Alpha Elite 65 for 5 yr old and 5 mo old

jrv4babies · 05-02-2012, 09:16 PM

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I am considering to get one seat for my sitter instead of two seats.

I have 3 children. She has a marathon that stays in her car all the time for my 2 yr old.

However I need to get her another seat for transporting my 5 month old and my 5 year old. She never transports all 3 children at once. So it is conceivable to use one seat for the job.

My thoughts are this...

**the seat is going to be coming in and out frequently no matter what, so at least if it's one seat to learn vs two, that could reduces installation errors
**the alpha elite 65 could be easily adjusted (harness height) between the two children
**price is reasonable (compared to a $275 recaro)

Thoughts?
Something I'm not considering?

Thank you!!!!

jrv4babies · 05-02-2012, 09:21 PM

Forgot to mention
My 5 year old is 44" and 42 lbs
:-)

wendytthomas · 05-02-2012, 09:22 PM

It's one of the harder seats to install, but the 65 is at least decent in the height and weight limits. It makes an ill fitting booster, though.

I'd probably look at an Evenflo Triumph 65, First Years True Fit, maybe the Safety 1st Complete Air, rather than the AE65.

Wendy

Brigala · 05-02-2012, 10:18 PM

If I'm not mistaken, the bottom slots on that seat are pretty high. Your 5 month old might not fit in it for a few more months.

The Complete Air would have the same problem.

What do you consider "reasonable" as far as price?

Brigala · 05-02-2012, 10:22 PM

The Safety 1st Able is a brand new car seat which is a little cheaper than the Alpha Elite and looks like it has all the same features as the Alpha Elite except the booster feature - which you probably shouldn't use anyway because frankly it sucks. 10% off this month so $135 - not too bad. I don't know much about it though. I'm going to guess that it has the same harness heights (low and high) as the Alpha Elite. It might be worth calling them and asking.

Jessica61624 · 05-02-2012, 10:22 PM

Is your two year old FF or RF?

Jessica61624 · 05-02-2012, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brigala

The Safety 1st Able is a brand new car seat which is a little cheaper than the Alpha Elite and looks like it has all the same features as the Alpha Elite except the booster feature - which you probably shouldn't use anyway because frankly it sucks. 10% off this month so $135 - not too bad. I don't know much about it though. I'm going to guess that it has the same harness heights (low and high) as the Alpha Elite. It might be worth calling them and asking.

It's this seat
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...uctId=12003514

It's huge irl.

canadiangie · 05-02-2012, 10:46 PM

I would get a Cosco Scenera and Evenflo Maestro. I may even consider just a highback well-fitting booster seat for the 5yo, depending on her maturity level.

I think, without thinking very long though

, that that Alpha Elite would be one of the last seats I'd consider. It's not easy to install, really, and it would require her to switch a whole plethora of stuff around when going from rf to ff.

Could the 5mo and 2yo share a seat? Or would that not work because of the way things are scheduled?

Jessica61624 · 05-02-2012, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canadiangie

I would get a Cosco Scenera and Evenflo Maestro. I may even consider just a highback well-fitting booster seat for the 5yo, depending on her maturity level.

I think, without thinking very long though

, that that Alpha Elite would be one of the last seats I'd consider. It's not easy to install, really, and it would require her to switch a whole plethora of stuff around when going from rf to ff.

Could the 5mo and 2yo share a seat? Or would that not work because of the way things are scheduled?

My though was if the 2 year old is FF she could get a complete air and install FF. And the move the marathon when needed since its usually an easier install.

jennlana · 05-03-2012, 02:35 AM

Both my girls at 5 months old fit in the AE. But I agree, RF install was a pain. I had to use a pool noodle or a rolled up towel to get the right angle. FF install was easy though.

henrietta · 05-03-2012, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendytthomas

It's one of the harder seats to install, but the 65 is at least decent in the height and weight limits. It makes an ill fitting booster, though.

I'd probably look at an Evenflo Triumph 65, First Years True Fit, maybe the Safety 1st Complete Air, rather than the AE65.

