Orbit Baby Toddler Car Seat, Black
by Orbit Baby
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Our Price: $360.00 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of Orbit Baby Toddler Car Seat, Black
Customer Review: Great for larger babies
Summary: 4 Stars
We had the Orbit infant car seat system, but my son weighed 21 lbs, 4 oz. at his 6-month appointment, so we had to move up to the toddler seat.
The good things:
- It works with the same base so long as you have the seat rear facing (since our son is only 7 months old, we'll have him facing backwards a while longer)
- I LOVE that you can turn the seat 90 degrees in the base to get him in and out of the car -- I've watched my friends with rear-facing convertable seats contort themselves to get their babies strapped in while I can stand comfortably at the side of the car;
- Because the base system still works, we're able to get away with using one car seat for two cars
- You can use it with the stroller base (handy when the baby is sleeping and you don't want to wake him up to put him in a stroller)
- it has velcro tabs to keep the straps out of the way when getting the baby in and out of the seat
The not so good things:
- It is heavy. I have a really hard time lifting it in and out of the car, especially with the baby in the seat;
- You can use it with the stroller, but it looks really strange, plus it is hard to haul in and out of the car;
- It is really big and, especially with the sun shade, blocks the side window view;
- You can't use the base forward-facing (when our son turns 1, we'll just install this seat permanently in one car and buy a Britax for the other car).
Thus, if you already have the infant system and a younger baby that has outgrown the infant car seat, this is a good option.
Customer Review: Solid investment, but NOT portable
Summary: 4 Stars
Paying this much for a toddler seat had better be worth it, and it almost is. My only complaint, which I saw going into this deal, is that this thing is way too heavy and physically bulky to really function as part of a travel system. Sure you can remove it from your car and dock it to the Orbit stroller if you have it, but if you value your back, you're gonna want to securely tether this thing in a semi-permanent fashion to your backseat and never lift it again. Not to mention, once you're using it forward-facing (meaning you can no longer dock it to and from the Orbit Base), you can't really remove it all that easily. That's why Orbit has another option available for strolling, lighter and better for moving about. But you can't use that in the car, and of course it costs extra.
This weight problem really prevents you from utilizing this as part of the travel system, which is the main reason say, you would buy an Orbit on top of another brand if you already have the Orbit Infant System. So they should just sell it as the best-designed and safest toddler car seat out there, because that's what it is.
As far as comfort, safety, quality, materials, and workmanship, you are going to be hard-pressed to find a better seat, though. My daughter loves this, and even sleeps comfortably in it.
I do recommend it, but think twice if you're buying it for its "portability" and practicality in a travel system... it's none of those things.
Customer Review: Very pleased with this car seat.
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite what some reviews have said, this does work with the Orbit stroller. It uses the same docking system and works great with the car seat base when rear facing. The docking system allowed me to keep my son rear facing longer because it was so easy to rotate the seat when getting him in and out of the car. I am a huge believer in extended rear facing and love this aspect of the seat. We did end up switching to forward facing because my son is a terrible rider and was crying himself sick. When rear facing I couldn't make sure he wasn't choking and this was creating an unsafe driving condition. Once the seat was switched to forward facing the base is no longer used, instead two side braces are installed on the seat. I have honestly never had a problem with the straps twisting. I always loosen the straps when taking him out and tighten them when putting him into the seat. The cover comes off for cleaning without removing the straps which means that I don't have to remove the seat from the car, this is a life saver. The only issue that I have ever had was a weird issue with cleaning. When my son got sick in the car some of it got into a crevice under the cover and was very difficult to clean. Even with that issue, I am very pleased with this seat.Customer Review: So disappointed!
Summary: 1 Stars
I really really wanted to love the Orbit Toddler car seat, but it just sucks. I read all the reviews I could find and decided that I would risk the money and buy this over a Britax. I wish I hadn't and I will replace it as soon as my daughter is forward facing. I bought this item because I have truly loved all the other Orbit products and I thought that this rotating seat would be as wonderful as the infant seat. My problem is that the straps get twisted in the back of the car seat and I am unable to tightly secure and restrain my 12 month old daughter. I pull and pull on the strap, but it won't tighten. I have to turn the seat around, open the back compartment and fix it. This happens about 80% of the time. Its a huge waste of time and effort. I contacted Orbit and they gave me a bunch of things to try to make it work, but nothing has improved this problem. I'm so sad to write this review and even sadder to have spent all that money.
UPDATE: I am now experiencing the problem with the twisting straps that other reviewers have complained about. Its amazing how they get twisted for no apparent reason. My daughter hates being put in her car seat and this makes it even more unbearable. I hate this seat!
Customer Review: Broke on first use
Summary: 1 Stars
I ordered this on Amazon from the seller Baby Earth, and I'm not sure if they just sell them defective, or if it was just coincidence, but this car seat broke on its first use. I tightened the straps and the rivet that holds the tightening strap at the bottom literally pulled out of the plastic car seat. My daughter was in the car seat when I was tightening it, so I know I didn't over tighten because she was in there, but this is extremely poor build quality. I have owned Orbit products since my daughter was born, she just turned one year old today and so far I have returned the stroller, the base, and now... a car seat. I would not recommend to anybody on the edge about buying these. Also, if your are thinking about buying this car seat so that you can use it with your existing bases, forget about it. You can't use the base on a forward facing configuration. They don't mention that anywhere except the owners manual. If I hadn't already bought the stroller, I would return every last piece from Orbit baby. I loved the convenience, but I just don't have the confidence in its safety. I would hate to find out the hard way.