Yes, the Boulevard is the Marathon with the side impact protection.

I did have a problem getting the Roundabout (smaller version of the
Marathon) installed with the LATCH. I tried it in the outboard position
in my 02 Maxima, but my LATCH anchors are set really deep and are hard
to access. I would say if your LATCH system is easy to access, you
should not have a problem. Our 4runner is too old for LATCH, so the
Roundabout is installed with the lap belt and it was very easy. The
built-in lock offs work very well. The Roundabout reclines nicely to a
45 degree angle, but it is about 3 inches shorter than the Marathon or
Boulevard. It fit really well in the outboard position as well as the
middle of both of our vehicles, so I don't expect too many problems with
our new Boulevard, since it will be in the middle.

The car seat technician tried the radian in my car, RF in the middle.
The Radian would not achieve a full 45 degree recline, only about a 30
degree angle. Not good for the larger head when sleeping, but the Radian
does have the higher weight limit, steel frame and lower base, which is
safer. It could be different in your car depending on space. My front
seats are pretty bulky.

As a side note. Make sure to check the manual for your car. I had our
car seat installed in the middle, with LATCH, which was totally wrong
(and I had Paige there for 2 years!). The car seat tech said that some
cars are only designed to use LATCH in the outboard positions. We've
always kept our kids in the middle, since it is the safest place, so the
tech re-installed our infant seat using the lap belt and said it is just
as safe. We plan to keep Paige RF for as long as we can. I feel lucky
that her shorter legs will make this possible :)

Lindsay (Patiently awaiting the arrival of the new Boulevard)

Mom to Paige, 2.5 yrs (Achon)

________________________________

From: parentsoflittlepeople2@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:parentsoflittlepeople2@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of nlisevich
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 10:45 AM
To: parentsoflittlepeople2@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Parents of Little People 2] Re: Best car seat?





So I just did some research on the Internet and I've narrowed it down to
the Britax Marathon and Radian XT. (I'm not considering the Recaro, only
because it is not certified in Canada. Otherwise I would consider it
too).

This is what I've found out:

BM - easy to install, bulky for travelling, very difficult for some
people to figure out how to fully tighten the straps especially in the
rear-facing position (the biggest drawback for me), fits better than the
radian for rear-facing
Radian - narrow and great for cars especially that have 3 car seats in a
row, folds up and great for travel, some people have found it a pain for
rear-facing and have the front seats pushed all the way up in order to
fit it in (the biggest drawback for me), more room for kids to grow
lengthwise, limits are higher (up to 35 pounds rear-facing instead of 30
and up to 80 pound forward-facing instead of 65 with the BM)

Anyone have any experience with harnessing the straps tight enough with
the BM and/or ease of ability to rear-face in family sized cars?

One more question - in the pictures it looks like the Britax Boulevard
CS is the seat with the side impact protection (and not the marathon) -
is this true?

Thanks again for all your feedback about this!

