britax :: advocate ultimateComfort series convertible car seat :: review

Once I had kids, I truly got the saying, “I want to put my child inside a bubble.” It’s life changing when you become a parent. I never knew how much safety would become a part of my world. With that said, I feel like our Britax car seat is the closest thing there is to literally putting my child inside a bubble. Outside of the safety ratings (which I will point out later in this post), it is a plush ride for our little dude. There is cushioning and padding under him, beside him, and it has great head support for napping. It intimidated me at first because it’s a very large seat, and we are still sporting a 5 seater car for our family of 5, but it is a perfect fit. If you are looking for a comfortable seat that can grow with your child, look no further. I think Charlie’s photo in the picture below speaks for the comfort. Check out all the padding too! This seat is as squishy as my Charlie baby. A few things that jumped out at me about this seat is the super easy strap clips if you are using the LATCH system to install your car seat. How many times have you broken nails and tried to wedge you hand into the seat to pinch the clasp onto the hook? This Britax seat has an easy to use red button (much like a seat belt button) and it is a cinch to use the LATCH system and tighten it. The buckles on the seat itself are very simple to use and operate too. They are chubby thigh friendly as well. I know this sounds random, but the way the padding is around the buckle, I can’t pinch my child’s leg when I’m snapping him in. Also, there’s no unthreading of seat belts and pushing anything through new holes to adjust shoulder straps. It’s as simple as a pinch of a button at the head of the seat and it moves the back of the seat up and down for proper shoulder placement. Oh, I was sad to be giving up my car seat sidekick with my infant carrier, but Britax had my back. There is Velcro that holds the straps out of the way when I put our Charlie in his seat. All in all, it’s a really – REALLY – neat car seat with safety features and user features that we can all appreciate.

Car seat installation is starting to feel like you need a college degree. Or you can check out car seat 101 HERE. While the Britax instructions are easy to read, I do suggest you visit your local fire or police station to have any car seat properly installed. Even if you have the highest rated seat for safety, it’s not going to matter if it’s not in your car the right way. 80% of seats are not installed correctly. I’m lucky enough to have a certified car seat CHP officer as a friend. I was shocked when he showed me all the little things to look for when installing a seat. Let’s wrap this post up with a few product highlights from Britax. They spell it out better then I can, but I will say from experience that it’s a fantastic seat!

Product Highlights

• Head safety technology, including SafeCell technology in the base, integrated steel bars, energy-absorbing Versa-Tether and HUGS chest pads, reduces forward head movement and the risk of injury
• True Side Impact Protection offers a head restraint, creating an extra layer of energy-absorbing EPP foam, keeping the head, neck and spine “in true” or aligned, and deep sidewalls lined with EPP foam to distribute crash forces, shield from vehicle intrusion and contain the head, neck and body
• Side Impact Cushion Technology features energy-absorbing cushions on the exterior of the child seat to reduce side impact crash energy by diverting crash forces away from your child and providing extra protection for the adjacent passenger
• Quick-adjust harness repositions the harness shoulder height without disassembling the harness straps
• HUGS (Harness Ultra Guard System) with SafeCell technology manages crash energy and forward head movement while keeping the chest clip properly positioned
• Click & Safe Snug Harness Indicator is an audible aid that provides extra assurance when the harness is within range of appropriate snugness
• Tangle-free five-point harness distributes crash forces across the strongest parts of the body and provides a secure fit
• 65-pound weight capacity for safety and comfort as your child grows
• Rear- and forward-facing recline for child comfort and positioning
• High-density comfort foam provides an extra layer of padding to gently cushion your child
• Easy-remove cover allows easy cleaning, without disassembling the harness or uninstalling the car seat
• Two buckle positions for your growing child
• EZ-Buckle system and harness holders keep harness straps out of the way when placing your child in the car seat
• Premium lower LATCH connectors for a quick and simple installation, featuring a push button for easy release
• Built-in lock-offs ensure a snug lap and shoulder belt installation with minimal effort
• Antislip, contoured base grips and protects the vehicle seat while offering an optimal vehicle fit
• Infant positioning pillow offers extra comfort while achieving a proper harness fit for small infants
• Certified for aircraft travel
• Recommended use:     Rear facing: 5 – 40 lbs.; 9″ – 16.75″ seated shoulder height; 49″ or less standing height     Forward facing: 20 – 65 lbs.; 12″ – 16.75″ seated shoulder height; 49″ or less standing height
• Product weight: 21.6 lbs.
• Dimensions: 21″D x 22″W x 26″H
• Exclusively at Babies’R’Us
• Designed, engineered and built in the USA

Britax Advocate UltimateComfort Series Convertible Car Seat – Manhattan :: $389.99

Connect with Britax ::
“Like” them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter