I want to keep my child in a 5-point harness as long as I can, and Britax makes this possible with the Regent!
This seat has very high top harness slots along with a high weight limit of 80 lbs which allows for extended harnessing. The weight limit of this seat is the highest on the market right now, aside from special needs carseats. The seat is also backed by the Britax name brand. They are known for their continuous safety testing and their high safety standards.
It is a proven fact that using a 5-point harness carseat is safer than a booster or seatbelt alone because the 5-points allow for better distribution of crash forces than 3-points do. After all, race car drivers use 5-point harnesses. As long as your child is under the weight and height limit for a 5-point harness, that is the safest way for them to ride in the car.
The Britax Regent can be used from 22 lbs to 80 lbs. Most children can use this seat until they are 8-10 years of age. The Regent is a forward facing only seat. If your child is not at least 1 year of age AND 22 lbs, they are safest rearfacing. A great seat for rearfacing (and extended rearfacing) is a
Britax Marathon.
The Britax Regent is a fairly easy seat to install. It has a couple of different installation methods. You must use the top tether after your child is 50 lbs, even while using a seatbelt to install it. The seat is a little heavy, though.
My child finds the Regent a very comfortable seat for riding in the car. She calls it her "big comfy chair". The middle material on the Onyx cover easily wipes clean. The sides are a nice plush, almost velveteen-like material. Very comfortable! It has covers on the straps for the shoulder/neck area.
The straps are equipped with Britax's exclusive HUGS system. The HUGS are the rubbery pieces on the straps. The HUGS help to distribute the crash forces in the event of an accident.
I love this seat and I feel that my child is very safe and comfortable in it. I recommend this seat to anyone who has a child that is outgrowing a carseat with the typical 40 lb weight limit on the 5-point harness.
