Im in the market for new carseats ahhhhh what fun! Safety comes 1st and after hearing about and seeing some videos on youtube about carseat safety and what can happen if your child is not properly restrained Im scared everytime I get in the car with my kids! Okay my 7 month old will be getting a convertable carseat Im either considering the Britax,Sunshine Radian, or the Fisher-Price Voyager the prices are SKY high on the 1st 2 i know but I want safety! Now I have an almost 4yr old she is average height for her age 34 pounds, and my 5 1/2 year old is a little bit taller than other 5 yr olds she weight 45 pounds. Right now my middle child is in a costco carseat ahhh I really do not like the ever twisting straps and the weight limit is 40 pounds, my oldest is in the Graco Turbo Booster which I do not really like either it turns into a backless booster, it gets transfered often when Grandma comes to get my daughters and the thing comes APART!! ahhh scary imagine in an accident! I have a ford focus soo space is already tight! Has anyone heard of or have the Safeguard Go Booster? The reviews sound great! and i found a great deal online for them!! Also what do you think of the sunshine radian, britax marathon, or fisher-price voyager? I really would like to keep the 5 point harness on my oldest for as long as possible, but have considered the Britax booster too ahhh Im confused! Please help! Thank YOU

I did the same thing a couple months ago .

My 4 year old is 39 pounds and 41 inches. Right now he's still in his convertible car seat (Evenflo Triumph 5) but we're on the waiting list for a Sunshine Kids Radian 65. The Radian 65 (or 80) may be a good choice for you because it's made to be more narrow. I have heard that you can fit 3 across the backseat of a car. My plan is to keep my 4 year old in the Radian until my 2 year old outgrows his Triumph 5. He should be about 6 by then and much more secure in a booster.

Whatever you choose, let your child sit in it first. I found that my son's shoulders were too broad for him to be able to sit comfortably in the Britax Marathon. He sits comfortably in the Radian 65.

If price is a concern, you might want to look into the Evenflo Triumph Advance LX for your youngest (or maybe even your middle child). It now goes up to 50 pounds and 50 inches and can be kept rear facing up to 35 pounds. I have two Triumph 5's (the older model) and I love them. They have been very well rated by Consumer Reports in the past. The Triumph Advance is about $130-$150 depending on the model you buy.

As far as the Safeguard Go booster - I have heard of it and read about it online but not tried it out. I believe you need to have high backed seats in your car to be able to use it.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

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Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8/03), Ian (9/05), & Lucas (11/08)

We have the Britax Marathon and the Husky (I think it's now called the Regal?). We absolutely love both. Both have 5 point harnesses (the Husky goes up to 80lbs and the Marathon goes up to 65). My ds (8) was in the Husky but reached the weight limit and is now in a high back booster (he's not quite the height requirement to be without a car seat). My dd(6) was in the Marathon but we moved her up to the Husky when ds 'moved out'. She is somewhat tall for her age and could have stayed in the Marathon but since we had the Husky available we moved her up. My youngest (4) is now in the Marathon and she loves it. She was in the Evenflo Triumph.


The Husky (Regal) is very big but the Marathon is a pretty standard size. It should fit in your vehicle.

We spent a pretty penny on the Britax carseats but have been able to pass them down within our immediate family. I'm not sure if you are aware of this but carseats do expire---something about the natural degradation of materials over time. Our car insurance reimbursed $25 for each carseat (with a lifetime limit of 3 re-imbursements---you might want to check with your car insurance). Carseat safety is a priority with us as you can probably tell with our oldest still in a high back booster.

Oh, and with the Marathon we were able to get a new carseat cover. They have really cute prints. This is not as important as the safety of the seat but it is a nicety.

I remember another mom on here who had the Sunshine and she gave it a two thumbs up. Maybe she'll respond to this post.