Britax Roundabout Convertible Car Seat Cowmooflage

We purchased this car seat back in 2004. (This is written in 2008.) Our daughter has used it almost daily since then, including on those really long family trips. She's almost 5 yrs old now and nearly 40 lbs. (The max weight limit.) We will be purchasing another Britax. (Most likely the Britax Regent for youth.)

This seat has several wonderful qualities:
1. Easy to wash. I just take off the cover, put it in the washing machine on normal wash, and then dry it for about 30 mins. It gets washed about 3-4 times a year.
2. Simple to install. One of our vehicles doesn't have the latch system. It's still a piece of cake to tighten down on the car's seat. (For a really tight fit with the latch, I sit in the carseat and pull up on the latch straps. She's now forward facing.)
3. Comfortable. Our daughter has never mentioned any aches, pains or irritations while riding in this seat. (The only hot metal parts clip into the buckle. No accidental burns!)
4. No overt wear. Through washings, spills, smears, crumbs, etc., the seat still cleans up like new. No frayed edges, bald spots, twisted trim, or tears.
5. Very adjustable. As our child has grown, we've been able to adjust the shoulder straps to meet her needs. The 5-point harness is simple to put on and take off. The main buckle is just stiff enough to be too tough for her to undo alone. (Thank goodness.)
6. Safety. Side impact protection was almost unheard of in carseats when we purchased this one. It's part of why we did. Consumer Reports' high ratings also helped.

What I would change:
1. When the seat is out of the vehicle (usually removed because our child is sleeping and I want to keep her that way), it is tippy. It needs to be propped up against a wall or sofa.
2. A better storage pocket on the back for the instructions and extra tie-down straps. The one that we have is too small for the instructions and the straps always seem to be on the verge of falling out.

(Just a heads up, this carseat will not fit in the rear seat of quadcab Dodge Rams.)

So, with over 75,000 miles of use, we'd buy this carseat again. It has served us well and kept our daughter safe.

We have the LATCH system in our car, so this car seat is a cinch to install. My son is very small for his age, but he's quite comfortable in this seat. I love the little bits of velcro that help (not perfect, but a nice effort) to keep the straps out of the way when you seat him. I love the fabric - it's fun to look at, and the velour is nice and cozy. There don't seem to be any parts that can get really in the sun (not that it's hot here).

Seat is good, belt is a little tight for my daughter's thighs and she's tiny (~3%tile in weight)

The Britax Roundabout is a terrific car seat. I have been using it now for about four months. Although I had a few installation issues, I was able to resolve them with a little bit of trial and error and a phone call to Britax. The seat, which is made in the USA, is well-made. Everything functions exactly as it should--crisp buckles, soft harness straps, smooth harness adjustment system, etc. The seat is also very comfortable. My son falls asleep easily in his Roundabout, and his head doesn't flop over but instead usually lands on one of the seat's wings. The cover is velvety soft and the padding is very adequate. When I purchased this car seat, I also seriously considered the Britax Marathon. I chose the Roundabout because it is more compact and my son, based on statistical averages, likely won't hit the 40 lb / 40 inch weight and height limit for several years.

This product is bought because there is a online discount during July 2008 on Amazon. This is our second car seat. It's very well designed and not taking up too much room. The overall quality is great. We are all satisfied.