Best REAR FACING TODDLER Car Seat.

[realistma]

My baby is 13months and is needing a new car seat.
With the new regulations of rear facing till 2 years old I am having some trouble finding a good one.

Anyone have some advice or ideas on a good car seat for 1+ year olds that can be rear facing.

Thanks.

[frankyflwrs]

I'm not sure if this is the best....but our daughter loves it:
Britax Marathon and Boulevard 65
We have one in each car...and its perfect for her.
A little pricey though...

[dibksbgon]

OP are you looking looking for one that is rear facing to a higher weight because of concerns released by the AAP that say kids should be in rear facing car seats until 2? Just so you know the AAP said until they are 2 or until they outgrow their car seats height and weight limits. The BC law is as follows (from BC Road Safety)

(AMENDED) Effective July 1, 2008
Children must ride in a rear facing car seat until they are a
minimum of 20 pounds (9 kg) and at least 1 year of age.
Children who are at least 1 year of age, at least 20 pounds
(9 kg) but less than 40 pounds (18 kg) must ride in an
appropriate car seat.

So under BC Regulations, you would be fine moving them to front facing if you are comfortable with that but if you aren't there are options like those the other poster mentioned.

OP you can find certain models that go to 30 and 40 pounds but they also have height limits and keep in mind your kid may only be in it for a very short time until they have outgrown it and have to go to forward facing. A lot of parents get screwed over because their seat may have a higher weight limit for rear facing but the height limit stays the same (Anywhere between 28 and 30/31 inches). The ones the poster mentioned are better in that respect. My sister in law has one of them and I believe the limit on it was 49inches rear facing so it should last you a while

[skuntz]

We are using the Diono Radian RXT. Our child is 11 months old and likes her seat. As well, this car seat becomes a booster seat. With the Britax car seats you will still have to buy a booster seat. We liked the Diono because once you buy it, you no longer need to look for anything else, and it's around the same price as a Britax. If you spent your money on a Britax car seat, which cost 300+ dollars, then later when you child outgrows that car seat, you would also have to go out and pay extra $$$ for a booster seat as well.

Here is the link on the Diono seats. http://ca.diono.com/car-seats

[oddduck]

Personally, my 21mo old rear faces in a Graco MyRide, a True Fit and a Scenera (in Grandma's Truck).

The Graco MyRide -- Great rear facing. Install is fairly easy, doesn't have premium latch clips (if you use latch). No built-in lock offs (if your vehicle lacks locking seatbelts and latch). Rear faces to 40lbs, 17" top harness height. Installs fairly reclined forward facing. Is incompatible in a few vehicles forward facing. Overall though, I'm very happy with it.

The True Fit -- excellent car seat. On sale at Zellers this week for $119.97, check DOM though as some stores are selling pre-2012 compliant stock (which they shouldn't sell). Rear faces to 35lbs. It's the one seat I have that has been in use constantly from when it was purchased -- in 2008 -- until now. Rear facing, in some vehicles the harness adjustor gets buried. The harness is a continuous loops (which some people hate). You need to install the head rest at 22lbs or when the kiddos head hits the line. Very tall shell, 17 - 17.5" top harness height. It's also quite wide (so if you plan on 3 kids -- and drive a sedan, this probably isn't the best idea). Oh -- it has built in lock off, premium latch connectors and the cover is super easy to remove and wash. It's probably my favorite car seat I've owned -- though my kids are more tall and skinny and the 35lbs will get them until at least 3 rear facing -- my 4.5 year old is only 37lbs. Oh, and it can be installed more upright (up to 35 degrees from vertical) so it fits in most vehicles (even in my MILs Honda Fit). No stated height limit. My oldest rear faced in this until 3.5 when needed (eg when using cars without top tethers).

The Scenera -- decent budget seat. 40lb rear facing limit. Low shell, continuous loop harness. Cheap ($59-69 on sale). Needs a lot of noodles rear facing. Not my favorite by a long shot... also has a 32" stated height limit in Canada.

I also have an old style Britax Marathon, but since they aren't being sold now -- no point in mentioning it.

[oddduck]

We are using the Diono Radian RXT. Our child is 11 months old and likes her seat. As well, this car seat becomes a booster seat. With the Britax car seats you will still have to buy a booster seat. We liked the Diono because once you buy it, you no longer need to look for anything else, and it's around the same price as a Britax. If you spent your money on a Britax car seat, which cost 300+ dollars, then later when you child outgrows that car seat, you would also have to go out and pay extra $$$ for a booster seat as well.

