Evenflo Symphony 3-in-1 Carseat Review
Here at CarseatBlog we’re very familiar with the Evenflo Symphony which first debuted back in 2008. We’ve reviewed every generation of this popular All-in-One carseat and I’m happy to report that the latest DLX/Elite version continues to impress!
First, let’s clarify that there are two different models of the Symphony that are currently available on store shelves. The Symphony DLX (aka Symphony Elite) is the premium model with SureLATCH connectors. The Symphony LX model has differently shaped headwings and standard push-on lower LATCH connectors instead of the patented, self-ratcheting “SureLATCH” connectors.
Both models are very nice but if you’re drawn to the less expensive LX model because you prefer the regular push-on LATCH connectors, or you’re just trying to stay within a more limited budget, the Symphony LX model still has a lot of great safety and convenience features to offer.
In this review we will focus on the premium DLX (aka Elite) Symphony model. There are different versions of the DLX model and some versions are exclusive to certain retailers like Target and Babies R Us. Here is a breakdown of the different DLX models, which stores carry them, and what’s special about that particular version:
ProComfort Symphony DLX – Target exclusive. Cover has Buckle Pockets and “Gel-Matrix Technology” inside to reduce pressure points and improve comfort.
Platinum Symphony DLX – Babies R Us exclusive. Rollover Tested. Cover has Buckle Pockets and OUTLAST® Performance Fabrics which absorb hot and cold temperature, releasing as needed. Outlast® technology, originally developed for NASA, utilizes phase change materials that absorb, store and release heat for optimal thermal comfort.
This technology has the ability to:
- Actively absorb and store excess heat, helping to reduce overheating
- Allow the child to stay at a balanced temperature and prevent chilling during the cooler months; if the child’s skin temperature drops, the stored heat is released
- Reduce perspiration so the child stays drier and more comfortable
The thermal image shows the difference in body temperature after 30 minutes of sitting in the same style carseat – one with OUTLAST® fabric and one with regular fabric. If you live in a warm climate or just have a kid who is a sweatbox – this technology can help keep your kiddo feeling comfortable all year round.
Symphony Elite – Available at Amazon. Concord (Black/Silver), Modesto (Blue), Raspberry Sobet (Black/Pink) and Paramount (Black/Gray) fashions are the newest Symphony Elite fashions available on Amazon.com. These new fashions include the buckle pockets feature. Ocala (Red) & Porter (Green) are older models and do NOT have the buckle pockets feature.
Evenflo Symphony DLX/Elite Specs:
- Rear-facing: 5-40 lbs, 19-40″ tall, top of the child’s head is at least 1″ below the top of the headrest in either of its two lowest positions
- Forward-facing with 5-point harness: 22-65 lbs, at least 1 year old, height of 50″ tall or less (shoulders must be at or below top harness position and top of ears must be below the top of CR headrest)
- Booster mode: 40-110 lbs, at least 4 years old, height 44 – 57″ (top of ears must be below the top of CR headrest)
Features:
- All-in-One (Rear-Facing/Forward-Facing/Booster)
- Infinite Slide harness system easily adjusts to the perfect height for your child
- 5-position adjustable headrest (bottom 2 positions for rear-facing)
- 3 recline positions (1 position for RF, 2 for FF)
- SureLATCH lower anchor connectors
- “e3” Side-Impact Protection – thick, energy-absorbing EPP foam lines the deep headwings
- Buckle Pockets (on some models)
- Dual integrated cup holders
- FAA approved for use in aircraft (with harness)
- LATCH attachments can still be used in booster mode
- 8 year lifespan before expiration
Measurements:
- Lowest harness height: 7.5″
- Highest harness height: 17″
- 1 crotch strap buckle position: 6.5″
- Booster Mode: 19″ to shoulder belt guide in highest headrest position
- Rear-facing internal height measurement (with headrest in 2nd position): 23″
- Widest measurement point (at cup holders): 20″
- Weight: 19.8 lbs. (according to my digital bathroom scale)
Installation Comments:
With LATCH
Installation with the SureLATCH connectors, both rear-facing and forward-facing, was quick and easy in the several vehicles I tried. However, I know from prior Symphony experience that this isn’t always the case. Evenflo provides a nice tip in the instruction manual if you’re having trouble getting the LATCH belt to tighten sufficiently.
