A Tale of Two Sitties - Britax Marathon vs. Britax Roundabout

Sorry for the play on words there (cites - sitties) I just couldn't resist...

Anyway, when it comes to choosing the #1 top-quality convertible car seat, the jury is still out.  I'm constantly torn between the Britax Marathon and the Britax Roundabout.  They are both incredibly safe and comfortable car seats, each with their own features that make them both my top pick for convertible car seats.  Here's the lowdown:

The Marathon:

The Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat accommodates children rear facing from 5-35 pounds and forward facing from at least one year old and 20 pounds, up to 65 pounds.  It features a 5-point harness with 4 harness height adjustments to ensure a correct fit for each stage of your child's growth.  The Britax Marathon Convertible Baby Car Seat offers Side Impact Protection and is made in the USA with U.S. and global components.

Why we like it:  Britax is the Cadillac of car seats.  This company consistently makes products offering superior comfort and safety.  The Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat can be used for babies as small as 5 pounds all the way up to a 65 pound child!  It has one of the highest weight ratings among convertible car seats, meaning it will last you longer before needing to purchase a booster car seat, especially if you have a bigger child.  It boasts "tangle-free" harness straps that easily adjust to your child's height.  Most importantly, the Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat meets or exceeds all U.S. safety standards.  The Britax company states: "All Britax products undergo the most rigorous testing in our industry at five Britax testing facilities worldwide."  This car seat provides Side Impact Protection and features premium push-button LATCH connectors for easy and tight installations.  The Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat also has this nifty feature that keeps the harness straps to the sides while you place your child in the seat.  It comes in a variety of colors and patterns with washable covers.  This is undoubtedly a 5-star car seat! 

The Roundabout: 

The Britax Roundabout Convertible Car Seat can be used rear facing for babies from 5-33 pounds and forward facing for children from one year old and 20-40 pounds.  It features a 5-point harness with tangle-free polyester straps that are easily adjusted.  This car seat offers Side Impact Protection and is highly rated for overall safety.

Why we like it: No, we're not being paid by Britax to market their products.  We simply chose another Britax car seat out of unbiased research and the Britax Roundabout Convertible Car Seat makes the grade!  This seat is a bit smaller in size than its sister seat the Marathon and is perfect for compact cars.  We appreciate the tangle-free feature of the 5-point harness (if you've ever struggled with twisted straps in a car seat, you'll like this feature as well!) and easy height adjustments.  The LATCH connectors make for an easy installation into your car both rear and forward facing.  The Britax Roundabout Convertible Baby Car Seat also has this nifty feature that keeps the harness straps to the sides while you place your child in the seat.  No more sitting on the belts!  This model comes in a variety of colors and patterns with washable covers.