3-in-1 carseats

A lot of people think 3-in-1 carseats are a good idea. In reality, they're awful. Here are a few reasons why it is better to avoid them:

-None of the brands that make them have good reputations for safety.
-They're always getting recalled.
-The materials used are poor, and they'll never last as long as you're thinking you'll use the seat anyhow.
-They try to do too many things, and don't do any of them well.
-The rear-facing weight limits are among the lowest on the market, and the harness slot heights are really short, so you probably won't make 2 years rear-facing, which is the AAP's minimum recommendation.
-The shells are really short in most of them.
-Because of the short shells, the belt positioner thingies are positioned about perfect for a kid Orren's size. Would you put Orren in a booster? God, I hope not.
-For that same reason, they would never actually fit a kid Erin's size (4' tall and 47 pounds), which is, in fact, the small-average side of the range of booster-sized children.
-Even if they fit, they position the belt very poorly.
-There isn't an adjustable head rest for kids who are taller.
-What they say is a sham. It isn't the only carseat you will ever need. Even if you use one from birth (Please don't. They're a horrible fit for newborns.) it will be long expired before the kid outgrows booster age. You're going to end up buying a booster anyhow.

Plus, boosters are cheap! You can get a Turbobooster, which is perfectly functional and fits nearly every kid and nearly every vehicle well, for like $60, and they can use that from when they go to a booster at 5-7 years old, until they can pass the 5-step test at 9 or 10, and just use a seatbelt. Like I said, boosters are cheap.

Parents of young babies, I know carseats can be confusing. Geez, you have no idea how much research I did on this. I swear I know every carseat tech in the entire state of Texas, and the web address to every crash test video available. I know how time consuming it is to do your homework, because I, too, did mine. Anyone who does their homework on carseat safety is doing a great thing. If you take only one piece of advice (aside from THE NEW BRITAX SEATS ARE FREAKING SHORT!! AVOID!!) please make sure it is, "3-in-1's do nothing well."

I know budget can be a concern for a lot of people, and 3-in-1 carseats play on that. I have a better suggestion, though. For those on a budget, skip the infant carrier style of seat. Go straight to a convertible that can actually fit newborns. The Graco MyRide is a budget-friendly seat that is extremely functional. It will actually fit a newborn, so you can use it from birth. Its shell height is about as tall as that of an old style Britax Marathon (like Orren's camouflage one, which is a 2009), and it has a 40 pound rear-facing weight limit, so most kids will not have to forward-face before they're 3 or 4 years old. After that, it forward-faces to 65 pounds, and like I said, it has a reasonably tall shell, so it will get most kids to booster age. So basically, if you want a seat you can practically use for the longest, get a convertible that actually accommodates newborns (Graco MyRide is the budget-friendly option for that. Sunshine Kids Radian is the more expensive option. Most other convertibles do not fit from birth.) and has a tall enough shell that you'll be able to use it for 5 or 6 years. After that, buy a booster. THAT is how you get your money's worth, not by buying a 3-in-1.