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View Full Version : Marathon doesn't fit kid--HELP!


sheaam
07-27-2007, 05:23 PM
ok--i posted last night concerning a request regarding car seat purchases for triplets (8 months--6 months adjusted age) in an expedition. i was swaying toward purchasing the marathons--but i just had a girlfriend of mine come over and i fit the largest child in hers--and i couldn't even latch the crotch belt! my little turkey was too think in the center and i guess, not tall enough for it to hit at hip level! it hit right around her mid thigh, and was too tight to fasten! i took my middle child out to try him out--i was able to fasten the crotch belt, but he was the belt hit him at midthigh as well, and was pretty snug. i have no idea how they r going to grow--so i do not know what to do! because of their preemie issues and the boys being diagnosed with chronic lung disease, i really only take the kids out for doc appts and to my parents pool--taking them in to BRU to try them out in different carseats made me nervous-lol, so of course, i was trying to avoid having to make that trip. any recommendations?? below is last night's post, with more specifics: (oh, and THANK U for your comments and suggestions!)

hello all! i have spent HOURS reading your reviews, along with researching which convertible seats would b best for our trio. they r going on 8 months old now (6 months adjusted age), and the biggest one has just surpassed the weight limits of her infant carseat! it took me by suprise, so now i feel so rushed with making a decision--and i need help!
first off, of course, i want something that has high safety ratings. i have been researching about the britax carseats--particularly the marathons. other seats i have been considering are the safe voyage, the eddie bauer alpha omega elites, and the radians.
i need to mention that, for the time being, we drive an expedition and would like the seats to fit 3 across (tried out both the marathons and the eddie bauers in the 2nd row--the marathons fit great but were alittle high backed, and the eddie bauers fit well, but with their armrests, they were alittle snug). i have no idea though-am i going to break my back getting the rugrats in and out of the 2nd row? lol i'd imagine it would b even more difficult getting them in and out of the 3rd!
i almost had my mind made up to purchase 3 of the marathons until just yesterday when i received a post from another triplet mom saying that the eddie bauers and the marathons were TOO TIGHT at the crotch and NOT to purchase them! she said that the EPA had changed their standards, and that with these snugger crotch belts, my chunky kids might get bruises and would not grow well with these seats! IS THIS TRUE? should i go with a seat that has adjustable crotch straps--one with different levels like the shoulder harnesses? also, i had read that the marathons had issues with the lock offs not working properly in the rear facing position--have any of u had these problems??
a friend mentioned to me today about the radian--what r your thoughts on those considering my situaion? i haven't had the chance to check out their safety ratings just yet. what i liked about the marathons was that they went up to 65lbs (my kiddos haven't started crawling yet, so i have no idea how they will grow--but my biggest girl is a chunker!--i wanted to make sure my kids were supported thru their chunky stages, or even tall stages, with the hubby being 6'3"), the tether system, the EPS foam (wanted side impact protection, but u all have posted such mixed reviews on the headrests), and the EASY installation! the same friend that mentioned the radian purchased the safe voyage for her kids and highly recommends that one. have to purchase these of the net though, as there aren't any stores around that carry them. should i take the risk? i need to feel that my kiddos r safe and supported, the seats need to fit comfortably, kids need to be comfortable in them, and i need to have an easier install. is there anything else i am leaving out?
i had a few of the other triplet moms recommend the 3 in 1 convertible eddie bauers--but from what i've read it seems that people either love them or hate them. i've read that they r really difficult to install, and hard to clean--not to mention that the crotch strap is limiting. what r your thoughts on these issues?
i had thought about the triumph, but was alittle discouraged when i found out about the side harness controls--with having 3 side by side, i don't think those would b easily accessible, especially while they r rearfacing. i did like that they offered the side impact protection though.
please offer your thoughts! i need to make a decision asap--and from what i've read, u all have much experiene in these areas! i truly appreciate your expertise, and want to thank u in advance!!!
sincerely
amber

AdventureMom
07-27-2007, 05:30 PM
Hmmm... My son fit in the Marathon even with cloth diapers on. It was tight, but he fit. And still does at 4 1/2 yrs old and 41 lbs. I am in no way saying that your triplets don't fit - not at all! Just puzzled. :)

When you say the strap is 'mid thigh', it does go across their upper thigh rather than their belly or even the hip. If you're not used to that fit, that might be confusing.

But, not fitting at all. I'm stumped!