Nicole

-- In parentsoflittlepeople2@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:parentsoflittlepeople2%40yahoogroups.com> , Erica Newman
<photofemme29@...> wrote:
>
> We purchased the Britax Marathon car seat (upon recommendation by
other parents on this site) and couldn't be happier with it.
>
>
> With Love
> The Newmans
> Erica, Darin, Colby, Morgan, Sydney and Sutton
>
>
> --- On Fri, 7/10/09, Fowler, Lindsay <lindsay.fowler@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: Fowler, Lindsay <lindsay.fowler@...>
> Subject: RE: [Parents of Little People 2] Best car seat?
> To: parentsoflittlepeople2@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:parentsoflittlepeople2%40yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Friday, July 10, 2009, 8:54 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I think you may have recommended the Recaro to me when I was looking
for
> a new seat. My niece has the Young Sport and my sister is really happy
> with it. I haven't been able to see the Como or Signo in person. Do
you
> think the SIP will fit the head of a child with Achondroplasia? I
> couldn't find the specs of the SIP online.
>
> Thanks,
> Lindsay
>
> ____________ _________ _________ __
>
> From: parentsoflittlepeop le2@yahoogroups. com
> [mailto:parentsoflittlepeop le2@yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of
quanttravel
> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 3:53 PM
> To: parentsoflittlepeop le2@yahoogroups. com
> Subject: Re: [Parents of Little People 2] Best car seat?
>
> The Recaro has great SIP also, that is why we bought it. Here is what
> there site says about it.
> The RECARO Como convertible car seat is a forward or rear facing child
> seat featuring RECARO Side Impact Protection (SIP), plush microfiber
> fabrics, and a thick adjustable headrest. The Como is a highly
> adjustable car seat, with a harness and headrest that adapt to your
son
> or daughter's growing body. The Como's adjustability, superior safety
> features, and high harness weight capacity may make it the only
carseat
> you will ever need.
>
> --- In parentsoflittlepeop le2@yahoogroups. com
> <mailto:parentsofli ttlepeople2% 40yahoogroups. com> , "Fowler,
Lindsay"
> <lindsay.fowler@ ...> wrote:
> >
> > I've been researching the heck out of car seats and strollers these
> > days. Paige is now 2.5, but is still very small for her age (26in
and
> > 18lbs). She is still in her Chicco Keyfit in my car, but is
outgrowing
> > it. I took her to our Children's Hospital where they have a car seat
> > clinic for kids who need special consideration. The OT/car seat tech
> > there highly recommended both the Britax and the Sunshine Kids
Radian
> > XT. The Radian had a very impressive firm back, steel frame and a
low
> > center of gravity. I chose the Britax Boulevard for the side impact
> > wings, but it was a tough choice. I feel that it will help when
Paige
> > falls asleep (as well as being safe!) and it's weight limit is
80lbs.
> > I'm still waiting on it to come in. In the meantime, we purchased
both
> > an Alpha Omega Elite (nice firm back) and the Britax Roundabout. We
> had
> > the AOE in my husbands 4Runner, but it was large and to get it
> reclined
> > back far enough, we had to use 3 pool noodles (done at the fire
> > station). Otherwise, Paige's head fell WAY too far forward when she
> > slept and I was worried about her airway. We gave the AOE to the
> > babysitter. The Roundabout is very nice and reclines well with 1
> noodle.
> > The leg straps don't seem to fit quite right, however. The
Roundabout
> > has the lower weight limit (40lbs) and her head is already within 3
> > inches of the top, but it should last long enough to get our money's
> > worth. Overall, we are really happy with it's firm back and comfort
> for
> > her. My husband likes that the Roundabout does not come up in
between
> > his two front seats and the straps are easier to loosen and tighten.

> >
> > Take Ethan to the store with you and try him out in the seats.
> Babiesrus
> > and Target have a lot of options. I have not seen the Sunshine Kids
> > brand in the stores, only online, but we did get to try it at the
car
> > seat clinic. Others have recommended Recaro, but I could not blindly
> > order one without trying it as Paige's head is pretty large and I
was
> > worried about a lack of space with the head cushion. I ordered the
AOE
> > and Roundabout from Albeebaby.com. They have really good prices and
> free
> > shipping.
> >
> > Good luck,
> > Lindsay
> >
> > ____________ _________ _________ __
> >
> > From: parentsoflittlepeop le2@yahoogroups. com
> <mailto:parentsofli ttlepeople2% 40yahoogroups. com>
> > [mailto:parentsoflittlepeop le2@yahoogroups. com
> <mailto:parentsofli ttlepeople2% 40yahoogroups. com> ] On Behalf Of
> nlisevich
> > Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 8:48 PM
> > To: parentsoflittlepeop le2@yahoogroups. com
> <mailto:parentsofli ttlepeople2% 40yahoogroups. com>
> > Subject: [Parents of Little People 2] Best car seat?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi again,
> >
> > Since we're on the topic of car seats, what are your opinions on the
> > best car seat after the infant carrier for kids with bigger heads,
> lower
> > weight and reduced muscle tone? Ethan is 11 months old and not ready
> to
> > come out of the infant carrier yet, but we want to be prepared and
> have
> > a seat ready for him. I know the Britax Marathon was mentioned. Any
> > other recommendations? How about the nautilus? regeant? Those are
> names
> > I've heard tossed around as being good car seats, but I really have
no
> > idea. Thanks!
> >
> > Nicole
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
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>
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