I don’t love to shop. I love the concept of shopping. I love getting new things. I love packages in the mail.

I hate decisions. And when you are shopping for car seat? The decisions are life-and-death!

LATCH?
5-Point Harness?
Memory foam?
40lb weight limit?
65lb weight limit?
$40?
$269?
Reclining?
Cup-holder?
Color?
Reviews?
Reviews.
REVIEWS!

Do we shop conservatively, even though these seats are not on the top of the Consumer Guide list? Even though they have absolutely no padding? And the reviews are mediocre at best?

Or should we not consider money an option when shopping for the seat that could one day save our precious child’s life?

Well, we went name-brand on this one, folks. We bought a Britax. They are the highest rated car seats I could find. They top the Consumer Guide list. I even read somewhere (and don’t ask me where – it’s been a long month) that Britax is not an American product and therefore has to conform to different, and more rigorous standards. It was the only product where I could actually read the reviews of parents who had been in accidents and reported absolutely no injury to their child, thanks-to-the-Britax-car-seat-they-were-in.

But then we had to ask ourselves – should we get the Marathon or the Roundabout?

The Roundabout is cheaper. It is smaller. It is only good up to 40 pounds.

The Marathon is good up to 65 pounds. What is that, first grade? If we got the Marathon, we could put Benjamin in it until Olivia is 40 pounds, and then she and Benjamin could switch and we wouldn’t have to buy a booster seat for Olivia. (In case you were wondering, both the Marathon and the Roundabout are convertible car seats, meaning they can be front-facing and rear-facing. Benjamin’s current seat (which he has outgrown) is only rear-facing, and Olivia’s is only forward-facing (and up to 40 pounds)).

Oi – does anyone else’s head hurt?

So, after over a month of research, we have decided on a car seat. We’re purchasing a Britax Marathon.

But we couldn’t fork out $269 (the average price of a Britax Marathon). After shopping around, I found one brand new for $209! And by using my Amazon credit card, I can save $30. That’s only $179!

However, in order to find such a cheap Marathon, I had to make some sacrifices.

I sacrificed my right to the fabric cover of my choice.

Yep. We are the proud owners of a brand new Britax Marathon Cowmooflage.