Alpha Sport Carseat (Cosco) as a backup carseat

[midwestmeg]

Okay; my Marathon and Roundabout have been checked out and are solidly installed in my Subaru. I won't be moving them anytime soon!!

So I need two backup carseats for my mom's sedan and my dh's truck. I want 1. lightweight 2. easy to move in and out and 3. the ability to use it until it expires.

I think I found it.... the Alpha sport is a 3 in 1 seat; it's the 'cheap' version of the Alpha Omega Elite & the Eddie Bauer cousin. I liked it because it's light, $100 and we'll be able to use it with both kids (2.5 years & 6 mo) for a long time because it goes to a high back booster.

Anything important I'm missing? It's no Britax, but it looks reasonable.

[mbhf]

i wouldn't get a 3 in 1 seat. check out the cosco scenera, it's about half as expensive and in my opinion a much better seat.

[an_aurora]

Originally Posted by mbhf

i wouldn't get a 3 in 1 seat. check out the cosco scenera, it's about half as expensive and in my opinion a much better seat.

:

[chickabiddy]

I agree that the Scenera is a better seat, and your $100 is much better spent by better off buying Sceneras for $40 now, and then boosters for $50 later. The Sceneras should give you 3-4 years of use and the boosters another 4-5 years, so you're getting more seat for less money.

[alegna]

Agree- scenera.

Except, check that your 2.5yr old hasn't outgrown it in height first.

-Angela

[ThreeBeans]

That's a terrible seat...don't waste money on it.

Cosco Scenera for 40 bucks, or for your 2.5 year old a Safety First Uptown for 90. Stay away from any 3-in-1

[Leylla]

Here is why the 3-n-1s are disliked:

Despite being a decent RFing seat, (although for the price difference I perfer a Scenera) they have LOW top slots. I think they range from 14.5" - 16"

Also a lot of parents will use the very top slot, but it's NOT a reinforced slot, and not meant for a harness.

The boosters are crummy. It has to do with how well the adult seatbelt fits through the guides.

My recco? If DC is still small enough to be RFing for some time, I'd buy a Scenera. If the child is FFing or will be very soon, then I'd spring for the Cosco/Safety 1st Apex, *if* it's compatible with your car....

Steph

[midwestmeg]

Originally Posted by alegna

Except, check that your 2.5yr old hasn't outgrown it in height first.

-Angela

That's my problem- she's tall and will be out of a convertible by this fall; at just 3 years old.

Thank you, Steph for explaining WHY the 3 in 1's are crummy. That's what I wanted to know.

What about a seat that I can use the harness in and then it goes to a high back booster for my toddler? Will she be able to use the harness longer with her height if she doesn't meet the weight? She's tall, but light (still under 30 lbs).

The boy will be in a convertible for awhile, so that's easy, I'll do the Scenera.

Since my dh and mom will be taking these seats in and out of their vehicles, I want something that is easy for them to install properly and lightweight. The kids aren't always with them, so the seats don't have to have a faux fur lining or anything.... thus the no-frills, cheapo angle. :

AND (should those lovely carseat techs be reading this) when dd uses a seatbelt in a high back booster, does it matter if the car has ELR or ALR? I know my mom's (curse word) Malibu has the seatbelts that only lock with momentum; you can't pull them out and do the click-click-click locking thing (sorry about that terminology... )


Thanks for the input, everyone! I appreciate it. Meg

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by midwestmeg

That's my problem- she's tall and will be out of a convertible by this fall; at just 3 years old.

Thank you, Steph for explaining WHY the 3 in 1's are crummy. That's what I wanted to know.

What about a seat that I can use the harness in and then it goes to a high back booster for my toddler? Will she be able to use the harness longer with her height if she doesn't meet the weight? She's tall, but light (still under 30 lbs).

The boy will be in a convertible for awhile, so that's easy, I'll do the Scenera.

Since my dh and mom will be taking these seats in and out of their vehicles, I want something that is easy for them to install properly and lightweight. The kids aren't always with them, so the seats don't have to have a faux fur lining or anything.... thus the no-frills, cheapo angle. :

AND (should those lovely carseat techs be reading this) when dd uses a seatbelt in a high back booster, does it matter if the car has ELR or ALR? I know my mom's (curse word) Malibu has the seatbelts that only lock with momentum; you can't pull them out and do the click-click-click locking thing (sorry about that terminology... )


Thanks for the input, everyone! I appreciate it. Meg

ELR is fine with a belt-positioning booster (and I'm guessing you're thinking of switchable retractors).

Graco CarGo combination seats (harness-to-booster) come in various models including some relatively inexpensive ones, and they have 17" top strap slots as opposed to the Scenera's 14.5".

[ThreeBeans]

I'm also thinking of the Graco CarGo as an option for your dd. Here's one for only 80 dollars http://www.specialtybaby.com/grchca86inco.html

[midwestmeg]

Hey, that's what I was thinking!

I found the $80 graco comfortsport for ds and the $80 graco cargo seat/booster for dd. And target will ship them to my door for free! BUT maybe I'd better go and see if I can look at them first- although if they are like the Graco's I've used before, they should be pretty lightweight and simple. Simple; I like simple.

Thanks for reading (and responding) to yet another car seat thread...

Yes, switchable retractors is what I meant!

Meg

[ThreeBeans]

No, don't get the Graco ComfortSport! That's another awful seat. It only rear-faces to 30 lbs, and it has the shortest top harness slots of any convertible on the market.


The Cosco Scenera for your DS is the way to go

[Leylla]

Here is a measurement chart for car seats. http://www.carseatdata.org/measurements.php?tun=home

What I would do is sit your child against a wall, and mark where he shoulders are. Measure from the floor to the mark. Then get a seat w/ no less than 3" room for growth.

You said she's light and tall, you *might* be able to get away w/ a 40lbs combo seat. I think the Evenflo generations/Bolero come highly reccomended. But check out the chart, and what you are specifically looking for is one with a high "harness slot" measurment.

Steph

[midwestmeg]

Originally Posted by ThreeBeans

shortest top harness slots of any convertible on the market.

I didn't know that.... does the Scenera rearface to a weight limit higher than 30 lbs?

[ThreeBeans]

Originally Posted by midwestmeg

I didn't know that.... does the Scenera rearface to a weight limit higher than 30 lbs?

Yes! It goes to 35 lbs. That's one of the reasons it's such a GREAT spare seat .

[jenniet]

Where can I buy a Cosco Scenera? I can't seem to find it anywhere!

[mommyddeville]

Target and Walmart both have Sceneras. They're between $40 and $50.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by mommyddeville

Target and Walmart both have Sceneras. They're between $40 and $50.

Just make sure to get the 5pt harness not the overhead shield.

-Angela

[alegna]

Originally Posted by midwestmeg

What about a seat that I can use the harness in and then it goes to a high back booster for my toddler? Will she be able to use the harness longer with her height if she doesn't meet the weight? She's tall, but light (still under 30 lbs).

In any harnessed ff seat the strap slot used should be ABOVE the shoulders.

-Angela

[Throkmorton]

I would actually suggest something like the Evenflo Bolero for your 2.5yo. It has pretty tall harness slots, and can covert to a fairly good booster after 40lbs.

Then get a Scenera for the baby. If you're lucky, it will work ouyt that as the 2.5 yo is outgrowing the Bolero, the baby will need it and you can just buy a booster after that a couple years down the line.