~~EVENFLO COMFORT TOUCH CAR SEAT BOOSTER~~LET'S GO FOR A RIDE, MOMMA!
Written: Dec 18 '01 (Updated Dec 18 '01)
Product Rating:
Pros: Five point harness system; comfortable attractive design; detachable cup holder.
Cons: Shoulder harness straps twist easily which are also time consuming to buckle into place.
The Bottom Line: For toddlers at least 20 pounds in weight and 12 months of age, the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster is a very safe yet economical choice.
melissasrn's Full Review: Angel Line Jenny Lind Crib
A few months after my now 18 month old son, Tristan, turned 1 year old back in June 2001, my husband and I finally decided that a second car seat was no longer a luxury, but a necessity. What a headache it was moving his Evenflo Horizon I with the standard over-the-head shield from one vehicle to another on at least a weekly basis (not to mention the safety concerns as we had to assure that his car seat was properly installed every time!). So when we could stand it no longer, we went to our local Wal-Mart in search of a new child restraint device. Our final choice was the attractively safe yet inexpensive Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster purchased for $59.96 plus sales tax with the much desired five point harness restraint system. Designed for children that are at least 1 year of age, 20 to 80 pounds in weight, and 29 to 54 inches in height, we made our purchase knowing that we chose an appropriate car seat that would not only fit our toddler's needs NOW, but for many years to come in the future as well.
~~~Requirements for Safe Use~~~
Because Tristan currently weighs around 28 pounds and is 33 inches tall, the use of five point harness system contained with the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster is required for the safest ride. Children weighing 20 to 40 pounds and measuring 29 to 43 inches in height are safest when riding forward facing in the middle of the back seat when this particular type of booster is chosen. Toddlers over 1 year of age and under 30 pounds in weight may remain in the rear facing position with other convertible car seats on the market if so desired. Once a child reaches 40 pounds in weight, the use of the five point harness MUST be discontinued as this booster seat should then be converted into the belt positioning mode. While children 20 to 30 pounds in weight are required to be restrained using the five-point harness system while riding in the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster, those between 30 and 40 pounds may use either method. I personally prefer to keep Tristan in the five point harness position until he is 40 pounds in weight for I feel it gives him the greatest protection in the event of an accident.
~~~Design Features~~~
Once I was assured that the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster provides a safe ride appropriate for my toddler's specific needs as it conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, I found that it's sturdy yet lightweight attractive design was a definite plus as well. Covered in a smooth yet thickly padded soft blue padding with retainer strips and three slot holes in place for the shoulder harnesses to be properly installed, this particular model conveniently matches the interior of my car perfectly. Fully removable and machine washable, the cushioned padding contributes to a more comfortable ride than many of the other thinner ones do. And as an added bonus, which is certainly nice but not a necessity, is a detachable cup holder that may be snapped into place on either arm rest. Tristan is more likely to place his sippy cup here after taking a drink verses throwing it onto the floor of our vehicle, so I've found the cup holder comes in very handy. But it can always be left off the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster if desired.
~~~Proper Installation~~~
To prepare the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster for installation, both the vehicle's seat belt and the restraint system's restraint belts must be threaded properly through the booster seat by following the enclosed instructions carefully. Then while installing this safety seat into the forward facing position preferably into the back seat of your vehicle, be certain that the seat belt is fastened into place as tightly as possible. If the booster moves more than one inch forward or side to side, it should be readjusted into a tighter position. An improperly installed car seat may not provide the greatest protection to your child in the event of a crash, and it is estimated that over HALF easily of restraint devices are currently improperly used. That's scary! The enclosed metal seat belt locking clip or tether strap may need to be used as well depending on each vehicle's particular seat belt design. Check the owners manual of your car for any additional requirements relating to the safest installation method before considering a purchase of the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster.
~~~Five Point Harness~~~
For children 20 to 40 pounds in weight and 29 to 43 inches in height, using the five point harness system on the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster is required for the greatest safety. While securing your child in place, be sure that his or her back and bottom are flat against the restraint as any gaps will not be very comfortable. Slide each shoulder harness into place and and snap the buckle tongues at crotch level into the appropriate slots. Then fasten the chest clip into place by snapping the two halves together at armpit level tightly enough so that there is no more than two finger-widths of slack between the shoulder harness straps and your child. Adjust the shoulder straps as necessary according to your child's height with growth. My only gripe about the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster is that these straps are constantly twisting every time during loading and unloading rather easily, so I end up spending precious time untwisting them for proper use. I almost prefer the over-the-head shield contained on our other car seat here as it is certainly much less time consuming. But if greater securing and unsecuring time is the price I have to pay for increased safety, then that's certainly what I will just have to learn to live with.
~~~Seat Belt Positioning~~~
Once a child reaches a minimum of 30 pounds, the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster MAY be converted to booster use if desired, even though the five point harness can be safely used until the child is 40 pounds in weight. When either of these two milestones is reached, remove the five point harness straps and secure the seat in place with the lap/shoulder belts of your vehicle instead according to the directions found in the owners manual. A child properly secured in place while using the booster in this manner can continue to do so until he or she reaches 80 pounds in weight or 54 inches in height. This feature was very desirable to me when deciding to purchase this restraint system as Tristan will most likely get many years of use from the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster. So hopefully this model will be the last one we will ever need to purchase for him.
~~~Warnings~~~
First an foremost, the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster as well as any other child restraint system must be properly installed to help prevent serious injury or death in the event of a motor vehicle crash. Here are a few other safety warnings to consider:
***Rear facing is safer than forward facing.
***Children under 13 are safest in the back seat.
***Use this booster with forward facing vehicle seats only.
***Do NOT use this booster in seats equipped with air bags.
***Do NOT use this booster in the rear facing position.
***Do NOT use the 5-point harness for children over 40 lbs.
***Replace any child restraint system if involved in a crash.
~~~Overall Recommendation~~~
If you have a toddler that is at least 20 pounds in weight and is at least 1 year of age, the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster makes a safe yet attractively inexpensive child restraint choice, especially for those on a limited budget. Since the five point harness system is statistically safer than traditional over-the-head shield models, rest assured that your little one is getting the safest ride possible when installed correctly according to the owner's manual. And because this car seat "grows" with your child, it may be converted into a booster secured into place by a vehicle's lap/shoulder belt. This way, your child will continue to benefit from the safest ride possible until he or she is up to 80 pounds in weight and 54 inches in height. So whether you are looking for a second car seat just as we were, or your child is outgrowing his traditional infant restraint system, check out the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster and see if it would meet your needs just as well as it has ours. If it were not for those straps that twist around so easily, I'd definitely give this booster seat a five star rating. But until they can improve this irritating design flaw, it still comes highly recommended by me as I stand behind my current rating of four stars. For the price, this one cannot be beat!
For more information on the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Car Seat Booster as well as many other similar child restraint devices, check out their website online at:
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