Alpha Omega Elite Car Seat vs. Britax Boulevard

Out of all things you can purchase for your child, a car seat is the most important investment. From the time your newborn leaves the hospital to the time they are ready for an adult seat belt, they will require a child safety restraint. However, there are many factors you have to consider when shopping for car seats. For instance, you have to consider safety ratings, the age of your infant, your budget, and lifestyle, among other aspects. Some of the best car seats include the Alpha Omega Elite car seat and the Britax Boulevard car seats.
Car seats are so essential since they prevent road-related injuries to babies. In fact, when properly installed, car seats reduce the risk of death by an increasable 71 percent. Note that after purchasing the car seat, you need to have it properly installed. When shopping for the car seat, you have to compare several of them. Comparing the Alpha Omega Elite car seat vs. Britax Boulevard car seat is a start. This article highlights the things you need to consider before purchasing car seats, as well as different types of car seats, in order to make a comparison of Alpha Omega Elite car seat vs. Britax Boulevard car seat.
Things to Consider Before Your Purchase
There are several things to take into account when keeping your children safe. First, all car seats sold in the United States are required to meet or exceed Federal or ASTM standards. Second, the seats should have undergone the NCAP crash test, which is the industry benchmark for evaluating seat performance in the event of a severe accident. Third, you should consider third-party review sites, such as Consumer Reports, tahat offer unbiased safety and comfort reviews for seats.
Fourth, for all-in-one seats and convertibles that transition to boosters, you need to check the booster seat ratings at the Insurance Institute for Highways Safety.
Fifth, you should consider Parent Central at SaferCar.com that provides excellent reviews pertaining to all U.S. car seats. The site is also involved in rating each car seat on the basis of ease of use. This is an important consideration, as approximately 73 percent of car seats are used incorrectly.
Extended Rear-Facing
You might have heard of front-facing and rear-facing car seats. However, based on the two, the rear-facing is the safest for your children. We recommend purchasing rear-facing sets that can support at least 40 pounds. However, even though your child hits the minimum required to front-face (one+ years and at least 20 lbs.), it doesn’t mean she should. Rear-facing is what saves lives.
Extended Front-Facing
As the child transitions from rear- to front-facing, he or she is likely to hit the minimum height and weight needed to transition to a booster prior to being ready developmentally and physically. We recommend that you choose a seat with a high front-facing weight limit (up to 70 lbs.) and only transition to a booster when your child outgrows his or her seat.
Check the Expiration Date
Some car seats have a five-year life, so they are likely to expire before your child outgrows them. If you are buying an extended-use or all-in-one car seat, we recommend that you choose one with an eight, 10 or 12-year lifespan.
Do Not Buy a Used Car Seat
While it is tempting to settle for a used car seat deal, you should know that wear, age and accidents can compromise the safety features. Unless you are very sure of the history of the seat, such as the fact that it has never been in an accident, it is nor worthwhile to risk the safety of your child for a discount.
Different Types of Car Seats
Infant (Rear-Facing Only) Car Seat
All newborns start with a rear-facing seat until they are aged 2 or older. Weight ranges between 3 and 4 lbs., depending on the model.
Convertible Car Seats
The seats can be used rear-facing for infants and then converted to forward facing as the child grows. The rear-facing limit is 50 lbs. while the forward-facing limit is 65 lbs. They are designed to hold babies weighing 4 to 5 lbs., but they are still too big for a very small infant.
Booster Seats
Once your child surpasses the front-facing size limit, he or she transitions to the booster seat. The seat lifts your child to use the car’s seatbelt system without a harness. The seats are popular as they are cheaper, lighter, and more portable.
Toddler Booster Seats
These seats are typically used from the time your child is ready for a forward-facing seat with a harness until they use a booster seat without a harness. They fit children between 20 and 90 lbs. in harness mode and 30 to 120 lbs. in booster mode.
All-in-One Car Seats
These seats are much like convertibles and are money-savers that can be utilized from birth through booster seat age. They hold babies from 4 to 50 lbs. rear facing, 20 to 65 lbs. forward-facing, and 30 to 120 lbs. as a booster seat. However, they are heavy and bulky, which makes them difficult to fit smaller vehicles.
Alpha Omega Elite Car Seat vs. Britax Boulevard
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Features
Safety 1st has a lot of car seats you can choose from, but one of the best seats they have is the Alpha Omega Elite car seat. Alpha and Omega are the first and the last letters if the Greek Alphabet, which means that the car seat is the only one you’ll ever need. It is best for people who install the car seat and don’t have to move it unless it is absolutely necessary.
Here are some quick specifications of the Alpha Omega Elite car seat:
PROS
CONS
The seat gets kind of middle ratings at about 3.6 out of five stars
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Features
You can buy the Britax Boulevard G4 since the Britax Boulevard G3 was discontinued in 2013. The G4 comes with an infant pillow that is used until the child weighs 22 lbs. and keeps the child more secure in the seat. There are a variety of colors to choose from – green, red and blue.
The following are quick specifications of the Britax Boulevard G4:
- Item weight: about 19.5 lbs.
- Orientation: both forward and rear facing
- Weight limits: 5 to 65 lbs. (dropped 5 lbs with new LATCH system guidelines)
- Height limit: 49 in.
- Harness: five-point
PROS
CONS
Consumers value the Boulevard G4, which is evidenced by a high rating of 4.5 out of five stars, and most people would recommend it to a friend.
Conclusion
Based on the Alpha Omega Elite car seat vs. Britax Boulevard G4 car seat comparison, it seems that the most obvious choice would be the Britax Boulevard G4 simply because its name doesn’t appear on the IIHS’ not recommended list of car seats. It has a higher rating of 4.5 out of five stars compared to 3.6 out of five stars for the Alpha Omega Elite car seat. Even though it is more expensive, it is the price you have to pay for the increased safety of your child. Besides, the Britax Boulevard G4 has greater safety ratings and features and is easy to use, unlike the Alpha Omega Elite. We hope this article has adequately addressed the things you need to consider before purchasing car seats, the different types of car seats, and a comparison of the Alpha Omega Elite car seat vs. Britax Boulevard car seat.
Last update on 2021-04-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API