SO EASY! Click, click click! (Updated)

We've been using this car seat in conjunction with it's base and stroller combo since our baby was born January 31st, 2008. I cannot believe how easy it is to use! Our last child was born in 2002 and the car seat we had at that time required a lot of adjusting, readjusting and never really knowing if we had it right. I seriously considered taking it to my local police department from time to time to make sure it was in properly!

THIS seat? No problems. It clicks in to the Latch hooks in our car effortlessly. Then you simply yank a strap to pull it in tight. To get it out? No struggling to stick your hand down into the seat. You lift up on a little latch and pull, the whole thing loosens for you to get it out by pushing seat belt style push buttons.

Want to be sure you have it at the right angle? Who ever knew how to do that?? This one has LEVELS on the base. center the bubble and it's at exactly the right angle at all times. Wow. Seems like a no-brainer, don't know why we didn't have that before!

The seat is very comfy. The baby sleeps in it all the time for naps in the car, in my office and just last week while he had a cold. Little cushions around his head and bottom keep him positioned just right. No sliding around and because it's aways at the right angle thanks to those little levels on the base - no head falling forward.

The seat IS heavy. Not sure exactly how much it weighs, but as my baby approaches 15 lbs it's getting to be a challenge to lug in and out of the car. But to be honest, I chalk that up to it being a sturdy seat that will protect my baby in an accident and I'm willing to live with the heft. The carry handle requires two hands to reposition which is also sort of a pain. If you're holding baby and need to move it out of the way, you need a helper. Again, I think this is a safety feature, so that you don't accidentally reposition the handle while you're carrying it and swing the baby out.

Seat is very deep length-wise when it's at the right angle. Be sure to check that it will fit into your back seat without having to tilt your front seat into a very uncomfortable V position. May be a problem in some smaller cars.

Seat goes to 30 lbs which is actually a major reason we chose this one. Our kids are pretty big, pretty fast and I felt I was moving my last baby into a bigger seat prematurely for his age. I also like that the lower portion of the seat seems long enough to accommodate longer little legs. No more feet falling asleep.I like the shape of the bottom too, allows for rocking baby and fit's into most store carts.

OOH, another thing I love? It ALL comes apart and EVERY soft surface can be washed! I've already done this two or three times. Right into the washer on gentle cycle cold, and then the dryer on low. Cleans up beautifully. (Please note: the instructions say to drip dry only - I'm just not that patient.)

Overall, a great, very easy to use correctly seat. Loving it.

Update-
We are just about to buy a new seat after 22 months of use. Baby has reached 28 lbs, very near the maximum weight of this seat, and his head is beginning to reach a bit over the top of the seat. So we will be replacing for height, not weight.

We STILL love this seat. I will be sad to stop using it. Only last week the little guy fell asleep and I carried him in to his room from the car to finish his nap, cozy in his favorite seat.

We're still using the seat in it's rear facing position which I feel is safest, but his legs are getting longer and he will probably be more comfortable facing forward now.

The seat still looks great. It has held up to multiple washing machine cleanings, dryings, and regular toddler abuse. Straps and clips all in perfect working order. The tallest height of the straps is still working comfortably for a our fairly tall toddler. We did eventually buy another base which made moving the seat from car to car very simple.

All in all, I would still highly recommend this seat. Will clean it up and donate locally. And if we have another baby, this will be the seat we buy.