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Maxi-Cosi Priori Car Seat Review - Relax, Recline, Rest!
Maxi-Cosi's new Priori Convertible Car Seat ($199) is newly on the market. Brought to America by the Dorel Juvenile Group, this convertible car seat is designed to support your child from birth to 4 years (up to 40 lbs) AND it has a RECLINE feature (actually 4 position settings for the seat).
I tested it with my two year old son, in the forward facing position. Unfortunately my toddler rarely falls asleep in the car and hates to recline anyway (even in a stroller). So, I had to test the recline feature of the Priori without him in it. To use the recline feature on the Priori, all you do is reach right under the bottom of the car seat and pull the handle until it is in the recline position you want (PLEASE pull over before you do this!!). Changing the recline settings took mere seconds and the four positions available are awake, relax, nap or slumber.
Features of the Priori:
- 4 independent recline positions are adjustable while your child’s in the car seat
- Energy absorbing EPP foam
- Harness holders keep harness straps out of the way
- Easy to install with 3-point seat belt or LATCH
- Rear-facing 5-35 lbs, 19”–36” · Forward-facing 22-40 lbs, 34-43”
Pros
Besides the cool reclining aspect (I do not know of any other car seats that have that feature), the harness holders were great for when you need to keep the straps out of the way (for instance, when you are trying to extricate your struggling little darling out of the car seat and into the house). But my favorite thing about this car seat is that it rear-faces until 35 pounds!!! Some people have larger size toddlers and this way, they don't have to worry about turning them forward facing too young.
Cons
Only goes up to 40 lbs (but for people with light toddlers like me, I don't really consider it much of a con - but if you have a heavier toddler, you might!).
We also own a Britax Roundabout ($200), which I love, and it has the same forward facing weight max of 40 lbs, at pretty much the same price point. But one thing it doesn't have is the recline feature!! And yes, we will have to buy a higher weight limit convertible car seat or booster seat, when my son outgrows it -- but we knew that anyway.
We kept my toddler rear facing until he was about 16 months (he was about 19 pounds then). I am sure my 6 week old infant daughter, who will most likely outweigh him, will probably be kept rear-facing longer. With the Priori's higher weight limits for rear-facing use, even if she's 20 or 25 pounds at 18 months or so, we can keep her rear-facing longer. I can't wait for her to start using it - we rarely take the infant car seat out of the car anyway. Hopefully she will get some use out of that wonderful recline feature!
Go to Maxi-Cosi.com to find a dealer.
in | by Nancy Horn | Car Seats | Permalink |
Tags: car seats, maxi cosi, review
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Previous Reader Opinions...
I think the car seat is great,makes things so much easier for parents, when driving with children,the four position reclining feature,keeps the child in the right position.Posted by: Maze00 | May 3, 2008 10:46 AM
The reclining feature was a mess for me. Once my son, Aiden, learned how to operate it there was no stopping him; back and forth he went. I'm not sure if that level of luxury is needed in a child seat--certainly is taxing for the driver.Posted by: Karl Taylor | May 23, 2008 4:45 PM
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