Here is the link on the Diono seats. http://ca.diono.com/car-seats

While they do have that option of being used as a booster, you can't use them as a booster until 50lbs.

Often by the time children hit 50lbs, they have outgrown the booster portion of the seat since the head rest cannot be raised like dedicated boosters (Graco Turbobooster, Diono Monterey, Britax Parkway, etc). The booster portion of the new Diono seats is essentially outgrown at the same time as the harnessed portion of the seat.

I would still plan on a booster. If your Diono does happen to work for you -- then great, but I'd make sure you've got $50-100 in the budget in case it doesn't work with the shape/size your child.

[hondanation09]

My baby is 13months and is needing a new car seat.
With the new regulations of rear facing till 2 years old I am having some trouble finding a good one.

Anyone have some advice or ideas on a good car seat for 1+ year olds that can be rear facing.

Thanks.

we have 2 kids and love britax advocate cs. we have 4 of them...bulky but great. very expensive though.

[actuarial]

I'm not sure if this is the best....but our daughter loves it:
Britax Marathon and Boulevard 65
We have one in each car...and its perfect for her.
A little pricey though...

+1 on the Britax Marathon. My wife had our 2 year old niece in ours a few months back and she fit in just fine.

[clem24]

The Britax'es are awesome. My kids seem to love them, but most important of all, they are extremely easy to get tightly installed, using either LATCH or just a shoulder belt. We have 2 Marathons and 2 Frontier. My complaints are that they are bulky and the belts have a knack for getting twisted. Otherwise good seats. But I recently bought a sedan and am looking into getting into getting a couple of the Radians. I do like that almost the entire shoulder portion of the seat belt (at least the RXT) is padded, which pretty much assures they will not twist. Just waiting for them to go on sale...

[mzamy]

my son has an evenflo triumph LX 65 in my car, and a Safety 1st alpha omega for my mom's car.. the Evenflo RF til i believe 40bs, and the Safety 1st is up to 35lbs... i prefer the evenflo, since i find the straps easier to tighten/loosen, as well as find it easier to angle it properly.

[howitzer]

I'd vote for Britax as well. We have four of them 3 x Marathon and 1 x Frontier and they are great seats.

A lot of the stores around the GTA have clearance sales to get rid of the current model year. Not huge savings but better than nothing. Also I wouldn't recommend getting the CS model, waste of money if you as me.

[Hood_Rep]

Best seat is Clek foonf. It will be available in July.

[trini]

I've been looking and heading toward Diono brand used to be called Sunshine kids.
I'm going to have a new born, 3 and 5 year old in the backseat they have the skinniest to fit 3 kids in the back.
It was either this or buy a minivan.

[Rehan]

We have 4 kids, so I've been through a lot of car seats. The Sunshine Kids/Diono seats are nice when you need the narrow size, but there are some drawbacks as well. My youngest is 26 months old and currently in a rear-facing Britax Marathon 65 that I bought used for $100. It was manufactured in 2009 and is in excellent condition, so it was a good deal. We've owned a Marathon in the past as well (bought new), and it's a great seat even at full price. Some of the new fabrics are not as nice (soft) as the older ones, though.

I tried a True Fit in my Civic & Odyssey and the fit was pretty bad, so I just returned it. Some stores let you try out the seat in the car before you buy it, which can save some time/hassle.

[Kevinck]

Best seat is Clek foonf. It will be available in July.

i'm assuming it will cost an arm and a leg but that just looks very cool. Technology, features, safety and look.

[clem24]

Bump.

I've since picked up a pair of Diono Radian R100's. They are very much a pain to get a tight fit. First time I tried, I could not for the life of me get it tight. Next day, I wasn't satisfied, so I redid the install (this is LATCH BTW). Had one foot on the seat, one foot on the ground, and just gave her. Pulling as hard as I possibly could, it finally gave in and tightened. It's now as tight, if not tighter than my Britax'es. Definitely wasn't easy. Uninstalling it might also be another issue as well.

I might add, if you're using a seat belt, be prepared to twist the belt at the buckle a few times to get it tight.

A downside to rear facing (I have one front and rear): this seat takes up a TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ROOM when rear facing. I've got my front passenger seat all the way to the front just to accommodate the seat; that seat is now useless. This was NOT a problem with my Britax Boulevard. Lucky for me, this works out as I don't usually have a front passenger anyway, and my dog sits in the rear footwell. But be prepared and I would honestly give it a try at the store before trying. It's just crazy how much room the seat takes. On the bright side, because of this, my 2 year old toddler now has MUCH more leg room than she did with the Britax.

