful. I even bought a copy for my dad!

A GREAT BOOK FOR HAVING HAPPY, HEALTHY CHILDREN!!
I am so glad to have found this book that was recommended by a number of close friends. This concise book is easy to read and understand. Having this book makes me suddenly feel less stressful and more confident while trying to raise my children. I loved the section on what to feed my kids to avoid childhood obesity. This one gets an A+!

What a great book! - a TEENAGERS perspective!
I just came back from my aunt's ranch and she was
reading a very interesting book. It was called
Avoiding the 15 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make, and
when she wasn't reading it, I was!
It's a fascinating book about how to parent children
correctly and I could see my OWN parent's mistakes
throughout this entire book. My brother Shawn started
reading it whenever my aunt and I were working and we
couldn't pry it out of his hands. It seemed to be a tug
of war between the three of us the entire weekend!
Oh how I longed to enfold this book amongst my peers
who see absolutely no guidance upon these expert
issues! I found these issues to be amongst the most
grievous a parent can employ because it comes from the
experience of the doctor who has suffered through such
radical behavior.
I found this book to be relevant to any and all
situations that I have encountered as a teenager, and
emplore any of my collegues to hear the words of Dr.
Mangoni as he has brought these current issues into
perspective.
I come to see the beauty within my parents loving care
for me as I finish this book, and am honored that one
doctor would conceive of returning us all to our
"proper form" as I am coming into adulthood myself.
I come to see the beauty of existance through Dr.
Mangoni's presence as I become ensconced within his
book, and hope that others will see the wonders of
life that are given to us all, through the
appreciation of the heart.
Thank you Dr. Mangoni. Its been a real pleasure to
read your book.

Christina Morgan

   

Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat - Wisconsin Badgers, Red Cover
From Britax

The Marathon is Britax's best selling car seat and it is renowned for its ability to keep your child in a harnessed restraint up to 65 pounds. Unique features including a premium push-button LATCH connectors with patented Versa-Tether, a sculpted base, and built-in vehicle belt lock-offs, make a tight installation in your vehicle quick and simple. The tangle-free polyester 5-point harness helps to effortlessly secure your child every day. The Marathon also offers a patented HUGS system for children rear-facing from 5 to 33 pounds or children forward-facing from 1 year old and 20 to 65 pounds.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59818 in Baby Product
• Color: University of Wisconsin Badgers
• Brand: Britax USA
• Dimensions: 27.50" h x 19.50" w x 18.50" l, 16.50 pounds

Britax Marathon Best of the Best!
With so many seats to choose out there its no wonder that it can become so confusing. Infant car seats, convertibles and finally the boosters. 20lb's, 40lb's 65lb's Yikes! What's a mother to do?
Well I'll tell you what I did! I did my research and found that the Britax Marathon gave me more value and safety for my buck than any other car seat on the market. The Marathon is a Convertible Child Seat with LATCH that can be used rear facing for children 5 to 33 pounds and forward facing up to 65 pounds. The child's height should be between 18 and 49 inches. Not to mention that your little ones are secured by a five point harness that displaces the energy evenly across their precious little bodies. The Marathon with its patented lock-off, versa-tether and latch belt make this the easiest and most secure seat to install. Even though I was not thrilled about the color choices for my little girl online. I chose the Ashley floral pattern SO CUTE!!! and found the best price of $219.99 offered at travelingtikes.com including shipping. Do yourself's a favor and invest in your child's safety. I know that when I get behind the wheel of my car that I feel more confident now knowing that I have a Britax, than when we had our first infant car seat. Happy travels!

P.S. If you would like more information about the Britax Marathon. Visit Britax directly at www.
childseat.com.

Great!
We purchased this car seat because of its known quality. So far it is great and I have to say i was worried about the material but my daughter loved it as soon as she sat in it. We even were thinking about taking it off and putting it in her crib so that she would sleep better.

An Auburn Indulgence
As the wife of an Auburn grad, I've come to find that Auburn fans generally take their team spirit to the limit and my husband's need of an Auburn car seat for our son is a true example. The car seat is the same as any Britax Marathon in style and function (Amazingly great carseat by the way.)
The Navy blue cover has the Auburn "AU" symbol with the word "Tigers" underneath, both in Auburn orange. I, personally, would have liked an Aubie face on there to add some kid appeal but overall, very nice. All my husband's college friends have been very impressed with it.

