Since our beloved Graco infant car seat, we've gone through a number of convertible car seats that really didn't merit particular mention.
Ranger quickly exceeded their 40" to 43" height restrictions (remember that kids with long torsos can outgrow a seat before they hit the height total requirement).We bought a Britax Regent (max height: 53") for our primary car (a Honda accord) and my mom's minivan (the cars he rides in most often and on long trips). We chose it for it's five point harness. Upon first inspection, it looked like it wouldn't fit in my car. With a lot of wrestling, we were able to get it in place. It's huge in our small car, but seems both indestructible and luxurious (we call it the recliner). It's much easier to install in a LATCH vehicle (like my mom's minivan).
For Jim's car (compact sedan) which Ranger rides in less frequently, we have a Britax Parkway (height limit: 60"). It's a compact booster that uses the car seat's belt instead of an attached harness. We like it, but feel it's one he will do better in when he's more mature. We have to be attentive that he doesn't try to slip his shoulder out from under the seat belt mid-trip. He's starting to understand that we want him to leave it alone, but it's much easier to use (and feel confident in) a five point harness at this young age (2.5 years).If you're currently looking for a Britax seat, all Britax is on sale 20% off at Amazon through Sunday, March 2nd.
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There are other sales as well. Many places have their Britax line on sale until Sunday, just in case you can't find the one you want. I know some on Amazon ship free, but others don't.
We recently bought a new car seat because Sister Goldenhair was inching closer to the booster seat stage. I happened upon some reports about how 5 point harnesses are the way to go as long as possible. I also found an unfortunately large number of sites and videos passing this information on due to the loss of a child using a booster seat.
So I recommend that parents also look at the highest weight their car seats can accomodate with the 5 point harness. Britax has some models that will allow older children to be safer longer. I went with the Safety First Apex 65.
(remember when there were no car seats? I remember playing in the floorboards of our Ford LTD.)
My parents had some horrifying child restraint devices that were straps that fastened into the lap belts and let us run (tethered) all around the back seat of the car (and up on the window ledge.
Then we had a booster car seat that looks suspiciously like the molded plastic ones at restaurants.
I'll have to see if we can find some photos.
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