Calling All Car Seat Experts - Help!!

[TheRatPack]

Well, we won't know height, fit...etc until we get them and then we kind of need the carseats to bring them back LOL So we're trying to find something that is pretty much universal as far as fit for most children. The children are 2, 3 and 4. Our caseworker said to get the 4 year old a booster, but I'm leaning toward the Alpha Omega type since it's got a 5 point harness and the great head cushions and the recline feature. Speaking of which....how do you recline it when it's in the seat front facing? Does the bottom slide out some to make the back recline? We tried them in the store, but it's hard to imagine when it's not in a carseat buckled in.

This is so much different then when my first two were born. We just did a regular old car seat....well, the first generation of carrier carseats for the baby/infants and they were HEAVY! Then they moved on to whatever we could afford in the safety range we were comfortable with.....but it wasn't all the bells and whistles they have now because we knew they soon moved in to a booster, again no bells and whistles (no cup holder or head rest....LOL).

Anyhow, thanks for letting me barge in on this conversation. I hope you find your booster soon so you can fit all 3 in the backseat. We can't sit one in the middle back so we're going to sit one in the middle bucket seats and then 2 in the back on each side (we have a minivan). Still....it's going to seem cramped I'm sure.

 

[all4fun]

Well, we won't know height, fit...etc until we get them and then we kind of need the carseats to bring them back LOL So we're trying to find something that is pretty much universal as far as fit for most children. The children are 2, 3 and 4. Our caseworker said to get the 4 year old a booster, but I'm leaning toward the Alpha Omega type since it's got a 5 point harness and the great head cushions and the recline feature. Speaking of which....how do you recline it when it's in the seat front facing? Does the bottom slide out some to make the back recline? We tried them in the store, but it's hard to imagine when it's not in a carseat buckled in.

This is so much different then when my first two were born. We just did a regular old car seat....well, the first generation of carrier carseats for the baby/infants and they were HEAVY! Then they moved on to whatever we could afford in the safety range we were comfortable with.....but it wasn't all the bells and whistles they have now because we knew they soon moved in to a booster, again no bells and whistles (no cup holder or head rest....LOL).

Anyhow, thanks for letting me barge in on this conversation. I hope you find your booster soon so you can fit all 3 in the backseat. We can't sit one in the middle back so we're going to sit one in the middle bucket seats and then 2 in the back on each side (we have a minivan). Still....it's going to seem cramped I'm sure.

Hi again I would NOT recommend any of the 3-in-1 seats, especially for a four year old, because the top slots are fairly low (15") and the average size kid will outgrow this seats harness by the time they are 3.5yrs old. This would be any seat labeled "Alpha-Omega, Alpha-Omega Elite, or Eddie Bauer 3-in-1) as these seats do not last many kids until they are four (as a harness seat). My ds outgrew his AO at 34mos by height so it definitely did not live up to its advertising of "last seat you'll ever need". Also, the harness has a 40lb limit and the average 4-yr old is going to be close if not over that, so these seats would not be the best way to spend your money on a car seat. They also don't make the best booster seats because of the closed shoulder belt guides, and they require the child be 40lbs to use it as a booster. You're definitely correct though that a four yr old shouldn't be in a booster seat yet. It's as much a maturity issue as it is a growth issue. Can the case worker at least give you the childrens weights? It's really important to know this in order to get them appropriate sized seats.

Here's a few suggestions anyway:
If you have tall, flat headrests in the back seat of your vehicle, then you might want to look at getting the 4yr old a Cosco/Safety 1st Apex seat. This seat has 17" top slots, harnesses to 65lbs, then converts to a decent booster seat. The down side is it requires a tall seatback or headrest behind it (the headrest isn't reinforced so the seat is outgrown by height once the tips of the childs ears go past the vehicle seatback/headrest). It is also a very wide seat so if you'll need to fit 3 seats across one vehicle bench seat, then this seat probably won't work. Albee Baby has these on sale for $99 right now. The Signature Biltmore version HERE has energy absorbing foam in the headrest.

If the 2yr old is under 40lbs then the Cosco Scenera w/5-pt harness HERE (not the Overhead shield version) would be your most economical choice. It has 14.5" top slots, 35lb r/fing limit, 40lb f/fing limit. It runs $40-50 at Walmart, Kmart, Target. OR you could get an Evenflo Chase HERE or Bolero. The Bolero makes a better booster seat later on. Either of these might also work for the three yr old as well. The Chase is narrower but the Bolero/Generations makes a better booster seat down the road.

W/out knowing their weights, torso heights, your budget, or your vehicle, it's hard to make really accurate and informed recommendations though. If you need to try a different combination of seats out in your vehicle then Babies R Us has a policy of allowing people to try them out before buying so that might be the place to look first. Don't feel pressured to buy there though if you can get a better deal somewhere else.

Also, if you get more information about the kids...then I would recommend posting on www.car-seat.org or the babycenter forums for more advice. And when you do buy seats, leave the tags on and save the boxes so if something doesn't fit one of the kids right then you have the option of taking it back and getting something that works better. www.cpsafety.com also has some shopping guides that you might find helpful as well.

hth!

