Alpha Omega Elite - UPDATE-

[cr76]

I am currently looking for a new car seat for my almost 9 month old daughter. I am looking for a car seat that goes up to at least 100 lbs and doesn't cost too much (we are short on funds and can't spend alot of $$ on a car seat) I've been looking at the Alpha Omega Elite by Safety 1st. Does anyone use this and is it a good car seat? If not any recommendations for one? We also have a small car (chevy cavalier). Thanks for your help!

 

1/1/09 *Update*

Thank you all for your comments. My husband and I looked at the Evenflo Triumph today. It is a big car seat and wont fit in our small car. Any suggestions for a smaller seat to fit our small chevy cavalier? They had the Evenflo Titan. Is that one a good seat??

[callansmomma]

Most do not like or recommend this seat.  It will only harness to 40 lbs and has pretty short top slots.  Most kids will outgrow the harness by age three. I have also heard that it is not a great booster. There are better seats out there overall.  Many suggest the Scenera for an inexpensive ($45) seat.  It RF I think to 35 lbs and then FF to 40. 

I don't think any seats on the market will RF, then FF to more than 40 lbs, and then turn into a booster.  There are higher weight FF seats that convert to boosters.  The Britax Frontier is one and the Graco Nautulis is the other.  Neither seat can RF. 

The Evenflo Triumph Advance will RF to 35 lbs and then harness to 50 lbs (can't remember the height).  That one runs about $130-160 depending on what version you get.  We have the old Triumph and love it.  It is by far my favorite seat.  Right now my son still rides in his and he is four.  He also rides in a Frontier. 

There are other seats out there as well.  I am just familiar with what I have mentioned.  Sunshine Kids Radian ( http://www.skjp.com/products/Radian/65/) is another that will harness to a higher weight as will the True Fit. 

[taz1993]

we have the alpha omega elite for my 16 month old dd.  i love it.  i dont like the fact that it only harnesses to 40 lbs but dd is capable of being rf so we wanted one that would rf for awhile.   i do plan on getting one that will harness higher when she outgrows this one.  we also have the cosco scenera.  we have it at my parents for when she is there and as a back up seat.  i'm happy with both of them.

[jwaren]

I would stay away from the alpha omega elite if you are thinking it is the only seat you will ever need. It won't be. Children need to be rearfacing as long as possible (35 lbs, or until their is less than 1" above their heads). Then they should be harnessed until they are in kindergarten (even longer=better). And then they need to be harnessed until 4'9" I believe (I am not to the booster point yet with my two year old).

I would suggest to get a seat that will rearface to 35 lbs. It will last you at least a year. And then you can save up and get a better seat. I personally have the costco scenera and love it for my son. It will last until your dd is nearing 40lbs or hits the height limit (14.5" torso height) When he outgrows it in the next couple of months, I will be getting him a Graco Nautilus (it harnesses to 65 lbs and then boosters to 100). My youngest will then inherit the scenera until he outgrows it rearfacing, and then I will evaluate what to get him, if anything until he outgrows it forward facing.

[DeputyWifeJen]

I have heard many many people recommend this seat. I have the Evenflo Titan which is a step below the Triumph and love it. It was only $99 from Walmart.com with free site to store shipping. It will rear face to 35lbs and harness to 50 lbs. I have heard that the Triumph will harness to taller than the Triumph, so it is worth the extra $30, something I didn't know when I bought mine. It also adjusts the harness without rethreading, unlike the Titan which has to be done manually. Overall I believe the Titan is a great seat but would have bought the Triumph if I knew then what I know now. I have never heard any car seat tech recommend a 3 in 1 seat as they don't actually do what they advertise.

Quoting callansmomma:

The Evenflo Triumph Advance will RF to 35 lbs and then harness to 50 lbs (can't remember the height).  That one runs about $130-160 depending on what version you get.  We have the old Triumph and love it.  It is by far my favorite seat.  Right now my son still rides in his and he is four.  He also rides in a Frontier. 

[callansmomma]

There are many out there with small cars who have larger (Britax and ETA) seats in their cars.  Have you tried posting this to Car Seat Safety as well?  There are more people in that group so you may get more responses.

[DeputyWifeJen]

In response to your update, the Titan and Triumph are the same size. Triumph is just the fancier version. I would suggest going to Toysrus where you can actually try the seats in your car. My own opinion is that the Triumph is the best you will get in your price range though, are you certain it won't fit in your car or are you just guessing?

[carseatmom]

I'm positive the Triumph Advance will fit in a Cavalier. It actually takes up less space then an infant seat, so if that's what you've had in your car then it will fit. Convertible seats actually take up less space. Once baby has some neck control the seat can also sit more upright, it is also OK for it to bump upagainst the front seat. I've put ETA's in a car that is just like the Cavalier, and it fit fine.

[carseatmama]

I agree with Jen that the Triumph would fit fine in your car.  The shell size is not terribly different than the Titan.  And you get a lot more use out of the Triumph because the harness goes higher.  Many kids will outgrow the Titan due to their height before they reach 50 lbs.  Not really worth it IMO.  Evenflo does not allow bracing, however.  You must leave 1" of space between the top of the (RF) car seat and the vehicle seat back in front of it.  You may be better off getting a Cosco Scenera to use until she is 40 lbs. (they only cost about $50) then move her into a Graco Nautilus to 65lbs. in the harness, then it converts to a great booster seat.  The Scenera is a pretty compact seat and fits well in most cars.  It RF to 35 lbs. and FF to 40 lbs.   Another option is the True Fit by The First Years.  It is similar in price and size to the Triumph, but it can be braced against the seat.  It RF to 35 lbs. and FF to 65 lbs.  Good luck!

MacKenzie - CPST since 2002

Quoting carseatmom:

I'm positive the Triumph Advance will fit in a Cavalier. It actually takes up less space then an infant seat, so if that's what you've had in your car then it will fit. Convertible seats actually take up less space. Once baby has some neck control the seat can also sit more upright, it is also OK for it to bump upagainst the front seat. I've put ETA's in a car that is just like the Cavalier, and it fit fine.

[justplainbecky]

I can rear face our Britax Marathon in the back of a Chevy Aveo (a sub-compact) so I'm sure you could get the ETA rear facing in a cavalier! Try out Babes R Us, see if you can get one to take out to your car and install.

[MommyBoha]

I have a 2 dr 2000 Chevy Cavalier with a RF Britax Marathon and  Britax Regent in it. The ETA will fit fine.