changing car seats?

Question

we are going to moving around summer time, from MI to TN, and I am looking for an inexpensive but well made car seat to purchase (BRAND NEW>>>>>NOT USED). My daughter is at 36 inches and 34 lbs right now, she is 31 months old right now. I am looking basically for recommendations of car seats to get. My two older children both have the Alpha Omega car seat, but I dont want to spend that if there is other seats out there just as good. Thanks!

Answer 1

Consumer Reports is not considered a reliable source for carseat information by all certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians that I know. Consumer Reports' latest carseat study was actuall recalled due to flaws in the testing procedures, something CPSTs that I know have complained about for years. Consumer Reports will rate a carseat very highly one year, the next year the exact same seat rates poorly.

The Alpha Omega is the same as the Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 that someone else mentioned. They harness to 40 pounds and then convert to a belt positioning booster. The harness height on these is raised or lowered by raising or lowering the headrest (a nice feature). BUT the top headrest setting is only for booster mode, to raise the headrest higher. It cannot be used with the harness. So the second-to-top headrest setting is actually the top harness setting.

When a child's shoulders go over the top harness slots (second to top headrest setting) the harness has been outgrown by height, even if the child is still below the harnessed weight limits. Straps need to be at-or-above shoulders when forward-facing because if they are below, crash forces will push the straps down onto the shoulders, possibly causing spinal compression (a very bad thing).

The 3-in-1 seats, along with the Summit and Cosco/Eddie Bauer highback boosters, have some very low top harness slots compared to other seats on the market. They are thus outgrown sooner by height.

We want kids to stay harnessed to a minimum of 40 pounds AND 4 years old, and kids under age 5-6 have higher rates of head injuries when they are in boosters instead of harnesses, so you would do well to get your daughter a seat that harnesses over 40 pounds and has tall top harness slots, like a Cosco Apex/Cosco Alpha Elite Apex/Safety 1st Biltmore (all the same basic seat, just like Eddie Bauer seats are exactly the same as Cosco, with a different cover, made by the same company, Dorel), or a Sunshine Kids Radian, or a Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe, or a Britax Marathon or a Britax Regent. The Apex requires vehicle headrests for safety. The Regent requires tethering after 50 pounds. The Apex is the cheapest higher weight limit seat, at about $100. The others range in price from $130-$270.

Make sure your older kids are not too tall for the AO's top harness slots (second-to-top headrest setting) and they are not over 40 pounds if they are using them harnessed. If they are using them as boosters, make sure the shoulderbelt guide positions the belt properly and that the tips of their ears are not over the top of the headrest.

Answer 2

Infant seats are outgrown when a child reaches the weight limit, or more commonly when the child has less than one inch of plastic shell above his head. Infants then move to a rearfacing (RF) convertible seats and MUST remain RF until at least 1 year AND 20lbs, but should remain RF until the limits of the seat (30-35lbs in the US). Children then move forward facing (FF) in a harnessed seat. Forward facing harnessed seats are outgrown when a child reaches the weight limit, or more commonly when the child's shoulders are above the top harness slots. If the child is 4 years AND 40lbs, then he may move to a booster with vehicle lap shoulder belt seatbelt. If not, then the child needs a larger FF harnessed seat. There are many seats that harness to 55-80lbs. Some are the Britax Marathon, Decathalon, Boulevard, Frontier and Regent; the Sunshine Kids Radian; the Evenflo Triumph ADVANCE; the Graco Nautilus and the Cosco/Safety First Apex. Stay away from: The Alpha Omega 3-in-1 seats only harness to 40lbs and most 40lb weight limit seats are outgrown before a child is mature enough for a booster seat. They also have very low top harness slots, so are outgrown by height at around 2 or 3 years old. The Graco Comfortsport also has very low top slots. A child should ride in a booster with vehicle lap/shoulder belt until he or she reaches approximately 4'9" (around age 12) and then can move to just the adult seatbelt if he passes the 5 step test and the seatbelt fits him correctly.

Answer 3

If your car has high seat backs and/or head rests, I think the Cosco Apex 65 would be a good recommendation for your daughter. For around $100 she can be in a harness for an extended period of time (65 pounds) and when she outgrows the harness mode the seat becomes a booster until 100 pounds, giving her a safe way to ride with the vehicles seat belt.

Answer 4

We have both of our boys in Britax Marathon's and love them, but we also have a Sunshine Kids Radian, and it is fantastic (and much smaller!) They're more expensive the Alpha Omega but are fantastic seats, and will last your daughter years!

For a less expensive seat, consider the Cosco Apex (btwn $100-130), IF you have high headrests. Your daughter can use it as a harnessed seat for awhile (until her shoulders are above the top slots. The seat is meant for 22-65 lbs in the harness) and then use it as a booster to 100 lbs.

Answer 5

Look online for consumer Reports on safest car- seats. I found a great car seat for $90 at Babies R' Us. Don't think that an expensive car-seat means safety. I saw a car-seat that was over $200 that failed very badly, I believe it was an Eddie Bauer car seat. If you have a Babies R' Us around you, I strongly suggest you get one form there. They have experts there that will show you how to install, what is best for your car, and they also have great price ranges. Good Luck on the move!!

Answer 6

i have gotten well made and brand name car seats at Walmart for a great price.

but go to the library and get a copy of Consumer reports. They will give you the rating of car seats and the price range. Then, get online and shop around!

good luck with your purchase and your move!

Answer 7

I will just recommend a one peice unit. Although conveinience is great with two peice, the dismounting and launching of car seat in an accident is not a good way to go. considering your traveling a distance, even more so. Out of all test done on a car crash study I saw, only two passed the test. See consumer reports for your best option.

Answer 8

Eddie Bauer has a good car seat that will last a while. Both my husband and I have the same car seat in our cars with the difference of the colors. I have really liked it. The one we have is a 3-in-1 up to 100 lbs.

good luck!

Answer 9

Go to target and get a graco booster seat, or an Eddie Bauer, they are great and have really high safety ratings, and are of way better quality than walmart. Good luck!

Answer 10

We use the Britax seat. It is solid and versatile, but I recall it is expensive. However, we have used it for my son and now my daughter is in it.