Recaro Signo G2 may be a winner!

So after numerous issues with with the two Recaro Como seats that I had purchased for my own twins, as well as one that had purchased for a friends daughter I swore off Recaro child seats all together. Feeling like I, as a technician should make Recaro aware of my issues I called them. After working with two nice representatives at Recaro USA.  I decided to take a chance with the Signo G2 seats. So far I have only  received one but I would say I may be in love. It would not fit a newborn and like most other convertibles I think it's 5 lb lower weight limit is ridiculous, it does fit my 17lb twins and my 48lb broad shouldered 4 year old well.  I love the big and very sturdy feeling SIP wings. The dial adjustable infinite harness is very nice. The lock offs appear to work well with my sometimes less than reliable seatbelts in my minivan. I love the LATCH bar that easily switches the LATCH straps from the forward facing position to the rear facing positions. I can't tell you what a pain in the butt it is trying to shove your hand through to rethread the LATCH is in a hurry with a whining preschooler and a cranky toddler.

After I use these seats a bit I will be back with a full review, but so  far i like it a lot!

Alpha Omega and Alpha Omega Elite

I am frequently asked about the AO family of seats. they make a million of them, market them as the only seat you will ever need, and boy does babies r us love to sell them!
I have mixed feelings about the AO or AOEs.
The negatives:

• They are notoriously hard to install rfing, i mean at seat checks these seats useualy take two trained technicians, 45 mins and a lot of swear word before they are acceptable.
  
• Short harness heights, causing a child to outgrow them ff early on
• Low weight limits on the harness. 40 lbs on older version and 50 on newer.
  
• In addition to these issues they make awful boosters! The way they position the lap belt on a child could cause serious internal injuries.
  
• Even the lowest harness slots are to high for a newborn.
• The covers are hard to remove and clean.
  
• The price is silly for something with such a limited use.

Now for the positives

• Harness can be adjusted with out un-threading.
• All of my children have found them comfortable
  
• Many different colors, patterns etc.
• Decent forward facing installation.
• 35lb rear facing limit, and ample leg room to use for an older rfing child
  

Over all, would I now knowing what i know buy one, or recommend one to anyone else, no. If you called me and said you bought one and still had the receipt, I would suggest you take it back, you can do better for your money. If you already have one, as i do (two actually) would I recommend using it? Sure, with these conditions.

1. Use only as a harnessed seat, not as a booster.
2. Do not use for a newborn unless their shoulders are at or above the slots where the harness comes out. (this is true for any seat)
3. Have a tech check your installation (especially for rfing)
4. Be prepared to buy another seat at some point
   

A 45lb RFing seat legal in the US?!?!

I don't have anything for sure but i have heard from a very reliable source that the Radian XT's with DOM's of 9/09 and later will be rated to rear face to 45 lbs! 

This new limit combined with the tall hight of a Radian really could get most kids to age 4 rear facing.

I know what i'll be asking for for Christmas!

 

Yes! yes it is true!!

the new radian XT's and 80's will have a 45 lb rfing limit. they also have a new latch feature and allow latch usage to 80 lbs more details to come soon!

Blog 1: I like seats, I like them a lot

So as I sat here in my kingdom of car seats and car seat knowledge, i thought wouldn't it be nice if i shared it with the rest of the world. 

I am a mother of three, Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and my real job is in the child protective system. 

I was once a lay-parent mindlessly selecting a seat because it was on sale and I liked the color, but that was then, this is now and 23 seats (in my personal collection) later, i am confident that i can be of some assistance in selecting, using, and getting to know the world of car seats.