bree
Car-Seat.Org Ambassador
No new information, but I just wanted to share and complain a little.
Recently, I had submitted a comment on Dorel's website expressing my disappointment with the 40" height limit for rear-facing on the Complete Air, given the tall shell. I pointed out that most other seats on the market go by physical indicators rather than specific height limitations for rear-facing. I think I said something like I thought Dorel should consider revisiting this issue because they have a tall shelled seat that would fit most kids for much longer than 40 inches rear-facing and that there aren't many kids who are 40 inches tall who would have their heads anywhere near the top of the headrest.
I got this response today:
Thank you for your inquiry and interest in the Complete Air Convertible Car Seat. We are pleased to offer the Complete Air with a 40lb and 40” occupant size limit and sincerely hope this will help parents keep their children rear facing longer. As you may already know both the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that children remain rear facing as long as possible and allowed by their child restraints.
In regards to your specific inquiry, the rear facing height and weight limits are based on extensive testing and research. The size of an occupant (height and weight) has an effect on car seat dynamics. Many of our competitors lack a height requirement when switching between modes of use. We believe our greater level of detail in our requirements is reflective of our extensive testing and research.
You may already know, size and weight is only a part of several important criteria for rear facing. For example, the rear facing shoulder harness position must be even with or just below the shoulders. Also, when used rear facing the child’s head cannot exceed the top of the headrest in the highest position.
We are continuously looking to further advance the safety of child occupants. We believe the Complete Air is a revolutionary innovation in child passenger safety and something every CPS tech and parent should strongly consider.”
Thank you,
Dorothy, CPST
Consumer Relations
Dorel Juvenile Group
I don't think the response really addressed my concerns. For instance, they are aware that others seats don't list a rear-facing height limit; they think that their limit is "reflective of [their] extensive testing and research." But, later the e-mail mentions the head not exceeding the headrest. I think that if they were truly extensively researching this seat, they would have discovered that 40 inch kids still have plenty of room above their heads in the seat. I also think that if they want "every CPS tech and parent" to consider buying this seat, then they might want to listen to the concerns of parents who are in the market for seats like this in order to improve their products.
(For the record, I'm not one who would be overly concerned with the limit of 40 inches over how a child physically fits in the seat. I'm also not impressed with the seat after playing with it, so it's not exactly on my list of seats to purchase. I just wanted to point out to Dorel that they were missing out on a population of kids who could fit in the seat by their own physical indicators but couldn't use it because of the 40" limit. I wasn't even sure I would get a response, since it was an online suggestion form. I guess it was more of an academic exercise than anything else.
)
Recently, I had submitted a comment on Dorel's website expressing my disappointment with the 40" height limit for rear-facing on the Complete Air, given the tall shell. I pointed out that most other seats on the market go by physical indicators rather than specific height limitations for rear-facing. I think I said something like I thought Dorel should consider revisiting this issue because they have a tall shelled seat that would fit most kids for much longer than 40 inches rear-facing and that there aren't many kids who are 40 inches tall who would have their heads anywhere near the top of the headrest.
I got this response today:
Thank you for your inquiry and interest in the Complete Air Convertible Car Seat. We are pleased to offer the Complete Air with a 40lb and 40” occupant size limit and sincerely hope this will help parents keep their children rear facing longer. As you may already know both the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that children remain rear facing as long as possible and allowed by their child restraints.
In regards to your specific inquiry, the rear facing height and weight limits are based on extensive testing and research. The size of an occupant (height and weight) has an effect on car seat dynamics. Many of our competitors lack a height requirement when switching between modes of use. We believe our greater level of detail in our requirements is reflective of our extensive testing and research.
You may already know, size and weight is only a part of several important criteria for rear facing. For example, the rear facing shoulder harness position must be even with or just below the shoulders. Also, when used rear facing the child’s head cannot exceed the top of the headrest in the highest position.
We are continuously looking to further advance the safety of child occupants. We believe the Complete Air is a revolutionary innovation in child passenger safety and something every CPS tech and parent should strongly consider.”
Thank you,
Dorothy, CPST
Consumer Relations
Dorel Juvenile Group
I don't think the response really addressed my concerns. For instance, they are aware that others seats don't list a rear-facing height limit; they think that their limit is "reflective of [their] extensive testing and research." But, later the e-mail mentions the head not exceeding the headrest. I think that if they were truly extensively researching this seat, they would have discovered that 40 inch kids still have plenty of room above their heads in the seat. I also think that if they want "every CPS tech and parent" to consider buying this seat, then they might want to listen to the concerns of parents who are in the market for seats like this in order to improve their products.
(For the record, I'm not one who would be overly concerned with the limit of 40 inches over how a child physically fits in the seat. I'm also not impressed with the seat after playing with it, so it's not exactly on my list of seats to purchase. I just wanted to point out to Dorel that they were missing out on a population of kids who could fit in the seat by their own physical indicators but couldn't use it because of the 40" limit. I wasn't even sure I would get a response, since it was an online suggestion form. I guess it was more of an academic exercise than anything else.
)
