Choosing the right car seat for your child can be tricky, especially if you don’t want to have to change them out every couple of years as your little one grows.
What you need is a good convertible car seat, like the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite, which will save you money in the long run.
If you are looking for one of the best all-in-one convertible car seats at an affordable price, check out the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite convertible car seat. There are three seating modes allowing both rear- and front-facing installation as well as booster mode that can be used with a cross-body seat belt as your child gets older.
The QuickFit harness is also ideal for growing children since it adjusts both the 5-point harness and headrest height together. It’s not an overly bulky car seat [25.5” H x 20” W x 22.25” D], but it may not be suitable for all small cars. You might be better off installing this car seat in your minivan or SUV. With rotating armrests, the car seat is relatively comfortable for children, though some additional padding would be nice.
This car seat also comes equipped with a removable cup holder to keep your little one’s drinks and snacks close by. Beware though; the cover does not completely remove for cleaning, so messes may cause a bit of a problem.
Pros:
- Three installation modes: rear, front, and booster
- QuickFit no thread harness
- Side impact protection
- Affordable
Cons:
- Very little padding for comfort
- Not ideal for small cars
- Cover doesn’t completely remove for cleaning
- Difficult to install tightly
Features and Benefits of Choosing the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite Car Seat
Three Seat Modes
The Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite car seat is a great all-in-one choice for your child, from birth through early childhood.
There is a wide weight range, from 5-100 pounds total, thanks to its convertibility with three possible installation modes.
When installed rear-facing, your little one is set from birth [5 pounds], with the support of a removable padded head insert for infants, until about the age of two [35 pounds].
Front-facing covers from 22 to 50 pounds, when your child is about 5 years old or so.
Finally, the car seat can be used with a cross-body seat belt as a backed booster seat until your child is 100 pounds.
Side Impact Protection
Safety is of utmost importance when choosing a car seat.
Motor vehicles are dangerous, and your child’s car seat should be properly equipped and tested for various types of accidents, including side impact.
Thanks to EPP energy absorbing foam in the car seat frame and secure 5-point harness, the Alpha Omega Elite will keep your baby safe in the event of a side impact crash.
QuickFit Harness
Rethreading harnesses can be a pain as your child gets older, but thanks to Safety 1st’s QuickFit harness, there is no need for rethreading.
With a simple adjustment from the front of the car seat, both the headrest and harness height adjust together, supporting your child’s growth from 19” to 52” tall. The push of a lever will adjust the headrest and harness from the front without needing any additional rethreading. However, the high back can sometimes block the view of the driver in the forward-facing position if installed right behind the driver seat.
Seat Recline
Convertible car seats can be difficult to adjust for infants. When installed rear-facing, they are often in a position that is far too upright for a newborn’s comfort and safety.
With the Alpha Omega Elite, there are three possible reclining positions. This will help you to find just the right angle for your little one. The downside is that despite advertising three different positions, the seat still does not tilt adequately for a newborn.
Rotating Arm Rests
For additional comfort, the Alpha Omega Elite has rotating armrests. Your toddler or child can comfortably rest their elbows on. Since they are rotatable, they don’t always feel cramped in a tight space. Also, they pivot upwards to give you easier and quicker access to your child.
Level to ground indicator
Not very user friendly, the level lines are simply marked on the frame. Britax car seats and Graco car seats typically have an automatic indicator that makes it easy to figure out how much further the seat needs to be adjusted.
Detachable cupholder
With an infant or a toddler, you may sometimes wish for extra hands to hold all the things you need to carry with you.
This cupholder gives you just that. It is removable allowing you to clean it when needed.
Removable padding
The infant head support and lumbar cushion is easy to remove when no longer needed or for cleaning. The seat padding can also be washed ensuring a hygienic ride for your little one.
However, to remove the padding you will need to uninstall the entire seat first.
Milk spills, leaky diapers, spit or throwing up: car seats go through a lot of messes starting from the first year itself. Given its weight and size, along with the fact that it can be hard to install it in the first place, you may have to wait for a day when you have plenty of time on your hands.
With a small child, that long stretch of time can be hard to find.
Value for money
If you were to compare this cost to buying three separate seats for each stage, this product provides you a great value given that it will last you the expected 8-9 years that your child will need it.
It is well-designed, durable, and meets or exceeds standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA].
LATCH
The seat is equipped with a LATCH system and also features side-impact protection. Along with a 5-point harness, these features are standard on most seats in the market.
The Newer Model – Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
Always striving to improve, Safety 1st has a newer version of the Alpha Omega Elite car seat: the Grow and Go 3-in-1.
Safety 1st has taken some of the commonly mentioned issues with the Alpha Omega Elite and made some improvements in the new design.
First, it has been updated for the latest safety recommendations [waiting longer to change the car seat configuration for your little one].
The weight limitations have been increased. You can use the Grow and Go rear-facing from 5-40 pounds, front-facing from 22-65 pounds, and as a belted booster from 40-100 pounds [same as the Alpha Omega Elite].
You can tell by looking at the Grow and Go that the design is much sleeker, with a more compact frame and additional padding for comfort. The size is overall a bit smaller [24” H x 23.72” W x 19” D], designed for extra legroom and better for smaller cars.
It still has the QuickFit harness that adjusts the harness and headrest height together, but there are also harness holders to keep the straps pulled back, making it easier to put your child into the car seat.
There are also two cup holders instead of one.
One of the best changes they made is the fully removable cover, making it easier to clean. The cover pops off easily and is machine-washable and dryer-safe.
While all of these changes may seem to make the Grow and Go a better choice, the additional features do make it bit more expensive.
If you want something a little more budget friendly, stick with the Alpha Omega Elite.
Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite Car Seat Alternatives
Graco’s Extend2Fit convertible car seat
Provides the same protection and similar features. It has extra legroom for tall kids, so you can keep your little ones facing the back for longer.
Fits inside a smaller sedan in the rear-facing mode without having the front passenger uncomfortably jammed up.
While both these seats have similar ratings, Extend2Fit is a bit more expensive than Alpha Elite.
Britax Boulevard ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
Features a patented installation system so you know that it has been installed correctly. It has a user-friendly level indicator, and the seat cover comes off without having to remove the harness. On the other hand, it does not have any cup holders or pivoting armrests. Additionally, it’s pricier.
Britax Boulevard ClickTight Convertible Car Seat, Cool Flow Teal, 20.5x23x23.5 Inch [Pack of 1]
- Easy installation: Patented click tight makes car seat installation as simple as buckling a seat belt
- No rethreading, ever: Quick adjust 14 position harness with click and safe, snug indicator gives a click sound when the harness is tight
- Ride comfortably: Cool flow ventilated mesh fabric improves air flow to ensure added comfort. Sponge clean the shell using warm water and mild soap
Conclusion
If a highly versatile convertible car seat is what you’re looking for, the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite may be the right choice for you.
It is capable of keeping your child safe from birth through their early childhood years while remaining affordable and budget-friendly.
However, as this model is no longer available, go for the Safety 1st Grow and Go convertible car seat!
How long do Alpha Omega car seats last?
If your seat was manufactured before January 2014, the Alpha Omega Elite would have an eight year life from year of manufacture. If the seat was manufactured after January 2014, the Alpha Omega Elite will have a ten year life from year of manufacture.
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