platinum protection for your most precious cargo :: evenflo carseat review

Over the past 10 years, we’ve owned at least 8 different car seats. If you count booster seats, that number is probably closer to 12. We’ve had some seats that I loved and a few that I hated. Some that we cushy and comfy but too wide to fit comfortably in the car with 3 other seats. Some that were the right size but hard as bricks. And that blasted LATCH system? I have a love/hate relationship with it. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve pinched my fingers trying to clip a seat in with those. But I’d learned to deal with it. I found little tricks that made properly installing a car seat easier, even when I was having to smash 3 seats on one row of the van. I was used to it. And I wasn’t really looking for a new car seat at the moment. I knew that I’d eventually be moving my youngest out of her 5-point harness, but I have a good bit of time before she’s big enough. But through One2One Network, the opportunity came up for me to try the new Evenflo Platinum Symphony LX seat and I just couldn’t say no. And I’m so glad I didn’t. This seat is so well-designed and has so many little “bonus features” that make it my all-time favorite car seat.

For starters, remember that LATCH system I was talking about? You know how you usually use the little hook and push it in and make sure it clips onto the anchor but usually pinch the fool out of your finger while you’re doing it? This seat has something called Quick Connectors that look similar to small, skinny seat belt buckles. With one hand and minimal effort, you just push it in towards the anchor and click it goes right in. I had the seat properly installed in less than 30 seconds! With a quick click of the LATCH connector and a tug of the belt to tighten it, we were ready to roll.

There are these little buckle protector pockets on both sides of the seat so that when you unbuckle, you just place the buckles in these pockets and it helps keep it from getting so hot. We are gearing up for super hot weather around here, but so far I’ve noticed that even with the few days of hot weather, the buckle hasn’t burned my fingers yet! The only problem is that you have to actually remember to place them in the pocket! Another bonus? If you do remember to put them in the pockets, you won’t have to waste time fishing around under you child for the buckles when you’re trying to hurry out the door. {Click on the image to see more detail.}

Another great thing about this seat? Even though it’s red and black, thanks to Outlast Performance Fabric it never feels hot to the touch. We’ve had a few days with temps in the 90s and she never once complained about her seat being too hot. It has also already survived through two spilled drinks, both of which cleaned up easily with wet wipes.

Other great features? First of all, my daughter loves it. She’s three and can easily (but not quickly) buckle herself in, which makes both of us happy! She can’t, however, unbuckle it, which only makes one of us happy! Also, there are two cupholders. It’s red and black, our team colors! (Go Dawgs!) The shoulder straps don’t slide down unless you move them purposefully. It’s easy to tighten or loosen the straps when necessary. And when it’s time to move from 5-point harness to booster seat? All the pieces you won’t be using anymore have special little storage spots so that you can still keep the pieces with the seat! (We’ve lost several sets of straps through the years).

This is a car seat I wish I’d had when my older kids were little. If I’d had a seat like this, each child would still be in his or her same seat! Think of how much money we would have saved if we’d only bought one car seat that fit the needs of every stage from newborn to big kid! This seat is that seat!

Evenflo Platinum Symphony™ LX :: $229.99 at BabiesRUs.com

Connect with Evenflo ::
Like them on Facebook
Tweet with them on Twitter
Follow them on Google+
Subscribe to them on YouTube