NEED Harness height measurements ...

Hey everyone.

Can anyone tell me ALL of the harness height measurements for these infant seats ...
I'm looking for the lowest harness heights availible - the seat is for a newborn preemie who will likely be in the 4 lb range when he comes home in a month or so.

Britax Companion
Graco Snugride
Baby Trend Latch Loc 22
Cosco/Eddie Bauer/ Safety First Designer 22

Also - is there a new Designer 22 seat out on the market? The one on the Consumer Reports site kinda looks like it has a front harness adjuster? Does it?
I know mine sure doesn't! ;)

Thanks!

[Joolsplus2]

www.carseatdata.org has measurements...and make sure the seat is listed from "birth" or 4 pounds rather than 5.
Strollerfreak has a page of her 5lb baby in lots of seats...I've asked her for it and will post as soon as I can. It seems to me that the bottom harness slot positions isn't as important as how tight the harness straps get. But the lowest ones? Combi Tyro and Evenflo (whatever it's called this week), and I think also the LL 22 is super low, based on my other friend bringing her baby home in it on the 4th position up (NOT a huge baby girl, either).

Most important for a preemie is that they meet their car seat challenge (can sit at a 45 degree angle in the hospital and keep their oxygen level good), and that the recline on the seat in the car is perfectly 45....they are so tiny in an infant seat, and there are lap straps to hold them down, that the slots being a bit above the shoulders really isn't *too* much of a concern, IMO.

As for a new designer 22? Boy, that would be nice...I saw a mom with one on Saturday and it was horrible to try to tighten! (she insisted you had to take the red thingie all the way out, I could have sworn you have to just push it down to pull the strap tight, but she wouldn't even let me try...taking it all the way off the seat seemed really insane...is it supposed to even come off?)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

Thanks Julie!

I figure if they're letting him out of the hospital then he passed all of the necessary testing! If not, then they have to provide a carbed or something, correct?

I actually prefer my Designer 22 to my other infant seats (primo viaggio, and Snugride) its lasts longer - nicely padded - and most importantly - it fit my car the "best" and was the easiest for me to install AND my kids have always preferred it over the others. The PV was way too confining and the snugride was confining and our was poorply padded (this was bought before the days of "gracopedic foam! ;) ) ... BUT that harness adjuster is a PITA! I made a point to learn to use it properly and use it that way every time - but after switching the kids to the SUPER easy Britax Convertibles - its painful to have to go back to using that seat on the rare occasion that we have to.

It used to not be so bad - but after like 2.5 years of constant use - its getting harder and harder to get it tightened properly. I even put all new straps on it and all - so I'm sure its just that GREAT cosco qulity shining though! ;)

I don't think the red button is supposed to come off - is it? I always just press mine down to loosen the straps and then to tighten them I just pull on the strap that comes out from the red button and it tightens the harness. Its not really all that ahrd - especially when you don't have the seat in the car - but the front adjuster IS definately easier to use.
Although - we used our Designer 22 seat the other day for my 10 month old DS and the harness adjuster was REALLY sticking BAD!
As soon as my DS is 100% too big for this seat its getting sold with the stroller it came with (like the rest of the infant seats/strollers did! ;) )

Julie, have you seen the picture on the Consumer reports site that they're saying is the designer 22? It looks like a combi - I think ...
But the LATCH and base is totally different. Almost looks like a rigid latch ... and a front harness adjuster ..

What seat is this??

http://www.consumerreports.org/main/...=1115130669683

I'd love to see the pics of a 5 lb baby in different seats.
My DD was 5 lbs at one point and the harness for our Designer 22 and Snugride were both too big for her - VERY loose and I even had them on the shorter strap hook, too!

thanks!

[Joolsplus2]

That thing with the "5 Baby Trend" label? That's the "Baby Trend Latch-Loc Adjustable Back"...yup, rigid...and it's a BRU exclusive. Is there another picture with the Designer 22 I'm missing?
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

DUH!! LOL

I think I subconsiouly read it as Designer 22 because I figured they show pictures of the two "top rated" seats on their chart.

I'm sorry fo rteh confusion, I'm losing my mind - too much carseat searching in one morning will do it to ya! ;)

[Joolsplus2]

Mooooommmmmmy Brain :D
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Joolsplus2]

Here's baby pictures...you'll see what I mean about the evenflo bottom slots...loooooooow!
http://strollerfreak.itgo.com/carseats/5lbnewborn.html
I believe the new Embrace infant seat might be a decent option...might want to look at it? Only rear adjusters, though.
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

THANKS A MILLION!!

That REALLY helped!! :)