   

Maxi-Cosi Priori Convertible Car Seat, Gipsy
From Maxi-Cosi

The Maxi-Cosi Priori Convertible Car Seat features the Independent Recline System, which easily adjusts the seat to four positions while the child is in the seat. Harness holders keep straps out of the way, vehicle seat belt locks ease installation, and a removable, plush seat pad keeps children comfortable on long rides. Like the Mico Infant Car Seat, the Priori features energy absorbing EPP foam. The Priori Convertible Car Seat is appropriate for children 5 to 35 lbs. and 19" to 36" in height (rear-facing, for newborns to approximately one year old), and 22 to 40 lbs. and 34" to 43" in height (forward-facing, for children approximately one to four years old.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6226 in Baby Product
• Color: Gipsy
• Brand: Maxi-Cosi
• Model: 22-476GIP
• Released on: 2009-02-01
• Dimensions: 21.00" h x 16.00" w x 26.00" l, 16.00 pounds

The Maxi-Cosi Priori convertible car seat grows with your child from infant to toddler mode. It offers European style while providing the ultimate in comfortable and secure transportation. This car seat has 5 harness heights to grow with your child and dual harness holders to hold the harnesses out of the way while getting the child in and out of the seat. It also has LATCH for ease of installation. Enter the secure world of Maxi-Cosi.

WONDERFUL CAR SEAT... BEST ON MARKET!
I absolutly love this car seat. My son seems very comfortable and I love how easily it reclines, as we take many a trip... and he falls asleep, we just recline it and his little head doesn't fall forward! I love the material, so soft and everything easily washes right off. Easy to buckle him in it and as for "Hard to install" I have 2 boys now who have gone through car seats (many) and I've never ever came across a car seat that wasn't "Hard to install!" They're all hard to get in that first time.. but this one was just fine, and very safe! I can't tell you how much i love it, and it looks so cute in our red truck! :P
I've gotten so many compliments on it and I sent in a picture in the photo section! All-in-all obviously I think it's a great buy and worth every penny!

Fabulous car seat
We LOVE this car seat. We bought the infant seat and loved that one as well. This chair fits in United's small seats on flights, as well as our older Euro cars. We live in Europe and had a lot of seats to choose from, US and European. This seat is far and away the best buy and wonderful quality. Our son gets to see out the windows of the car, he is comfortable for our long flights back to the states. The padding on the seat is very comfortable. The one glitch is that it does not work with most carseat travel systems for getting through the airport. I often have to travel without my husband. So I bought a small travel folding luggage cart, like people use for other carry on luggage and strapped it on. That worked so well, when we landed after an 11 hour flight, my son was still asleep. I put the chair on the cart, secured the straps and wheeled him off the plane and through customs. Good thing as the stroller I gate checked did not arrive, yet again. We are now buying a second one for my husbands car, after looking again at all the options we could not be happier!

Nice but...
We originally purchased the Britax Marathon but sadly it was way to big to rear face in our compact car. After going back and for the between weather to buy the Priori or another smaller Britax we decided to go with the Priori because of it's fun colors and I guess just to try something new. Now I am pretty much wishing we had gone with the Britax.
The Priori is nice and has the latch system which is wonderful but the safety harness twists easily, the crotch pad is tiny and just gets in the way, the buckle is not always easy to latch and getting the cover off to wash is a real pain... I pretty much had to take the whole darn thing apart.
On the upside it is a great size for compact cars, the color variety is fun and it has a cup holder to set the sippy cup in. All and all though I wish we had just gone with the smaller Britax (Roundabout or Diplomat).

   

Graco High Back TurboBooster Car Seat, Samantha
From Graco Baby

With new cool and sporty features, any child is sure to feel great riding around in the TurboBooster® youth booster seat. The easy-to-adjust headrest features EPS energy absorbing foam, and the belt positioners, intuitive and easy to use, aid in proper seat belt positioning. Kids are sure to love the padded arm rests and the hide-away cup holders on either side of the seat - perfect for storing drinks, snacks, and toys for those long rides. The TurboBooster® youth booster seat is for children from 3 to 10 years old and 30 to 100 lbs.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22406 in Baby Product
• Brand: Graco
• Model: 8496SAM
• Released on: 2007-10-08
• Dimensions: 26.50" h x 16.50" w x 15.00" l, 8.21 pounds

With cool, sporty features, any child is sure to feel great riding around in the TurboBooster¿. The easy-to-adjust headrest features EPS energy absorbing foam, and the belt positioners, intuitive and easy to use, aid in proper seat belt positioning. Kids are sure to love the padded arm rests and the hide-away cup holders on either side of the seat - perfect for storing drinks, snacks, and toys for those long rides. The TurboBooster¿ youth booster seat is for children from 3 to 10 years old and 30 to 100 lbs. In Samantha.

pretty nice
My daughter, 5, really likes this booster seat. she says it is very comfortable. The only things I don't like about it, is that the back section and the seat section come apart too easily and it is quite tricky to get them back together. Also the pull out cup holders could be a bit larger for the larger sippee cups that are made today. When she falls asleep, her head rolls forward, so there is not enough side support for the head when sleeping. I really like the slot in the head section for the seat belt. That keeps it in place very nicely.

