Best value in safety, comfort and length of time it's used.
experienced parent, looking for value, parent of toddlers, safety conscious, a comparison shopper, budget conscious, auto-safety nut, Minivan-driver
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NOV
17
2007
Britax Marathon —
When I first became a parent I got a car seat (second-hand) because it was the law and didn't really pay much attention to safety features. I didn't have a lot to spend so I thought I didn't have many options. I've learned a lot since then and this seat is one of my best investments and one that I'm very proud of because of just how much research went into the decision. The Marathon far surpasses the seat it replaced.The Marathon has a 5 point harness. Most seats do these days, if you are using one with only a three point harness, check to see that it's not expired. Seats should have a manufacture date somewhere on the side or base. If the seat is more than six years old, it needs to be replaced. Time, heat, cold and moisture all contibute to a weakening of the plastic and other materials that make up the seat. After six years, it's time to get a new seat.
This seat is big, and that's a good thing. Your child can remain in the safest possible stage for much longer because of the Marathon's dimensions. Rear-facing is safer than forward-facing and this seat accomodates children up to 33 lbs. rear-facing. Remaining in a 5 point harness is safer than using a booster with a seat belt, and the Marathon makes that possible up to 65 lbs. The higher cost of the Marathon as compared to some of the other seats on the market evens out quite a bit when you figure in the fact that you don't need to buy another seat every couple years as your child grows.
The Marathon is equipped with velcro tabs on the straps to keep them tucked out of the way during loading and unloading and prevent them from tangling. There is far more padding in this seat than many of its cheaper counterparts, making for a much more comfortable ride and making naps possible on long trips. If you are lucky enough to have a newer vehicle with LATCH, then the Marathon is ready to go, just read the manual to install correctly. If you don't have LATCH, you can use the seatbelt of course. Additional anchoring to an immovable part of the vehicle such as a chair leg is not only possible but recommended to ensure a tight fit and less movement in the event of a collision.
Britax Marathon is recommended by julbug
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