Product Review: Britax Frontier 85 SICT

The BRITAX FRONTIER 85 SICT Combination Harness-2-Booster Seat offers excellent safety features, multifunction capability, and an adaptable design to keep your child safe and comfortable for years to come. The seat serves as a forward-facing harnessed seat for children up to 85 pounds, and as a belt-positioning booster seat for children up to 120 pounds.  The Frontier 85 SICT is designed to provide the ultimate in safety for high capacity car seats. Loaded with comfort and convenience features, such as an easy-remove cover, comfort foam, integrated cup holders and fixed armrests, the Frontier 85 SICT is the ideal seat for your child graduating from their convertible car seat without compromising safety.

In my opinion: the Cadillac of booster seats!  This seat has all the safety features of a convertible seat but can hold a child of just about any size after 25 lbs.  In fact, this seat can hold ME!  So it’s PERFECT for car pool, sharing rides with kids of varying ages and sizes.

The features I always recommend people look for when shopping for a car seat, whether infant, convertible, or booster, are 1) safety, 2) ease of installation and use and 3) car compatibility. The safest car seats are not the most expensive, they are the seats that are installed correctly in your car. However, not all car seats are made the same, and Britax has been making car seats for over 70 years and is the leader in safety.  A trusted name for sure!

You may ask, “When do I move my child to a Booster seat?”  Good question!  A booster seat is a type of child restraint that does not typically have a five-point harness system, but rather rely on the vehicle seat belt system to keep your child restrained. The booster seat elevates your child so that the vehicle seat belt is positioned properly over your child. Booster seats should be used in the rear vehicle seat with a lap and shoulder seat belt system, never a lap belt-only.


However, the Frontier 85 and Frontier 85 SICT  are a combination seat that starts out as a forward facing seat with a 5-point harness, and then transforms into a belt-positioning seat.  You should keep your child in a 5-point harness as long as possible, as it is much safer than a lap belt alone.

Designed with advanced technology to keep children protected and in a five-point harness for as long as possible, the FRONTIER 85 SICT Combination Harness-2-Booster Seat helps safely graduate children who are at least two years old and weigh at least 25 pounds from their convertible car seats. By removing the harness, the FRONTIER 85 SICT is easily converted to a booster seat for older children who are at least 4 years old and 40 pounds.

Some other features of the Frontier 85 sict:

• Side Impact Cushion Technology features energy-absorbing cushions on the exterior of the child seat to reduce side impact crash energy by 45 percent
• True Side Impact Protection distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion, and keeps the head, neck, and spine aligned to limit injury
• Versa-Tether features a staged-release tether webbing that minimizes forward movement in a crash by anchoring the top of the child seat at two points
• Adjustable five-point harness ensures a safe, snug fit for children up to 85 pounds
• Tangle Free, Five-Point Harness with 10 harness height positions (up to 20") and three buckle positions for a snug and secure fit as your child grows
• Compatible with SecureGuard which works with the vehicle safety belt in booster mode to prevent the child from sliding under the lap-belt portion of the safety belt during impact, thus minimizing the risk of abdominal injury (accessory sold separately)
• Quick-Adjust, No-Rethread Harness repositions the harness shoulder height without disassembling the harness straps

Age/Weight Requirements:
Two years and 25 to 85 pounds in harness mode; 40 to 120 pounds in booster mode

I received the Frontier 85 sict for review and I can tell you that my almost four year old son likes riding in it as much as I love the safety features of it!  It’s a big seat, no doubt, but sometimes bigger does mean better (when safety is concerned).

Proper Car Seat Safety Often Overlooked

from A Milky Way


We are very fortunate to have Erika Gebhardt, a local Child Passenger Safety Tech, as a guest blogger. Below is her tips for car seat safety.

An alarming percentage of small infants we see come in the store are not properly strapped into their car seats. The straps are often way too loose and the chest clip is often all the way down. Some parents think that their babies might be uncomfortable if they are strapped in tight, but that is a myth. Babies spend nine months swaddled tightly in the womb, and they must be securely buckled into their car seat. In the event of a collision, a loosely buckled child could be seriously injured or even ejected from his seat. Here are some tips for child passenger safety from Erika Gebhardt, a local Child Passenger Safety Technician.

