The next best thing to having your child seated on an actual farm animal
Written: Apr 01 '03 (Updated Apr 08 '03)
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Pros: Cow print, ease of use, safety features
Cons: Costs more than a real cow
The Bottom Line: Moooo
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| prfstars's Full Review: Britax Roundabout Cowmooflage |
Five years ago, I bought a denim covered Britax Roundabout for my first child. It was really quite attractive (the carseat, not the child, who was bald and swarthy) but I wasn't impressed with it after a couple of years' use. The child has grown a lovely head of hair and some really cute dimples, but the carseat went to Goodwill. I didn't want to use it for my second child. When baby number two outgrew his Peg Perego Primo Viaggio infant seat last year (http://www.epinions.com/content_45108858500), I did some research. I decided that this time, I wouldn't be swayed by pretty fabric or a fancypants brand name. This time I would make an informed, practical decision.
Then I bought another Britax Roundabout.
Okay, before you assume I'm a complete flake, please take note of my very compelling reason for spending another $200 on a carseat I didn't much like the first time: it came in cow print. When I saw the Cowmooflage pattern, logic, reason, and frugality flew out the window.
Now that I've been using the second Roundabout for a year, I don't regret the purchase at all. When I reviewed the first one I had two basic complaints about this car seat:
1. I hated the harness. It wasn't intuitive at all.
2. The Volvo Syndrome- I thought it was vastly over-priced, and that parents were guilted into spending twice as much for a seat that might or might not be safer than cheaper alternatives.
I still have doubts about the value of this carseat, but you can always read that rant in my first review (http://www.epinions.com/kifm-review-694C-1FC7CDC4-39EB699C-prod3). Instead, I'm going to address the features of this seat, which is slightly different than my old one.
The redesigned Roundabout is still a Convertible Car Seat, meaning that you can use it as a rear-facing infant seat, and then later as a front-facing toddler seat. In the rear-facing position, it reclines to provide better support and comfort for a small baby.
Installation has always been a joy with Britax car seats. Unlike many models that require awkward external clips to secure the seat tightly, the Roundabout has built in clips that simply snap closed. Since many people don't bother with external locking clips, their car seats move around way too much. Britax makes it much simpler to assure that your child's seat doesn't budge. For added security, the Roundabout has a tether. This is a new feature with other brands, but Britax has been using them for years.
Ease of use- the feature that I absolutely hated on my first Roundabout was the buckle. This carseat has a secure five point harness that closes across the chest, and then locks in between the child's legs. On the older model, the lap portion was an awkward puzzle. It worked well once I got the hang of it, but the design precluded asking grandparents or friends to get my daughter into or out of her seat. The new Roundabout is substantially simpler, with an intuitive buckle that accomplishes the same level of security with far less confusion.
Style is what sets Britax car seats apart from the other brands. Recently, some companies have started experimenting with fabrics that don't look like a dime-store duckie print diaper bag or the upholstery from a twenty year old Buick, but they haven't progressed all that far. Britax seats look fun. In addition to denim seats, you can get plaid ones, animal prints, teddy bears, foliage, and a nifty gray pinstripe pattern. The cowmooflage pattern is more earthy than it looks in pictures. It's not the pure black and white splotches you'd see on a cartoon cow-- there's more variation in the color and texture. It's the next best thing to having your child seated on an actual farm animal.The fabric is plush and velvety. Kids love it.
The pattern does a good job of camouflaging a variety of kiddiestains, but when the need arises, the cover is machine washable.
Safety- I've already mentioned the locking clips, versatether, and five point harness. The Roundabout uses plenty of "EPS impact foam" to protect your child's head and torso, which is supposed to make this seat safer than others. There's no denying that this seat is safe, but I've never seen an independent, objective source that showed this seat to be safer than other highly rated car seats.
If you travel, the Roundabout is approved for use on airplanes.
Value is a subjective thing. If you can comfortably afford a $200+ car seat, it's worth it just for the fun prints and ease of installation. If you're struggling to pay the bills, do not feel pressured by your friends or by advertising to buy this seat. You can buy a seat that's perfectly safe for well under half the price. Check Consumer Reports for specific models.
Availability- when I bought my first Roundabout five years ago, they were relatively hard to find outside of high priced boutiques that commanded the full list price. Now you can get Britax seats at stores like Babies R Us for $20-$30 off the list price. I had trouble finding the Cowmooflage pattern locally, so I ordered mine through http://shop.store.yahoo.com/store4baby-com/britrouncars3.html
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 219
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
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prfstars
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