car seat

[mommyof2sons]

We are looking for a new car seat for our son. He is almost 10 months old. And is over 20 lbs. We looked at the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite today at Walmart. We need one that is going to work rear facing for now.

Anyone have any likes or dislikes with this car seat? It has great reviews on Walmart.com

Thanks :hugegrin:

[Peanut1207]

I'm in the same boat so I'm hoping for some answer...my son is only 5 months, but weighing in aroudn 19 lbs. Yikes! We were looking at Britax carseats.

[RedheadbyChoice]

I had the older model of the Alpha Omega and loathed it. With a vengeance. ;)

The Evenflo Triumph is a good seat, and I'm a fan of the Cosco Scenera as well---that's what Meredith is in now. It's all of $40, and has a decent RF limit as well as being easy to install in my van.

Hopefully Chicka will pop in here, too. I know the best seat is the one that you can use correctly every time, that fits your vehicle. As you're looking at seats, you're going to want to look at one with a higher RF weight max, certainly, as both of your babes are still young.

[chickabiddy]

Red PMed me.

The Alpha Omega and its cousins (similar seats made by Dorel under the Eddiie Bauer and maybe Safety 1st labels) have serious limitations. While they work well for rear-facing, they have short harness strap slots and very few kilds will even make it to 40 pounds before outgrowing the seat by height -- and kids should NOT be in a booster before 40 pounds! Also, the seat does not make a very good booster. I would recommend against purchasing that seat.

As Red mentioned, the Evenflo Triumph Advance would be a very good choice -- rear-facing to 35 pounds and forward-facing to 50, with strap slots high enough that many children will actually get close to 50 pounds in the seat.

Or you could go with a Scenera, which rear-faces to 35 pounds. It only forward-faces to 40, but with the money you save by purchasing the Scenera now, you'll be able to get a good higher-weight harnessing seat in a few years.

Other seats that rear-face to 35 pounds include the Britaxes and Sunshine Kids Radian seats. The Radian is very very tall rear-facing, though, so that could make it less attractive depending on what kind of car you drive.

[ashtonsmom]

I love the ETA and so does my son, he knew immediately that he was in a big boy seat

[mommyof2sons]

Thanks...I will check out the Scenera and the Evenflo Triumph.

How long are they suppose to ride rear facing? 1 year and 20 lbs?

[mommy2e]

I just bought my 32 month son old the Britax Boulevard and I/DS/DH all love it! It is sooooo easy to install, comfy, DS sleeps great in it, and he is still rear facing at 32 months (28 lbs). It RF to 35 and FF to 65lbs or 49". You should keep your child RF as long as the car seat allows, by height and weight. The minimum to forward face is 1 year and 20 lbs, but it is safer to keep them RF for as long as your car seat allows. (I learned this from the experts Gypsy and Chicka here:D).

We went to many stores, checked out lots of car seats, tested them in my car until we found one that we liked. I believe the saying is the safest car seat is one that fits your child, your car, and is installed correctly.

HTH

[chickabiddy]

Thanks...I will check out the Scenera and the Evenflo Triumph.

How long are they suppose to ride rear facing? 1 year and 20 lbs?


A 1-year-old is five times safer rear-facing than forward-facing. It is legal to turn them at 1 year and 20 pounds, but it is an unsafe and (IMO) risky and foolish decision to do so.

[RedheadbyChoice]

Indeed. Just because they can be turned FF doesn't mean that they should.