RULE OF THUMB #1: Keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children stay rear-facing until they are two years old. Rear-facing reduces traumatic injury to the head and neck in the event of a crash, because the back of the car seat absorbs most of the impact. When your baby outgrows an infant seat, choose a convertible car seat with a high weight-limit for rear-facing, like 40lbs or 45lbs.

RULE OF THUMB #2: Use the “pinch test” for strap tightness. Tighten the straps, and then put your thumb and finger on the shoulder strap. Try to pinch the fabric – if your fingers slide off, it’s tight enough. If you can pinch fabric, tighten until you cannot pinch.

RULE OF THUMB #3: A car seat is for cars. Please do not use your seat as a carrier or a crib. Although many “travel systems” make it easy to move a baby while she remains safely bucked into her infant seat, try to avoid too much car seat time. Try a baby carrier such as a wrap or a sling or a pouch if you are going grocery shopping or going to be out of your car for longer than 15 minutes.

RULE OF THUMB #4: There is no “best” car seat. The best seat is the one that fits your child and your car, and that you can install properly each time you use it. A car seat need not be expensive with fancy bells and whistles in order to keep your child safe.

RULE OF THUMB #5: Use LATCH or seatbelts to install car seats. Do not use both. LATCH is no safer than seatbelts – the safest installation is a tight installation, and some car and seat combinations work better with seatbelts than with LATCH.
Get your car seat installation checked by a Child Passenger Safety Technician. If you are near Matthews, the police department there checks seats twice a month; Britax checks seats (not just Britax seats) one Friday a month.

Check the local Char-Meck Safe Kids calendar.

For more information about child passenger safety, check out the Car Seat Basics information.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Erika Gebhardt, Child Passenger Safety Tech (T675815)

IMPORTANT: American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends children stay in rear-facing car seats until TWO YEARS OF AGE

from USA Today

By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY

Updated 6h 38m ago

New advice from the nation's pediatricians doubles the recommended time that babies and toddlers should ride in rear-facing car seats.



Convertible car seats can be used both forward- and rear-facing.

Previous recommendations said parents could switch babies to forward-facing seats at 12 months old or 20 pounds. Switching to a forward-facing seat on a child's first birthday was a common rite of passage.

But new recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics say babies and toddlers should ride in rear-facing car seats until at least age 2 — even longer if the child is small enough.

The pediatrics group is changing its recommendation because research shows children under 2 are 75% less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they're in rear-facing car seats, according to the policy statement, published today in the journal Pediatrics.


Car accidents are the leading cause of death in children over age 4; about 1,500 kids under 16 die in car crashes each year, the statement says. In Sweden, many children ride in rear-facing car seats until age 4.
Rear-facing seats do a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine in an accident, because they distribute the force of the collision over the entire body, says study author Dennis Durbin, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Center for Injury Research and Prevention.

That's especially true in frontal crashes, which make up the bulk of car accidents, says pediatrician Gary Smith of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, who wasn't involved in developing the new policy.
The new guidelines are "a fantastic step," says Jennifer Hoekstra, who coordinates a child safety program at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Hoekstra says parents of toddlers under age 2 who already are using forward-facing seats shouldn't panic, because forward-facing seats still provide good protection.

"If you are using your forward-facing car seat correctly, your child is safe," Hoekstra says. But 73% of car seats are installed incorrectly, according to a 2005 study in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention.
Parents won't necessarily have to buy new car seats, which range in price from about $40 to more than $300, says Alan Fields, co-author of Baby Bargains, which rates baby products.

Thirty of the 35 convertible car seats now on the market can accommodate a 2-year-old, even up to 35 pounds, which is at the top of the weight range for that age, the study says.

Owners of convertible car seats may be able to follow the new advice simply by turning the seats around, so that kids face the back, Fields says.

Yet some of the greatest objections may come from toddlers themselves, Fields says.
An 18-month-old, newly allowed to face front, may not agree to turn back around — at least without a lot of crying — especially if the child has an older sibling who is allowed to face front, Fields says.
"If you've already turned them around, and now you try to turn them back, that's not going to be pretty."

Guidelines for older kids

The American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations also clarify car-seat guidelines for older children:
• Kids who are too big for rear-facing seats still need to use forward-facing car seats until age 4.
• Kids up to age 8 need booster seats, which make sure that seat belts, typically designed for adults, fit properly on kids' smaller bodies.
• Children who outgrow booster seats should use lap-and-shoulder seat belts.
• All children under age 13 should ride in the back seat.