I love this seat nearly as much as my daughter
Great seat. Ever done something stupid, like drop your kids off at the grandparents...and forget to leave the carseat? That's how we ended up getting this little beauty. My daughter adores it. Convenient little drink holders bc even a sippy cup spills. She can take a nap without doing the painful headbob that makes me wince when I see it. She loves the pink color and the independance of buckling herself in. Easy to put in any car...not even daddy could screw this one up. I highly recommend this to anyone.

Does the job
We got this for our 4 year old daughter. She is on the short side but meets the weight requirement - she's 35 pounds. It fits her just fine and she says it is comfortable. She likes to use a pillow against the sides for sleeping, and she likes the pull out cupholders. They fit her drink cups just fine.

Easy to put in (ours is in a slight recline in a Honda Civic Hybrid). It does not rock much when she climbs in, and we just pull the shoulder belt across. It is easier, however, to buckle her in when reaching across from the other side of the car rather than leaning over her.

I like the fact that when she is bigger, we can take the back off and just use the base as a booster.

Part of the reason we picked this model is because it was tested and rated highly by Consumer Reports, and got B or better ratings by NHTSA

   

Cosco High Back Booster Car Seat
From Dorel Juvenile Group

This high-back booster car seat, designed for children 22 to 80 lbs., features shoulder belt guides and a removable cup holder.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2143 in Baby Product
• Brand: Cosco
• Model: 22-209WAL
• Dimensions: 16.40" h x 18.40" w x 30.00" l, 11.80 pounds

Product Reviews

Finding a suitable child restraint system when baby outgrows his infant car seat is much easier with the Cosco high back booster car seat. Although car seat laws vary from state to state, the general trend has been to raise age and weight minimums. Many states have already mandated that children should remain in a booster seat until age 8 and 80 pounds.

Cosco high back booster seat is a car seat that grows with your child.

One of the most economical car seats on the market from a trusted brand dedicated to safety and value, the high back booster seat provides comfort and protection for your most precious cargo.

For toddlers from 22 to 40 pounds and meeting the age requirement to upgrade from an infant seat, the forward-facing restraint system employs an internal five-point harness with a two-piece chest clip to keep your child secure. The seat is equipped with the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system for cars that are capable of using this feature, but it also allows parents to use the automobile seatbelts. It has two harness heights for a better fit, although this does require rethreading.

When the top harness guides are below the child's shoulders and the child weighs over 40 pounds, remove the harness and convert the seat into a belt-positioning booster. The two belt positioning guides will ensure a snug fit. The maximum weight for the belt-position booster seat is 80 pounds.

The booster seat is wide and roomy. The padded area around the head gives children space to doze in the back seat. The removable cup holder clips onto the side of the car seat and comes in handy for longer trips. It is reachable by the child, which is sometimes overlooked by other car seat makers. The padding is comfortable and is fully removable. The manufacturer recommends washing it in warm, sudsy water. The plaid isn't haute couture, but this car seat is more focused on safety and value, and it meets all expectations. --Scott Teal

Combination high back/belt positioning booster to secure your child from 22-80 pounds.

Good seat for toddlers
This is a solid seat that will fit well in most compact cars.

I ended up sending this back due to the fact that while the product description says it is for 22lbs and up, the box adds a minimum height requirement (36 inches) that I did not see on Amazon. Quite possibly it's listed somewhere and I missed the line. Just something to be aware of.

Comfortable and easy to use
The top clip is not difficult for me to use but my daughter hasn't figured it out yet - which is the way I want it. I've also used it as a booster and I was satisfied with the way the buckle looped through and stayed in place. I also like the strap on the bottom that allows me to add a little slack or tighten it a little. I think that's a really important feature - especially in this season when my kid may be wearing a jacket one day and none the next and also if you use the car seat for different kids that are similar but not exactly the same size. I have another car seat without that and I find that sometimes I can't get it closed because it's too tight and sometimes there's too much slack.

Try before you buy
I hate to say it - but this is the seat that has officially turned me into a Britax snob. The only car seats I had experience with prior to trying this one were the Graco baby bucket and the Britax Roundabout and Marathon. I had heard now and then the frightening statistic that so-and-so percentage of car seats are installed incorrectly and I couldn't understand how that could be - how hard is it to install a car seat properly? Turns out, it depends on the car seat.

