Alpha Omega Elite/Luxe Deluxe 3-in-1

[Dinahk2]

Oh this is so frustrating.

We have an F-150, Extended cab. We've used the Alpha Omega successfully for over a year now, rear-facing, in the front seat, with the airbag turned off. My daughters 16 months old now, just a little over 20lbs, and our pediatrician recommended turning the car seat around.

My question is this: when using this car seat forward facing, do we need to follow the level guidelines at the top of the seat? The manual does not say we have to, but then, neither does it say we don't have to. Just as an FYI, the manual is very clear that these level guidelines have to be followed in the rear-facing position.

In order to make the seat guidelines level with the ground, the front seat has to be very reclined, as does the carseat. This results in my daughter being almost completely horizontal, which seems very wrong.

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

[fangy47]

Generally, child seats are placed in upright positions for forward-facing installations. Some child seats will meet testing standards with upright and semi-reclined positions and it should be stated in the child seat manual. The level guidelines on your child seat are for the RF installation.

I took a look at the Alpha 3-in-1 manual online here and it states only to use the recline position if needed to make the child seat flush against the back of the vehicle seat. If your vehicle seat is at an angle then you may need to use the recline to make sure the whole back of the child seat is against the vehicle seat. This is mentioned twice: in step 1 on p. 33 with a FF Seat Belt installation and in step 3 on p. 35 with a FF LATCH installation.

I'm not sure if there is any variation with your child seat manual and the one you have (could be if the manuals are of different years etc.) so I would double check if it says this in your child seat manual.

Hope that helps!

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

	LATCH LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the Federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints without using the vehicle's seat belt system. New vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.

[Dinahk2]

Thanks for your help...our manual is the same as the one you posted too.

For now, I'm deciding to just keep her rear-facing. From everything I've read, it seems safer anyhow. When we do turn her around, we'll install the way you suggested.

Thank you!

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

[Papooses]

Originally Posted by Dinahk2

My daughters 16 months old now, just a little over 20lbs, and our pediatrician recommended turning the car seat around.

Your Pediatrician gave you advice that goes contrary to the American Academy of Pediatric's Policy Statement for advizing families. Sigh, unfortunately this is all too common.... Please visit the page titled "Newborn -- Preschool" in my site (link in signature) for detailed information as well as to print a copy of the AAP statement to share with your Dr.

If the carseat fit RF & kiddo has no severe medical diagnosis requiring constant diligent supervision, then she will be immensly safer riding RF until she reaches the maximum limits of the carseat as per its manual.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

[SusanMae]

In addition to what Tiffany said, for the Alpha Omega seats the child must be 1 yr, 22 pounds AND 34" tall before you can turn her forward facing. To do less than that is considered mis-use and you are putting your daughter in danger since the seat is not approved to be used forward facing with a child smaller than the stated minimums.

Susan

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.