Britax Free Ride Event and Car Seat Inspection

Britax has a FABULOUS promotion going on now for their B-Ready stroller.  I have this stroller and it is a dream!  It is especially fabulous if you have a baby and toddler as it has a removable second seat.  You can use this stroller as a single or a double!  The top seat is reversible, you can also take out the seats and attach car seats or a bassinet, the possibilities are endless. 

A few other key advantages of the B-Ready include:

• Smaller, more maneuverable frame than a true tandem or even the City Select
• Very large basket with easy access from all four sides of the stroller
• Second seat that reclines flat and offers sun protection, appropriate for newborn to 35 pounds
• Versatile configurations include two car seats, a car seat and a second seat, a bassinet, and options to face the parent or the world
• Easy to fold and folds with the second seat attached
• Comes with cup holder, rain cover and Chaperone car seat adapter
• Nice suspension system in both the main seat and the second seat

Check out this deal!


Britax’s “Free Ride” Event: From March 1 – June 30, 2011 (while supplies last), parents will have their choice of one free BRITAX Chaperone Infant Car Seat ($229.99), Bassinet ($149.99) or Second Child Seat ($149.99) with a purchase of the B-READY stroller.




Check out THIS LINK for more info on this promotion from Britax!

Britax is also offering FREE CAR SEAT INSPECTIONS here in Charlotte this Friday!  If you have a new car seat or have never had your car seat installed professionally you really should stop by and have the folks at Britax check your seats.  Over 80% of car seats are installed incorrectly and you might be surprised at what you can learn!  Besides…it’s free!   Their technicians are trained to inspect and install any brand of car seat.

What: FREE Car Seat Installation Check in Charlotte (http://www.britaxusa.com/learning-center/britax-checking-station)


Message: If you live in or around the greater Charlotte, NC area and would like to have your car seat installation inspected by a certified child passenger safety technician, you may attend one of our FREE seat check events.  


When: The next check event is this Friday, February 18^th from 8 am – 12 pm.  (no appointment necessary)
Where:  Britax Child Safety, Inc (13501 South Ridge Drive, Charlotte, NC); Business Park close to the corner of Carowinds Blvd and South Tryon St. (look for signs)




Statistic:
Improper car seat installation — and lack of a car seat altogether — is responsible for the death and injury of thousands of children each year. Approximately 96 percent of parents believe their child seats are installed correctly. However, research shows that seven out of 10 children are either not securely fastened in their car seat or are in a car seat that is not properly secured to the vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Click the link below for more information, including what you can do to prepare.

Free Car Seat Installation in Charlotte

Tomorrow is the next inspection but future dates are scheduled so read on and PLEASE learn how to install your car seat correctly!  Whether you’re a first time parent or just getting a new car seat, correct installation is so important and over 80% of car seats are not installed properly.  Take advantage of this great local opportunity!

LOCAL CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY LEADER BRITAX OPENS CAR SEAT FITTING STATION

—New Britax Fitting Station provides car seat education and inspection—



CHARLOTTE, N.C. — June 9, 2010 — Parents and caregivers can now visit the headquarters of leading car seat manufacturer Britax Child Safety Inc. for education on proper car seat use and installation from a certified child passenger safety (CPS) technician. The Britax Fitting Station opens Friday, June 18, offering assistance from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at no charge. Britax will continue to offer free car seat installation instruction once a month throughout the year.

At the fitting station, CPS technicians confirm that a child’s car seat meets federal safety standards and has not been recalled. They also teach parents and caregivers how to correctly choose a car seat based on a child’s age, height and weight, as well as how to appropriately install and use it in their vehicle.

Improper car seat installation — and lack of a car seat altogether — is responsible for the death and injury of thousands of children each year. Approximately 96 percent of parents believe their child seats are installed correctly. However, research shows that seven out of 10 children are either not securely fastened in their car seat or are in a car seat that is not properly secured to the vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“We know that car seats that are used correctly and consistently help ensure children’s safety on the road,” said Sarah Tilton, child passenger safety advocate for Britax. “A properly installed car seat can be potentially life-saving in the event of a vehicle crash. That’s why we created the Britax Fitting Station for parents and caregivers to receive everything from installation instruction to safety recommendations.”
For best results, parents and caregivers should bring the following to Britax Charlotte, N.C., headquarters at 13501 South Ridge Drive during a scheduled Fitting Station date:

• Vehicle and vehicle owner’s manual.
• Car seat (car seats form all manufacturers are welcome) and all parts, accessories and instructions.
• A second adult to watch their child during installation instruction.