We were recently visiting family back east and my nephew has this particular car seat - one in my father's car, one in my brother's car. One on occasion I was going to go somewhere with my dad and rather than go in our car or move our car seat to his car, we opted to use my nephew's seat for my son. However, it turned out the straps were on the lowest setting which was too low for either of the boys so I took the car seat out to adjust the straps and... quickly came to regret not simply moving our own car seat to my dad's car.

This seat is a royal pain in the behind to install properly. In theory, it goes in just like a Britax - clip the two LATCH hooks on either side, clip the third hook at the top, put your weight in and pull all the straps tight. However, the way the lower strap went through this seat, I just could not get it tight to my satisfaction - the front would wiggle easily no matter what I did. And the top hook is just pure evil by design - it is very, very complicated to tighten.

I looked in the manual, I looked on line, I called a friend who I remembered had one of these seats as an "extra." The best I could figure out, this model is sold with two different types of top anchor strap. One has a normal seeming strap that you just pull to tighten... and you lift up on the tightening portion of the strap to loosen. The other has this insanely convoluted piece of metal with several slits in it for the strap to pass through and wrap back and forth and under and around itself. With the latter, you pretty much need to guess how long or short to make the strap BEFORE you install the seat, because adjusting it on the fly is difficult if not impossible.

I checked at Target the other day and the seat they are selling there had the "easier" style of top anchor tightener but I don't know if they are all like that now. The manual we had for the seat listed both types. Be sure when you buy that the top strap has the easier type of adjuster.

Beyond the top fastener issue, though, like I said, I found it hard to get the bottom strap just right. We had to have a complicated system of towels under the seat in my dad's car to help it sit in there solid - aside from the positioning aspect of things this seat has two raw plastic protrusions on the bottom which have begun to slice in the seat in my dad's car (Hyundai Sonata)

One one occasion we moved my nephew's car seat to our rental car (Saturn Aura) to take both boys somewhere and we had no better luck with ease of installation. It still took a lot of sweating, straining, and swearing to get it in there.

With our Britax seats, I have never had a problem in any vehicle with making the car seats fit, and I can have them removed and re-installed in less than 5 minutes. The Cosco seat drove me crazy. I will give this seat 3 stars because it is affordable and is supposed to meet safety requirements but I would not buy it without making very sure it fits in YOUR car and that is has the easier to use top strap attachment. I would also not suggest it if there is much chance of your having to move the seat frequently. And protect you seats with something if you don't want them getting torn up!

   

Corbeau 20801 TRS Black Cloth Game Chair
From Corbeau

Corbeau 20801 Chair Features: -Black Cloth -Ergonomic design -High-density injection molded foam -Integrated shoulder -Kidney and thigh support -Adjustable seat -Will fit up to a 36" waist -Price includes: (1) Corbeau Chairseat and (1) Game Base -Also available: Optional Office Chair Base and Seat Protection Covers -Dimensions: 36" H x 20.5" W x 22.5" D -Wide version: 36" H x 22.5" W x 22.5" D Game Chair Attachment Features: -Black -Easy Installation -Sturdy Base -Compatible with any of Corbeau's wide range of seats Office Chair Attachment Features: -Black -Height adjustable hydraulic base -Molded armrests -Compatible with any of Corbeau's wide range of seats The heavily padded TRS provides extreme comfort and support for drivers of all kinds.

awesome seats for street car
Great seats for a street car, very comfortable, very supportive, great on long drives and hard cornering. NOT for fat or very wide hipped people.

   

Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
From Dorel Juvenile Group

This Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 is the only car seat you will ever need. This car seat can be used as a rear facing infant seat 5 to 35 pounds, a harnessed booster front facing 22-40 pounds and belt positioning booster 40-100 pounds. With EPP foam in the headrest, infant head support, adjustable head pillow, side bolster pillow, pivoting and padded armrests and 5 point harness with up front harness adjustment, your child will be provided with comfort, support and security. This car seat is LATCH equipped for easy installation.

Looks great but not made to fit a baby
First let me say that I work with children, so I do know something about fitting car seats. We wanted to get our newborn a really nice car seat and, since I like Eddie Bauer stuff this seemed great. I also really like the idea that it can stay rear facing for so long and is the only car seat that one ever needs, or so I thought. I still really hope that it will work when he is older and can face forward.

