Looking for a Good New Car Seat

As a Child Safety Seat Technician, I see many different car seats come in to the fire department. My best advice: Get a car seat that you are comfortable with and that fits correctly in your vehicle. That means you can get your baby in and out of it with no difficulty each time and that it can be secured in your vehicle correctly. If you are comfortable that you have the baby secure, then that's the seat for you. I have many parents buy a seat and bring it to me in the box and we install it together. This ensures that the seat fits and that the parents know how to install it correctly. If it doesn't work, you can return it and try another.
On a personal note, I purchased a forward facing convertible seat manufactured by the Dorel Juvenile Group(Graco). It is a great forward facing seat that adjusts from the time your child first turns around through booster stage. This car seat will last you a long time. I like it so much, I bought another one for our other car. And...it's affordable. Expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. They all have to pass tests to be sold.
Check with your local fire department for help with installation, most have technicians, if they don't they should know where to find one.
I have a boy named Braden also!
Good Luck!

T. -
I completely understand! Buying a car seat was such a research project. I am not usually so anal about purchasing supplies, but knew a car seat would be in use for a long time - plus we needed to buy four!

I wound up buying an Eddie Bauer. It is nice & roomy for my son, with plenty of room for coats and growth. I only paid $70 for it.

My only advice is to look at the straps. I noticed with Evenflo, the straps weren't easy to use compared to the travel seat we had prior. You had to adjust them on one side rather than pull a strap at the bottom. Pretty tough when you are leaning across the backseat dealing w/a wiggly child.

Also, Target and Babies R Us have great websites ... I reviewed a lot of things there, checking out parent comments & then went into the store.

Good luck!

Hi! I have loved the Britax Roundabout. It's easy to get them in and out of, comfortable for them, and great on safety ratings. Only downfall is it's pricey! It is a great seat though. Hope this helps!!!!!

Hi T.,

I really really love our Britax Marathon. They can use it from 5 lbs to 65 lbs. It's got some great safety features too. It's easy to install with both latch and the regular system. It's got low side profiles so my son can see out the window really well. He loves it too because it's comfortable. He's 18 months and he's been using it since he was 4 months. The straps are easy to use and never get twisted.

There are two different grades of fabric that account for some price differences. There's the upholstry type and the decorative type. I like the decorative type. We got the blue argile print to match my sons eyes. It cost about $250 new and we got a used one for my husbands car at a yard sale for $75. I've registered for another one for our daughter due in July.