No appointment is needed, and instruction lasts approximately 30 minutes per car seat. For more information, visit http://www.britaxusa.com/safety-center/britax-fitting-station. For what to expect during a car seat safety check, visit: http://www.britaxusa.com/safety-center/car-seat-safety-check. The 2010 Fitting Station will take place during the following days and times:

• June 18, 2010 8 am - 12 pm
• July 16, 2010 8 am - 12 pm
• August 20, 2010 8 am - 12 pm
• September 17, 2010 8 am - 12 pm
• October 15, 2010 8 am - 12 pm
• November 19, 2010 8 am - 12 pm
• December 17, 2010 8 am - 12 pm

About Britax Child Safety Inc.

Child car seat and stroller manufacturer Britax^® Child Safety Inc. is the leader in developing cutting edge technologies that absorb crash forces and manage energy away from the child in a crash. Britax has pioneered features such as side impact protection, True Side Impact Protection^®, and Side Impact Cushion™ Technology to minimize the risk of injury in side impact crashes, which are the most severe vehicle collisions. The Britax range includes a car seat for every stage of a child’s life from “birth to belt” and offers higher weight capacities to keep children rear facing and in a five-point harness longer.
Britax is the best-selling child seat in Europe and has become one of the most-trusted brands in North America by parents and caregivers since entering the market in 1996. For more information, visit www.britaxusa.com.

New Britax Convertible Car Seats Coming Soon

I had the privilege of receiving one of these brand new, redesigned (not in stores yet) Boulevard Britax car seats to test out.  I have used two of Britax's seats so far with my own child -- the infant Chaperone seat and the convertible Diplomat seat.  I may have had a few suggestions for improvements on both of those seats, but this newly remodeled Boulevard stands alone as a seat of perfection.  Britax's focus on safety is incomparable with any other car seat manufacturer.  But besides the fact that their car seats are possibly the safest car seats out there, they are also brilliantly designed for ease of use for the parent and comfort for the child.  I can't say enough about Britax right now and what great new products they are putting out there.  If you haven't checked out their awesome new single and double B-Ready stroller, check it out too!

There are many great reviews out there already on these newly redesigned Boulevard and Marathon seats, but here's my favorite from Spilling the Beans:

from Spilling the Beans

Britax is a company that is totally obsessed with car seat safety. A few years ago, research started coming out that revealed head injury to be the leading cause of death for children in automobile accidents. Britax took a good look at those findings and then took their existing line of car seats to the crash test lab, wondering if they were doing enough to protect kids’ heads. While all the older seats already exceeded the federal standards for head excursion, the Britax engineers still thought they could do better.


After many hours at the drawing board, the results are really impressive. The new seats look better and perform better than their predecessors. They offer better features and higher weight limits but (surprisingly) there will be no price increase.

Here are some of the highlights:

~ New contours - the shape of the new car seats is really different. The center of gravity is lower, to create a downward rocking motion in a crash, instead of a forward thrust. The shell is more enclosed and protective.

~ Steel reinforcements - the new models have steel bars running down both sides of the seat for extra strength.

~ Crumple zones - Britax has introduced a new SafeCell technology - a honeycomb-shaped plastic zone at the base of the car seat that’s designed to crumple, absorbing and dissipating the impact from a crash.

~ Foam galore - the sidewalls of the new seats are fully lined with energy-absorbant EPP foam.

~ Versa-Tether - it’s not a new feature, but now’s a good time to point out the thought behind the design of this safety feature. The webbing is sewn so that , in a crash, it releases its seams in stages, slowing the forward motion.

~ Easy to clean - the new seats (except the Roundabout 55) have an Easy-Remove cover that comes right off without having to uninstall the car seat - so you can dread those spills just a little less from now on.

~ Quick adjusting - all the new models (except the Roundabout 55) have a quick-adjust harness, which allows you to change the height of the harness straps without needing to rethread the straps.

