EB 3-in1 Deluxe

[Troubleta]

I'm wondering if it's safe to install my son's EB/AO without the base?

We're still using the 5 pt. harness and he's FF (almost 4 y/o, 36lbs). Really, I only want to remove it to see if it would be easier for him to get in and out of the car. He likes to "do-it-all" himself - and climbing up the seat kinda annoys him.

Anyhow, could we remove the base while keeping the LATCH and 5-pt harness?

Thanks!

Oh, don't know how relevant this info is, but incase - I drive an '05 Nissan Quest with 2 captain's chairs in the middle row (where both kids are).

:)

[UlrikeDG]

The Alpha/Omega may be used without the base in harnessed mode, as long as you can get a good installation that way. It *should* fit, IME, but if it doesn't, you'll have to put the base back on and continue using it that way.

[Starlight]

Ulrike answered your question, but I wanted to add... a lot of people aren't aware that the upper harness slot/location can only be used in booster mode - it's just a head rest position.

Please check to ensure your son is not using this position w/ the harness.

:D

[MomToEliEm]

How tall (torso height) is your son? Most kids outgrow harness the 3-in-1 at 2-3 years old so I am surprised that your child is still fitting in the harness.

The harness on all seats is outgrown when one of the following conditions is true:

* Child exceeds the weight limit on the harnesses (your seat is 40 pounds)

* Child's ears are within 1 inch of the top of the hard plastic shell of the seat

* Child's shoulders extend above the top usable harness position.

The 3-in-1 seat is very confusing in that the top headrest position is not for use for the harness. It is only for use in booster mode. There is some fine print (in black) printed on the back of the seat that shows this. The manual is confusing in that it doesn't really indicate it very well that it shouldn't be used. Please verify that you are not using this top position for the harness. If you are, the harness is outgrown and you will need to use the seat in booster mode.

[Troubleta]

Ok - the base isn't that big a deal for right now. The seat is solid as is, so I'll just leave it alone.

As for the harness info - what a can of worms. I *think* I understand - let me see...

There are the slots on the back of the seat through which the straps go through. There are three, correct? My son should not be harnessed in the seat in the third (highest) slot?

Thanks for the three bullet points. He's still not 40lbs (but very close). The straps are AT his shoulder. I've read about the "1-inch at the ear" rule, but haven't checked lately.

I agree that, overall, the seat is confusing and the manual is just short of helpless. I will check things out better in the morning when he's sitting in it.

Thanks, again.
-Tabatha

[snowbird25ca]

Ok - the base isn't that big a deal for right now. The seat is solid as is, so I'll just leave it alone.

As for the harness info - what a can of worms. I *think* I understand - let me see...

There are the slots on the back of the seat through which the straps go through. There are three, correct? My son should not be harnessed in the seat in the third (highest) slot?

Thanks for the three bullet points. He's still not 40lbs (but very close). The straps are AT his shoulder. I've read about the "1-inch at the ear" rule, but haven't checked lately.

I agree that, overall, the seat is confusing and the manual is just short of helpless. I will check things out better in the morning when he's sitting in it.

Thanks, again.
-Tabatha

Do you have a combination seat? It sounds like you have a seat that can be used only ff'ing or in booster mode if you have an Eddie Bauer brand that has 3 different sets of slots on the front of the seat. :confused:

The EB 3in1's have a headrest that slides up and down - there is one set of slots that are part of the headrest, and the harness height is adjusted by raising or lowering the headrest. When you look on the back of the seat, you can see 5 indents where the metal bar locks into place for different headrest positions. The uppermost one can only be used for booster mode. The headress on the EB 3in1's adjust either by red tabs on the front of the seat that you push into the middle and then raise or lower the headrest, or by a metal bar on the back of the seat that you pull out of the indentations it sits in, and then slide up or down to adjust the headrest.

Just as a side note, because I see this soooo often, if you do have the 3in1 with adjustable headrest, make sure that the straps on the back of the seat are routed over the metal bar and behind the plastic bar. I quite often see the straps routed over top of the plastic bar and that's not how they're supposed to go.

If you do have separate harness height slots on the front of the seat, then they're all usable. The top position unusable only applies to the seats that have the harness height adjusted by raising or lowering the headrest. :thumbsup:

[Troubleta]

The seat is a convertible. It has the adjustable headrest with the red tabs at either side. So, far, he's still within the height/weight limits - although I think I'm going to order a couple of Regents for both kids in the next week or so.

I noticed that there is a black/white sticker on the back of the seat that states the harness could be used up to 40 inches; he's currently 38.5 inches tall.

I've still not had a chance to check all the rear slots, although I know that straps on the back of the seat are routed over the metal bar and behind the plastic bar, since I washed the cover just 2 weeks ago and put it all back together (what a pain that was). I think we're in the clear as far as the top slot goes, since his seat requires that I remove the straps and thread them through the slots in order to adjust for height.

Here's a pic I took this morning. You can see that the straps are just above his shoulders, so I *think* that all is ok for now. (I made sure the buckle was at his armpit before heading out - ;))

Thank you all for the advice!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v34/nelschica1012/DSC05820.jpg

[scatterbunny]

Hmm, that seat should not require you to remove and re-thread the harness in order to change harness height. If they are routed properly in the back the headrest should raise/lower the harness height.