If you still can’t get the seat tight enough (less than 1″ of movement from side-to-side and front-to-back when tugging at the beltpath), no matter what you try – switch to a seatbelt installation instead.
LATCH weight limits – you can install the Symphony using the lower LATCH anchors rear-facing up to the maximum weight limit of 40 lbs. Forward-facing, if the child weighs more than 40 lbs., use seatbelt plus tether to install the seat instead of using the lower LATCH anchors in your vehicle. Evenflo recommends using the top tether for all forward-facing installations regardless of the child’s weight or the installation method.
Center installs with non-standard LATCH spacing – Evenflo allows all their seats to be installed in the center seating position with LATCH if the spacing between the lower anchors is 11″ or wider AND if the vehicle manufacturer permits it. Just make sure you’re not blocking access to an outboard seatbelt buckle if you decide to use LATCH in the center seating position. You don’t want to create an unsafe situation for another backseat occupant just to use LATCH.
Using the Tether – do not use the tether strap for rear-facing but always use the tether strap when forward-facing if a tether anchor is available for the seating position being used in the vehicle. Evenflo recommends using the top tether for all forward-facing installations regardless of the child’s weight or the installation method.
With Seatbelt
Seatbelt installation is generally quick and easy too but this seat does NOT have a built-in lockoff device so it’s very important to understand how your seatbelt locks if you’re going to install with seatbelt and not with LATCH connectors. All vehicles made after 1996 have seatbelts that can lock in some way to hold a carseat tightly in place during routine driving. Most vehicles have switchable retractors but some vehicles or specific seating positions have locking latchplates instead. It’s important to know what your vehicle has and to understand how these features work before you install this carseat with a seatbelt. See your vehicle’s owners manual for specific information on how to install a carseat in your vehicle using the seatbelt. If you have questions, please visit our car-seat.org forum and we’ll be happy to help answer them.
Recline Positions for Rear-Facing
Symphony has 3 recline positions on the base. Recline position #1 (fully reclined) MUST be used when installing the seat rear-facing. There is a level-to-ground arrow line molded into the side of the base below the sticker label. If necessary, you can use a piece of foam pool noodle (or a tightly rolled towel) to help achieve the appropriate recline angle in your vehicle. The pool noodle would need to be placed under the edge of the base as pictured below.
Switching the SureLATCH connectors from rear-facing to forward-facing beltpath (and vice versa) – The Symphony models with SureLATCH connectors have a unique method of switching the LATCH strap from the rear-facing beltpath to the forward-facing beltpath and vice versa. You will need to unhook the bottom of the cover and lift it up, to see what you’re doing (otherwise you’re going to tangle the straps) but it’s a great feature. Follow the directions in the manual and you’ll understand. The LX model does not utilize the same setup.
Recline Positions for Forward-Facing
For a child weighing between 22-40 lbs. you may install the seat forward-facing using either the semi-reclined (#2) position OR the fully upright (#3) position. For a child weighing over 40 lbs. you MUST use the fully upright (#3) position and you must install with seatbelt and top tether (if available).
Pictured below is installation with seatbelt and tether. The seat is in the fully upright (#3) position. The SureLATCH connectors are stored by clamping them onto the D-ring that is sewn onto the cover.
Belt-Positioning Booster Mode: Must use the fully upright (#3) position. Harness isn’t removable so there’s a process involved to re-route and store all the components properly. Can continue to use LATCH attachments to secure the seat to the vehicle (seatbelt secures child) unless there is some obvious reason not to do that – like having offset lower anchors that don’t line up with the position of the seatbelt.