Cons (fitting in car): (1) In the rear facing position it is huge. It just fit into my Subaru if the front seats were all the way forward (good thing I am short). Even in my parent's Envoy the front seats were uncomfortably far forward. It was tempting to put it behind the passenger seat but the center is safest. So only get this as a rear facing seat if you have a huge vehicle. (2) In theory it is not hard to install but had one major design problem: In order to tighten the seat belt or LATCH belt you have to pull back the seat cover and then once the car seat is in place it takes very small, dexterous fingers to get it back on again. This also makes the cover very hard to remove for washing. (3) In order for the rear facing seat to be at the recommended angle the base required a lot of padding. The instructions recommended towels but I ended up with four folded towels which made it difficult to tighten and I still don't think that the line is quite level with the ground (our other car seat needed one small towel). I suspect that many people will end up the seat at the wrong angle because of this.

Cons (fitting to baby): (1) The crotch strap is very short so the buckle is between his legs instead of in front of his pubic bone and pushes into his thighs. (2) The infant insert only has one set of holes for the shoulder straps. He actually fit it quite well when he came home from the hospital (5lb 2oz) but had out grown it by the time he was a normal newborn size even though he could still have used the support. There is no recommendation as to when to use the insert even though if you try to use it with a larger infant it makes it almost impossible to tighten the harness enough which could put children at risk. (3) The seat has a lot of padding which seems good but it is not in the right places. Imagine sitting with a big pillow behind your lower back and another behind your head but nothing behind your shoulders or upper back. I have tried every adjustment that I can find but if the shoulder straps are in the right place (level with the shoulders) and the harness tight enough (one finger fits underneath) that is how my baby looks. I even tried calling the 1-800 number for suggestions but was told that all babies are shaped differently and some just fit better in some car seats better than others (they did not have any suggestions as to what I could try that might help).

Pros: I still hope that the seat will work when my child is old enough to be front facing.

Great Car Seat
I had absolutely no problems installing this car seat and my son LOVES it! The only thing I wish different about this car seat is the center base buckle... its a little short. It makes it a little harder to buckle the baby, but still manageable!

Padding is awful!
Let me start this by saying my husband is a police officer and a nationally certified safety seat technician.

We have a similar seat for our 2 1/2 year old, so we figured we'd just get this one and be good to go. While we noticed it had more padding, we didn't think it would be a problem. Boy were we wrong! As the other reviewer said, there is so much padding, it doesn't provide for a comfortable seating arrangment for the baby. He is pushed so far forward that he can't sit nicely. In addition, the seat had to be jacked up with pool noodles to even be at the right level...and we had to push the drivers seat so far forward to have it at the right angle. We ended up bringing this seat back and opting for the one with less padding...it works much better!

   

Compass Chesapeake Portable Infant Car Seat - I400-CHP
From Compass C/O EGL

Keep Baby safe, secure and super comfy in this Portable Infant Car Seat by Compass. The larger shell(deeper, wider and taller than other carriers) fits bigger babies while also allowing more room for cozy blankets. Safety features include full EPS foam liner for maximum impact protection; IMMI"Safe Guard" hardware for all harnesses, belts and buckles; and"steel on steel" handle hub mechanism and autobase attachment for extra security. Other features include one-hand shoulder belt positioner, front-of-base base angle adjustment, padded aluminum carry handle(increases strength; reduces weight) and more. Imported.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71060 in Baby Product
• Brand: Compass
• Number of items: 1

The most comfortable
My husband and I have been shopping for infant car seat for over a month now. We want something safe, but at the same time confortable. Most of the carriers-car seats we saw were so hard I felt sorry for my baby's back. Some even had sort of a thin metal bar right where it curves on the back. Others were very tough on baby's legs and all along the back. Anyway, we were in between two in the end. One was graco pedic, a very comfy one. The other was compass i400. Graco didn't fit in our Jeep Liberty. Besides, it only carries up to 26" babies. Compass is awesome. It's so confortable and holds up to 30" babies. What a great deal! We are very happy with it. And you won't believe how easy it is to install it...

Great Car Seat!
I have loved this car seat.
PROS: SUPER SAFE. Way more comfy padding than any car seat I've felt, reasonably light, easy to install, easy to take in and out of base, made of great materials. Super sturdy. Love the boot. Extended life- 30 inches or 22 lbs. My baby is bigger (6 months, 28 inches and 18 lbs) so with a lot of other car seats I'd have had to buy another one by now, but not with the Compass. We took Nora (my baby) on a 20 hour road trip. One of the days we were in the car for about 12 hours. She was stellar. No problems with discomfort in the seat.
CONS: The crotch strap doesn't adjust. For the first few weeks, I just rolled up a receiving blanket and put it between her legs and the strap so that she sat a little higher up in it. Otherwise she slumped down. I've heard others complain about the lack of slots to sit it on top of a shopping cart. I just put her and the seat in the cart or sideways on top. It doesn't have slots, but there's no way it could fall.

