meagandowney's Full Review: Britax Boulevard Booster Car Seat - Shannon
When my particularly tall baby girl quickly grew out of her Graco rearfacing infant seat, I started searching for a safe next step seat that would carry her through at least a few years and work comfortably in my compact, no nonsense Suzuki Aerio that lacks the systems and bells and whistles that come with newer, more expensive family cars.
I selected the Britax Boulevard in Shannon after reading a very moving testimony online from a mother who was in a terrible accident and believed that her child's life was saved because of this car seat. The price tag (nearly $300 when I purchased it just over a year ago) was steep, but I knew I wanted a seat that wouldn't just make me street legal, but would also keep my baby girl safe should I spin out of control in the middle of a snowy Chicago winter.
An added perk was the attractive look of this seat, which comes in several styles. Shannon was girly without being too feminine. The purple and yellow design was one of the few seats that would actually look good in my bright yellow compact car with black interior. I purchased the seat online from an authorized Britax merchant and was pleased to find that there was very little research needed to correctly assemble and fasten the seat securely in the car. There are services that will ensure that your car seat is secured properly and I always meant to visit one of them, though I never did.
The seat and base are quite cumbersome, and would never work for a small baby. This style is best suited for a tall baby who can sit upright with ease. I think that the threshold is somewhere over 20 lbs. and goes up to 40 lbs., though the seat is quite narrow and snug and I'm already a bit concerned about how many more years we'll be able to use it. My daughter already regularly complains that it is "too small" in comparison to a cheaper but roomier seat purchased for her father's car.
The process of securing the seat in the back of my car was about as intuitive as car seat installation can get. I have never had trouble with the seat tumbling over as the base is very solid, though you won't get the convenience of being able to separate the seat from the base. I have only used the Britax Boulevard as a front facing seat in 2 different cars, but found switching between cars to be a simple process. It's quite heavy and bulky though. I never had illusions of being able to cart my daughter around seated in the seat.
It's way too bulky to fly or travel with, so I always ask family to borrow a seat from a neighbor before we arrive. The fabric is incredibly comfortable, spot-cleanable and plush. My daughter has been able to sleep in it during long rides without having her head and neck stretched in strange ways, though it's very upright so children that prefer to stretch back might not be able to sleep comfortably.
The downside to the Britax Boulevard (aside from the bulkiness, which at least adds to safety with strong side panels around the head and torso) is the fastening contraption which is very tight and buckles so close near her thighs and diaper area. Luckily, I have only pinched her thighs once or twice, but fastening her in this seat is a truly harrowing experience for her father. A lot of work happens right in the diaper area and it can be difficult to get a comfortable fit.
As my daughter has grown older, she has learned how to wriggle her arms out of the shoulder straps. I realize that she shouldn't be able to do this if I have her in correctly, but no matter how much I have finagled with the straps, she has been able to do this. Even when this happens, she can't get out, but it's still unsafe if we were to get into an accident. I also feel a little uncomfortable with the fastening in the back of my car after other people have ridden in the back because without the LATCH system, our only secured area is a diagonal belt woven through the base. All it takes is one person to accidentally release the belt (quite a distance from the seat itself) and we're totally unsafe. This happened to us once, and her seat fell forward into the back side of the passenger seat. I was relieved to find, in the middle of the expressway, that her head and body were untouched and she remained fastened securely in the seat.
Overall, I'm glad I paid the high price for this seat. I truly feel that it would protect her in a collision because of the design which may be bulky, but is still appealing and reasonable when used in a very compact car. She sits up very high, but I can see her more easily in my rearview mirror during long car rides and the plush fabric allows her to rest well.
I would recommend the Britax Boulevard to parents who can deal with the hassle and discomfort of fastening and aren't looking for something to travel outside of the vehicle.
Four out of five stars.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 300
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
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