Britax has just introduced a new version of their Boulevard Car Seat, the Boulevard CS ($329.99). It has the same features as the Boulevard like True Side Impact Protection, LATCH Connection, a recline feature, body pillow, belt holders, Britax’s patented Versa-Tether, quick-adjust headrest and plus the NEW Click & Safe Harness Adjuster (hence the CS in the name). That means you hear an audible click when the harness straps are snug. This convertible car seat can be used rear or forward-facing with children from 5 to 65 pounds.
My neighbor helped me to install it rear-facing for my 8 month old in our 1995 Toyota Camry. The True Side Impact Protection, with the Boulevard CS’s deep side walls and adjustable head support, was our number one reason for transitioning our baby daughter to this car seat. The body pillow was very comfortable and removable once our baby gets a little bigger. The Boulevard CS is much bigger than the Roundabout and Diplomat — so you should make sure it will fit in your car. The Boulevard CS’s dimensions are W19.5 x H27 x D25.5, which is EXACTLY the same size as the Marathon’s dimensions of W19.5 x H27.5 x D25.5.
The new Click & Safe Harness Adjuster was another reason why we like the Boulevard CS — the mechanism allows me to hear an audible click once the harness is correctly tightened around my child (when I pull the adjuster strap). According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 59% of harness straps on children’s car seats are dangerously loose. Laura Jana, M.D., pediatrician, child passenger safety technician and mother of three said, “The harness straps serve the very important, and ultimately life-saving purpose of keeping children properly positioned and secured in their child safety seat. If these straps are not properly fastened or are loose at the time of a crash, children run a greater risk of being ineffectively restrained or even ejected from their seats – putting them at much greater risk of injury.”
I really appreciated the tangle-free harness (because I’ve spent too much time untangling harnesses in other car seats – ugh). The easy-turn knob made it so simple to adjust the head restraint and the harness height without unstrapping the car seat. If you’re wondering what the Britax’s patented Versa-Tether is for, it anchors the top of the seat to minimize movent in case of a crash.
This convertible car seat’s weight guidelines are from 5 to 65 pounds and height guideline is 49 inches or less. Use it rear-facing for children who weigh 5 -35 pounds and forward-facing for children who weigh 20- 65 pounds. Because I feel that rear-facing is safer personally, I plan to keep my daughter rear-facing for another 8 months to a year. .
To learn more about the Boulevard CS – go Britax’s site – they have detailed instructions and demos on how to install the car seat rear or forward -facing. If you still have trouble installing it, many police stations or hospitals provide free child safety seat inspections – find one at SeatCheck.org.
The Boulevard CS Car Seat is currently exclusive to Babies R Us (in the Riviera pattern, shown above). Independent retailers and specialty stores will begin carrying it starting mid- October. The fashions available will be Berkshire Tan, Davenport, Lauren, and Cow. The Riviera will remain exclusive to Babies R Us.
I really love the boulevard cs rivera that I bought. I couldnt find it at any local babies r us and then I happend to find it at http://britaxboulevard.net
I couldnt be happier with it.