Fit-to-Child Comments:
Rear-Facing
Newborns – this seat would likely fit an average-to-large newborn well but you would probably need a rolled up washcloth to fill the gap between the baby’s body and the crotch strap because there is only one slot position for the buckle. The doll pictures is 20″ long. The infant lower body insert supports the small doll well and the harness straps are level with the shoulders in their lowest position. The little head support pillow that came with this particular Symphony model pushed the doll’s head forward, which is exactly what you don’t want to see, so I removed it. If you’re planning to use this seat for an older baby, you definitely won’t need any of the extra inserts.
Toddlers – for kids under 40 lbs. and less than 40″ tall, this seat offers decent rear-facing limits although it’s far from best in class in the height dept. Currently, only the bottom two headrest height positions can be used in the rear-facing position. Gone is the old 37″ rear-facing stated height limit and it’s tall enough to get most kids to 2-3 years old in the rear-facing positions. However, if you’re looking for a seat to keep your child rear-facing forever, this probably won’t fit the bill. On the plus side, it offers great leg room and doesn’t take up as much room as some of the other, larger convertibles when rear-facing.
Pictured is a 40″ tall 4-year-old. I measured 23″ to the top of the headrest in this second position. For comparison, it’s the same internal height as the Evenflo Triumph or a Cosco Scenera.
Forward-Facing
On the top end of the range most kids will outgrow the 5-point harness by height before reaching the 65 lbs. weight limit. Kids with long torsos will outgrow the harness more quickly than kids who carry their height more in their legs. The 17″ top harness height should get most kids to the age and size where they can safely transition to booster mode.
Belt-Positioning Booster
The Symphony has a “Best Bet” rating from the IIHS and does a very good job positioning the seatbelt properly on kids over 40 lbs. but it isn’t very tall in booster mode. The 110 lbs. weight maximum is unrealistic and it definitely won’t be the last seat your child needs before they can pass the 5-Step Test and ride safely in just the adult seatbelt. However, it will fit many kids in booster mode until they are big enough to ride in just a cheap backless booster. Just be prepared to help them buckle when using this seat in booster mode.
Comfort & Convenience:
Whether you chose the ProComfort model with Gel-Matrix Technology, or the Platinum model with OUTLAST Performance Fabrics, or just a “regular” Symphony DLX/Elite model you’ll be pleased with the overall “cushiness” of these seats. We all know some kids can sit on a rock all day long and never complain but if your kid isn’t one of them – they’ll be comfortable in a Symphony. If you live someplace with ridiculously hot weather in the summer or if your kid is just a sweatbox – the Platinum model from BRU with OUTLAST might be a great choice. If you take frequent long distance road trips or just spend half your life in the car – the ProComfort model from Target might be worth considering.
The Buckle Pockets (available on certain models) are very convenient as they hold the harness out of the way while you are loading and unloading your child. If you’ve ever had to fish buckle tongues out from under your child every time you put him or her in the seat – you know that gets old quickly. The buckle pockets are also helpful in shielding the buckle tongues from direct sunlight in hot weather.
Cover/Maintenance:
The Symphony cover is relatively easy to remove and replace. It used to be easier but since they added the dual integrated cup holders it now takes a little bit more time and effort to get the cover off and back on again. The cover is machine washable which is nice. Machine wash separately – delicate cycle – cold water – mild detergent – tumble dry on low heat for 10-15 minutes and remove immediately.
FAA-Approval/Lifespan/Crash Guidelines/Inflatable Belts:
- FAA certified for use on airplanes WITH the harness
- 8 year lifespan before expiration
- Must be replaced after any crash
- Installation with inflatable seat belts is NOT allowed
Evenflo Symphony DLX/Elite Advantages:
- All-in-One: Can be used rear-facing, forward-facing with 5-pt harness and as a belt-positioning booster
- Moving the harness height as your child grows is a cinch with the infinite slide harness
- Easy to tighten and loosen harness straps
- Relatively easy to install properly in most vehicles
- Doesn’t take up a lot of room front-to-back when installed rear-facing
- Good leg room when rear-facing
- Can use LATCH up to 40 lbs.
