[beachykeen]

I have a ton of questions now that we are getting so close but I will try not to monopolize the board.

Anyway, I had registered for Evenflo Triumph 5 carseats but my aunt in law got me the Eddie Bauer convertible seat instead that goes up to 100 lbs. I don't think it looks very comfortable. It has a huge headrest thing that you can't take off and the reviews I read from other people online said they didn't like it for that reason. So now I am not sure what to do. She only got one so I just have to take one back if I decide to.

Does anyone have this Eddie Bauer seat that they can share their thoughts with me?? I am at a loss right now what to do. I understand the convenience of having a seat that goes up to 100 lbs, but if it's not comfortable, what's the point? I really think I want the Evenflo instead but should I try out the Eddie Bauer first and if that doesn't work get the other ones? The problem with that, is BRU is 1 1/2 hours away from me and my husband does NOT like to pay shipping for anything and I don't know if I'd have time to go get them.

I'm just in a quandry!!

[beachdreams]

If it is the 3 in 1, we have two of those and I hate them. The Eddie Bauer carseats straps twist constantly and are a pain to fix. The 100 pound weight limit is a misleading because your child will outgrow the seat in height long before he/she reaches 100 pounds. It is also a pain to install in the car.

I have now replaced that seat with the Britax Marathon and love it so much we are buying 2 more for Taylor. I have a friend who also hates her Eddie Bauer one for the reasons I stated and she is buying a new seat as well to replace it. The straps really annoy me.

[beachykeen]

sigh....I SO WISH I could afford Britax - but I can't. My husband won't let me get them, they are too expensive and since we need two.....

[Wait4Spencer]

We have the Eddie Bauer, and Spencer has always liked it. The head rest moves up as the child grows, and now that Spencer is finally getting a little taller, it has been nice. I am not sure how a 100 lb child will fit. I had my 65 lb neice in it, and she was very uncomfortable. We liked it because of the 100 lb thing, but I think it will only work if your child is pretty thin at that weight. Now that Spencer is older, we have actually thought about replacing it with something that is easier to move between vehicles. This isn't a car seat that you will want to move around a lot (if you are using the attachment that attaches it directly to the car frame). It has worked well though... but it doesn't hurt to weigh your options. Spencer's straps do get twisted from time to time, but I haven't had a difficult time fixing them. Good luck.

[DPline]

I agree that the 100 lbs is very deceiving. Keep in mind that in addition to them outgrowing it in height long before 100 lbs, it is only good to 40 lbs with the internal 5 point harness and after that has to be converted to a belt positioning booster. Also, my son and most of his friends at 8 and 9 years old are no where near 100 lbs and have passed the height limit for needing a booster.

I personally would find one that allows you to use the 5 point harness beyond 40 lbs, and then buy boosters when they are 5 or 6 years old and outgrow the five-point harness.

edited to add: I just did a little looking online and there is the Alpha Elite Apex that goes to 65 lbs with a five point harness and I found it for $99. There are also the Fisher Price Safe Voyage that I found for $129.99 and the Safety 1st Apex 65, but that is a little more pricey, though not as much as Britax.

[beachykeen]

So how old should they be before they grow out of a 40 lb car seat?

[DPline]

I just responded to your PM.

My bio son was 40 lbs at his 4 year checkup, but was not mature enough in my opinion to stay sitting correctly in booster with the seat belt in the correct position. I had a heigher weight limit seat and kept him in it until he was about 6.

My younger son (from Guatemala) I expect will hit 40 lbs by 4.5 years old. I am currently looking for a seat with a five point harnes up to 65 lbs for him. He is super squirrly and definetly needs to stay in a five point harness. My daughter (from Guatemala) is still only 28 lbs at 3.5 years old. I suspect she may not hit 40 lbs until the first grade!

[DPline]

I did some more research and wanted to amend what I posted earlier.

Aside from the Britax seats, the Fisher Price Safe Voyage can be used from 5-33 lbs rear facing and with 5 point harness up to 55 lbs.

There is the Cosco Alpha Elite Apex, Safety 1st Apex 65, Nanica Highback Airway Booster that go from 22 to 50 or 65 lbs but forward facing only.

[beachdreams]

Sorry I forgot to come back and check this. What Dpline said is true. I had no clue when we first bought our carseats and thought we were doing fine. The 5 pt harness for as long as you can do it is very important and much safer.

I do not know the links but there are yahoo groups that have car seats techs in them that will give your free advice about the safeest carseats in your price range. Try keying in carseats in yahoo groups and see what you get. If you can't find it, I can find out for you. They will also help you get the carseat properly installed etc. They are amazing and have been trained to know about many different brands and how they work.

Travelingtikes.com has Marathons for $229 if that is in your budget if you are not picky about color.

[Slatond10]

I have the Eddie Bauer one as well ( used for 2.5 years). We basically been happy with it. I have to agree with the other posters though... it is not a car seat that is easy to move from vehicle to vehicle and the straps do twist. It is very LABOR intensive to clean!

Since you need 2, I would probably return and go with the one you prefer.

BTW - The one I have I bought @ a garage sale for $15 in original box w/ original instructions. (* but goes to show the original owner did not like it either) But given that I am a Single first time mom paying off adoption expenses... HAHA .. got to go with the deals.