Britax Regent or Cosco Alpha Omega Elite?

[mec38]

Ooops. Never mind.

Looks like I have my answer in another thread here and elsewhere.

[Papooses]

The Cosco Alpha Omega only harnesses till 40# with quite low top usuable harness slots (too many kids outgrow the harness before they're mature enough for any booster) -- it then converts to a booster, but one that lacks any side impact protection & kids also often outgrow this seat as a booster too soon because of the short shell/frame.... The manufacutrer does an excellent job of tricking parents into thinking this is the "only" seat they'll ever need, but almost everyone who buys this seat ends up complaining later because they have to replace it: plus the top harness slot is only for booster use! The manual does not make this issue clear enough so this seat has a high misuse rate The 1 good thing about the AO is that it has the highest RF limits on the market (however, many more seats do now, too, which cost less & are more user friendly).

The Britax Regent keeps kids (who no longer fit RF seats) safest the longest in the harness until 80# with the tallest top slots on the market. The Regent's frame is also made of a stronger grade plastic in a double hollow shell design totally lined with energey absorbing foam.

There are also other options for keeping kids harnessed longer as listed at www.cpsafety.org

	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.

	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.

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

	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.