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