First, let me say that the car seat is not for infants so forget about using it from birth due to harness slots height. Our baby is 15 lb. and finally big enough to use it. No big deal, we were aware of it. I won't go into all the great features of the seat, all the good things you read in reviews are true. Also the denim cover is great for places where it gets really hot. The car seat is definately overpriced
br /though, so wait till a sale comes along and shop other websites. After the rebates and discounts mine came close to [...] dollars, which is what I think it should cost. Anyway, for those who are debating between this and
br /marathon, consider roundabout if:
br / 1)You are planning to have another child within few years, who can inherit the car seat .
br /2) Money is an issue. Although that really played no role in my decision. Really, consider how long you will have to deal with it, so get what you really want the first time!
br /3) Have less space in the back or are a tall person, who will sit upfront. That is a big one. Marathon would not leave enough room in the front of our Mazda 5.
br /4) Have a chunky baby. Look at the specs on the Britax website. Marathon crotch buckle depth is shorter than roundabout's!!! That makes no sense at all. I sincerely doubt my baby would fit in it comfortably till she is 6.
br /Hopefully this will be helpful to someone who has hard time deciding. Another note: go to Babies r us and check it out in person. If you see another car seat you like, thats fine too. Although I am pretty sure you will get the Roundabout just like I did!

I was a little concerned about this carseat AFTER I ordered it b/c of the reviews comparing this to the Marathon and Boulevard. Yes, it's smaller...but I LOVE IT! It was easy to install, fits great rear-facing in my car (I have a volvo s-70), and my son seems to really by comfortable. I actually think the Marathon or Boulevard would have been to big for my car, with the carseat rear-facing. Yes, he will grow out of this faster than other Britax carseats...but by then I'll probably want to buy a newer one anyway. This is a wonderful purchase, and I couldn't be happier!!

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.)
br /
br /This seat has several wonderful qualities:
br /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.
br /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.)
br /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!)
br /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.
br /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.)
br /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.
br /
br /What I would change:
br /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.
br /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.
br /
br /(Just a heads up, this carseat will not fit in the rear seat of quadcab Dodge Rams.)
br /
br /So, with over 75,000 miles of use, we'd buy this carseat again. It has served us well and kept our daughter safe.

I bought the roundabout in the puma print, and it looks great. It fits in my 2007 Murano perfectly. While searching the internet for reviews before I decided on the roundabout I saw several negative's or people stating that should just get the marathon because of the extra weight capacity and the child being able to grow into it. Per the Britax website all the marathon really offers is ONE extra inch in height, thats it. Once seating height exceeds 16 inches you cant use the marathon anymore, as opposed to the roundabouts 15 inches. I just dont see how thats "adding years" to the use of the seat so the roundabout's definitely the way to go! Especially when you consider space in your vehicle.

We did some research before deciding on the Britax Roundabout Convertible car seat and we are so glad we did because we love it! Our toddler was getting too tall for her infant seat, but hadn't hit the weight requirement for facing forward. The Roundabout is wonderful because she can still face backwards for safety. It is very easy to install and adjust and it feels incredibly secure. We use the LATCH system as well as the tether and it really doesn't move at all. It also isn't as big as the Britax Marathon which is great because I have a small car. We are thrilled with this purchase!

We pored over online reviews and the Baby Bargains book, and ultimately came to the conclusion that this seat was worth the extra cost. We are so glad we bought this car seat (we actually bought two, one for each car). The velcro is GENIUS. Great seat, our daughter loves it, and we feel good about buying such a highly rated and safe product. Everyone wins!

We started off with the Graco Snugfit and my son surpassed the weight limit by the time he was 5 months, yes he's a big boy. I wish we would have just started off with this car seat. My son is comfortable and loves the cow print.

I would strongly recommend this product for anyone. It is easy to intall in the car or many cars if you have to move it. It is very adjustable, convienent to change for heighth positions, comfortable for the children and easy to clean. The harness fits very well and hold the child securely. I have two of these for both my children since the first one loves her so much. They are also great because they have the roof teather which makes you feel like they are even more secure. Have used in my 1973 Duster, 2002 Jeep and other vehicles with no problems. Makes me feel safer knowing my children are safe.

I purchased this to replace another recently purchased carseat. The previous one had been purchased in a hurry at a local store. It was a good brand name, so I thought all would be well. But it wasn't! On the previous one, the crotch strap was much TOO close to the back of the chair, making it very difficult to fasten and causing me to utter explicatives each time I did so (in my head)!
br /
br /So, I went to Amazon to go back to Britax. In my main car, I have the Britax Shannon (because that is my daughter's name). But since this car is not used very much, I wanted to spend less money if possible.
br /
br /I, of course, am VERY happy with this seat. As expected, the crotch strap is in the perfect spot. Everything is easy to do; installation, placing the baby (2 years) in the seat, and fastening her in. And it is very comfortable for her. And, most importantly, it is safe.
br /
br /I almost bought this for my daughter when her seat was damaged, but then went for the more expensive Shannon (don't remember the model) since, after all, that is her name, and she was using it in the only car she drives....AND she often goes on long trips.