- Can use LATCH in booster mode
- Deep headwings are great for sleeping and enhanced side-impact protection (SIP)
- Plenty of thick EPP foam in headwings
- Fits most averaged-sized full term newborns well
- Generous crotch strap/buckle position
- Buckle pockets hold harness out of the way while loading and unloading child
- Cover is machine washable
- FAA approved for use in aircraft
- Made in the USA!
Disadvantages:
In fairness, these aren’t necessarily problems but I list them here to inform potential consumers of specific Symphony DLX issues.
- No lockoff device to help with seatbelt installation
- Lacks harness strap covers (and none can be added)
- SureLATCH isn’t a sure thing in all vehicles
- Harness straps can twist somewhat easily if you’re not careful
- Not very tall in booster mode
- Harness is not removable or replaceable
- Seat is wide (may be an issue if you’re trying to fit it next to another carseat)
Conclusion:
The Evenflo Symphony DLX is a good value for families looking for a safe, comfortable and easy-to-use convertible. Overall, it’s a great product with many unique and innovative features. This seat is extremely easy to use correctly. The harness straps tighten and loosen easily with a central front adjuster mechanism. The only difference is that the straps tighten and loosen at the hips rather than at the shoulders. The infinite slide harness adjustment system allows you to set the harness height correctly, and quickly adjust it whenever the child has a growth spurt. The shell height (head support) can be increased or decreased with a simple, one-hand adjustment. There is nothing difficult or awkward about the buckle or the chest clip. Really, when it comes to ease of use – it doesn’t get much easier than this. Just be attentive with the harness and fix it right away if you notice that it’s starting to twist as it routes through the buckle tongues.
As a booster, it isn’t very tall and kids will generally need help buckling themselves but it’s nice to have the option to use it in booster mode, if needed. It is a wide seat so keep that in mind. It’s not generally a good choice if you need it to fit it next to another CR or put 3-across in your backseat.
As far as I’m concerned, the positives far outweigh the negatives which is why the Evenflo Symphony DLX is on our list of Recommended Carseats. This seat offers great safety and convenience features that will appeal to many parents and caregivers. It’s also a great choice for grandparents, child care providers and agencies who might use one carseat for different kids. The fact that it has an 8 year lifespan and it’s made in the USA and not in China is a huge bonus too!
Just remember to “try before you buy” whenever possible and at the very least hold onto the box and the receipt until you’re sure this seat works well for your child in your vehicle.
For more information on the Symphony DLX please visit Evenflo’s website: http://www.evenflo.com/Products/Evenflo/Car_Seats/Symphony_DLX/
Thank you Evenflo for supplying the Symphony DLX used in this review. No other compensation was provided and all comments and opinions expressed in this review are those of CarseatBlog.
Updated June, 2017
But. How do I clean the harness?!
We bought one for our higher needs son who 1 has trouble regulating body temperature and 2 vomits. ALOT.
It was not a small job getting the cover off and how on earth do we get the harness clean?!
Is there a comparable seat that the harness comes out for easy cleaning?
So, I have two of these seats and my 15 month old looks super comfy when I put her her in to the seat (rear facing) and by the time we get to our destination her neck is pushed forward and she looks super uncomfortable (she’s crying and looks at me like TAKE ME OUT OF HERE). She’s only 24 lbs, so my husband still uses our Nuna Pipa because he finds her so uncomfortable in this one.
Is it something I”m doing? HELP! 🙂
Hi Jessica – it’s hard for me to troubleshoot without seeing your kid in the seat but here are some suggestions:
1. Make sure the seat is appropriately reclined in the rear-facing position
2. Make sure the headrest is in the lowest height position
3. If there are any infant head inserts – take them out
I hope some of those tips help to troubleshoot your issue. If not, definitely give ParentLink (Evenflo Customer Service) a call and let them know what’s going on. Good luck!
PS – make sure she’s not too tall for her Pipa. I believe the height limit for Pipa is 32″ and she has to have at least one inch between the top of her head and the top of the carseat’s shell.
I have this car seat and was hoping to keep my son rear facing for as long as possible. All the reviews and details of this seat state you can use it rear facing up to 40lbs or 37 inches, but if you look on the side of the seat itself , it says only use rear facing with a child weighing less than 22lbs.
Hi Heather – that’s a great question! The good news is that it’s just a poorly worded label. If you look in the Symphony manual it will be very clear that the seat is rated to 40 lbs. in the rear-facing position. What that wording is trying to convey is that if your child weighs less than 22 lbs. that you have no other option – the seat MUST be used rear-facing. They aren’t telling you that 22 lbs. is the limit. They are trying to tell you that infants and toddlers weighing less than 22 lbs must ride rear-facing. That label confuses a LOT of people so you deinitely aren’t alone in thinking what you did. HTH!
FYI, if your baby has low tone issues, it is a terrible car seat. I chose it because it looked like it would have great support, but the angle causes her to curl up into a ball. We’ve used it for a year (12 mo- 24mo) so far and I would buy something else for her if I had the money. Its been nothing but frustration. Currently, she slides her hip to either side and it makes the opposite leg nearly slide out of the harness. I need to constantly reposition her.
Anyone else thinks the shoulder straps are close to each other and hurting their kids necks? my son is 3 1/2 and very tiny for his age (10th percentile) and I beleive his neck is proportionnal to the rest of his body…
Is the space more narrow than most other seats?
What is this ranked in crash tests etc? I believed it to be scored around 68 of a scale of 45-95? perhaps my numbers a bit off. I see reviews for seats everywhere but wish they were required to label them with the actual test number given just like food has to list ingredients.
: )
I have bought PLATINUM SYMPHONY65 its made in CHINA not USA??
It looks like the Symphony DLX now has a height limit of 40″- per the Evenflo website description and the newest manual available for download on their site. Could this be verified and the review updated?
Has this been verified? I’ve noticed this as well?
We just purchased this car seat and there are a lot of things to love about it. However, I had my 2yr/2month old try sitting in it in the house as I was reading instructions and he seems to be already almost up to the maximum height of the 5 pt harness! He’s a skinny guy and in the 75% for his height, so I wouldn’t expect the 5pt harness to almost not fit. My concern is that at 26 lbs/35 inches now, he’ll certainly grow out of the 5pt harness far before he’s reached the recommended weight limit for the booster. Am I doing something wrong? Looking at other car seats, they seem to max out at 18 or maybe 19 inches for the harness height, so it seems like this could be an issue with other seats too. He does have a long torso, but I’m baffled by this! I will call the manufacturer to make sure I’m doing things correctly. Has anyone else had this issue? The review was wonderful and did suggest this could be an issue, but I figured he’s a pretty average height little guy, so we’d be fine! Thanks
I LOVE this seat. I’ve bought 4 of them in 3 different models since 2009 (just older and newer ones) and we’ve always loved them.
I too was in a car accident, with front impact at 45mph and despite the car being totaled and unable to be driven off The road, my daughters were safe and fine. The baby didn’t have any injuries and my older daughter who was forward facing just had some light cuts where the straps dug into her on impact. I replaced the wrecked seats with the newest models and we just love them.
I must have short kids because my kids didn’t reach the 37″ height limit until my son was 3 and my daughter was 3.5. It may not be the most generous for rear facing height, but I think reaching 3 and 3.5 is still very good.
I briefly tried the Radian seats to fit 3 in a row and promptly returned them… They were awful to buckle and tighten etc. Nothing can beat the ease of use and installation of the Evenflo symphony DLX seats.
We had this seat for my youngest (3 yrs old) and I can definitely say it is by far an amazing seat. We were in a horrible accident where the vehicle hydroplaned, flipped and struck several trees. He came out completely unharmed. He didn’t even have a bruise from the chest clip or harness. I recommend this seat to everyone.
Anyone have issues with this carseat not reclining enough. My daughters head ends up hanging forward when she falls asleep, causing her to snore. It doesn’t look comfortable, and I worry that its not supporting her head like it should in the event of an accident. Any suggestions?? Thanks!
Hi! I’m having the same issue here. Tried moving my 3 months old from his clip in seat since he’s very tall with a long torso and is really tight in it. This seat clearly seems functional for a 15lbs baby but his head keeps falling down as he sleeps.
Hi Joanie, check the arrow line that is molded into the plastic at the base of the carseat. It’s hard to see unless you’re really looking for it but it’s the angle indicator on this seat. If the line isn’t level to the ground then you will need to recline it a little bit more by putting a peice of foam pool noodle or rolled up towel under the edge of the base to recline it so that the arrow is level with the ground. We have more info on that here: https://carseatblog.com/39633/adjusting-a-carseats-recline-angle-using-pool-noodles-or-rolled-towels/
We have an evenflo symphony from 2012 that we love for my oldest daughter. We just recently bought another one to upgrade my oldest to a new one with cup holders and give my youngest daughter her old one. Sad to say, for some reason it has not been tightening. We checked all of the mechanics out. It had a buckle recall, but nothing to do with tightening down. I called Evenflo and they have great customer service While I was ordering the buckle recall I asked a few questions as to what I can do or if I can replace parts to get it working. Even though the carseat is 3 years old, they said my old option was to replace the carseat. They goodwilled a carseat to me and all I had to pay was $35 for shipping. Merry Christmas!! Awesome customer service! They have been really easy to work with. So now, both of my girls have new car seats in my husband’s car! Get these seats…they work great and are at a decent price. The new buckle holders is a great idea that was just added as the Crete one I bought a couple months ago does not have them. But the new Jordan Evenflo just sent me does. My Combi Zeus 360* in my car has buckle holders, and that is one feature all carseats should have.
My 19 month old twins love these seats. We had to replace their other seats as we were rear ended and these ones happened to be on sale. They have ample leg space, are luxuriously wide for them and they both fit side by side in my compact Chevy Aveo sedan. Such a simple installation with the Latch system, too. Very happy with these replacements.
Hi, I’m also trying to decide between the graco nautilus and the symphony. I do not need the RF as it is for my 3 year old. Maybe the Nautilus will last longer (taller?) but the Symphony seems so much more confortable. The Nautilus is so straight and the head rest very forward. However I’m concerned about the huge head wings of the Somphony, can the kids see outside?
Which one should I get?
Hi… I have twins . That come from Tall Stock. They are already at 98 % in height, but like 5% in weight. Tall n skinny. I have been reading all about the convertibles, but still need to narrow down. We are budget friendly since in need two, but safety first. Car situation is flexible, so not worried about that. Just the kids safety, and comfort, then price. I do live in a warm area, so I liked the Evenflo platinum with Outlast technology, but not good for tall kids ?? Anyone else use Outlast technology??
Looking at buying this – is there a downside of buying a 3-in-1 car set that eventually turns into a booster. Is there an advantage to having a seperate car seat and a booster – seems odd to buy two different seats when one can do both? Pro’s and con’s?
Jeff – the only real downside is that you are buying today’s design and technology for something that your child probably won’t be able to use for 4-5 years. By the time your child is ready to use a booster – are you going to want the model from 5 years ago or are you going to want the latest and greatest booster that 2020 has to offer? Carseat and booster designs are constantly improving (for the most part). I know many parents are attracted to products that grow with their child through different stages. There is nothing wrong with that. But if you are the kind of person who prefers to take advantage of the latest and greatest innovations then you may prefer to hold off on the booster purchase until your child actually needs a booster. HTH!
While I hear what you are saying with the new technology theory, booster seats have not changed too much in the last 15 years. All carseats have to pass the same standard testing nowadays and other than comfort and extra features there is not much difference in safety… they all have to meet the same standards. Take into account how much your child will be in the seat, are you a family that travels a lot or do you only go from point a to point b. I would say buy a seat that best suits your child’s needs comfort and other. Stay in your budget if required and don’t stress. Most importantly keep your child rear facing for as long as possible for safety reasons.
This 3in1 has been on the market since 2008. Each level of the seat has been put through the test.
