TRINA - Yo Trina - Craco Comfort Sport car seat
Moms View Message Board: Parenting Discussion: Archive July-December 2005:
TRINA - Yo Trina - Craco Comfort Sport car seat
This is what was given to my dil at the shower today, and I assume it is the one she requested. What should she know? I noticed it has two sets of slots for the restrain straps, and I remember you posting about a model which had two sets of slots and only one set was reinforced.
If you can give me a link or two for them, I'd be really grateful.
Ginny, I'm so proud of you! A super Grandmother in the making.  I don't have time to answer your questions now but will post back later.
Ok, I'm back. Where do I begin? I have questions and lots of info to share. Please forgive me, but I jump at the chance to share this stuff with new parents whenever possible. 
Did your son and DIL get an infant carrier car seat as well? That is usually the first step and a convertible car seat, like the Comfort Sport, comes later when the baby outgrows the carrier. It *is* OK to use a rear facing convertible car seat for a newborn, as long as it's a good fit for the baby, but with a convertible you don't have the convenience feature of being able to carry a sleeping baby around in the car seat. Also, infant carriers tend to fit newborns better.
Does this Comfort Sport have a 5 pt. harness or a tray shield that pulls down? If it's a tray shield seat I highly recommend exchanging it for a 5 pt. harness version. A 5 pt. harness is the safest choice. More info:
Five-Point Harness or Shield - Choosing a safer seat
Typically, the reinforced harness slot issue doesn't come into play until the child is forward facing (20 lbs.+, 12 mos.+) Harness straps should be at or below a baby's shoulders when rear facing, which would require using the lower harness slots. This is OK when rear facing because the crash dynamics for a rear facing car seat are different than forward facing.
When a child is turned forward facing - not until *at least* 12 mos. AND 20 lbs., longer is even better - the harness straps must be at or above the shoulders, and in most convertible car seats the top harness slots are required due to those slots being the only ones reinforced.
I just checked the instruction manual I have for the Graco Comfort Sport and this is what it says:
"Instructions permit use of middle strap harness slots forward facing if child is under 30 pounds and shoulders are at or below middle slots. Advise parent that the top slots have more reinforcement (an advantage in a high speed crash) and are preferred for all forward facing children; additionally there is no risk of forgetting to change the strap slot position as the child grows if the top slots are chosen at the same time the child is moved to the forward facing position."
To find a CPS Tech in your area:
SeatCheck.org
It would be great for them to go before the baby is born if possible. I love it when pregnant, new parents come to car seat checks!
Lots of resources here:
**Child Passenger Safety and Car Seat Resources**
Trina, it is a 5-point harness from what I saw on the box. I know the shield is not the better arrangment. I will send them your comments and the links. I'm sure they've done their research, but I have an advantage because I've been reading your posts for so many years. (And it is a lot of years, isn't it?)
Thanks, a lot.
You're very welcome.
Yes, it has been a lot of years! Hmm, probably close to 9. Wow!
Trina, I finally copied your post to my dear dil, including the links so they can get their car with carseat checked out, and here is what she said in response:
Thanks, I also have a Graco Snugride infant seat and the Graco Comfort seat we got is a 5 point harness. We'll be sure to use the top slots when we turn it around.
Ginny, when is she due? How exciting!
She is due in a bit less than a month. Exciting - OH YEAH!!!
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