Good smaller car seat (Britax Rock-A-Tot)

Member Name: rhianjo

Product:	Britax Rock-A-Tot
Date:	18/05/09 (120 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Small size, lightweight, nice fabric, rocking motion to soothe baby

Disadvantages: Handle is awkward to use, attachable hood isn't much use

We had trouble finding a car seat that would fit my husband's 3 door mercedes most were too big to get through the door opening without tipping the baby out. We had advice from mothercare and they suggested a smaller seat like the rock a tot. It is small enough to easily be put into the back seat of my husband's car.
The carrying handle has 3 positions: carry, a second stage that lets you rock the chair and a final stage that steadies the chair so it stays still. My biggest criticism is this handle. It is very stiff and after 6 months of use isn't much easier to move up and down. The problem is that either side you need to push the handle in enough to release the 2 catches and where they tell you to push doesn't always do this you need to push either side of the handle at the same time!
It is very easy to put the seat belt around the seat though and it is held firmly in place. It does look a nice secure seat.
There's a detachable hood to protect baby's eyes from the sun but this sometimes catches on the handle stretching the elastic it's caught onto. There is also the detachable head hugger to use when the baby is newborn another downside is you are supposed to take this out when you use the seatbelt on the highest setting - with a long baby this gets taken out long before they get good control of their head!
My last comment is the size if you have a long baby like I did it probably won't last as long as the manufacturer says he's rapidly out growing the seat at 6 months!
I don't remember what we paid for it but in hindsight I would probably have opted for a birth to 4 year car seat instead.

Summary: A good car seat for the money, especially for a 3 door car