What do you think of this seat for my 3 year old?

[MOMof2inGA]

Hi guys, I'm new here and I don't exactly know how this forum works yet. I have a question about a car seat I want to buy for my daughter. She is 3 1/2 35lbs and 38in. What do you think of this seat?

ETA it is the Safety 1st Alpha Elite Apex 65

[ignora]

Prefacing by saying I'm not a tech. But, I'm hoping to be soon... taking the class at the end of this month.

Anyway, the Apex is a decent high weight seat for the price. However, it requires that you have either adjustable headrests or high back seats in your car. Your dd will need head support from the car's seats to at least the tops of her ears while she's in the Apex. It may not be a problem right now, but may become one as she gets taller. If you don't have high back seats, you'll probably have to look at other options if you want to get the most bang for your buck.

What's your dd's torso height? Sit her against the wall and measure from the floor to her shoulders. I believe the Apex has 17" top slots... so her torso measurement will also give you an idea of how much room she'd have to grow in the seat.

It's also pretty big. My dd is not quite as big as your dd and she has a ton of growing room in it (we tried it at BRU)... it's actually almost too big for her. Also, you didn't say what kind of car you have, but that's also something to keep in mind... how it will fit.

	Forum Speak DD: Dear Daughter DS: Dear Son DH: Dear Husband DW: Dear Wife SO: Significant Other BF: Boyfriend GF: Girlfriend

[MOMof2inGA]

I'm not sure how long her torso is, but right now she's not quite to the top slot of her safety 1st Enspira, mabe another inch or two to go. She is over the slots on the comfortsport (which we don't use anymore).

I drive a Chevy Venture mini van, I'm sure almost any seat will fit

	Graco ComfortSport - Click for more info The Graco ComfortSport is a well-priced convertible child car seat, with all the key features you'd expect, including a 5-point easy-to-adjust harness, a two-piece harness tie (chest and crotch), washable fabric, and a indicator that lets you know if you've installed the seat safely level. Various "soft goods" options are available in the different models, ranging from no extra soft goods (Prague) to the Metropolitan's detachable head support, harness covers, and toddler pillow.

[Papooses]

The Apex does fit the Venture well -- just make sure the top of the vehicle head rest is at least as high as to be even with kiddo's eyes....

[MOMof2inGA]

Originally Posted by Papooses

The Apex does fit the Venture well -- just make sure the top of the vehicle head rest is at least as high as to be even with kiddo's eyes....

Which seat does it fit best in? I have the 60/40 bench seat in the second row and would like for her to go in the middle. I have only one latch seat and it is behind the driver, I also have a 10 month old that sits there, dd is currently in the built in seat.

	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.

	Forum Speak DD: Dear Daughter DS: Dear Son DH: Dear Husband DW: Dear Wife SO: Significant Other BF: Boyfriend GF: Girlfriend

[Papooses]

I achieved correct installation in all backseat locations without too much trouble -- the base of the Apex could slip too far down into the 60/40 split unless you pay close attention to make sure the back "leg" is not inside that crack ... but the reclinable vehicle seatbacks are really helpful: just recline the vehicle seatback, then install the carseat securely as you normally would & bring the vehicle seatback fully upright again for a very snug fit that should keep the seat secure without inching back down into the crack

If you ever plan to carpool, you may want to keep the integrated seat free, though, just in case, or at least make sure you can also fit the Apex in the back at a moment's notice (shouldn't be too much of a problem, but you may need to twist the 3rd row buckle stalk: only allowable up to three full 360 degree turns).

The Apex is a very wide seat (about the same width as a Britax Regent only not nearly as heavy) but I still managed to fit 2 side-by-side on the middle row bench. Just remember that each seat must not move more than 1" at the belt path.... Here's a couple pictures of my daughter in her Apex, which we used as a spare travel seat in Daddy's & Grandma's cars + on airplanes >


4 yrs. 34 lbs 44"


5 yrs. 38 lbs. 46" (on the airplane from CO to NY)


5 yrs. 40 lbs. 47" (during ~6 hour drive between Canadian border & NYC)
* Please note that the chest clip is too low here! I took this picture from the passenger seat to get her attention so that she would readjust it while she was zoning out on the DVD player. I like that this picture shows how kids can position themselves comfortably in creative ways in this seat, LOL

	Britax - Click for more info Britax International has been producing reliable child safety products for over 30 years. Not only does Britax have decades of experience creating car seats and other children's safety equipment, Britax has a long standing reputation as an industry leader and innovator. Britax International is headquartered in the United Kingdom, but Britax car seats are designed and manufactured at facilities in Germany, Austria, and the United States. In the summer of 2002, Britax strengthened their commitment to creating the safest car seats with the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art crash testing facility in North Carolina. Britax car seats have a reputation around the world for being some of the safest, most reliable, and best designed child safety seats ever made.

	Britax Regent - Click for more info The Britax Regent is the safe way to carry your older and larger passengers, all the way up to 80 lbs. Known as the "king of all car seats," the Britax Regent will accomodate your little king or queen for far longer than traditional car seats or booster seats. The Regent features a large roto-molded shell, comfy extra-thick comfort foam, washable covers, Patented Versa-Tether™, flexible buckle LATCH system, patented HUGS™ system, and tangle-free polyester 5-point harness.

[MOMof2inGA]

Thank You! I don't think I realized how big the seat is!! I should be getting it monday or tuesday Maybe if it doesn't fit well w/ the baby in the middle row I will put her in the back. I'll have to play with it and see where it fits the best.