This is crazy, but with the BV out, the MA doesn't seem as safe now...

[jkpalotay]

I think I just have mommy-brain, but I just can't seem to be satisified with anything anymore! The MA is such a great seat, (esepcially compared with all the others on the market), but now with the BV and those great "wings/pillows" I wonder if my child would be a little bit safer in the BV. Crazy, isn't it? I know the MA is very safe, but I feel bad not getting my child the seat with the added side impact protection. (We have no side-curtain airbags). I feel so silly for making such a big deal over a carseat. Anyone ever thought this before?

Kelli
Mommy to Luke (April 2003)
Hoping for another this year sometime!

[MamaParis]

I personally feel like my kids are just as safe in their Marathons and Roundabouts as they are in the Wizard we recently got(old Boulevard).


My oldest (DD) could not stand the Wizard wings - so we had the RA and MA for her. But the baby (DS) seems to actually enjoy the wings on the Wizard we have.
Had DD not put up such a fight over the wings, I would have gotten her a Wizard back a couple years ago. But I don't seel like I sacrified any safety by getting the MA instead.

JMO

[Joolsplus2]

Here's what CPSDarren saidto someone else on the same subject (I'm sure he won't mind the full-copying....)

At a conference a few years ago, the Britax president gave a presentation on
side impacts. This coincided with the release of the original Wizard and
Bodyguard. He did say that most restraints with a 5-point harness do
provide reasonable protection in side impacts.

So, the advantage of a WZ or BV over a MA in a side impact is probably
relatively small. I suspect the biggest benefits of "TSIP" would be when
using something like the Parkway rather than a backless booster for a child
seated in an outboard position.

Deeper wings should be better. First, they provide some shell to protect
against intrusion. In a side impact, this can help protect the head and
abdomen from injury since there is very little chassis between the child and
impact, as there would be in a frontal crash. In a similar fashion, they
also contain the head and abdomen and allow the body to ride down the crash
a little better than if the first thing it strikes is a window or pillar
that is already moving toward the child.

For models with a 5-point harness, I think TSIP probably is just icing on
the cake, much like rear-facing tethers or foam inserts. Yes, they do
provide some benefit. On the other hand, just having a child properly
restrained in the back seat with a 5-point harness makes them already so
safe that these extras are mostly added re-assurance for nuts like me:-)

Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx