AO loose harness suggestions and booster?

[Susan]

I have not been having any luck with my EB AO seats. Transport Canada took DD's away to inspect the harness. We got DS a new seat and gave his to his sister. Now DD's seat has the harness that moves. It just started yesterday and within the 5 or so minutes to get home from school, I had to stop and tighten it twice. I immediatly called Dorel for the replacement kit but I was too late for the day's shipment and will have to wait now until next week to get the harness. What can be done in the meantime to keep DD safe? I asked the CS rep I talked to and she told me to 'make sure I tighten the straps'!!!! That wasn't acceptable so she passed me on to her supervisor and the call was disconnected:mad:

So now I have no faith in the AO seats! DS is in an Britax Marathon. He is 5 and if not 40lbs is very close to that. It was recommended that I keep DS in a 5pt harness as long as possible. What are some good seats that would fit the bill? We are thinking of moving DD into the Marathon and getting DS a different seat.

Thanks

[CDNTech]

What vehicle are you driving? Year/make/model?

The Radian has the tallest top slots and with it's low profile base makes an excellent seat for older kids, it also forward faces until 65lbs.

My long torsoed 5.5 year old still has 1.5 - 2" of torso growing room before he reaches the top slots. He outgrew the Marathon in height just before he turned 5 years old... he's still right at to just over the top slots of the Marathon.

The Radian can have some install issues in certain vehicles, so if you provide your vehicle make/model/year we may be able to tell you how it would fit in your particular vehicle.

[Susan]

I have a 2003 dodge caravan with bucket seats. The kids are each in a bucket seat. DS is still below the top slots on the Marathon. DD will be 3 in a few months and is petite as well. Our plan all along was to move DS into a booster, but with the troubles we are having with the Alpha Omega's I would like to move the kids around now. I weighed DS and he is 39.2lbs (with clothes) and is around 43" tall. I don't know his torso, but he is pretty average (not too long of a torso, and not long in the legs either)

[CDNTech]

Well, we share the exact same vehicle. ;)

For your ds's size, I would get the Radian for longevity with the higher weight limit and taller top slots. It is super easy to install with LATCH in the captain's chairs and you can continue to use the lower anchors until he hits 48lbs, then you would switch to a seatbelt install. The seatbelt install is definitely more tricky, but it can be done when you know the correct combination of tricks. At only 39lbs, you've got quite awhile before you have to worry about switching to a seatbelt install though.

The Radian is $229 at baby boutique stores and goes to 30lbs rearfacing and 65lbs forward facing. If you buy it at Canadian Tire it is $200 and only goes to 48lbs forward facing.

Your other options include combination seats that harness to 47/48lbs and then turn into boosters. You will still need to buy another dedicated booster down the road as none of these combinations seats will go high enough in booster mode to get your child to just seatbelt age.

Evenflo Bolero/Generations... harnesses to 47lbs, then makes decent booster... Bolero at Walmart for $130, Generations (more padding) at Toys R Us for $150

Evenflo Chase/Traditions... harnesses to 47lbs, then makes ok booster... Chase at Walmart for $120, Traditions (more padding) at Toys R Us for $140

Cosco/Safety 1st Apex... harnesses to 48lbs, then makes decent booster... at Sears for $150... this one requires adjustable headrests so that a headrest can be behind the carseat supporting it at all times, something to be aware of if the carseat moves around to different vehicles.

Graco Platinum Cargo... harnesses to 48lbs, then makes crappy booster... at Sears for $160... stay away from the Treasured Cargo, it only has a rear adjuster.