Car Seat Quandary: Consumer Reports Most Credible Source?

[lizzytra]

I am hoping I may ask the "experts" for your help (I have long looked to these boards for assistance & my now outdated Baby Bargains book in most baby purchaces)... and can't seem to find help specific enough in my searches on the threads.

I purchased two Alpha Omega Elites as I checked Consumer Reports and saw they rec'd a score of "80" (only "outdone" by Britax Roundabout and Evenflo Triumph 5) as I wanted the safest seat for my 2.5 yr old and 7 mo old.

I have read since then that many of you seem to rave about the Britax Marathon. It scored a "58" on Consumer Report's charts.

I have yet to install the two car seats I bought. Do you believe that the Marathon is the best choice for safety and long term use? Do you believe Consumer Reports not to be a well rounded source as I know the ladies/men here eat, breathe, and sleep baby product knowledge. : - )

I appreciate your in put as I am thinking of exchanging the Alpha Omegas for the better choice which seems to be a Britax? Your thoughts? -THANK YOU

[jeno]

I'll start with some links since I just finished posting this answer on another board. I'm sure some of the other Moms will follow me up on why all of these seats are safe but what actually makes the Britax prefered is that they are easier to use and are more likely to be used correctly each and every time. = SAFER

http://www.car-safety.org/faq.html#Q30

http://www.car-safety.org/guide.html#cr

http://www.carseatsite.com/cr.htm

[kellyotn]

One of the huge problems with CR is that they rank price into their equation. Britaxes ARE expensive, so they are dinged heavily from the get-go.

But, a large Britax (the 65 lb ones) can last a child until they are 5-6, so PER YEAR they are a great value. CR misses that fact completely.

The AO you have is a nice RF seat, as it has a very high RF weight limit.

But, FF the harness settings are too short to get most kids old enough (aiming for at least 4, preferrably 5 years old) to move into the booster feature. So, what then? You either make an unsafe choice and go booster early, or you buy another harnessed seat! :)

And, finally, as a booster - its just not so great.

Additionally, its got some very confusing instructions and is easily mis-used. I believe it also failed some gov test when crashed w/o the top tether?? Maybe this has been addressed in the new models, though, not sure.

Year for year, a big Britax really is a good value for a nice seat that you won't find yourself swearing at daily. ;) And, you are just done shopping for seats (unless you want to....) for a long, long time.

[vonfirmath]

I consider Consumer Reports a fairly un-credible source when it comes to baby stuff (and electronics, and...). There just seem to have been too many problems where they don't take into usability, etc. Check out a more recent version of Baby Bargains, and all the parent reviews you can find with people actually using them/seeing them in use.