This car seat is extremely easy to install, as well as move from one vehicle to another. My son seems to love it! I feel confident that he is safe and secure and didn't mind spending a bit more to be sure of his safety.

This car seat is very easy to install and get my daughter in and out of. I really love everything about it.

I purchased this car seat when my eight month old daughter started to outgrow her Graco Snug Ride infant seat. I am loving this new seat! It is much easier to install in my car than my Graco (which was fairly easy to use). It is easy to move quickly between cars. The directions are super easy to follow. The fabric is soft and cozy but easy to clean when necessary. My daughter sleeps much more comfortably in her seat when she falls asleep in it. I feel good putting my daughter in this seat because it was rated so high in safety. This seat is totally worth the money!

After trying several different models recommended for small cars, I found this to be the only one that would fit rear-facing in my Saab 9-3 without sacrificing the front passenger seat. Ironically this is the same seat my wife has in her Ford Escape so now we have two. I still had to move the seat forward some in the Saab, but a passenger can ride up front for around town rides. Cross-country rides would still be a bit uncomfortable.
br /
br /Overall, the seat fits securly, and it was relatively easy to install (with latch) in both cars. Admittedly, I wouldn't want to take it in and out every day, which is why we have two. The weight limit is on the low end (40lbs) compared to other seats, but that was the trade-off for the shorter head height. Hopefully by 40lbs she'll be tall and old enough to move into a convertible booster and will be able to hand these seats down to a younger sibling.
br /
br /My only complaint with the seat is that the shoulder harness gets twisted sometimes (especially when working around heavy winter coats). Fastening and tightening the harness is a little bit of a chore with the seat rear-facing, but I imagine the same problem would occur with most other seats. The side adjuster on the Evenflo was nice, but it just wouldn't fit.
br /
br /Overall I would recommend this seat for any car, especially a small car that needs to keep a usable front seat.

We love Britax. All of the details make it a fantastic product! Cleans easily and holds up very well. Easy to install, parts work great. You can tell the overall quality, especially side by side with lesser car seats.

So far, we love it! Directions to install seemed a little complicated but we figured it out.

On the way to purchase a car seat, we saw a car drive off the highway. It was a grim reminder that accidents DO happen and I want to be as prepared as I can be. I had done oodles of research and decided that a little extra money on something that we use everyday is money well spent. I like this car seat - it is easy to install, easy to clean (I can toss the cover into the washer and it is good to go). The seat is very comfortable compared to another car seat that we have - my son falls asleep very easily. My only complaint is that after a year of use (my son is 2.4 years old and weighs approx 34 lbs), the 5-point seat latch isn't working all that well. Sometimes it latches quickly, but I find that more often than not I have to play with it in order to get the latch to catch. Yesterday I discovered that the 5-point restraint had come apart while I was driving. I'm not sure if anyone else is having a similar problem. If we can't get it to start latching correctly then I'll have to get another car seat. Overall, I love this seat and highly recommend it.

I bought this seat because of a very high rating from consumer reports. When we opened the box we loved the cow pattern right away. It is also very soft and comfortable. My 4 year old is using it now and can do the seat belt all by herself. The belt is a little too tight for her to get out of by herself - she doesn't quite have the strength to push the button enough to release the latches. This is bad when I am in a hurry and want her to get out quickly, but it is really good because it means she can't take it off when she shouldn't. In a few months my baby will be ready for this seat as my 4 year old will then be 5 and is finally big enough to move into a booster seat (she's small for her age). I love how flexible this car seat is for all ages. Again, it is also very well padded and comfortable. It was easy to install and really stays put. I REALLY like this car seat. It will grow with my little one for years to come. I highly recommend it.

As mentioned in nearly every review of every other Britax seat, the webbing on the main buckle is very short and not adjustable. This, plus the fact the "male" parts of the buckle have large, pointy angled plastic "wings", means the entire buckle assembly is squeezed up against baby's crotch while the "wings" dig into the inside of their chubby little thighs. This looks quite uncomfortable, though I haven't tried it myself. Otherwise the seat seems cozy and well made. Easy to install with LATCH anchors.

Very pleased with this seat. Love the Velcro on the sides that help keep the seat belts back and out of the way.

This is a great car seat if you are tight on space. I have Toyota Forerunner which is a big car but not as big as a suburban or similar suv. With three kids in the back, we needed a car seat that would not take up a lot of room.
br /This car seat is made for those tight on space like me. It is easy to install which is plus. My 8 month old daughter loves it and always fall asleep in it. I highly recommend it as it is one of the safest car seats around.

I placed my order for this carseat and received it within 10 days. The Date of Manufacture was for the same month that I ordered it - I was pleasantly surprised by that. I have had a Roundabout for a few years but will need two shortly. Amazon's pricing paired with no sales tax and free shipping made this a real bargain.
br /The seat itself is amazing to use. Very safe, very easy to understand how it works. The latch mechanism is easy to install and keeps the seat extra tight in the car. The fabric is very soft, machine washable for about 100 washes before it starts to wear out (from previous experience) and the belts are very easy to adjust as your child grows. I really appreciate having the belts very low and close to my child's hips in the 5-point harness. Some convertible carseats set the crotch strap too high, or not tight enough so baby's legs are too loose. Not here. There is nothing confusing or hard to understand. I also love how almost everything can be replaced and/or taken off to be properly washed/cleaned. The straps, fabric and soft foam can all go in the washing machine. All of the styrofoam can be ordered for fairly cheap from [...]. This has been #1 in consumer reports for years for a reason. You won't be disappointed.

This car seat is the best investment. It's comfortable and easily adjustable. It has the best recline, so my son's head doesn't flop around when he falls asleep. The only drawback is there is no cup holders.

So far it is perfect. Easy to install easy to use and everyone is happy,comfy and safe.

I just passed this seat down to my 7 month old and upgrade my 2 year old to a marathon. This carseat has held up beautifully! I bought a new cover so the two year old didn't know that her sister had her old carseat ;) It fits nicely forward and rear facing. It is super easy to transfer between cars, and it is so easy to install!! I don't know what I would do without my Britax carseats!! I am so happy I decided to invest in them. I feel that my children are very safe and happy too!

This is our second Roundabout. We had one for our first child and loved it, so we bought the same seat for the second baby. It's safe, good looking and wears well.

This is a great car seat. As with other reviewers, I researched ton of options. I loved the snugfit and dreaded moving to a convertible. However, my 8 month old really enjoys this seat. She acts like a big girl. The ease of installation and the push button strap adjustment are my favorite features. Safety was a must have (see consumer reports). In addition to all of this, the Roundabout also received the lowest rating for toxic chemicals. See http://www.healthycar.org/carseat.searchmodel.php

1. easy to install but need to read the instructions through;
br /2. pretty comfortable but my 15-month only fall asleep twice in the car; too excited to see the view; we put him in the middle of the back seat.
br /3.feels sturdy;
br /4.in all, like it very much.

With so many car seats out there I wasn't sure what to buy. I tediously went through every car seat for sale through Amazon and painstakenly read through ever review.
br /
br /I'm glad I bought this car seat. My baby is just under 4 months and I felt that she was getting to be too big for the infant carrier I had. And I had to try something new because a simple short trip turned into a cry-fest every single time!
br /
br /My baby went from always crying to being completely calm and even sleeping in the car on our trips! It fits well in the backseat of a BMW 5-series and a Mercedes E-class. I like the suede feel of the fabric as well as the fun colors of the Jessica print I picked out. It's very easy to install and it's a safe, sturdy car set.
br /
br /If you are balking at the price, get this anyway. It will last for several years to come and you can't put a price on safety as well as a quiet, happy baby on short and long car trips.

This product needed a little help to install from an experienced person who has installed a car seat. The item was very appropriate and fit nicely in our car not taking up to much space. Adjusting the shoulder straps was fairly easy.
br /

I love this carseat! I got this one for my husbands truck and a pink one for my car. Both are safe and cute. The cover is really soft and easy to clean. Will definantly buy same seats for our next baby.

we had put off buying a new car seat b/c we were using an older Britax model. But we love this new Britax seat, it is much easier than the older model to snap your child in. My two year old is 30 lbs and 37 inches tall, and she fits in it comfortably . I stuck with Britax b/c of its good safety ratings, and our old Britax held up so well (over 5 years). I think they are definately worth the extra money.
br /

The Roundabout is great. One thing that impressed me (that I was unaware of) is the velcro that holds the arm straps back when you take the child out of the car. It keeps them out of the way for you when you put the child back in. No more digging around looking for the harness parts when strapping him in!! Love it.
br /
br /It is very easy to move from one car to the other, and the clips that lock the seat belt in place are great.
br /
br /I highly recommend this car seat. It is worth the extra $$.

I bought this car seat along with the Evenflo Triumph Advance LX. I much prefer the Britax. It's lighter, seems more comfortable, and I love the velcro on the sides that holds the straps out of the way when putting my daughter in her car seat. The Evenflo is much heavier, and bigger - it really takes up a lot of room in the car. I'm very happy with my purchase and I'd buy this seat again.