 

[tanyaandallie]

You could also consider getting at least the younger two the Fisher Price Safe Voyager Delux. It's on clearance at a bunch of places right now. I know someone mentioned it earlier, but it's basically the same seat as the Britax Marathon without all the bells and whistles and only harnesses to 55 lbs. But, I'm thinking as long as they are average sized 2 and 3 year olds that they would get some good years out of them. My dd is in a marathon and she is almost 4 with tons of room to grow. I expect her to be in it until she is 5 or 6. Anyways, it's a good economical option that would fit most average sized kids. It might work for the 4 year old for a while but it's a tough call when you don't know how big they are.

I would see if you could get some estimates on their sizes/weights, etc before they arrive and then post back on one of the car seat boards with the details.

 

[DisneyAllison]

I just purchased 2 Regents, and have been very happy with them. My is 3 and 39 inches. She really loves her Regent, and I love it because it will keep her safer in a harness for longer.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[all4fun]

I just purchased 2 Regents, and have been very happy with them. My is 3 and 39 inches. She really loves her Regent, and I love it because it will keep her safer in a harness for longer.

Good Luck with your decision.

That actually might be a good option for TheRatPack but I think the OP needs a convertible seat. The Regent is a fwd facing only seat.

 

[Disney Ron]

I found a great bargain today on the Britax Marathon $229.00.
This is the best price I found anywhere. Just thought I would post the link in case anyone is interested. I save $40.00, thought it was a good deal. Colors are limited (navy, red, or royal) but that did not matter, safety factor is the same no matter what color. Also, it had free shipping and handling.

http://carseats.babycatalog.com/inf...-convertible-car-seat-with-latch/E9L0603.html

FYI, I just saw Target has this seat on sale for $229 also.

Mrs. Disney Ron

 

[zoemurr]

and as for outgrowing them.. my DD is 8 and is in the 95% for weight and height. She still had 4" or 15lbs before she has outgrown it.
she isn't even in the top slots yet. (My 5yr old DS has one too, but he's much smaller.) We LOVE them. My DD is fine in a booster (probably would just fit in a seatbelt, but I just can't do that..) but always wants to be in the Regent. So much more comfortable, and safer feeling.

That being said, it is not a seat that you would move very often. It is heavy and bulky. Also, if you are used to Britax quality, you would probably not be happy with many other seats. You get spoiled by the no twist straps especially.

Good luck. If you had one of these you could keep it for when she outgrows the MA in the primary car, and use a booster in the other cars which is very easy to move back and forth.

It does get crazy.. we've had infant seat, RA, 2 Regents, booster and backless booster for 2 kids. But I feel it's $ well spent. There are so many other things you can cut corners on. You can sell the MAs (even just the covers) if there is any life left in them when you are done.

 

[all4fun]

Britax Marathon - Graystone is also on sale at Target.com this week for $229.00

Click Here for link

 

[dhardawa]

Is there anyplace I can see the new Recaro coming out?

Right not is it pretty much top secret! They didn't even show up at Lifesavers this year. That is where we thought we'd learn all about it.

 

[dhardawa]

Well, we won't know height, fit...etc until we get them and then we kind of need the carseats to bring them back LOL So we're trying to find something that is pretty much universal as far as fit for most children. The children are 2, 3 and 4. Our caseworker said to get the 4 year old a booster, but I'm leaning toward the Alpha Omega type since it's got a 5 point harness and the great head cushions and the recline feature. Speaking of which....how do you recline it when it's in the seat front facing? Does the bottom slide out some to make the back recline? We tried them in the store, but it's hard to imagine when it's not in a carseat buckled in.

This is so much different then when my first two were born. We just did a regular old car seat....well, the first generation of carrier carseats for the baby/infants and they were HEAVY! Then they moved on to whatever we could afford in the safety range we were comfortable with.....but it wasn't all the bells and whistles they have now because we knew they soon moved in to a booster, again no bells and whistles (no cup holder or head rest....LOL).

Anyhow, thanks for letting me barge in on this conversation. I hope you find your booster soon so you can fit all 3 in the backseat. We can't sit one in the middle back so we're going to sit one in the middle bucket seats and then 2 in the back on each side (we have a minivan). Still....it's going to seem cramped I'm sure.

You do NOT want the Alpha Omega (or the Cosco 3-in-1 or the Alpha Omega Elite or the Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 - they are all the same seat and made by the same company). It is one of the worst seats on the market. The harness will twist up to a point where in some cases it becomes unusable. The top slots are so low that most kids outgrow it by height around three and then you are stuck getting another harnessed seat to get them to an age where they can use a booster. The shell has been known to crack in extreme heat, like, say inside a car in August. Cosco's response is, "Sometimes that happens." They don't install well in all vehicles. And, when it comes time to use them as boosters, they don't make very good ones.

In your situation where you don't know about the size of the kids and don't want to spend a fortune, I'd recommend either ordering three of the Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe seats ($130 with free shipping at Albee Baby) or, order two of the FPSVD and pick up something like a Cosco Scenera at Wal Mart for the youngest. The Fisher Price seat is made by Britax so you get the quality of a Britax seat without the price tag. You might also check your local Big Lots. They were advertising Evenflo Orions last week for $60. That would be a good seat for the baby too.

 

[designermv]

I think the Regent would be a great choice!

car-seat.org is another wonderful, no-nonsense carseat forum that I love. You will definitely get some great advice there.

Good luck!