I have loved this seat and trusted it's safety 100%. Read up on it. I don't think it could be any safer! So thanks Compass!!

Excellent car seat!
I have three boys and this is by far the BEST infant car seat we have had! It is easy to install, very comfortable, and it is very light and easy to carry. The padding on the carry bar is quite comfortable. It is a very sturdy car seat and I would highly recommend this product!

   

Cosco Summit High Back Booster Car Seat
From Dorel Juvenile Group

Cosco Summit High Back Booster Car Seat with LATCH is the perfect choice for parents who value safety and comfort. The car seat has all of the state of the art features parents look for. It features the LATCH system, which ensures that the seat fits securely in place. The Summit High Back is a top of the line booster seat with great features like the Easy A-Lok adjuster found exclusively on Cosco car seats. It allows the parent to secure the harness with just one hand. The headrest can also be adjusted easily by hand. Storage compartments are molded into the booster car seat base for better storage, while cup holders slide in and out for compactness. Parents will love the quality features of the High Back Booster Car Seat from Cosco.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16351 in Baby Product
• Brand: Cosco
• Model: 22260STFE
• Dimensions: 20.40" h x 21.70" w x 28.80" l, 18.80 pounds

Keep your precious little one safe and comfortable with the Cosco Summit High Back Booster car seat with LATCH. Parents on the move won't have to struggle to position the car seat any longer. The LATCH system ensures it snaps right into place! This Cosco car seat also features a five-point harness with an Easy A-Lok adjuster that allows parents to fasten the harness using only one hand. The headrest also moves easily into place.

Plenty of storage compartments are molded right into the seat and the cup holders slide in and out for compactness. Your child will be cushioned in comfort with the car seat's removable, full wrap tailored fabric pad and custom pillow. The Cosco Summit high back accommodates children up to 52 inches tall who weigh 20 to 100 pounds; recommended weight is 22 to 40 lbs forward facing with five point harness; and 40 to 100 pounds with belt positioning booster.

Cosco 22260STFE Summit deluxe high back belt positioning booster that secures your child 20 to 100 pounds. 22 to 40 lbs forward facing with five point harness. 40 to 100 lbs belt positioning booster.

Highly recommend - love this car seat
We have four of these Summit high-back boosters from Cosco - one each for two boys for both my and my wife's vehicle. We couldn't be more pleased with the car seats. I am a company car driver and change vehicles frequently - this car seat is easy to remove and re-secure, which was important for us. Additionally, the entire cloth wrapping is easily removable and washable - which has also proven to be important. The reclining feature is super easy to use - often if the boys doze off, I just reach back from the front seat and pull the red handle forward, to put the seat in a reclined position, which keeps their heads from falling forward when sleeping. According to our very talkative 3-year-old, the seat's very comfortable as well. Not to mention that Consumers Reports gave this car seat the highest ranking for safety compared to other car seats. Note that this is one of the few car seats that is a Consumer Reports recommended buy.

LOVE THIS!
I bought this booster for my son when he grew out of the rear facing travel system. I looked a literally 50 car seats, read reviews, even consulted consumer report (which gave it the highest safety rating). We have been using it now for almost a year and it is great! The covers on the shoulder straps easily slip off and with the seat cover are very washable (colors are still true - no fading; stains are easy to remove with a little shout or whatever you use). Installing this seat was also very easy; and switching from car to car is also easy. The cup holder on the base pulls out as needed for little hands to reach. Another plus the recline function. Often when my son has fallen asleep on car rides, I can easily reach in the back seat and recline him, which eliminates his head falling forward. There are three settings so we have used them all. My son even tells me that he loves it and how comfy it is as we travel nearly 90 miles to and from work/daycare daily. This construction is sturdy, materials and fabrics are high quality. I bought this model for my siblings with children of various ages - and we are all in agreement - its a great buy and high quality product. I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a car seat for a great price.

older boys in boosters are jealous of baby sister's new seat!
I spent several hours researching which seat to buy for my 15mth old daughter now that her old seat (which was used by both her brothers) has reached the 'do not use after' date. We ordered this seat & received it 2 days later with Amazon's free shipping! My kids couldn't wait to get it out of the box! She climbed in by herself & sat with the biggest grin. I love the neutral color scheme, comfy padding, moveable armrests, & cupholder attached to the base. I really love that this seat has many great reviews out there (not just on amazon). My 6yr & 4yr old boys that use a booster seat also thought this seat was 'really cool'. It was a breeze to position the harness to fit her correctly & installed in my minivan in under 10 minutes. She used to cry when I buckled her in her old convertible car seat; she hasn't since we got this one. If I need another car seat/booster, I'll definitely buy another one of these.

