What else should I consider besides Apex?

I posted yesterday about choosing a carseat or booster for my almost 3 year old who is 30-35 pounds and average height. We currently have a Britax Wizard in each car which we will now be moving our 6 month old twins into. We have a 2006 Odyssey for when we go somewhere with all 3 kids(DH takes DD1 to preschool in the Civic, but we can't fit all 3 in there).
In yesterday's post, o mom kindly pointed me towards the Apex, but I'm just wondering if there's anything else I should consider. I imagine the twins will be in the Wizards for a long time, so it would be nice to have something for DD1 that I could use as a booster, but really I just want something very safe and more moveable than the Wizard that she can use for the next 3-4 years when I imagine the twins may be out of the Wizards.
The Apex sounds like just what we need, but upon looking through some past threads, some have described it as flimsy and some find it hard to install. We are used to our very solid Wizards but I do want something that I'm able to get in and out myself.
Thanks for your help!
Jill

[Aunt to sweet baby boy]

First, what is your DD's torso height? Could you sit her against a wall and measure from her bottom to the top of her shoulders. It is easier to mark the wall and then measure after she moves.

Since you will need 3 across in the Civic i would try the Radian. RF to 33 lbs, ff to 65 or 80 depending on the model. You may be able to fit the Radian FF between the two Wizards.

Do you have a budget for these seats? Is it correct to think that you want three seats in each car, so you need four additional seats? I just read your post again and you said that you can not fit all three seats in the Civic, but i am sure there is some combo of seats out there that would work with 3 across if you want to make that happen.

Something else to consider is the DOM for the Wizards. The seats expire 6 years after their DOM, which can be found on a sticker on the shell of the seats.

Ilana, aka Nana to my sweet nephew Avi

http://lilypie.com/pic/061128/V76Q.jpg[/img]http://b3.lilypie.com/wYA-m8/.png[/img][/url]

[Joolsplus2]

I think the Radian may have a good chance of fitting in the Civic with the Wizards when they are all Forward Facing...maybe or maybe not when rearfacing, but I wouldn't rule it out.

You should be able to get a couple years harnessed out of a Recaro Young Sport or Graco Platinum Cargo, too...they only go to 40 pounds harnessed, but you don't have a huge kiddo, so that should be enough...the Recaro becomes and awesome booster later, the Cargo you'd probably just want to use harnessed (maybe with the twins after the Wizard expires, for example). The Safeguard Go is another good choice if you are looking for 'light', but it requires a top tether and headrest and really works best with LATCH, also I'm not quite sure it would fit next to a Wizard. The RideSafer Travel Vest might be a great choice for a rare spare, it would definitely work in the Civic with two Wizards (it's only as wide as the kiddo using it!)

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

Thanks for the replies!
Just to clarify, we won't be putting 3 carseats in the Civic. We only take the Odyssey when we have all 3 kids. I do need two new seats, though, one for each car as DH takes DD1 to preschool in the Civic.
We plan on having the Wizards in the Odyssey RF in the 2nd row captain's chairs and the new seat FF in the center of the 3rd row, which does have a headrest.
We bought the Wizards in 2004 so they probably have about 3 more years of life left, I'll check the actual date on the seat itself. I didn't think of that--so I need something that will last DD1 for 3 years and that the twins can transition to when they are about 3 1/2.
eta-- Cost is the least of my considerations considering how much use we plan to get out of the seat.
Thanks again!
Jill

[o_mom]

I would put her on a scale and get a better idea of her weight. If she is just 30 lbs, then you might make it to booster age with a 40 lb harness seat. If she is closer to 35 and not yet 3, then she will likely go over 40 lbs before she is ready for a booster and you would need a higher weight harness seat then if the Wizards have expired.

The bare minimum to use a booster is 4 years and 40 lbs. Most safety folks will tell you that 5 -6 is more reasonable for several reasons. The rate of head injuries in boosters is higher for kids under 5. Also, to be safe in a booster, the child must sit up straight and not lean out of position for the entire ride, every single time. The problem comes when they fall asleep on a long trip, drop a toy and want to get it, or put the shoulder belt out of position. A large number of 4 year olds can't do this.

