I just posted this in a different area here, but within another thread so I worry that it might be overlooked -- I need the page number (pic would be nice) where the warning not to use topmost harness/headrest position for harness....
I have two AO's, 2001 and 2004 DOM. This topic is of interest to me, since I was bitten by that top position booby trap myself several years ago -- had oldest DS riding with the harness in the unusable top position for about a month and a half, and only discovered my error while researching something else on another car seat board.
Anyway, 2001 manual (when it was still Cosco, and not Dorel), has no explicit warning at all, but the information is sort of there, hidden in the text on page 3, under the description of changing harness height. "If the harness is below the child's shoulders with the headrest in the highest toddler position... you need to convert the seat to the auto booster mode." So the concept of a 'toddler position' has been introduced in that sentence. Further down, in the next paragraph, there is a sentence that says: "Squeeze bar on back and raise or lower headrest to one of its 4 toddler positions." Now we know that there are 4 toddler positions. So, if we examine the back of the seat and see that there are 5 slots, we OBVIOUSLY realize that the top one isn't a 'toddler position'.... Gee, I wonder how I missed this when I read the manual
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In the 2004 manual, the relevant portions are on pp. 13-14. "If the harness is below the child's shoulders with the headrest in the 4th highest position... convert the seat to a belt-positioning booster." On page 14 there is this: "NOTE: The highest position is for belt-positioning use only." The word 'NOTE' is in red, so the comment is at least somewhat highlighted in this version of the manual. However, they have prominent red-boxed WARNINGS all over the manual (17 of them, at a quick count) about all kinds of other possible dangers/misuses, and this little note about the top slot is definitely NOT given the status of a warning.
Looking at the manuals, you can't help thinking they are deliberately hiding this dangerous feature of the seat, and playing down its importance. A few days ago, I looked at a new AOE at BRU, wrote down the model number, and just tried to look up its manual online; however, you have to contact Dorel by email to get carseat manuals (can get manuals for other products online) -- I wonder what that's about.... maybe advice from their lawyers. Next time I'm at BRU I'll have to see if there's a manual on the display seat.
The new AOE does have exactly the same (nearly invisible) warning embossed on the back of the plastic shell that I'm familiar with on my two older seats. Now, however, with the front adjust mechanism that's been added to the seat for convenience, the user never has to bother looking back there -- what a safety improvement !!
Katrin
