Britax Car Seats
Recent developments with the Britax Regent car seat
A home video recently posted on Youtube.com by a mother claims that the Britax Regent car seat could have saved her son from a fatal car accident and strongly recommends that parents keep their children in a car seat with a 5-point harness for as long as possible instead of graduating them into a booster seat. For those who missed it, the begining of the transcription is displayed below:
"I'd like you to meet my son Kyle.
Kyle was 3 years old when he was killed because an incompetent driver ran a red light and hit our mini-van at an intersection on May 29th 2005.
Kyle was in a booster seat, wearing his seatbelt when we were hit.
We thought he was protected...
Seatbelts are supposed to work… 100% of the time… right?
Well they don't.
Seatbelts frequently fail by either unlatching or not tightening upon impact.
Kyle's seatbelt was buckled but came unlatched upon impact.
His big sister was sitting right next to him in an identical booster, but her seatbelt worked and she walked away.
The only difference was that her seat belt worked and his didn't...
Seatbelts are wonderful things, when they work...
There is something that could have prevented Kyle's death though..."
The full transcript is too long to fit on this page. The full transcript of the video including the part citing the Britax Regent can be found here.
Britax USA car seats - common features:
Among Britax’s innovations in safety is their tangle-free polyester 5-point harness system that grows with your child – the seats generally fit children 5 to 65 pounds except for the Britax Regent which can carry children up to 80 pounds! Most of the Britax car seat models, including the Britax Roundabout, Britax Boulevard, Britax Companion, and the Britax Decathlon – feature the “LATCH” (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system, which locks the car seat into the vehicle quickly and securely. Most new motor vehicles have the factory installed stabilization points that the LATCH system is designed for. And all Britax car seats feature durable yet soft fabric that is easy to clean.
Additional Britax features (may not be available on all models):
True Side Impact Protection. Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are accidents do sometimes occur. Britax car seats contain a reinforced headrest with specially made foam that helps absorb the energy of a frontal or side impact crash. For further protection, the car seats are also designed to cradle your child’s head.
Travel friendly. Many of the models are approved for airport use, meaning you can use it while you travel via car, bus, and airplane.
Versa-Tether®. This additional anchor aid provides extra protection for your child. Using the factory installed anchor points the Tether® provides even more security regardless if it is installed forward or rear facing.
Britax car seat reviews
I really like how tight the lap area buckle is on Britax car seats. I read about other parents saying this is "too tight" as the Marathon Convertible car seat does not adjust on the leg-area. I found quite the opposite to be true. I really like that feature. With other car seats it can be easy to accidently make the harness too loose, which does not make the seat safer. This feature, with the non-adjusting of the lap/leg area of the Britax Marathon is perfect! It makes safety number one, rather than incorrectly adjusting (which compromises the safetly). It might be easy for my daughter now, as she is currently long and lean (25% weight and 75% height), and if I had a child who is on the bigger-side (chubby legs) I might have a different opinion. Chris, CA.
The convenience feature I like most about the Britax Marathon is the little velcro on the side of the seat to secure the straps when it's not in use. This makes it super fast and easy when I put my daughter into the Marathon car seat, as the straps are literally pulled out of the way (fastened to the side velcro strips), which makes getting into the car a breeze! Pulling her out of the car seat is just as great as I simply pull the straps to the side (where the velcro sticks) and the straps stay there until it's time to get back into the Britax! WONDERFUL!!! A++++ feature!! Another goodie for convenience is the little bag (very nicely matching the fabric) attached to the car seat which holds the Britax Product Manaual Booklet. I love that it's in a spot I can easily find when I need it (for instance, when she'll be facing forward I need to read about the features to keeping the seat safe), and I don't have to dig around to find it. The best part about this little bag is it's discreet, yet conveniently located and attached to the seat. Good thinking!! Cynthia, MI |