ETA: What slot was the shoulder harness coming through on your friend's seat? If it was one of the higher ones, then perhaps there wasn't enough slack left over to loosen it? Another thought: could the harness possibly be caught on something to prevent it from loosening as far as you needed it to?

sheaam
07-27-2007, 05:34 PM
yes--i couldn't even get it to buckle without leaving marks on my little girl's legs. my girlfriend was stumped too. i am having another friend of mine stop by so i can try hers out--she has the FPSV, which i know is a roundabout knockoff--but she also knows alot about carseats, etc, so maybe i can pick her brain. the one boy (his middle ranged as far as weight) i tried in it--the straps laid over his mid-thigh, closer to his knee than his hip. maybe i was doing something wrong--but i would have thought my girlfriend might have picked up on it since it obviously fits her little girl properly. :confused:
as far as the shoulder harness, i would imagine it was on the lowest slot--her kiddo is just about to turn 1, but i could definately ask her. from what i saw--it seemed that the harness was free of anything--but it did start to RAIN outside while i was trying to do this, so maybe i was alittle rushed.

SusanMae
07-27-2007, 06:11 PM
Britax straps seem to lay on the lap rather than go across the hip. It's something different to get used to.

Maybe someone can post a pic for you.

Susan

Kashi
07-27-2007, 06:55 PM
How big (height / weight) are the kids ?

This was my little guy in a Marathon when he was 6 months old (~22 lbs, 27.5")

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n28/EthelMaeV/Seats/DSC_5035.jpg

sheaam
07-27-2007, 07:55 PM
thanks for the pic! i need to c how long she is, but i am pretty sure she is on the shorter side. she's around 22lbs as well. the straps on her laid lower on her thigh-closer to her knee, than they seem to on your little one. i am going to get my girlfriend to come back over--now that it has stopped raining, we might be able to adjust alittle more. it didn't seem like there was much more we could have done-but we shall c! i was able to fit the 2 chunkier kids into the FPSV and the eddie bauer 3 in 1--and i know the FPSV is a knockoff of the roundabout. who knows-maybe user error! OR, my chunky monkey just won't fit! GRRRRRR--did i mentioned that i am sick of this already?? lol i have too much to tackle these days!

ignora
07-28-2007, 01:28 AM
i was able to fit the 2 chunkier kids into the FPSV and the eddie bauer 3 in 1--and i know the FPSV is a knockoff of the roundabout.

I'm pretty sure the FPSVD is based on the Marathon shell. The Roundabout has a shorter shell...

henrietta
07-28-2007, 01:59 AM
Honestly, it's just a different fit. The part of the harness that is at the bottom sits across their thighs. Rearfacing, kiddos are held in the carseat more at the shoulders than at the leg/hip area. You might be making the straps too tight, as I used to do this as well. Loosen the straps really well first, put the baby in, then buckle the crotch strap and the harness clip. Pull up the excess harness from the leg area (from right above or right below the harness clip), and then pull the harness adjuster to tighten finally. It's not going to feel the exact same as the infant seats they've been in, nor will it be the same as most other seats. It helps rearfacing to take the HUGS off (rubber things on straps-optional for rearfacing!) and for some kiddos, taking off the crotch pad can help. We don't use ours and haven't for months and months.

hths

henrietta

AdventureMom
07-28-2007, 07:28 AM
I'm pretty sure the FPSVD is based on the Marathon shell. The Roundabout has a shorter shell...

Actually, the FPSV is based on the Roundabout and the FPSVD is based on the Marathon... :)

papooses
07-28-2007, 07:50 AM
I'm having a really hard time following your typing format: the abbreviated words ("r" instead of are/our) & lack of capitals + lack of spacing between paragraphs.... Sorry, but it's really bothering me a lot :o

Silly question in case I missed it while going cross-eyed trying to read :p Did you loosen the harness :confused:

singingpond
07-28-2007, 09:23 AM
Silly question in case I missed it while going cross-eyed trying to read :p Did you loosen the harness :confused:

I wondered the same thing? I can imagine harness straps not falling where you think they should, crotch buckle position too high or too low, etc., but not being able to get the buckle closed at all is hard to picture. There should be more than enough harness strap length available if you loosen the harness and pull slack through the buckle tongues (the parts that click into the crotch buckle).

Please report back if you get a chance to try again...

Katrin

sheaam
07-29-2007, 08:44 PM
thanks for all of your help! i was not able to get the marathon to fit her properly. i went ahead and purchased 2 marathons for the boys, and the decathalon for her and it is fitting her perfectly (the crotch belt is on the furthest slot). you are right though--the seat belts definately fit differently than the infant seat belts do! thanks for the warning! now we just have to get them installed!

again, thank you for all of your help! :D