   

Eddie Bauer Infant Car Seat tan
From Dorel Juvenile Group

The Eddie Bauer Infant Car Seat is a rear positioning seat designed to accommodate children from 5-22 lbs. It has all the features that parents have come to know and love from Eddie Bauer infant products. It can be secured in place with the LATCH system or your car's belts. The two piece push button harness retainer is designed to help properly secure your child in the harness. The Eddie Bauer Infant Car Seat also boasts a contoured molded shell to help cradle baby and a multi position canopy to protect your little one from the damaging rays of the sun.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17303 in Baby Product
• Brand: Eddie Bauer
• Model: 22-625MAC
• Released on: 2007-02-21
• Dimensions: 18.07" h x 15.57" w x 29.39" l, 13.00 pounds

Amazon.com Product Reviews

Extending their tradition of rugged, premium-quality workmanship, the Eddie Bauer infant car seat combines plush comfort and premium safety. The rear-facing car seat is for infants five to 22 pounds and 19 to 29 inches. It can use seat belts or the LATCH system (Lower Anchor Tethers for Children), and it uses the traditional two-piece chest clip and five-point harness to secure baby. The stay-in-car base has three reclining positions, and the one-handed seat release lifts from the base with ease. The deluxe canopy has multiple positions, and with the foot cover, baby is entirely protected against the elements. The plush fabric pad is removable and machine washable, and also has the added comfort of a quilted neck and hip roll to keep baby in the proper position. --Scott Teal

The Eddie Bauer Infant Car Seat is a rear-facing infant seat that keeps your child secure from 5-22 Pounds

comment about the ACTUAL seat and not about the stroller
Good grief, I'm hoping that someone may want to hear an actual review about the carseat itself and not read all the gripes about when and where the matching travel system comes out. I have had this carseat for a couple months now and really love it. My son fits in it comfortably and snuggly and is very safe. The five point harness is wonderful addition. It was a little tricky installing it in the van, but once we took a second to read the instructions we got it in. I wasn't too familiar with the L.A.T.C.H system. I love the looks of it also. I have had a few people comment on how nice of a car seat it is. And it goes from the van to the grocery cart in seconds. I wouldn't base your decision on the comments about the travel system, there are ways of working around that. This is a very nice carseat for the price.

FABULOUS baby seat!
I received this carseat as a gift for my 4th child back in November 2003. It is an absolutely gorgeous car seat and I am definitely going to purchase the 3-in-1 convertable in the very near future! The material is very easy to clean. The straps have never become twisted as stated in previous comments. Yes, it's heavy, but aren't they all with a 20 pound baby in it?? Like I said, this is the 4th carseat I've had to use in the past 11 years and I felt that my baby was the most safe in the Eddie Bauer Designer 22 Infant Car Seat. It is very durable. The padding inside is an absolute MUST. Keeps baby's head in the correct position. Something that has never been accomplished even with the inserts you can purchase separately for other car seats.

Once you practice the 5 point harness a couple of times, it's like second nature. I am very secure with the fact that if I am in an accident, my baby is going nowhere! I also like the fact that it comes up high on the sides. If my car is absolutely crushed, all parts of my baby will be nestled deep inside the carseat. He is 7 months old, 20 pounds and still fits perfectly in this carseat. When he hits his 22 pound max or grows in length, we'll be getting the upright car seat. (he's been 20 pounds since his 4 month checkup!)

I highly recommend this car seat and wish they had this available 11 years ago!

Big Fan
I have never written a review but am so pleased with this car seat, I would like to share my opinion. I delivered my daughter ten weeks ago and was very happy with the quilted cover and oversized visor. Considering the weather was still chilly, this helped provide extra protection from the elements. I have five sisters who all delivered babies within four months of my baby and we all have different car seats. It seems that this car seat by comparison has the best scenario for growth. Often times it seems that when the babies are newborn the car seats swallow them whole in an effort to be useful when they are bigger. This car seat has very effective and adjustable supports for the head and hips as well as a belt that has the five point harness that starts very small and grows with the child, better than any my sisters have. When we had the certified instructors at the fire department help us install this car seat, they were very pleased to see the adjustable base. I have read critiques of the loud clicking noise that is made when the handle is adjusted to the back position while driving and our solution has been just to go slow when repositioning and it can be moved without that clicking noise. And if your baby is sleeping, you tend to go slower anyhow. The only other improvement I could suggest would be to add a line to show if the base is level, where now it is only on the car seat itself. I really like the little window in the visor which makes it easy to see the baby from the front seat. Finally, I did a lot of research prior to purchasing the first car seat for our first child. I would recommend this car seat to anyone and plan to keep it for any additional children we may have. Thanks for reading.