Hi Megan, thank you for your comments. Please consider that the government mandated testing for carseats is based on a standard that is decades old and does not reflect changes in vehicles or child restraint systems. Simply passing the standard does not mean there is not much difference in terms of safety. The pass/fail method of self-certifying carseats to the federal standard simply means that the government provides no way to tell which models may perform better in a crash than others. Just looking at the widely varying designs of carseats it is clear that there are likely to be significant differences in safety, but we can’t say for certain of course. Given that, we agree that parents should buy a seat that best suits the needs of the parent in terms of ease-of-use and best fits the child and vehicle as well. And your suggestion to keep kids rear-facing as long as possible is a great one!
Great review! We’ve just started using this seat for our 9 months old. We love the easy of use but found it very difficult to install correctly, ie. without it being able to move more than 1 inch from side to side or front to back. It was very simple to attached the surelatch system but in order to get it reclined to the proper level we used a towel and pool noodle that then ended up so squished down in order for the surelatch system to be tight enough not to move. Our sons head still droops down too.
Quick question: Why can harness strap covers not be added?
This specific seat hasn’t been crash tested using any harness covers that are sold separately… It could affect the outcome and performance in a crash.
Great review. We love this model, and seems to be selling hot right now.
Why can’t harness covers be used? I just bought this seat, but i haven’t installed it yet. But my son needs the covers because the straps usually rub his neck…
Hi Lindsey – Evenflo doesn’t provide harness strap covers with any Symphony or Triumph model and I believe it’s because of the way the infinite slide harness system works. I think they are concerned about strap covers interfering with the proper function of the infinite slide harness system. However, I don’t want to speak for them so I suggest you contact Parent Link (aka customer service) to get your answer directly from them. I just know that they don’t provide them with their seats that have this feature, and never have. My best suggestion – if the straps rubbing against his neck cause irritation, pull the neck on his shirt up just a little bit so the straps don’t touch his skin directly. It’s an easy fix. HTH!
I, like Lindsey, am having a hard time with the comment that you can’t have seat belt covers. They velcro on. What exactly is it hurting to make your child more comfortable? Because I’m fairly certain in an accident situation, god forbid, that it isn’t going to make a difference whether you put them on there or not (except to keep the belt from marking up his little neck).
Annie, when they test carseats, they look at not only how the carseat performs structurally, but they also look at things like friction on the dummy, belt stretch, and so on. It may be that adding harness covers adds just enough padding that in addition to the harness stretch, it may lead to ejection. Or perhaps the engineers deem it to be too slippery and the harness may slip off the shoulders. If, like Kecia said, the harness covers interfere with the infinite harness system, the covers could cause the system to jam and not be properly positioned. Until either the seat comes with the covers or Evenflo sends covers to a caregiver who requests them, we can’t say it’s OK to use them.
@meljc – every chance I get. Every. Chance. I. Get. They are probably sick of me sounding like a broken record by now. Lol.
As for headrest positions – there are definitely five positions now. How old is your Symphony? The “e3” model I have from 2012 also has 5 positions.
Errrrrr maybe it does have 5 positions! Mine is the e3 from 2012 as well (brown fabric, no integrated cup holder). To be honest, I think I haven’t had my hands on the seat in a year! Eventually I’ll touch it again and figure it out. I just don’t get the point of a standing height limit apart from the boilerplate statement about how it’s tested. Even with the headrest restriction, my son would make it very close to 4yo were it not for the 37″… he just carries what little height he has in his legs. But I think we’ll get to ~3.5yo and then flip and/or pass down to baby.
Our 3y3m (short AND leggy) old is still riding rear-facing but sadly not for long. This is is the ideal seat for our nanny to have in her car, as I’m confident that it’s easy enough for her to install and operate correctly. I wish my son could RF in it longer though. Has anyone from the CPST community pushed Evenflo to increase or eliminate the standing height limit?
Side note: my seat is a few years old, but I’m thought there are only three headrest heights. Do the new ones have five positions or is that a misprint?
I have 2 of these seats! One for my 3.5 yr old son and my 9 month old daughter. I love them so much. I recommend them to many of my friends when they are seat shopping.
Thanks, Kecia. I sell an awful lot of these, so I’m glad they get the carseatblog seal of approval. 🙂