You know, it's been so long since we made the decision I can't remember except maybe space? In hindsight, it was a good decision. DD1 has some "issues" where she scratched/hit/pinched DD2--having them that close would have been open season.
Us ~2005 * #1~2006 * #2~2008 * #3~-2010 * #4 due 9/19/12
Yolanda - apologies about that - I know in the Jeep the headrests tilt backwards. Can you check your vehicle owner's manual to see if the seats recline. I have been doing some research and I understand the second row of Commander's recline, so I hoped possible the Cherokee would too.
If not, then unfortunately, this vehicle is not compatible with forward-facing child restraints or high back boosters.
Just wanted to share this. I needed an inexpensive extended harness option for DS, as we need to buy him three seats in the near future (one for DH's vehicle, one for grandma's vehicle, and one for mine). I'm going to get him the Nautilus or the Frontier as his primary seat in my car. For extras, I found the Safety 1st Apex 65, which is mentioned previously in the thread. If you don't mind the color, Albee Baby has it in Modern Blue for $89 (free shipping over $100, or only $5 otherwise).
Just watch out with the Apex65 - whilst this is a good seat, there are a couple of things you should know going into ordering it.
1) The top harness slot height is pretty low - 17 inches. So do measure your child's torso height prior to ordering to determine just how much growing room you will have. Pretty much no child will get to 65lbs in that seat. (You measure torso height by sitting the child on the floor against the wall. Mark on wall where top of shoulders are - measure from floor to mark).
2) The Apex needs to have some kind of support behind it - so as the child grows, the head rest moves up - you need to have a moveable headrest in your vehicle behind the Apex to support it. The Apex is a pretty lightweight and flexible seat, so this support behind it is required.
Other than that, it is a great budget seat! If you have the extra $50 though, I would always go with the Nautilus insread.
I need a seat for my DS (3.5yrs, 38 pounds, about 40-some inches, long torso) for our trip up to Oregon next month. I really don't want to lug the Marathon on the plane, since I'll be by myself, so I was thinking of getting the CARES system for the plane and shipping an Apex up to OR for my parents to install. They'll pick us up, so we'll need a carseat up there. Plus we are flying up at Christmas, so he'll need a seat then. I liked that it will keep him harnessed for a while longer and it's not $200, since it's an extra seat we won't use everyday. Think that makes sense, bombedier? Any other ideas for us? Our old "airplane" seat was the Scenera, but obviously he's too big for that now.
~Laura~
Wife in 6/01, Mommy in 8/05 and 8/09
Former lurker. Shy online but surprisingly outgoing IRL
I have a question! We have DS1 in a Marathon most of the time, but would like to purchase an extra seat to leave down the shore for the summer. This way he could go in my mom's car or my IL's car without having to re-install his big seat every time.
I am looking for an inexpensive booster seat, I think. He's 5 1/2 and over 40 lbs, and in the 50th percentile for height. Something with the 'wings' that he could rest his head on would be nice, my mom mentioned that he seems to miss that in the seat she currently has (a loaner that he's now outgrowing). It should be easy to get in and out of different vehicles, and not dependent on there being LATCH available.
ETA -- any thoughts on the First Years Compass Folding Booster?
Any thoughts on the Britax Frontier? Need info ASAP as I am thinking about ordering one for my DD that will be 4 in August. She's in a Marathon now, but I think she'd be more comfortable in the Frontier...
Just watch out with the Apex65 - whilst this is a good seat, there are a couple of things you should know going into ordering it.
1) The top harness slot height is pretty low - 17 inches. So do measure your child's torso height prior to ordering to determine just how much growing room you will have. Pretty much no child will get to 65lbs in that seat. (You measure torso height by sitting the child on the floor against the wall. Mark on wall where top of shoulders are - measure from floor to mark).
2) The Apex needs to have some kind of support behind it - so as the child grows, the head rest moves up - you need to have a moveable headrest in your vehicle behind the Apex to support it. The Apex is a pretty lightweight and flexible seat, so this support behind it is required.
Other than that, it is a great budget seat! If you have the extra $50 though, I would always go with the Nautilus insread.
Thanks for the info! I would love to go with the Nautilus, but like I said, I need to buy THREE. The harness height could be a dealbreaker, though. I guess I'll have to think some things over to see if this seat would work out. This is for DS #1. I'll have to measure him, try to figure how long he'll be able to use it and if it could be passed down to DS #2 at some point. But I suppose that would mean buying more seats in the future....I'll have to think it all over. Thanks again!
What are the slot heights on the Nautilus and Frontier?
I need a seat for my DS (3.5yrs, 38 pounds, about 40-some inches, long torso) for our trip up to Oregon next month. I really don't want to lug the Marathon on the plane, since I'll be by myself, so I was thinking of getting the CARES system for the plane and shipping an Apex up to OR for my parents to install. They'll pick us up, so we'll need a carseat up there. Plus we are flying up at Christmas, so he'll need a seat then. I liked that it will keep him harnessed for a while longer and it's not $200, since it's an extra seat we won't use everyday. Think that makes sense, bombedier? Any other ideas for us? Our old "airplane" seat was the Scenera, but obviously he's too big for that now.
Yes - there are few scenarios where I would recommend a CARES, but this is one - where you won't be putting a car seat in luggage hold. Just check on his torso - you say it is long. The Apex top slots are low at 17 inches, so it doesn't generally suit a long torsoed child. Also make sure the vehicle has a moveable headrest in the location where the Apex will be installed.
You could go with a Go Go Kidz to use the Marathon onboard and save the purchase of another seat.
Any thoughts on the Britax Frontier? Need info ASAP as I am thinking about ordering one for my DD that will be 4 in August. She's in a Marathon now, but I think she'd be more comfortable in the Frontier...
What is your daughter's torso height? That is seated height from butt to top of shoulders.
Originally Posted by bombedier
The harness height could be a dealbreaker, though. I guess I'll have to think some things over to see if this seat would work out. This is for DS #1. I'll have to measure him, try to figure how long he'll be able to use it and if it could be passed down to DS #2 at some point. But I suppose that would mean buying more seats in the future....I'll have to think it all over. Thanks again!
