lizard032403's Full Review: Eddie Bauer 3-In-1 Convertible Car Seat
We bought this car seat when our son was 5 months old, 22 lbs, and had outgrown the infant seat. We were on a tight budget, and didn't want to have to buy another seat anytime soon, so this was the answer to our prayers. As big as he was at 5 months, we were having a hard time finding a seat that would keep him rear facing until he was a year old. I couldn't afford the Britax Marathon, and this was the next best thing.
We bought it at a ToysRUs, intending to get the plain Alpha Omega. The store didn't have one of those still in the box, so we paid the extra $20 for the Eddie Bauer version. (NEVER buy the floor model, too many people have messed with it)
We had only a slight problem installing it into the back seat of our Hyundai Sonata (I love the LATCH system!) and it did need a towel under the seat to achieve the proper 45 degree angle. Our son did great in this seat. Now we have a minivan, and the car seat fits even better. I just took it to a free state inspection, and it passed with flying colors. The trooper showed me how to get it in tighter than I could have imagined, and lectured me on not letting the straps twist.
Now we have another baby on the way, and I just ordered another one of these seats (on sale for under $100!). I'm not sure if we'll use if for a newborn or not, as we still have my son's infant carrier, barely used. It passed the inspection as well.
On another note, as much as I love this car seat, my biggest complaint is that it is hard to clean. While on a long driving vacation my son had diarrhea in the seat, and it was an awful thing to try to clean. Without the instructions handy, I couldn't remove the padding. I had to settle for sponging it out, lining it with plastic bags and towels, and the car stank like a sewer for the rest of the trip. Once we got it home, it took my husband and I two hours to figure out how to remove the padding so that I could wash it properly.
It did clean up nice, though, and it wasn't too difficult to rethread the straps, only took an hour to put the thing back together.
For those of you with tilted or bucket seats, you might need a noodle to make this seat sit right rear-facing. That is true of almost any car seat, especially the convertible kind. BUT your car seat back should never recline past a 45 degree angle! This isn't a portable crib, and you shouldn't expect your child to lay very flat in it.
When in doubt, find a state carseat inspector, I think most states have them, look them up online, and have them show you how to make this seat work in your car. The inspector that helped me said she'd never found a car or truck or vehicle that she couldn't make a car seat safe in. Also the inspectors usually have a list of recalled seats, and the extra equipment to make the seat work in your vehicle, from noodles to locking clamps, and they won't charge you for it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 140.00
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months
Comfort and convenience make this car seat a standout. The obvious plus you can easily use it from the time you bring your baby home from the hospital...More at eBay
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