Our challenges with installing the seat lead us to assert that the Recline N’ Ride could be a good choice for children with special needs who require a deep recline when forward facing but it may not work well in some vehicles. It’s also quite limited in booster mode since our models struggled to buckle themselves into the seat.
We’ve enjoyed following the Cybex Aton line of rear facing only seats as it’s evolved, from the original Aton to the Aton 2 and Aton Q. (If you read these, you’ll notice our review style has evolved as well!) And now, there’s a new Aton on the block, with a brand new base and some variations on Cybex’s unique features. Meet the Cybex Aton M.
While the ABC Kids Expo was smaller than in past years, we were fortunate to see the debut of two brand new car seats and to be some of the first to learn about some other new car seats and booster seats! We look forward to giving these seats an in-depth look and review in the near future.
We’re always impressed by the number of great car seats and booster seats that our friends at Graco and Baby Jogger have to offer. After a year where they’ve introduced a number of great options, we are so impressed that even here at the year’s end, they’ve got more tricks up their sleeve!
We learned very quickly that the SnugRide SnugLock Extend2Fit 35 – or SnugLock E2F 35 for short – is a valuable car seat in its own right, filling a need for a rear facing only seat that fits newborns well yet can be used comfortably for longer than a year. The tall shell height, extra legroom, and 35 inch height limit all add up to a long-lasting option for families on the go.
We maintain that age is the best determinant of when a child is ready to move to a booster seat, not weight. We stand by the industry standards. NHTSA requires that today’s car seats meet or exceed Federal Safety Standard 213 and all car seats, including the ones mentioned in the Consumer Reports article, meet or exceed that standard.
We absolutely respect what Consumer Reports is trying to do with this reporting but we’re not so fond of the fear-provoking headlines.
The Magellan has a lot of interesting features and is so well-padded that even the pickiest of passengers should find it comfortable. Unfortunately, the number of installation challenges we faced along the way don’t put the Magellan at the top of our list for easy to use car seats. Families who are looking for a very plush car seat, have a roomy vehicle and are willing to be extremely patient while installing the Magellan may find it exactly what they need.
The Evenflo Maestro has long been a popular forward facing only combination car seat. It’s gained quite a following as a lightweight, easy to install car sat for travel. Evenflo has updated this old favorite with a few new features, including updated cupholders and a much larger belt path while keeping it just as versatile and affordable as the original.
When a newborn joins your family, it’s an exciting and overwhelming time! In anticipation of the newest little’s arrival, there are so many items to research and purchase. But only one of those new items is a critical purchase that’s designed to keep your baby safe in the event of a crash — baby’s first car seat. We’ll look at some important factors to consider in choosing baby’s first ride.
The Ally 35 seems promising in many ways. The low strap height will fit infants well, and the European routing method of baseless installation and relatively light carrier weight make it a good choice for travel. However, we are very discouraged that it’s already in stores with no instructions on how to adjust the crotch buckle, and the upright angle makes us less likely to recommend it for preemies and low birthweight babies, who would fit well in it otherwise. We’d love to take a further look at the Ally 35 once the instructions in the manual are clarified.
