We were in an accident earlier this week and now I am scrambling to make wise choices in replacing our car seats. I have two children DD 1 who is almost 3 1/2 weighing somewhere around 35 1bs with her torso height almost 15". DD 2 is 6 months and weighed 171bs about a month ago. I got the Graco Nautilu for my oldest daughter (now wishing I would have got the Britax Frontier because she is already at the second highest slot in the Graco Nautilu but she has already used so it's too late)
My main question is for DD2. Since she is already 6 months we are getting a convertible instead of her baby bucket seat. I originally got a Safety 1# Alpha Omega Elite but then was intrigued with the Air protect side impact technology and returned it for that.(Our older daughter had been in a Cosco Alpha Omega during and before the accident and we had problems loosening the latch buckle after tightening it well.) I read about how it is hard to install RF but parents are ignoring the 45 degree line for older kids and I was okay with that but then I read about the big hassle with the level line on Safetyfirst's facebook page and I'm totally confused. Those pictures of them installed in vehicles look ridiculous and to need that much noodle or towel filler in all vehicles? Plus I read how it can be dangerous to have an older kids at that angle because of rebound yet people think there could be a reason why Dorel insists on that level. So should I exhange this seat too before I run into trouble or is it a seat worse keeping. I want to RF DD 2 longer than DD 1 as I didn't know better with her. I don't know what vehicle we'll have since our Dodge Caravan is probably totaled but assume something similar and defiantly a mini van. We are in Canada so I'm more limited and I need to stay around the $200 mark. Sunshine and Britax are $300 or more around here. Thanks!
My main question is for DD2. Since she is already 6 months we are getting a convertible instead of her baby bucket seat. I originally got a Safety 1# Alpha Omega Elite but then was intrigued with the Air protect side impact technology and returned it for that.(Our older daughter had been in a Cosco Alpha Omega during and before the accident and we had problems loosening the latch buckle after tightening it well.) I read about how it is hard to install RF but parents are ignoring the 45 degree line for older kids and I was okay with that but then I read about the big hassle with the level line on Safetyfirst's facebook page and I'm totally confused. Those pictures of them installed in vehicles look ridiculous and to need that much noodle or towel filler in all vehicles? Plus I read how it can be dangerous to have an older kids at that angle because of rebound yet people think there could be a reason why Dorel insists on that level. So should I exhange this seat too before I run into trouble or is it a seat worse keeping. I want to RF DD 2 longer than DD 1 as I didn't know better with her. I don't know what vehicle we'll have since our Dodge Caravan is probably totaled but assume something similar and defiantly a mini van. We are in Canada so I'm more limited and I need to stay around the $200 mark. Sunshine and Britax are $300 or more around here. Thanks!