This is a newer car seat; much expected that your boy’s options besides the 40 pound joint were slim and expensive. Fortunately, Cosco who also now Safety 1st has manufactured this car seat which gives you a less expensive choice while still keeping your child safe.
I wanted a Britax steering wheel, but it wasn’t in our budget at the time and it didn’t fit in the back of our Mazda Protégé, as we had to fit 3 car seats in a row. I was excited when I heard about the tip of 65 as my oldest child weighed over 40 pounds and was also too tall to use an attached car seat. The Apex 65 allows for the use of a 5 point buckle system up to 65 pounds and the top harness slot is 17.5 inches wide, allowing taller children to stay engaged in the car seat. The only thing higher is the Sol Radian Kids seat at 18 inches and the expensive and oversized Britax The ruler, which in the top of the harness slot 20 inches.
The Apex 65 can also be used as a positive seat belt for up to 100 pounds when your child outgrows the harness. As a car seat, you can use it as early as 1 year and 20 pounds any forward-facing only and it is the safest way to get into it for as long as possible. There is also a car-sized seat that, I believe, any child under the age of 2 can swim in. It contains removable inserts that make it more comfortable and suitable for smaller children.
The harness system is easily tightened and assembled with the front component. To change the height of the belt, you have to remove the seat and tighten the straps, but I’ve done this twice and it was pretty simple compared to car seats. My only complaint is that the straps tend to twist easily to double it for me when the child has the buckles themselves.
The Apex 65 is easy to install on most vehicles. It includes both a back strap and an attached pin, but you can also easily install it with car seatbelts. I can get the tightest fit using both the lower connectors and the top strap, they don’t bend at all.
The downside to this car seat is that it must be used in a vehicle that has built in capital. The back support is not enough to protect your child in a bench style seat that ends in the middle of the car seat. Most cars have a high enough back rest or build in head support, but this should be considered before buying this child seat a>.
The Apex 65 is light enough to be transferred from one vehicle to another quite simply. It doesn’t seem as strong or well made as heavier seats like the Britax, but it does its job. The curved sides on the outside provide a bit of side impact protection that other booster-seats don’t often have. To adjust the height of the back, you simply bend the knot behind the bed and pull it up at the top. This provides hidden harness holes that will come in handy as your child grows taller. The car seat has a built in armrest that rests and breaks into which the owner can hold a cup or drink snacks.
This car seat is the best choice if you are on a budget but want to keep your child strapped in for a long period of time. I got this from Babies R Us for $130 plus tax, but recently found it on Albeebaby.com for $99.00. That’s a lot for the long-term child seat safety.