~ No Slip - there’s a rubberized strip on the base of the car seat, which prevents it from slipping around - a small but very nice touch.

~ Simplified LATCH - the LATCH connectors are now “one handed” meaning they’ll work fine in either position, so you don’t need to switch them around when moving from rear- to forward-facing.

~ Improved lock-offs and belt path - the location of the built-in seatbelt lockoffs has been moved to the center of the seat, and the belt path is more open, so you can comfortably pass through the seatbelt and lock it off even if you’re standing outside the car.


Take a look at the full line of next-generation Britax seats for 2010 and pre-order now.

10 Car Seat Safety Secrets and Best Car Seats for Baby

from Parents




Car Seat Safety Made Easy


Seven out of 10 kids riding in child safety seats are improperly buckled in, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). How do you select the right restraint for your child? We've compiled answers to your most pressing questions.

Why is rear-facing the best for a Baby?
Kids should always ride rear-facing, in the backseat, for optimal protection. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends this until children are at least 20 pounds and age 1 or older. "That's at a minimum," says Dr. Bull, a child-passenger safety consultant with the AAP.

When should my child not ride rear-facing?
Only if he's too small to ride safely in the semi-reclined position of an infant carrier. All carriers have minimum weight requirements -- most are at 5 pounds, although a few brands go down to 4 pounds.

What types do I have to choose from?
Infant Car Seat: the infant carrier conveniently snaps into a stationary base (5 - 22 lbs).
 
Convertible Seat: ride rear- or forward-facing (rear-facing up to 35 lbs; forward-facing up to 60 lbs).
 
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children): uses no seatbelt and exists in all cars made after September 2002 -- the base of an infant carrier or the bottom of a convertible seat clips onto a bar or built-in hooks on a vehicle's seat.

Which is better: LATCH or a seat belt?
"You should decide based on ease of use," says Kristy Arbogast, PhD, a biomechanical engineer at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "Choose whichever you'll use correctly each time and gives you the best fit."

Who can help me install a car seat?
A certified child-passenger safety technician (CPST) can check the installation for you. An appointment will last about 30 minutes. Just make sure to try installing the seat yourself first (so you can get a rudimentary understanding of how it works).

How much do CPST appointments cost?
They're free! Go to seatcheck.org and type in your zip code to find the nearest inspection locations -- there are more than 33,000 CPSTs nationwide. Appointment slots can fill up quickly, so call early to schedule.

What's the safest car seat location?
The center of the backseat is by far the safest. But if your middle seat has a hump and you can't tightly install the base, it's best to put the seat on one of the side seats (many cars only have LATCH on the sides). A child should never ride in the front - an inflated air bag can be fatal for little ones.

Are expensive seats safer?
Definitely not. All seats on the market have met the federal government's safety standards. More expensive seats may have added features, but they're not necessarily safer. Experts point out that you should avoid car accessories, because they haven't been crash-tested.

When can my child ride in a booster?
At around age 4 and at 40 pounds. A booster provides less protection than a convertible car seat, so if your convertible can hold a child up to 65 pounds, keep her in it as long as possible.
Originally published in the August 2009 issue of American Baby magazine.

Best Car Seats for Babies and Toddlers

Going for a ride? Keep baby as safe and comfy as possible in one of these cool car seats.



Infant Car Seat: Graco Snugride 32
The country's best-selling seat now holds a rear-facing baby up to 32 pounds and fits most strollers ($140; gracobaby.com).



Infant Car Seat: Chicco Keyfit 30
This highly rated seat is one of the simplest to install; it holds a rear-facing baby up to 30 pounds ($190; chiccousa.com).
Some earlier models of Chicco Keyfit 30 car seats were recalled in June 2008. Check your model #s here.



Infant Car Seat: Maxi-Cosi Mico
The Europeans know how to make a seat both functional (really lightweight!) and fashion forward ($170; rightstart.com).



All-in-One Car Seat: Evenflo Symphony Surelatch
The adjustable harness and side-impact protection are good; that it carries up to 100 pounds is great ($200; evenflo.com).



Convertible Car Seat: Britax Boulevard CS
A harness for a kid up to 65 pounds means this lasts through preschool; it has side-impact protection ($330; britaxusa.com).
Some earlier models of Britax Boulevard car seats were recalled in November 2006. Check your model #s here.



