Before I had a baby, I was the proud owner of a lovely red SLK-Class, and the last thing I thought about when purchasing it was how many people it seated.  But then I had my first baby followed shortly thereafter by my second, and seating soon became a priority in my automobile selection.  With two car seats, we settled on an E-Class, but if anyone wanted to travel with me and my husband, they were typically out of luck, as our mammoth car seats took up most of the back seat.  Then came the news that I was pregnant now with my third, and I started to relegate myself to the fact that the only option I had left to drive was either a mini-van or a full-size SUV.

Unfortunately, neither option held much appeal to me as I love the handling and performance of my E-Class, and my husband (as is the case with most men) isn’t very keen on the idea of a minivan.  So for the last 6 months I’ve weighed my options, until one day I asked myself the question “Are there any car seats that would comfortably fit three across in a standard sedan?”  My search began, and that’s when I was introduced to the newer car seat brand Clek.  Their car seats are slimmer than most other car seats, meaning three across seating is possible, but what impressed me equally as much was the safety that Clek car seats offered despite the slimmer size.

Clek Foonf and Clek Oobr

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are the number one killer of children 1-12 years old in the United States – a scary thought considering the U.S. has such strict child safety laws. The main cause of the high death rate in car crashes comes from improper installation, both from the car seat being installed improperly or the child not being secured properly.  Another main cause of injury in crashes is how the car seats distribute force.  The faster a child stops, the more likely they are to be hurt.  Clek has addressed both these elements in their car seats, offering guides to ensure your child is properly secured as well as developing a unique crumple construction to reduce the force placed on your child in the event of a crash.  Whether you have a younger child (ages 3 and under) and choose the Clek Foonf or an older child (ages 4+) and pick the Clek Oobr, you can rest assured that they’re going to be protected in the unfortunate event an accident does occur.

Cleck Foonf

The Clek Foonf

The Clek Foonf is Clek’s traditional car seat for kids up to the age of 4 (or longer, depending on their size).  In addition to its narrow size compared to other car seats (under 17 in. at its widest point and 13 in. at the base), one of the things that sold me on Clek is their REACT Safety System for when your child is forward-facing.  REACT works much like the crumple zones in your actual car – when a crash happens, rather than bringing your child to an abrupt stop, it allows momentum to happen over a longer period of time through a series of controlled events. An aluminum honeycomb absorbs energy from the collision, resulting in less force transferred to the child.  There’s also energy absorbing foam in both the headrest and frame, further reducing force in a crash.

Another problem with car seats is improper installation.  Clek has worked to eliminate this problem, making installation simple and straight forward. For example, when facing forward, the Clek Foonf has a Rigid-LATCH system that easily clicks into your cars lower latch anchor and that’s it – the Foonf is perfectly seated and installed. When the Foonf is installed facing the rear (which is recommended until your child’s second birthday), it employs a smartly designed belt installation with base along with an anti-rebound bar for that virtually guarantees easy and correct installation.

Strapping your child in is equally as simple thanks to a few well thought out features.  The biggest pain with car seats undoubtedly is the dreaded twisted straps.  On the Foonf, extra wide straps have been used to prevent twisting, while the seat belts can be easily tucked into the sides of the seat when your child gets in, preventing them from getting stuck underneath your child as they’re getting in (if you’re a new parent, trust me, not having to untwist straps when your child is seated is very important).  Once they’re in, pull the belt snug and ensure chest strap is in place and you’re done.  The entire process is quick, simple, and virtually error-proof.

Clek Oobr

Clek Oobr

When you’re ready to move your child out of the Foonf, Clek offers the Oobr, a child booster seat that really redefines what a booster seat is. Using the same Rigid-LATCH System as the Foonf, installation is quick and perfect every time. Because your child is raised up, proper belt placement over your child’s hips and shoulders is made easier, while the belt guides further encourage proper seat belt positioning.

The Oobr’s doesn’t just protect your child by guaranteeing proper installation though – it was also designed to take impact from front, side and rear collisions much like the Foonf. Fitting children up to 57″ or 100 lbs., the Oobr notes a magnesium back frame, a structural headrest with deep side wings and an energy absorbing foam layer, which again helps absorb energy in the event of a collision.  The result is a booster that keeps 4 year old+ kids safer in front, rear and side collisions because it both supports them and help absorb energy at the same time.

Clek Foonf and Oobr Conclusion

As much as the Foonf and Oobr have been designed for safety, they’ve also been designed with comfort and style in mind. Both designs are available in a multitude of colored fabrics in either white or black bases, including three designs by iconic lifestyle brand tokidoki all in materials that are stain, moisture and bacteria resistant.  Put it all together, and the Clek Foonf and Clek Oobr are not only among the best, safest and most stylish car seats currently available, but they also solve a problem that myself and so many other families are facing – how to avoid the dreaded mini-van and seat three across. Thankfully, as long you have any standard sized sedan, chances are three Clek car seats will fit. Even if you’re only planning on having two chlidren, I still highly recommend them, as the car seats save so much room over standard convertible and booster car seats that you still have a functional way to include a third adult in your backseat as well.