One other complaint about the seats: they rattle, likely due to the way they're built. It is an annoyance but whatever. I also couldn't believe how heavy they are!!!

[B0000rt]

We are using the Diono Radian RXT. Our child is 11 months old and likes her seat. As well, this car seat becomes a booster seat. With the Britax car seats you will still have to buy a booster seat. We liked the Diono because once you buy it, you no longer need to look for anything else, and it's around the same price as a Britax. If you spent your money on a Britax car seat, which cost 300+ dollars, then later when you child outgrows that car seat, you would also have to go out and pay extra $$$ for a booster seat as well.

Here is the link on the Diono seats. http://ca.diono.com/car-seats

+1 This company used to be called Sunshine Kids, awesome seat, we've got two of the American Sunshine Kids XTSL version, before the put the cupholder and made it into a booster seat too. The only real issue with this, is that it's super heavy.



Bump.

I've since picked up a pair of Diono Radian R100's. They are very much a pain to get a tight fit. First time I tried, I could not for the life of me get it tight. Next day, I wasn't satisfied, so I redid the install (this is LATCH BTW). Had one foot on the seat, one foot on the ground, and just gave her. Pulling as hard as I possibly could, it finally gave in and tightened. It's now as tight, if not tighter than my Britax'es. Definitely wasn't easy. Uninstalling it might also be another issue as well.

I might add, if you're using a seat belt, be prepared to twist the belt at the buckle a few times to get it tight.

A downside to rear facing (I have one front and rear): this seat takes up a TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ROOM when rear facing. I've got my front passenger seat all the way to the front just to accommodate the seat; that seat is now useless. This was NOT a problem with my Britax Boulevard. Lucky for me, this works out as I don't usually have a front passenger anyway, and my dog sits in the rear footwell. But be prepared and I would honestly give it a try at the store before trying. It's just crazy how much room the seat takes. On the bright side, because of this, my 2 year old toddler now has MUCH more leg room than she did with the Britax.

One other complaint about the seats: they rattle, likely due to the way they're built. It is an annoyance but whatever. I also couldn't believe how heavy they are!!!
The easiest way to get a seat tight, is to sit on it and pull on the belt at the same time.

Do remember, it should not move an inch at where the belt is, not at the top of the seat, that's always going to move much more than an inch. They shouldn't rattle that much, there must be something loose that can be taken out if it does.

[oddduck]

Bump.

I've since picked up a pair of Diono Radian R100's. They are very much a pain to get a tight fit. First time I tried, I could not for the life of me get it tight. Next day, I wasn't satisfied, so I redid the install (this is LATCH BTW). Had one foot on the seat, one foot on the ground, and just gave her. Pulling as hard as I possibly could, it finally gave in and tightened. It's now as tight, if not tighter than my Britax'es. Definitely wasn't easy. Uninstalling it might also be another issue as well.

I might add, if you're using a seat belt, be prepared to twist the belt at the buckle a few times to get it tight.

A downside to rear facing (I have one front and rear): this seat takes up a TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ROOM when rear facing. I've got my front passenger seat all the way to the front just to accommodate the seat; that seat is now useless. This was NOT a problem with my Britax Boulevard. Lucky for me, this works out as I don't usually have a front passenger anyway, and my dog sits in the rear footwell. But be prepared and I would honestly give it a try at the store before trying. It's just crazy how much room the seat takes. On the bright side, because of this, my 2 year old toddler now has MUCH more leg room than she did with the Britax.

One other complaint about the seats: they rattle, likely due to the way they're built. It is an annoyance but whatever. I also couldn't believe how heavy they are!!!

Diono has an angle adjuster available that will help you regain a few inches.

http://www.amazon.com/Diono-60320-Radian-Angle-Adjuster/dp/B006I1QTYQ

[freetoaster]

Diono has an angle adjuster available that will help you regain a few inches.

http://www.amazon.com/Diono-60320-Radian-Angle-Adjuster/dp/B006I1QTYQ

Depending on the design of your seat the seats are actually VERY reclined and the angle adjuster just brings them up to where they would be in other cars... I hear from many car seat forums that they use pool noodles or other firm foam to create their own angle adjusters.

Also for anyone considering the Diono there is a thread here http://forums.redflagdeals.com/amazon-ca-canada-day-deals-week-1194982/#post14974170

amazon.ca has a diono RXT for $250 shipped (+tax) and a R100 for $197 shipped (+tax) this is the cheapest I've seen them.