Seat Belts vs. Harness Straps/Britax Regent vs Britax Parkway

[bucket2]

Oops. Forgot something:

I'm curious - did he recommend using a booster?

 

[scatterbunny]

Are you sure they are making the Airway anymore? I ask because we had one for Hayley (got rid of the damned thing) with the 50 pound weight limit and my understanding is that they were supposed to re-release it as the Legend with a higher weight limit, but so far have not seen that happen.

The Airway was awful to use, really awful.

 

[wendytthomas]

We had an Airway to play with in class. It took me and two instructors about a half hour to get the thing sorted out enough to play with in class. It never said what it was, other than a Nania, and since I had heard of the airway I asked if that's what it was, but my instructors didn't know. Man that thing was a bear. It kept falling apart on anyone who picked it up. I actually got it installed well with the harness in my truck, but I wasn't going to take that thing apart to make it a backless booster!!!!!!! Ugh. What a hassle and a half.

Wendy

 

[bucket2]

Yeah, last I knew they were still available. Mine can be used as a BPB, but not backless.

I've heard others say they're hard to use. I got a good install in both my '00 Galant and my '05 Camry, with my only complaint being the belt path is wide and narrow - it was a bit tricky to get the belt threaded through (ouch).

I'll admit I don't use it on a daily or even weekly basis. The little girl with CP I take care of (hovering at 40 lbs - the reason I have the Airway) now has 1) a baby brother 2) a power chair 3) van with lift, I use it even less .

 

[scatterbunny]

Yeah, once in a great while it isn't bad to use, but on a daily basis it was awful. The straps are narrow and not that great of quality. The seat itself falls apart (base separates from back). Installation wasn't hard in my Accord, but in other vehicles I had trouble, the base would slide forward and away from the vehicle seatback and the back part would stay put. The crotch buckle was insanely high and the buckle tongues pressed on my dd's tummy. The worst part for me was tightening the harness, though. I had to do lots of short pulls (which wasn't that big of a deal), but each tug was more of a YANK and it hurt my wrist.

It has nice, tall top slots though. 17 inches, same as the Futura Hayley is in now, so I'm sure most kids could make it to 50 pounds in the harness. Hayley's about 48 pounds and almost too tall for the 17 inch slots.

I had heard that Nania "went down" and that Combi bought the rights to the seat and would re-name it the Legend with a few minor changes. That has not happened, so I assumed the seat was off the market, or at least not being produced anymore. I wonder if the seats still on the market have new or old DOMs?

For less than the price of an Airway I'd steer everyone towards the Apex if they had headrests. If not, I'd encourage them to spend $10-$20 extra and get a Fisher Price Safe Voyage EX.

Here's a pic of Hayley in the Airway at 42 inches and 42 pounds:

 

[melaniev]

There's one more: Nania Airway

The top slots are pretty high (I could measure if interested).

If you don't mind, I'd love to know if the top harness slots are over 17" (we're at 16.5" right now). I see one online for $119 and still looking for a seat to keep in my parents car. maybe for the same price though, the apex is a better option.

 

[scatterbunny]

The top slots on the Airway are angled, so the very tip-top measures over 17, maybe 17.25-17.5 inches. The lowest part of the slot measures 17.

I wish I had thought to take close-up pics of the Airway's slots, without my dd actually in the seat, to show this better.

But yes, IMO, the Apex is a much better seat as long as your vehicle has headrests or high seatbacks.