I’ve decided to document how various combination (harness/booster) seats fit my 4-year-old, 41 lb, 43″ tall son in booster mode. He’s at the size where most parents would be switching from the 5-pt harness to the vehicle’s lap/shoulder belt in booster mode if they had a combination seat with a 40 lb limit on the harness. In each case I’ll use the same seating position in my van – driver’s side captain’s chair in a 2005 Ford Freestar.
The IIHS booster study compared the fit of various boosters using the 6-year-old Hybrid lll dummy who weighs 51.6 lbs (23.41 kg) and has a standing height of almost 45″. I thought it would be even better to show belt fit on a child who was just over the 40 lb weight limit for the 5-pt harness. I’ve decided to focus exclusively on combination seats because of their popularity with parents of children in the 2-5 age group.
This week we’ll be looking at the 
Alpha Omega Elite (aka Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1) as a booster. This is the older and most popular model with the 40 lb limit for the harness. There is a new version of this seat that goes to 50 lbs with the harness. I have no idea if that model has been modified in any way that would improve belt fit in booster mode.
In these pictures, the base has been removed as per the instruction manual and the adjustable headrest is in the very top position. Honestly, I’d say the fit in booster mode is horrid. I know this isn’t a big shock to anyone who has been in the field for a while. The shoulder belt fits fine but the lap belt is positioned directly over the soft abdomen and is no where near touching the tops of his thighs where it should be ideally. This increases the possibility of internal injuries in a crash.
If this was a child at a check that I was participating in – he’d be going home in a different, better booster if I had anything to say about it. Isn’t the whole point of a booster to position the adult seat belt on a child in the same way it was designed to restrain and protect an adult?
Now I’m going to show some typical misuse with this particular seat in booster mode. The first problem is that the headrest is too low and it’s interfering with the shoulder belt. Also, I’ve pictured the seat being used as a booster with the base still on. This is a big no-no with the AOE/EB 3-in-1. When used in booster mode you MUST remove the base. What I really find interesting is that using this seat in booster mode with the base left on actually improves the fit of the lap belt on my DS. With the base, lap belt fit still isn’t great but it looks a heck of a lot better than it did when the seat was used correctly without the base. This is just an observation. Obviously I’m not advocating that anyone go against manufacturer’s instructions and use the seat this way. It’s just one of those things that makes me go hmmmm…..
Thanks. Your pics were extremely helpful.
@SHANORA – I’m not sure if or how the Canadian models are different from the US models now but the ones here in the US have had non-removable bases for a while too and are still on the IIHS “Not Recommended” booster list. However, if you try it and find decent belt fit – please let us know!
I wonder what the new 3-in-1s here in Canada fit like. Since the new regulations, you are unable to remove the base, and it seems to be designed just a tad differently.
I don’t imagine that using it as a booster is going to be any different than these pictures….. but I’m curious
Well, if you look carefully at the 2 sets of photos, you’ll notice that in the first set the boy sits much lower in the car seat than in the second set (look at his head position compared to the headrest), so obviously the lap belt would be higher in the first set and it unrelated to the fact that the base was removed.
As for the base. It must be removed. In booster mode, in case of accident the car seat’s weight compresses against the boy. You would not want the added wight of the base now, do you…
I have this seat and have had nightmares about since we bought it. My son is now 40 lbs and we have recently switched over. I have a question about the shoulder strap.
When my son leans forward the strap comes out of the holder, is that suppose to happen?
WELL THANK GOODNESS I LOST MY MANUAL. I WILL JUST GET MY SON A DIFFRENT BOOSTER. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS INFO.
Yup, I cringe every time I have to convert one of these to booster mode and try not to scare parents when I tell them they MUST go buy a dedicated bpb. Most are disappointed to find out that it won’t work as a booster because “it’s supposed to.”
I’m with ketchup… but I’d still rather see it not even able to be a booster… it’s a short one and won’t fit bigger kids… heck, look how close our 4yr old model is to not having the belt fit even when using the higher of the two guides…. let alone the shoulderbelt issues.
Maybe they should test it with the base in booster mode and make the necessary changes for it to pass! That would be an easy fix to make a lot of kids safer!
yuck! i love the seat for ERF, but they really should stop advertising it as a booster.
Thanks for the blog! I was SOOOOOO tempted to warn a women at costco today who had one in her cart. I was in a hurry and didn’t do it.
Aaah, what led me to car-seat.org. My son outgrew this exact seat at 25 months and 40 pounds. And I was using the highest position in harness mode.
Yea for mommy intuition. Boo to such a poorly designed car seat.
I personally think this seat is EVIL!! 😉
Those photos just make me cringe….such a cute boy, in such a poorly fitting booster :(. I spend a lot of my time at work (at a big baby store) telling people that these seats make fine convertibles, but they’ll still want to buy a good booster seat later.