Toddler Car Seat

hi gals!

I was wondering which toddler car seats you gals have. I am looking at the Graco Safeseat Step 2 Toddler Seat. Does anyone have that? If so, what's it like? And does anyone know the safety ratings for it?

I have this one:

I have been looking for a new carseat also....
WHen can you turn the carseat around? So that there facing forward?

Quoting ~* Mandy *~:“ I have been looking for a new carseat also.... WHen can you turn the carseat around? So that there facing forward?”

At 1 year AND 20 lbs

Quoting MamaOf2Girls:“ At 1 year AND 20 lbs”

well my lil one is over the weight but not one till may 14 thank you...
I have been asking people in my familly and they didnt know... even though they have lil ones  

Quoting ~* Mandy *~:“ well my lil one is over the weight but not one till may 14 thank you... I have been asking people in my familly and they didnt know... even though they have lil ones  ”

Yeah it's scary how many people have no clue about carseat safety especially if they have kids. My hubby's cousin had her little daughter forward facing at 6 months!

Quoting MamaOf2Girls:“ Yeah it's scary how many people have no clue about carseat safety especially if they have kids. My hubby's cousin had her little daughter forward facing at 6 months!”

Wow.

6 months? Wow back when the law here used to be 20 lbs or 1 yr not both we had my friends kid turned around by 6 months but that was years ago.. OUr ped reminds us at every appoinment to not forward face until 1 yr and 20 lbs.. Mikaila is 14 months and about 22-23 lbs and is still rear facing..
Anyway back on topic we have the costco alpa omego elite and we love it!
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2580983

Well for my new baby I plan on getting this one for when he is a year, it converts into a booster seat
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4366138&selected_variation_0=4366138&qty_0=1&upc=0003288414196&registry_id=86170107105&shopFor=true
Two of the reviews says that it was a really safe seat when their kids were in car aciddents.

I can't remember the current carseat I have for my three year old. It was a gift when I was pregnant with him and I know it's Graco, it's lasted two years though with no problems. Wish I could just figure out what kind of Graco carseat it is.

Quoting Hottiebrat:“ Well for my new baby I plan on getting this one for when he is a year, it converts into a booster seat ... [snip!] ... know it's Graco, it's lasted two years though with no problems. Wish I could just figure out what kind of Graco carseat it is.”

We have this one too. have not used it yet. we are going to start too though cause my lil one is a lil to big for the car seat you carry around

The graco safe seat step 2 is a foreward facing seat only. Your child is not yet a year so that would not work for you. What about the evenflo it is in the same price range but rear faces to 35 lbs and forward untill 50 lbs which will be 10 lbs longer then the Graco as well. It is best to keep the child rear facing as long as you can. Here is info on why.

Here are links to extened rear facing.
I hope all this info helps if you have any questions please pm me.
http://www.thecarseatlady.com/car_seats/rear-facing_seats_6.html

Here is rear facing photos
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum.aspx

http://www.cpsafety.com/PDFfiles/RearFacingBrochure.pdf



All the safety experts say it's safest for a child to rear face as their spine is not strong enough to protect the spinal cord if they are forward facing. It's not strong enough because the vertebrae are in pieces joined by cartilage. The vertebral arch has not fused into a complete circle of bone, which will enclose and protect the spinal cord


In the first picture there is a cervical vertebrae for a one-year old (left), and beside it a cervical vertebrae for a 6 year old (right). Note that the 1-yr old's vertebrae is still in pieces.



In the 2nd picture, thoracic vertebrae for a 1 yr old (left) and for a 6 yr old (right). Note that the 1-yr old's vertebrae is still in pieces.


In the 3rd picture, lumbar vertebrae for a 1 yr old (left) and for a 6 yr old (right). Note that the 1-yr old's vertebrae is still in pieces



Here is a video on why rear facing is best

This is the evenflo car seat that is in the same price range.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2734224

Quoting ~* Mandy *~:“ We have this one too. have not used it yet. we are going to start too though cause my lil one is a lil to big for the car seat you carry around”

yeah I ran into that same problem with my son right before he turned a year old. So I just did the forward facing at about 11 months, which I won't do again. I have a infant car seat that holds children up to 30lbs. So hopefully my new little won't out grow that until he is a year old or later.

Oh no no I am not thinking of forward facing her yet...she still fits in her infant car seat...im just starting to look...to see who has what and what i should get...thanks everyone for your great reviews!

Quoting Gregosaurusrex [47 days]:“ I have this one: ”

lol my sister has the exact same for her son...but i think its a bit more on the expensive side for me...