OT- Car Seat HELP Cosco Alpha Elite BOOSTER

[jessica52877]

I was wondering if anyone could help me out. We went to babies r us tonight to test the Britax Boulevard for the second time to make sure it is what I want. Well I decide to look at the parkway booster, not exactly to my liking so glance at the others and run across this:

Alpha Elite Apex Booster Car Seat - with a harness for up to 65 lbs then booster for up to 100 lbs.

Does anyone have any experience with this car seat? My son will be 4 in December and weighs about 33 lbs. We travel alot (to disney) and he sleeps alot in the car. I want something comfortable and safe.

I am thinking the booster looked a little big, as in wide for him right now, but when he got bigger it would be perfect. I also wonder will the Boulevard really be okay for him until he is 6 years old. I don't expect him to be 65 lbs at that time but don't want him to get too long for it or something like that. I really want this to be the last car seat we buy.

Thanks for all your help! And I need to decide SOON so I can order my britax if need be. Any suggestions on where to order from are also welcome. Thanks!

 

[prestonsmomma]

We have it and like it. The only problem is that my 4 (nearly 5 year old) has outgrown the harness and had to be moved to the booster. I really wanted to keep him harnessed as long as possible for safety but it wasn't in the cards for him. Of course it is TALL too (48" now) so that was it more than anything. Weight wise he is fine (39 lbs) but the height got us.

 

[kathi29]

The Apex is different from the Alpha Omega. The Alpha Omega only harnesses to 40 pounds and has very low harness heights.

The Apex harnesses to 65 pounds and has much higher slots. (17.5" as compared to 15" for the AO). This is the same top slot height as the Marathon/Decathlon/Boulevard. In general this seat has gotten pretty good reviews and should last you a good long time with the harness. My daughter was almost 6 before she outgrew the Marathon by height. Just keep in mind that the Apex requires high seat backs or headrests.

Edited to add the wording from the Apex manual "Do not use this child restraint if the midpoint of your child's head is above the VEHICLE seat back."

 

[Phalene]

I have no experience with the Cosco, but I can tell you about the Boulevard. My 5 year old, who is about 42 pounds is in one, and he still has plenty of room to grow in it. It is very comfortable and easy to install and use.

My daughter is in an Advantage that will expire within the next year and so I'll be buying another Boulevard for her, I like them so much.

 

[jessica52877]

Thanks for all the help. I ordered the Boulevard and think I might get the Apex for our second car. I appreciate all your thoughts and experiences.

Jessica

 

[all4fun]

If you want to keep him harnessed until age six and you like Britax then I would suggest getting the Britax Regent, which has much taller harness slots (20 or 21") than the Boulevard and the Apex 65. I have the Boulevard and really love it but my 40" ds (age 3-1/4) has maybe 1 to 1-1/2" before his shoulders will be over the top harness slots.

The main benefit of the Boulevard, to me, was the fact that it's a convertible and since my ds hasn't reached 33lbs yet I can keep him rear-facing. Since your ds is already 33lbs you might as well get the f/fing only seat since you won't be needing it for rear-facing anyway. It usually lasts kids to age 6-8yrs old.

hth!

ETA: OOPs too late. I just saw your last post. I think you will be happy with the Blvd. It's a nice seat and I love the fact it has TSIP. I hope you're happy with it and it lasts your ds a good long time.

 

[jessica52877]

If you want to keep him harnessed until age six and you like Britax then I would suggest getting the Britax Regent, which has much taller harness slots (20 or 21") than the Boulevard and the Apex 65. I have the Boulevard and really love it but my 40" ds (age 3-1/4) has maybe 1 to 1-1/2" before his shoulders will be over the top harness slots.

The main benefit of the Boulevard, to me, was the fact that it's a convertible and since my ds hasn't reached 33lbs yet I can keep him rear-facing. Since your ds is already 33lbs you might as well get the f/fing only seat since you won't be needing it for rear-facing anyway. It usually lasts kids to age 6-8yrs old.

hth!

ETA: OOPs too late. I just saw your last post. I think you will be happy with the Blvd. It's a nice seat and I love the fact it has TSIP. I hope you're happy with it and it lasts your ds a good long time.

Hmm, wish I had read this before I ordered. I was worried about the slots and kept trying to see further, it was hard at babies r us. I'll be getting ours in the mail soon so hopefully then I can reevaluate and sell it if need be and get the one you are speaking of. We really liked the side impact part of it. We have a fisher price that is similar from 2001. My son is already 40 inches though.