Stated height limits don't matter, plain and simple. A FF seat is outgrown by height when shoulders go over top slots or tips of ears go over top of seat shell. My daughter was too tall for that seat at 38 inches tall, shoulders were over top slots/second-to-top headrest setting.

[ignora]

I noticed that there is a black/white sticker on the back of the seat that states the harness could be used up to 40 inches; he's currently 38.5 inches tall.

Here's a pic I took this morning. You can see that the straps are just above his shoulders, so I *think* that all is ok for now. (I made sure the buckle was at his armpit before heading out - ;))

Hmmmm... I have an AO but it's not an Eddie Bauer... just a plain ol' AO, so maybe it's not exactly the same. But, when the headrest on mine is in the second from the top position (top harness position), it's pretty much flush with the back of the seat... just sticks up a tiny bit. It doesn't stick way up above the seat like yours appears to in your picture, which makes me worry that you have it in the booster position.

Edit: I found a recent pic of my dd in the seat. She's using the top harness slot (the second slot down on the back). Sorry about the pic itself... we were having a really bad day:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v172/ignora67/100_4319.jpg

That being said, my dd is also about 38.5 in tall and can still use the seat. But she's bitty and has kind of a shorter torso (13.5" or so). And it's torso height that matters most. Most kids my dd's age are too tall for the seat.


Hmm, that seat should not require you to remove and re-thread the harness in order to change harness height. If they are routed properly in the back the headrest should raise/lower the harness height.

She probably had to re-thread the harness because she took the cover off to wash it. Mine has only been washed once since I've had it (gross, huh?) because it's such a pain to reassemble the darn thing!

[Troubleta]

Ok - I've read everything and gone over the seat, the pics, etc. He's outgrown the harness and now, I'm worried about what to do.

I can't get the new seat for him until at least next week. Should I just go ahead and change the seat to a belt positioning booster?

[wondering1]

He's a cutie pie. Would a grandparent help you buy a seat ASAP?

[Troubleta]

Thank you. :)

Nah - I have to either leave the seat as is, or switch it to a belt-positioning booster. I know I can trust him to leave the belt alone, since he knows how to open the harness buckles and will wait until I say he can open it up before actually doing so. I know it isn't the *safest* option, but prob the best one for the next couple days.

Here's a thought - we have an Evenflo Triumph that was his before DD was born. I can't remember off the top of my head, would he be alright in there?? Then I can put her in the EB in the meanwhile...

[scatterbunny]

That seat is so frustrating, isn't it? :( I liked it just fine until I realized dd had outgrown the harness at 2.5 and 38 inches tall.

How "almost" 4 is he? I hesitate to recommend kids move to a booster before age 4, and really, I prefer them to be more like 5-6. Using this seat as a booster is preferable to using it when it's outgrown, but I'd like to see him in the Triumph first. If he's got room in the harness to the top slots, I'd definitely use that before using the 3-in-1 as a booster; it makes a pretty poor one.

[ignora]

Oh, bummer. I was really hoping it was just camera trickery or something. But, at least now you know and you can make him safer.

I'm going to freely admit that I don't know a lot about the old Evenflo Triumph. I believe it's a 40lb limit seat. Assuming that's true and it's not expired, then I say it's at least worth it to try. As long as his shoulders aren't over the top slots and his the tops of his ears are below the top of the seat, then he should be ok in it for the amount of time it would take you can get a new seat. Though, according to this chart (http://www.carseatdata.org/measurements.php?tun=home), the top slots are 15.5"... so it may be close.

If he's too tall for the Triumph and you can't get your hands on a different seat for a few days then, yes, switch the EB to booster mode. I really hate to tell you to put a 4yo, 36lb child into a booster, but it's a lot safer than letting him ride in the EB the way it currently is. The top slot isn't reinforced for harness use. In an accident, the harness could pull right through the shell of the car seat and your ds could ejected from the vehicle or otherwise be seriously injured.

That being said, the EB doesn't make the greatest booster. It holds the seatbelt too far away from the child's body and the belt tends to get stuck in the belt guides (or, so I've heard... I've never used mine in booster mode). My advice is to lock the seatbelt when he's using the booster and try to limit his time in the car as much as you can until you can get a new seat.

[myliljunebugs]

IME he should be fine in the Triumph. My ds outgrew the AO he had at 2 3/4 years old, but was still under the top slots of the triumph at 4. He moved to the Regent shortly after that. Sounds like that would be your best "get him through until the regent comes" seat. :) He is adorable btw!

[Troubleta]

Thank you all so much. I really appreciate it!
I'm going to try him out in the Triumph after naps. It's 3 years old (bought it the same time we bought the EB) and the weight limit IS 40 lbs. I haven't checked the height. However, just looking at the two seats in the car - it looks as though the top slot is definitely higher than the EB's.

[scatterbunny]

Isn't it amazing that a seat like the Triumph will last longer than the 3-in-1, when the 3-in-1's advertising convinces us that it will be the only seat we'll need? :rolleyes:

[Troubleta]

He's fine in the Triumph! And, actually, glad to be in his old seat again...lol.

Thanks for all the help. :)

[ignora]

Woo hoo!! :thumbsup: