UPDATE I chose the Safe Voyage!!inexpensive seat to be used 1X/week for 35ish# 2 1/2 y.o.

[Oregonmother]

I was planning on getting the Cosco Scenera, but just realized the weight limit is 40#. In my car we have him in a Marathon, and I will be buying a Regent for him soon to pass the marathon onto DD once she is out of the infant seat. What other inexpensive good car seats are out there? TIA.
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Thanks everyone for your great advice. I just purchased the FP Safe Voyage from Albee baby for $169.99 with free shipping, this was the best deal I could find since we don't have a Baby Depot nearby. I love this board!! I highly considered the Safeguard GO and the Safety 1st Apex also, but both needed high seatbacks while the Safe Voyage could be used in any car and seemed more versatile. The Radian seemed nice too, but after reasearch it seems like there are a lot of installation problems in getting a tight fit. Plus, I LOVE Britax's, so the Safe Voyage seems to be the best fit for us. I'll let you lnow how I end up liking it!

[Aunt to sweet baby boy]

Are their high seat backs in the car? If yes a Cosco Apex would work well. I would not want to get a seat that maxes at 40 lbs with him being so young. Alternatively i would put the baby into a Cosco Serena and keep the MA for him to use.

If there are top tether anchors maybe one of the travel vests?

Ilana

http://lilypie.com/pic/060403/hfNw.jpg[/img]http://b2.lilypie.com/h2bbm7/.png[/img][/url]

[Kat_Mom2D_J_andRuthie]

also needing a tall seatback... just throwing it in here... the new Safeguard Go Harnessed booster.

[Oregonmother]

This looks like a very cool booster. I can't find a price on it though. Is it even available yet?

[Oregonmother]

From what I can tell the Cosco Apex is about $180, I was hoping for something under $100 since it will only be used about 1X/week for short trips in our babysitter's car which is an 2 door acura integra. I have a Lexus GX460, so I doo have high seatbacks, but I definetly want the Britax's in my car since I drive the kids the majority of the time.

[Kat_Mom2D_J_andRuthie]

it is 179.00 (but I've heard of people getting discounts on the child seat when ordering by phone... so you could try ordering by phone and seeing what kind of discount you can get)

I like it because it's so light, takes up little room, can be used with latch all the way through the booster stage... so it's so simple for the dads and other people to install and use.

everyone has been pretty impressed with it, as it is nice and narrow, too, so would fit easily in the middle for harnessed use between two other seats.

and it folds up so easy into a travel bag to take as a carry-on or throw in the trunk when needed.

here's the link on how to order one: http://www.safeguardseat.com/go/buy.htm

the top available harness position is 20".

[Splash]

Babies R Us sells the Apex for $120.
What about a Graco CarGo or Evenflo Chase? Harness to 40, then a decent booster. High top slots so he should make it to 40 pounds.

[Oregonmother]

What do you think?

[Aunt to sweet baby boy]

If your son was 3.5 and 35# then i might reccomened a seat that only has a harness to 40 lbs, but for a child who is only 2.5 and 35# i woudl not. If those seats are out of your budget what about one of the travel vests? They can usually be found for under $100.

JMO

Ilana

http://lilypie.com/pic/060403/hfNw.jpg[/img]http://b2.lilypie.com/h2bbm7/.png[/img][/url]

[essnce629]

I'd also recommend the new Fisher Price Safe Voyage. It's just like a stripped down Marathon and harnesses to 55lbs. You can see it IRL at Baby Depot. But it's also $179.

***Latia
Birth and Postpartum Doula
http://www.socaldoula.com

Conner 8/19/03 (homebirthed water baby)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif Self-weaned at 24 months!

[Oregonmother]

Thanks Latia! I think I'll probably go with the Safe Voyage. We can afford a more expensive seat, I was just trying to avoid it if I could since it will be used so infrequently. I am really surprised that most car seats only go to 40#. No wonder so many people switch to boosters too early.