Wendy

I agree w/Wendy on this. The EFTA 65 would be easier--it's simple to switch the harness (it's on an infinite slide), it's a piece of cake to change it from rear-facing to forward facing, and it's an easy install--almost as easy as the MA, sometimes easier.

BUT--where are your 5 yr olds shoulders in relation to the top slots of the MA? What seat does she usually ride in and where are her shoulders in relation to it's top slots? My child had outgrown the MA by 44" tall, but he was a bit longer torsoed back then. The EFTA will last bit longer height wise than the MA. The True Fit will last even longer than it.

henrietta

05-02-2012, 09:21 PM	#2
jrv4babies Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 38	Re: Alpha Elite 65 for 5 yr old and 5 mo old Forgot to mention My 5 year old is 44" and 42 lbs :-)

05-02-2012, 09:22 PM	#3
wendytthomas Moderator - CPS Technician Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dresden, Germany Posts: 25,080	Re: Alpha Elite 65 for 5 yr old and 5 mo old It's one of the harder seats to install, but the 65 is at least decent in the height and weight limits. It makes an ill fitting booster, though. I'd probably look at an Evenflo Triumph 65, First Years True Fit, maybe the Safety 1st Complete Air, rather than the AE65. Wendy __________________ wendy, mom to piper, 7/26/02, 54", 67#, Ozzi, Monterey (thank you, Diono!) laine 9/16/09, 36.5", 28#, True Fit, True Fit Premier 2004 Audi A4, 2012 Mazda5 Currently using TFP and Ozzi in a 2013 Ford Mondeo

05-02-2012, 10:18 PM	#4
Brigala CPS Technician Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 2,983	Re: Alpha Elite 65 for 5 yr old and 5 mo old If I'm not mistaken, the bottom slots on that seat are pretty high. Your 5 month old might not fit in it for a few more months. The Complete Air would have the same problem. What do you consider "reasonable" as far as price? __________________ Mom to one car-seat-age child and, at least count, 8 car seats.

05-02-2012, 10:22 PM	#5
Brigala CPS Technician Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 2,983	Re: Alpha Elite 65 for 5 yr old and 5 mo old The Safety 1st Able is a brand new car seat which is a little cheaper than the Alpha Elite and looks like it has all the same features as the Alpha Elite except the booster feature - which you probably shouldn't use anyway because frankly it sucks. 10% off this month so $135 - not too bad. I don't know much about it though. I'm going to guess that it has the same harness heights (low and high) as the Alpha Elite. It might be worth calling them and asking. __________________ Mom to one car-seat-age child and, at least count, 8 car seats.

05-02-2012, 10:22 PM	#6
Jessica61624 CPS Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Everett,WA Posts: 3,217	Is your two year old FF or RF? __________________ Jessica-Mommy Jaelyn-Frontier 85/Diono Monterey(6-16-07) Dominic-RF R120(2-4-10) Damian{HBA2C}-Boulevard 70(6-19-12)

05-02-2012, 10:46 PM	#8
canadiangie Ambassador - CPS Technician Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary, AB. Canada Posts: 4,664	Re: Alpha Elite 65 for 5 yr old and 5 mo old I would get a Cosco Scenera and Evenflo Maestro. I may even consider just a highback well-fitting booster seat for the 5yo, depending on her maturity level. I think, without thinking very long though , that that Alpha Elite would be one of the last seats I'd consider. It's not easy to install, really, and it would require her to switch a whole plethora of stuff around when going from rf to ff. Could the 5mo and 2yo share a seat? Or would that not work because of the way things are scheduled?

05-03-2012, 02:35 AM	#10
jennlana Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Hawaii Posts: 85	Re: Alpha Elite 65 for 5 yr old and 5 mo old Both my girls at 5 months old fit in the AE. But I agree, RF install was a pain. I had to use a pool noodle or a rolled up towel to get the right angle. FF install was easy though.

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Alpha Elite 65 for 5 yr old and 5 mo old

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