After using Cleck seats for my family, they’re easily one of the smartest, most intelligently designed car seats I’ve ever used, and I can’t recommend them enough.

As the parent of a two year old and as of this month, a newborn, there’s absolutely nothing that’s more important to me than my kids’ safety.  When driving, this translates directly to my vehicle and the car seats my kids are in.  With my first son, I spent hours researching brands and their corresponding safety and features for his car seat, and the brand that consistently rose to the forefront was Britax.

With my new daughter arriving, it was time for another round of car seat shopping, so I thought now was the perfect time to share my recommendations for those of you contemplating your own car seat purchase.  For my daughter, the choice was easy, as Britax currently offers a single infant car seat: the Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat.  As for my son, I opted for the Britax Advocate 70 CS Convertible Car Seat, and I can say with complete sincerity that I’m completely confident both my kids are as safe as possible when they’re traveling.  If you’re in the market for either an infant or a convertible car seat, I’ll save you the trouble of conducting your own hours of research and get straight to the point:  if you want the best, buy one of the Britax.  It’s impossible to put a price on your kid’s safety, and you can’t get better than the Britax.

Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat

There’s a host of reasons to opt for the Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat, starting with the unsurpassed amount of safety built into it.  The Chaperone (and the Advocate 70 CS) both feature what Britax calls True Side Impact Protection – a safety technology exclusive to Britax.  Side impact crashes are especially dangerous for children, with 1 in 4 crashes occurring from the side, and 30 percent of fatalities the result of side impacts.  The major dangers of a side impact collision are the lack of crumple zone between the child and vehicle door, contact with intruding objects (glass, metal shards, etc.) during the collision, and the acceleration of the body followed by a sudden halt.

To address the inherent dangers of a side impact crash, the Britax True Side Impact Protection system features two key structural elements:  a rigid seat shell featuring deep sidewalls lined with energy-absorbing foam, and secondly, an adjustable head restraint that’s also lined with energy-absorbing foam.  With True Side Impact Protection, crash forces are distributed away from your child; your child is shielded from vehicle intrusion; your child’s head and body are contained in the seat; and your child’s head, neck and spine are all kept in alignment, limiting movement in the event of an impact.

In addition to their side impact technology, another feature exclusive to Britax is the addition of anti-rebound technology on all their rear facing car seats.  If you’ve ever seen a car seat crash test, following a front impact collision, car seats rebound back, with the top, unfixed portion of the car seat (around your child’s head) flipping up, and your child’s head potentially hitting the rear seat.  Similarly, in a rear end collision, the first tendency of the car seat is to flip up, with your child’s head again potentially striking the rear seat.  To combat this movement, Britax has incorporated an anti-rebound bar on the base of the Chaperone, which creates a solid, L-shape structure to combat this movement, minimizing rotational forces on the seat and keeping your child significantly more protected than in conventional car seats.

These are just two of the Chaperone’s great features – from here, the list is extensive.  I love the Chaperone’s quick adjust five-point harness, which allows you to adjust the shoulder height without disassembling the harness straps.  It also has a weight limit of 30-pounds, which lets you keep your child in the seat longer than most other brands.  From a comfort standpoint, I can’t speak for a newborn, but I will tell you that it looks incredibly comfortable, and my daughter sleeps exceptionally well in it.  There’s a layer of high density comfort foam to provide extra padding, the cover is built from a perfectly plush, high quality fabric, and there’s a foam insert that provides an extra secure fit for children weighing between 4 and 11 pounds.  And from an adjustment standpoint, getting your child perfectly secured (and unsecured) is exceptionally easy, thanks to built-in lock-offs which ensure a snug lap and shoulder belt installation as well as a front harness adjuster offering easy adjustment when loosening the harness system.  Other features include:

• Energy-Absorbing Foam Liner (EPS) absorbs and distributes crash forces
• Large multiple position canopy
• Ergonomic Carry-Handle designed to contour to forearm to allow for more comfortable carrying of child in carrier
• Premium Lower LATCH Connectors for a quick and simple installation featuring a push button for easy release
• Easy-to-Read Level Indicators (on base) provide quick reference for proper angle of recline
• Easy-to-Install Seat-to-Base Design self-guides carrier into proper locked position
• Easy-to-Install Base with LATCH Connector Storage (Included)
• Height Adjustment Knob (on base) for proper seat angle and positioning
• Certified for Aircraft Travel
• Stroller Compatible Design works with BRITAX B-READY, B-NIMBLE, B-SCENE strollers, using the integrated CLICK & GO adapter system, and CHAPERONE stroller to create a convenient travel system. Also compatible with other major stroller brands when used with BRITAX adapter strap (included).
• MSRP (USD) $229.99

For more info detailing the Britax Chaperone, you can the complete details at the official Britax website.  You can also purchase the Britax Chaperone infant car seat at Amazon.com for $183.95, or if you’re thinking of purchasing a stroller as well, you can pick up the Britax B-Ready Stroller for $407.93 and get the Chaperone car seat for free.