[kellyotn]

Sorry, got distracted while posting. Lots of repetition ahead. ;)

__

First off, when will your Wizards expire? You'll need to look for their date of manufacture and add 6 years. WZ's haven't been made in awhile, so I'd assume the twins will need new seats at some point, even if they sit fit into the Wizards.

Secondly, how much torso room does the oldest still have left in the WZ. :)

You will have the "luxury" of being able to pass whatever you get for your oldest to the twins. So, this is good because it means you don't have to worry about buying The Last Seat your 3 year old will need. ;)

If the 3 year old still fits in the WZ, and its expiration is nearing, I'd be tempted to leave her in it 'til it expires or she's too tall, and instead buy something new for the twins.

If your oldest daughter can last in it until she's 5, then you can get her a great dedicated booster or a Regent or other yet to be released option.

The GREAT thing about the 65 lb seats is that you CAN keep them in their own seat for so long that you don't "need" to pass them down. If you get the twins new 65 lb seats, they are set to RF for a long, long time and then FF in the same seat until they are 5-6. Quite a value, really.

Buying for a 3 year old, average size kid just stinks right now. I had to do so when my daughter outgrew two 40 lb seats (by height) at 3 to 3.5. She was too close to 40 to consider most combo boosters, and the Apex wasn't compatible with the truck we needed it for. I ended up getting her a clearance Marathon, at 3.5 years old. She's 4.5 now and still got lots of growing room.

The Apex is OK, but yes, it is flimsy feeling. Its also just as big as a Regent, its lighter, but just as big. If you've got the room for an Apex, I'd just get a Regent.

The other combo boosters (Evenflo Bolero/Generations, Recaro Young Sport or Graco Cargo) really aren't a good choice if she's 35 lbs at her age. If she's just 30, they might work out just fine. Its just really, really hard to gauge how long they'll take to hit 40 lbs, ya know? My daughter ended up hitting 40 right after her 4th birthday, and that seems too young for our situation (we drive a ton, and she sleeps in the car a lot). So, I'm glad we didn't buy a 40 lb combo, even though I loved the Recaro Young Sport! But, you COULD get one and pass it down if she hits 40 too young.... Its a possibility I guess depending everyone's size at that time.....

The Radian might be a good option. Its super narrow and the straps are a bit taller than the 65 lb Britaxes, so she'll last longer in it. Then, when the twins need it/them (are you buying two of whatever?) your oldest daughter can get a nice dedicated booster and not have to worry about finding a seat that is actually nice in both modes and that goes to a high enough weight limit.

HTH a little!

[kellyotn]

Do check how much room she has left in the WZ by height. At her age, they REALLY slow in the torso growth, she could last for a long time in her WZ. My own DD has been in a MA since she was 2 and now at 4.5 is really just a bit taller relative the the straps in that time. So much so, that we bought her a second MA at 3.5 years old and don't regret it.

Her legs have grown like mad, but the torso has been pretty steady.

OMG you guys are so helpful!!!
I'll try to weigh and measure DD1 this afternoon and post back.
Thanks!!
Jill

So I weighed and measured DD1. She is 33 lbs and 35 1/2 inches tall. Torso height is 13 inches. Does that help any in deciding between the Apex and Radian or Radian-like carseat?
If I go with the Radian, then I have to decide who I'd put in it--the twins, who will be in the captain's chairs in the Odyssey or DD1 who will sit center in both the Odyssey (3rd row) and the Civic.
Again, thanks for all the input. This is a big decision for me and I really appreciate everyone's knowledge.
Jill

[niccig]

Do you HAVE to move the twins into your daughter's seats right now or can you wait a few months? There's a new harnessed recaro due out SOMETIME in the next few months that has a higher weight limit, supposedly similar to's the Regenet lmit. If no one is outgrowing their seat right now, I would wait.