Built for the Long Haul: Evenflo Symphony Elite All-in-One Car Seat
I was originally drawn to the Evenflo Symphony ELITE All-in-One car seat because of the extended use I would get from it. I was looking for a car seat that would grow with my baby and knew I wanted a convertible car seat. The other options would require me to buy new seats as my child outgrew the weight restrictions.
To me, it seemed smart to make a one-time investment that would last. I quickly came to love the ‘click, click, push’ feature which gave me confidence that my child was secure before we hit the road. It was uncomplicated to move to other vehicles when necessary and to go from rear-facing mode to front-facing mode. The instructions were clear and the accompanying photos very helpful. My favorite feature has been the slide harness which allows me to ensure the straps are at the correct shoulder height without having to take the seat apart to adjust them.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Easy installation
Adjustable, slide harness to ensure correct shoulder height
Goes above government standards for safety
Cons
Bulky
Longevity varies
Safe and Easy to Install: Features Any Parent Will Love
Longevity
The most impressive highlight of this car seat comes from its longevity. With a one-time investment, you won’t need to worry about your child out growing it and having to buy a new one every few months. Evenflo has designed a product that is easy to install using SureLatch technology that is super reliable. You get the peace of mind knowing your child is safely secured thanks to the Infinite Slide Harness that can be adjusted anytime without having to rethread the straps or take apart the seat.
Safety
The triple layer of foam and the CrumpleSafe Base are wonderfully designed to keep your baby safe in the event of a car accident. However, the extra safety protections are bulky, so I wouldn’t consider this a sleek lightweight car seat. You will need to dedicate a great deal of space for this seat and it might not fit in all car types. While the seat is designed to last until your child is into a high back booster, the wear and tear during the toddler years has not been accounted for. The added cup holders can break off and if you are often taking it apart to clean milk spills, the inside foam can easily break.
Easy Installation
For any first-time parent, installing a car seat can seem like a challenging and daunting task. Evenflo knows how hard it is and created with this in mind. This car seat provides ample instructions with visual diagrams that help show how easy it is to install. There is even a placeholder in the back of the seat to store it for easy access, and it has photos right on the side to provide quick reference for proper installation.
The Evenflo Symphony Elite is so easy to install that I didn’t mind if I had to move it to another vehicle. This is especially helpful when other family members are taking the baby and the car seat with them, so I get the peace of mind knowing it’s installed safely. It can easily be changed from rear-facing to forward facing when the time comes and there is a handle in the front that allows you to adjust how the seat leans so that smaller babies will be most comfortable. The Infinite Slide Harness allows you to adjust the straps to fit any shoulder height effortlessly.
Cleaning May Be a Challenge
Unfortunately, the seat has not stood the test of time as much as I had hoped. Due to wear and tear, I will need to buy a different high back booster by the time my child turns four. The cover is machine-washable but after the first time you take it off, it is clear that getting it back in the correct alignment will be challenging to say the least–especially the parts around the head. I loved that there were cup holders, but cupholders also posed a problem as my child was able to kick one of them clean off during a terrible two’s tantrum.
Despite the fact that the seat hasn’t proven to last as long as I had originally hoped, I don’t regret this purchase. This seat is excellent for families who plan to have one or two children (it’s not sleek enough to have more than two per vehicle.) For new parents who are looking to make a one-time investment that will last them for a while, this is an excellent choice.
Mama Recommended
Based on the cost, the ease of use, and the simplicity of installation I have and will continue to recommend the Evenflo Symphony to other mamas. The investment I put into this car seat was certainly worth it for the four years it has benefited our family. Despite so many car seats on the market I think this one certainly ranks among the top.