Safety 1st Apex 65 Booster Car Seat
From Dorel Juvenile Group
Keep family travel safe with the help of this quality child car seat designed for children from 22 to 100 pounds.
Amazon Sales Rank: #7289 in Baby Product Color: Calder Brand: Safety 1st Model: 22535CDE Released on: 2007-07-30 Dimensions: 28.40" h x 21.60" w x 20.60" l, 17.25 pounds
The Safety 1st Apexx 65 Deluxe high back belt-positioning booster is the children 22-100 pounds. Use the 5-point harness system up to 65 pounds.
Great seat for growing children! When my daughter was 2, I spent weeks researching the perfect seat for her. Unfortunately, most booster seats have harnesses with a 40 lb weight restriction, and I knew by the time was hit 40 lbs (under 4 y/o) she wouldn't be big enough to sit still with only a seatbelt. I wanted something safe that would last a few years. When my son turned 2, I again researched the perfect seat for weeks, and again bought the Apex 65, since my now 4 y/o daughter still loves hers. For the research I did, I found: Harnesses - The Apex 65 is rated for children up to 65 lbs. Many children are not ready to sit still in a seatbelt by the time they're 40 lbs. If a child falls asleep and is tipping in the seat, than it is not working properly. Harness height - The apex has 4 slots for harnesses (the highest is hidden under the headrest). I believe it is one of the tallest seats out there. From the seat to the top harness is 17.25 inches, compared to 3-in-1 seats such as the Eddie Bauer with a height of 14 inches. When forward facing, the harnesses must be above a child's shoulders. My daughter, at 36 inches, is still below the 3rd slot, so she has space to move up. I believe only the Britax Marathon (for twice the price) has a higher harness, at 18 inches. Adjustable headrest - There is a lock in the back allowing the headrest to move up and down. Nice feature for a growing child. Non-twisting straps - Need I say more? Adjustable crotch strap - Both children fit easily with the furthest slot out - one in diapers, one not. I can see the complaint about the leg clasp, but my children never had an issue with it. Belt positioning booster - This chair converts to a belt positioning booster when the child is old enough for it. Simply remove the harnesses, and it works well. Ease of installation - If you're using LATCH and Tether (standard on most cars after 2000), you can attach anchors into the seat of the car (feel near the seatbelts within the seat) and the tether strap (usually on a rear dashoard or back of the seat). I found installing this seat to be EXTREMELY easy - click it in and pull the strap to tighten. Although the installation is similar to most car seats, I found it much easier than the 2 Gracos I previously owned. Please remember, this is a forward facing seat only. Rear facing minimums state 1 year AND 20 lbs (not one or the other), but it is safest to keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. If he/ she fits that way until 30 lbs, that is the safest way for them. Don't forget - no matter what the state law is, it's important to keep a child in a carseat (harnessed) until they are old enough to sit properly with a seatbelt (no leaning over or unbuckling), and in a seatbelt until they are large enough that when they sit, their knees bend down at the seat edge, not point out. The seatbelt should cross their shoulder, not their neck, and their lap, not their stomach. Safety 1st Apex is a great seat! Definitely look into this one! My children love this seat and so do I. I have a Britax Wizard and this car seat installed in my Honday Odyssey and my two children fight over who gets to sit in this Apex 65 car seat. It is big and roomy and has just enough cushioning. It has all of the same safety features of the britax that sits next to it. Both have 5 point harnesses above and beyond 40 pounds and side impact protection. The difference? This one costs half the price, my kids like it better and so do I. It seems easier to get them into and out of it. I also think that they are not going to outgrow this one as fast as they will the britax - as it is much narrower and the crotch strap is shorter. OK, but I'm hoping for better I got this for my 4 yr old, with the desire to keep her in a 5-point as long as possible. I give it 3 stars for the fact that it does that, but it does have enough problems that I'm going to try the Graco Nautilus for our other car. The crotch strap is way too short, and the longer one they sent (for free without any problems at all) did not seem a whole lot longer. The buckle seems very uncomfortable. Also, I had read complaints about twisiting straps but didn't really believe that could be a very big deal. It is. The strap material feels very thin and I have to untwist it pretty much every time my daughter gets in. Safe, but like I said, I'm hoping for better with the Nautilus.