We recently purchased the Britax Roundabout for our youngest son. Our 3 yr. old son uses a Graco Safe Seat Step 2. Both seats are quick and easy to install. The Britax is more convenient because of their push button latch release. We also like the tether that can be used rear facing. We found an anchor spot on the bottom of the van seat and anchored the tether there. It installed quickly and we were unable to move the seat at all once it was in. You can also remove the seat quickly because of the latch release. I love the velcro on the side of the seat and on the straps. They stow out of the way when taking the child out of the seat and are easily accessible when buckling in again. The shoulder straps are easy to loosen when removing your child from the seat. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the fact that I have a more difficult time tightening the straps in the Britax and they seem to tangle easily, something the product review says they won't do. But overall, this is a great carseat! We bought the latte version and love the fabric. It's soft, yet durable. A great seat at a great value!
br /We also like our Graco seat. It is easy to install, the straps tighten easily and don't tangle and my son looks well protected in it. Our only complaints with this seat are that it's little more difficult to take out of the vehicle and the EPS foam in the headrest has broken on us twice while installing. That could be related to the fact that we live in North Dakota and our car seats experience very extreme temperatures. Graco will replace the foam with no problem though. The Graco is only for forward facing though and the Britax can be used either way. But the Graco is another great seat.

This seat has been great until my 2 year old figured out how to unbuckle it herself, while we are driving on the interstate. The chest clip is very easy to undo and she plays with it a lot. Off and on. I called Britax to see if they have a solution and they know of the problem and pretty much don't care. Other seats have more difficult chest clips. I am very disappointed that I paid so much for a seat that isn't safe. And I thought Britax would be more willing to help out, but they got their money so they are happy. Go with Evenflo Triumph. A much better seat and company.

I did a lot of research before deciding on this seat. I even went to the stores and mashed and explored utility of seats, including comfort, ease of use and safety. The Britax by far exceeds safety standards. All other car seats meeting regulation test seats at 35mph. Britax tests at 65mpg. Safety is most important to me. The seat cover is soft, and I love the Puma print. My only complaint is that the center buckle is somewhat short. I'd recommend the Roundabout above all else. It also fits nicely in my small Corrolla.

I have the Bridgeport Roundabout for my Hyundai Tucson and it is great. I contemplated getting the Marathon, but the Roundabout fits perfectly in the back seat -- the Marathon would have been too large for my car. It's really comfortable and really secure. My only tiny problem is the straps twist sometimes. It's not a big deal though. I feel comfortable that my child is safe and secure in this seat.

My daughter seems so much more comfortable in this carseat than she did in the Graco one...this one just has more room and she falls asleep so easily in the car now...loves it! It is very compact which gives us more room in our Santa Fe for the front seat passenger than the graco did...just an awesome car seat. Can't wait till she's facing front as she will love it!
br /
br /The color is great as well!

We researched this and bought it for our grand baby, whom hated to go in her previous car seat. Her poor mom came to visit us and her nerves were frazzled after an 11 hour ride with an upset baby. Immediately, after being placed in this car seat, she was very content and her mom can even put her in it at home, something she couldn't do with her other car seat. This is a GREAT car seat!! It is very safe, easy to install and the baby likes it too!

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.

It's weird that all the reviews for this seat disappeared - there were tons when I bought it. Anyway, guess I'll get it started again - this is an awesome car seat! So comfortable and elegant, you'll be a little jealous of the baby! Plus, the new car safety seat ratings just came out and this seat does very well as far as being chemical free. Check it out at healthycar.org
br /Enjoy!

I am so glad that I purchased this seat. I did a lot of research and decided it was worth the extra money for the seat. It came quick and installs easily. We took it on a trip and it was great. My daughter looked comfy and slept good in it. I love the Puma print, also. I waited until it went on sale and I got free shipping, so it was a great buy.

this is a great car seat, I feel that our daughter is very secure in this car seat. also the pattern is so cute too!

The "tan swirl" color is much nicer in person than the picture. I was concerned that it was too light of a color, but was pleasantly surprised when it arrived. This Britax car seat is very easy to install, very solid, small enough to buckle into a smaller car. The seat belt straps are a bit rough against my son's neck, so I would suggest buying some padding. Overall, as usual, Britax has made an excellent car seat.

This car seat is great! My daughter loves it. It is much more comfortable than her infant car seat. There is plenty of room for her to grow as well! She never fusses about being in it like she did with her infant car seat. I absolutely recommend this and it did great in Consumer Reports tests!

We love this car seat! Our baby is so happy in it; it is definitely more comfortable than our last one. It's a little more trouble to install in the car, but I know it's much more secure, so it's worth every minute to keep her safe!

Great product, well made, secure, very comfy adn cover is very soft. Very easy to install. No complaints!