Infant Car Seat: Britax Companion
This infant car seat features enhanced side-impact protection in two ways: There's a special head pad as well as energy-absorbing foam built into the seat around baby's head and torso. The patented "anti-rebound" bar on the end helps keep the seat stable in the event of an accident ($170; for babies 4 to 22 pounds).



Infant Car Seat: Evenflo Embrace
Evenflo's unique Z-shaped handle helps make this new, affordable car seat easy to carry around ($70-$100; for babies 5 to 22 pounds).
Some earlier models of Evenflo Embrace car seats were recalled in May 2007. Check your model #s here.


Infant Car Seat: Combi Tyro II
Cushioned mesh fabric keeps baby cool and comfortable. Energy-absorbing foam in the head area adds protection ($150; for babies up to 22 pounds).



Convertible Car Seat: Britax Marathon
This popular, expert-respected convertible seat gets high marks for being user-friendly. For instance, the harness straps are built to never tangle ($250; for babies 5 to 33 pounds rear-facing, and from 20 to 65 pounds forward-facing).
Some earlier models of Britax Marathon car seats were recalled in October 2007. Check your model #s here.




Convertible Car Seat: Graco ComfortSport
This is one of the few convertible seats that come with a headrest for smaller babies. Special padding in the seat conforms to baby's body for added comfort ($80-$120 depending on fabric and features; for babies up to 30 pounds rear-facing, and from 20 to 40 pounds forward-facing).
Some earlier models of Graco ComfortSport car seats were recalled in December 2008. Check your model #s here.
Some earlier models of Graco ComfortSport car seats were recalled in January 2008. Check your model #s here.
Some earlier models of Graco ComfortSport car seats were recalled in August 2007. Check your model #s here.



Booster Seat: Safety 1st Intera
This revolutionary seat has a long life! It starts as a convertible car seat for babies and toddlers. Then the back comes off and the base serves as a preschooler's booster seat ($140; for babies 5 to 35 pounds rear-facing, 20 to 40 pounds forward-facing, and 30 to 100 pounds as a booster).
Originally published in the January 2009 and March 2005 issues of American Baby magazine.

Britax Roundabout Stands Up to Train

Wow, what a story!!  When I read this I just had to post it because I thought it was an amazing story, and it proves how important it is to not only buy the right car seat but to have it installed correctly.  I’m a big fan of Britax as well.

from www.safemama.com

I had the pleasure of receiving a Britax Roundabout 50 to check out after a heart clutching story broke on the news. An Elm Grove, Wisconsin mother was trapped in front of an oncoming train with her child seated in the back, in a Britax Roundabout. The father, following behind in a separate car rushed to her aide and while they managed to free the mother, the boy was still in the car when struck by the oncoming train. That boy, and his Roundabout 50 were unharmed.

I’ve always been an advocate of car seat safety and the importance of having your seats checked to ensure they are installed properly. But I have to wonder how much of it was the installation, and how much of it was the seat? The Britax Roundabout 50 features Britax’s Side Impact Protection which distributes crash forces, contains the head and body, and shields the child from possible vehicle intrusions during a crash.

It also feature’s their 5 point harness system which secures the child at the strongest parts of the body… much like race car drivers! this is one of their smaller contoured convertible car seats which can accommodate an infant as small as 5 lbs up to 50lbs. Because of the smaller base this seat can fit in most vehicles wonderfully compared to others. I’ve had this problem with some of the other seats we’ve tested in our Honda Pilot, where the base is so big that it creates less leg room for the child and for the driver. The Roundabout 50 eliminates that problem. My son was very comfortable in this seat. And knowing that it helped save a boy from a train impact doesn’t hurt!

Britax has a great reputation and for good reason… they rate well in Consumer Reports and have been proactive with regard to recalls, while continuing to improve the safety of their seats with research. But with any car seat, it’s crucial to have it properly installed or else all those great safety features are useless. Look for your local Child Safety Seat Inspector on SeatCheck.org or at USA.SafeKids.org.

Recall Alert – Dorel Infant Car Seats/Carriers

Fall Hazard Prompts NHTSA, CPSC and Dorel Juvenile Group to Announce Recall of Infant Car Seat/Carriers http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10084.html

Includes certain Safety 1st, Cosco, Disney, and Eddie Bauer travel systems.