jadedmomof2

No, the back stays on, it can't be removed. Okay, as a harnessed seat, the Graco is good seat. The harness slots are nice and high, so if you have a tall child, they'll likely make it to 40lbs in this seat. However, it should not be used by any child younger than 1 year at least, since those kids should be rearfacing in an infant or convertible seat. It does have EPS foam, so it's good there as far as Side Impact Protection. And really, for $25, it's a great deal too. One thing, it really doesn't make a very good booster seat(after 40lbs, with the seatbelt). But again, for $25, even just using it for 2-4 years as a harnessed seat is well worth it.

Ooh, thank you! I'll have to try and get there soon.

In the attic which is locked, and the key stays on my main set of car keys.

Is the Zephyr the actual model name, or is it the name of the cover? Ask at www.car-seat.org

Hmm..the base and the V-smile pocket are a gift though, I suppose I could just include a gift receipt, but it's not going to be given until November/December(whenever I see my neice during the holidays)

Anyone manage to find a blue V-smile Pocket? I found a pink one, and a charging base, for under $30. I am now done shopping for my niece for the holidays. But, no blue one.

Get either the charging bases for the Remotes, or buy rechargeable batteries. Check around for the rentals, only one store in my area has a decent variety of Wii games, our Blockbuster had 10 games available to rent, that's it. If you plan on mostly renting, consider a subscription to gameznflix or gamefly.

My Dollar Tree does have some clothes, not sure if it's the ones people are talking about though. I'll have to take a look tomorrow. My favorite find at Dollar Tree was a MadCatz Incredibles Gameboy Advance SP backpack, and it came with cases to store the games.

They should work, every OS Microsoft has released has been backwards compatible as far as software goes. You may need to change some settings though. And how are you getting free shipping? I ordered 10 games(used the codes) and still paid shipping.

My Target had the Infinity vacuum on clearance for $138.XX(regularly 199) Of course, there weren't any left on the shelf.

I posted in the "where can I find a Wii" thread, but both Gamestop and Walmart have bundles available online right now.

I don't suppose there was a DCPI on that, was there? I discovered after trying to hook up my new DVD recorder that I couldn't do it on my 5 year old TV, and I've been wanting to upgrade to an HDTV anyway, since I can get the HD channels with my DVR.

Our Target salvage goes to a local chain of Thrift stores(no Goodwill in the area). I've found some great things there that I missed at Target.

I was a certified child passenger safety tech, I let my certification lapse because of a cross-country move and then pregnancy. And they aren't really safety problems, just problems that just don't make the seat worth $150(or more) You can get much better designed seats, and easier to use seats for less than $150.

Well, my information is from personal tech experience with the seat. However, if you want a few more opinions, ask at that website(go to the forums and ask on the carseat forums)

Check at the aforementioned link. Or epinions. Or even put your child in the seat, as a booster seat, so you can see the problems I mentioned. But really, it's opinion of mine(shared by many other techs). As a tech, I groaned every time I saw one of those damned things in a car. I hate them with every inch of my being. That and the old Century Breverras. So glad those are mostly expired now. And the No, did that mean the police officer was not trained? If he wasn't trained, then you need to find someone who actually is trained.

Was your child IN the seat when it was checked? Was the officer a trained child passenger safety technician? If not, then you really need the seats re-checked. I just find it seriously hard to believe your 36lbs child isn't too tall for the seat. Like I said, most of the time, the seat is outgrown by height by the time the child is 3. Okay, The seat sucks as a booster because the lap belt portion of the seatbelt ends up sitting too high on the child, and it doesn't actually touch the child in the right spot(across the upper thighs) With the AO(and really, most combination seats, even those with arm rests) this is a problem. It's why dedicated boosters are really the best way to go. Also, the shoulder belt also gets held away from the child, it should actually be touching the child at the shoulder. This doesn't happen very often with the AO. The AO says it's a multi-purpose seat, but it does none of the purposes well. It's too big and bulky while rearfacing, too short of harness slots for forward facing, and doesn't function well as a booster. Plus, add in the twisty straps and non-removable cover, and really, it's just not that great of a seat for the price tag.

Serrina, you should really go anyway, because the Alpha Omega is probably the most mis-used and wrongly installed carseat out there right now. And it really sucks as a booster seat, so then you could possibly get some ideas on what to use once your child does hit 40lbs, or outgrows the AO in height, which usually happens by the time a child is 3 or so. In fact, everyone should go to one, because the 90% statistic of carseats being used or installed incorrectly is definitely true in everything I've seen. In fact, I think with all the carseat checks I did, I had 1 installation come in 100% correctly, and it was a booster seat.

I'm sorry, but you really need to read the instructions that came with your seat, because there is not a single harnessed seat out there that actually harnesses to 100lbs(Britax is the closest, with a seat that harnesses to 80lbs). Unless you have the Cosco Apex Eddie bauer, you can not use the harness on your seat past 40lbs, you need to remove the harness, and use your seat as a booster. You can go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/CPSFittingStations/CPSinspection.htm And find an inspection station near you to have your installation checked.

A crib really isn't something you want to go totally cheap on, but I have heard that Ikea has some decent cribs for not too much money. I personally never used a crib for my youngest child. I got a good deal on a new Pack N Play that came with the bassinet feature, but after a few months, I just co-slept.

Contact the local La Leche League. While it's a breastfeeding organization, you may be able to get some information about childbirth classes too.

Next year, when it's announced that Old Navy is having their 50% off clearance prices, go there. I got both my son's down coats for next year, $7.50 each. Most stores are pretty wiped out though, as it began on the 12th.

That reminds me, I need to search for the receipt for my son's coat I bought there last year. Definitely still fits him, but is quite worn out(and seeing as how it's only been worn for about 6 months total..that's not too good)

I sure hope there's some stuff left when I finally manage to get there. We've had crappy weather the last few days, right now there is about an inch of ice on most roads. In particular, any train/Thomas sets being found? I'm not worried about stuff like wrapping paper or anything.

Are you looking for anything specific? I saw lots of toys geared more towards boys on clearance.