   

Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat, Bryant Collection
From Dorel Juvenile Group

Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat The Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat is the perfect seat for your child from 5 pounds up to 100 pounds! This Eddie Bauer convertible car seat goes starts as a rear facing infant seat from 5 to 35 pounds, then transitions into a forward-facing baby seat from 22 to 40 pounds, and finally switches to a belt-positioning booster for your child weighing 40 to 100 pounds! This fantastic bargain is hard to beat in the convertible car seat market. The Eddie Bauer Deluxe Convertible Car Seat truly grows with your child. This car seat also boasts must-have features, like EPS foam in the headrest area and removable infant and toddler head support pillows. It provides energy absorption in the event of a collision. This Deluxe car seat is also LATCH compatible, has a four-position adjustable headrest, and a two-piece harness retainer for added security.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21367 in Baby Product
• Color: Bryant
• Brand: Eddie Bauer
• Model: 22-758BYT
• Released on: 2007-01-01
• Dimensions: 20.10" h x 22.30" w x 25.70" l, 21.00 pounds

The Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat is the first and last car seat you will ever need to buy. This convertible car seat, in the Bryant Collection, will grow to fit your child from infant to toddler, and also converts to a belt-positioning booster. For your child's comfort, this car seat has an extra-wide, supported seat for comfort.

Looks great but not made to fit a baby
First let me say that I work with children, so I do know something about fitting car seats. We wanted to get our newborn a really nice car seat and, since I like Eddie Bauer stuff this seemed great. I also really like the idea that it can stay rear facing for so long and is the only car seat that one ever needs, or so I thought. I still really hope that it will work when he is older and can face forward.

Cons (fitting in car): (1) In the rear facing position it is huge. It just fit into my Subaru if the front seats were all the way forward (good thing I am short). Even in my parent's Envoy the front seats were uncomfortably far forward. It was tempting to put it behind the passenger seat but the center is safest. So only get this as a rear facing seat if you have a huge vehicle. (2) In theory it is not hard to install but had one major design problem: In order to tighten the seat belt or LATCH belt you have to pull back the seat cover and then once the car seat is in place it takes very small, dexterous fingers to get it back on again. This also makes the cover very hard to remove for washing. (3) In order for the rear facing seat to be at the recommended angle the base required a lot of padding. The instructions recommended towels but I ended up with four folded towels which made it difficult to tighten and I still don't think that the line is quite level with the ground (our other car seat needed one small towel). I suspect that many people will end up the seat at the wrong angle because of this.

Cons (fitting to baby): (1) The crotch strap is very short so the buckle is between his legs instead of in front of his pubic bone and pushes into his thighs. (2) The infant insert only has one set of holes for the shoulder straps. He actually fit it quite well when he came home from the hospital (5lb 2oz) but had out grown it by the time he was a normal newborn size even though he could still have used the support. There is no recommendation as to when to use the insert even though if you try to use it with a larger infant it makes it almost impossible to tighten the harness enough which could put children at risk. (3) The seat has a lot of padding which seems good but it is not in the right places. Imagine sitting with a big pillow behind your lower back and another behind your head but nothing behind your shoulders or upper back. I have tried every adjustment that I can find but if the shoulder straps are in the right place (level with the shoulders) and the harness tight enough (one finger fits underneath) that is how my baby looks. I even tried calling the 1-800 number for suggestions but was told that all babies are shaped differently and some just fit better in some car seats better than others (they did not have any suggestions as to what I could try that might help).

Pros: I still hope that the seat will work when my child is old enough to be front facing.

Great Car Seat
I had absolutely no problems installing this car seat and my son LOVES it! The only thing I wish different about this car seat is the center base buckle... its a little short. It makes it a little harder to buckle the baby, but still manageable!

Padding is awful!
Let me start this by saying my husband is a police officer and a nationally certified safety seat technician.

We have a similar seat for our 2 1/2 year old, so we figured we'd just get this one and be good to go. While we noticed it had more padding, we didn't think it would be a problem. Boy were we wrong! As the other reviewer said, there is so much padding, it doesn't provide for a comfortable seating arrangment for the baby. He is pushed so far forward that he can't sit nicely. In addition, the seat had to be jacked up with pool noodles to even be at the right level...and we had to push the drivers seat so far forward to have it at the right angle. We ended up bringing this seat back and opting for the one with less padding...it works much better!