Britax Advocate 70 CS Convertible Car Seat

While your choice for Britax infant car seats is limited to the Chaperone, your options for a Britax convertible car seat are a little more diverse, with Britax offering a range of 5 convertible seats.  As I noted at the beginning of the article, it’s impossible for me to put a price on my kids’ safety, so I made it easy and opted for the top of the line Britax Advocate 70 CS.  Reiterating the statistics in the Chaperone infant review, side impacts pose a substantial threat to children, with 1 in 4 accidents being of the side impact variety and 30 percent of fatalities coming from side impacts.

The Britax Advocate 70 CS offers an unparalleled level of protection against side impacts, thanks to its unique side impact cushion technology.  Simply put, energy-absorbing cushions on the exterior of the child seat divert crash forces away from your child, reducing side impact crash energy by 45%.  It’s the only technology that diverts crash forces before they reach your child, and it’s the only technology that extends the full length of the seat, protecting your child’s head, neck and torso.  In addition, the cushions also offer additional protection to other passengers, an especially important feature if you have more than one child in your vehicle.  The Advocate 70 CS is the only convertible car seat to offer side impact cushion technology.

In addition to its tremendous protection against side impacts, the Advocate 70 CS (along with the full range of Britax convertible car seats) feature industry-leading protection against head injuries, thanks to what Britax calls SafeCell technology.  With conventional car seats, children still have the potential to be propelled forward, to the point their head comes into contact with the seat in front of them.  With SafeCell, the car seat’s center of gravity is significantly lower than with other seats, and in the event of the crash, the base is designed to compress, limiting the seat’s movement.  In addition, Britax has incorporated integrated steel bars to their convertible car seat construction, strengthening the seat’s connection to the vehicle and reducing forward movement.

Mated to their SafeCell technology, another feature unique to Britax is what they call Versa-Tether, a system designed to further improve energy absorption.  During a crash, the tether that secures the car seat to your vehicle is released in stages, slowing forward momentum in steps and minimizing the seat’s forward rotation.  Together, these two technologies offer a significantly higher level of head protection than any other car seats, keeping your child secure and their head securely away from the front seats.  If this all sounds overly complex, Britax has a fantastic video that you can find on this page, highlighting all the aforementioned technologies and showcasing precisely how they work together.

If you still haven’t grown tired of reading about the the Advocate 70 CS list of features, I could quite literally go on all day describing them.  As with the Chaperone infant car seat, the Advocate 70 CS features the Britax True Side Impact Protection system, utilizing an energy-absorbing layer of EPP foam.  Your child’s head, neck and spine are kept in alignment, deep sidewalls protect from vehicle intrusion, and your child’s head, and body stay contained within the car seat, reducing the chance of injury.  When securing your child with the tangle-free five point harness system, the Click & Safe snug harness indicator gives an audible aid that provides added assurance your child is within the correct range of snugness.  And in terms of comfort, high density foam provides an extra layer of padding, while a plush, easily removable cover with comfort pads and an infant body pillow ensure your child is at least as comfortable as you are.  Speaking from experience, my son has spent tremendous lengths of time in his Advocate, including three 24-hour road trips, and he’s handled them all superbly, so there’s no question the Advocate 70 CS is a remarkably comfortable seat.  Other great features of the Britax Advocate 70 CS include:

• Harness Ultra Guard System (HUGS™) provides resistance to forward movement in the event of a crash
• 70-pound Weight Capacity for safety and comfort as your child grows
• Rear and Forward Facing Recline for child comfort and positioning
• High Density Comfort Foam provides an extra layer of padding to gently cushion your child
• Plush, Easy-Remove Cover with matching comfort pads and infant body pillow to provide extra comfort and easy cleaning without disassembling or uninstalling the child seat
• Two Buckle Positions for your growing child
• Infant Positioning Insert may be necessary for small infants to achieve a snug fit of the harness around your child (sold separately)
• Quick-Adjust, No-Rethread Harness repositions the harness shoulder height without disassembling the harness straps
• Premium Lower LATCH Connectors for a quick and simple installation featuring a push button for easy release
• Built-in Lock-Offs ensure a snug lap and shoulder belt installation with minimal effort
• Anti-Slip, Contoured Base grips and protects the vehicle seat while offering optimum vehicle fit
• Convenient Harness Holders keep harness straps out of the way when placing your child in the car seat
• Certified for Aircraft Travel
• Made in the USA with global components

For more info detailing the Britax Advocate 70 CS, you can find the complete details at the official Britax website.  You can also purchase the Britax Advocate 70 CS from Amazon.com for a limited time for $269.95 ($289.95 minus a promotional $20 off discount).

Conclusion

Ultimately, it’s as simple as this:  if you’re driving a Mercedes-Benz, you already know the importance of safety and engineering in a vehicle.  If you have kids, it’s only logical to extend this safety and engineering to your kids, and there’s no better way to do so than with Britax range of car seats.  They’re the world leader in car seat technology, and they’ve done an incredible job at identifying the risks to your child in the event of an accident and creating solutions to minimize these risks.  If you, like me, are seeking the absolute highest level of safety for your child, buy the Britax, and don’t look back.  I did, and I can say with one-hundred percent certainty that my kids’ are as safe, comfortable and protected as I can possibly make them.