Alpha Sport Carseat (Cosco) as a backup carseat - Page 2

[soygurl]

For the baby, I'm going to agree with the suggestion of the Cosco Scenera, or the Safety 1st Uptown. The Uptown is a little more "plush" and cushy, and as slightly higher top harness slots so it will last a little longer than the Scenera for tall kids. But the Scenera is cheaper. Both really good options.

For your 2.5yo, I'd go with the Evenflo Bolero/Generations over the Graco CarGo. The CarGo doesn't make a very good booster because the seat belt can get a little stuck in the shoulder guides and leave dangerous slack in the belts. It's also not a great fit for thinner kids sometimes.

Check out http://www.carseatsite.com/recommended_car_seats.htm for a good comparison.

[midwestmeg]

Wow, thanks for the great input.

I still haven't purchased my backup carseats yet... everytime I go to do it I see something else! : I need 'carseat world' or something where I can see ALL of my choices IRL and try them in the vehicles.

I think the Uptown looks nice, or the Apex (recommended on another thread) and recently I've been thinking about the FP safe voyage. I'll harness the kids as long as possible, so once they outgrew that I could just go to a booster, like the Britax parkway, maybe.

So many choices....

[thepeach80]

Originally Posted by alegna

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

-Angela

You can use the Radian seats w/ the shoulders over the top slots.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by thepeach80

You can use the Radian seats w/ the shoulders over the top slots.

Very interesting. Thanks. Is the shell high enough that this often adds some use-ability?

-Angela

[thepeach80]

Yes. AJ is in the top slots of his and could still rf in it if he was under 33#.

[alegna]

Good to know! Thanks.

-Angela

[midwestmeg]

Another question on my quest...

Hi Carseat Techs.... Have you gotten sick of carseat questions yet?!!:

My latest question is: does the Safety 1st Apex 65 need to be used with a seat that has a headrest? One of the reviews I read indicated that it does.

I'm still on my quest for the best way to harness my girl in a backup carseat for as long as possible. This carseat will be the one that travels with us this summer, so it needs to be the usual; light and able to install in most vehicles.

I don't even care about the price anymore, I just need to find a good way to harness dd!! :

She will be 3 in September, is currently 38-39'' and 28 lbs or so.

Thanks in advance... Meg

PS: I did chose a convertible for the boy; either the Scenara or Safety 1st uptown. But I'm waiting to order b/c I'll order both seats.

I WISH THERE WAS 'CARSEAT WORLD!'

[chickabiddy]

Yes, the Apex needs high headrests.

Other options for higher-weight harnessed seats include the Fisher-Price Safe Voyage Deluxe (55 pounds, 17.5" top strap slots, ~$130), Sunshine Kids Radian65 (65 pounds, 18" top strap slots and able to use the seat with shoulders above strap slots, ~$180), Britax Marathon/Decathalon/Boulevard (65 pounds, 17.5" top strap slots, ~$260 and up), Britax Husky (80 pounds, 20" top strap slots, $280), Sunshine Kids Radian80 (80 pounds, 18" top strap slots and able to use the seat with shoulders above strap slots, ~$280).

The Recaro Como and Signo, due out this summer/fall, will harness to 70 pounds and are expected to have 19" top strap slots, and will sell for ~$219 and ~$259. The Evenflo Triumph will be re-engineered to harness to 55 pounds: it currently has 15.5" top strap slots and I do not know if that will change.