Britax and Vehicle headrests

[SarahP]

:eek: I have a FF Britax Regent, a FF Britax Marathon and a RF Britax Marathon.
I was unable to get a good install on the FF seats with the headrests in place so we removed them. DO I need to put them back? Was it wrong to take them off?

[Patriot201]

:eek: I have a FF Britax Regent, a FF Britax Marathon and a RF Britax Marathon.
I was unable to get a good install on the FF seats with the headrests in place so we removed them. DO I need to put them back? Was it wrong to take them off?

You can leave them off. That's fine.

Just don't store them, loose, in a cargo area of your vehicle. They could become projectiles.

[SarahP]

Thank you for answering. I've read so many posts about the head rests providing additional stability, and needing to be there and the like I was worried.
It is pretty cool, Mazda has provided places to click them into so they don't get lost. (click in as secure as if they were in the seat backs).
But ours are tucked safely in the garage -- because not only would they be projectiles, they take up storage space. When the last one was born, a preemie we had almost 4, almost 2, and newborn -- needed all the space we could have for car seats, diaper bags, snack bags, and groceries ;)

[lovinwaves]

SarahP, the best way to find out is to check your Vehicle Owner's Manual. Some are very specific when it comes to Headrest and child restraints.

In my van I *have* to take off the headrests in the third row to install a child restraint. But, in the second row they may remain there.

So, best practice is just to read both owner's manual (child restraints, and vehicles) ;)

If you do remove the headrest then, as Patriot said, be sure and remove it completely from your vehicle or put in a secure place so it will not become a projectile. Some parents have asked if they can just turn the headrest around backwards, and the answer to that is "no" because it may not lock in place

[SarahP]

Thank you
I've read my regent and marathon manuals pretty thoroughly and did not see anything, and have also read the van manual and I don't remember seeing it -- I'll read it again to make sure though. I read the new Regent several times trying to get a tight install with the new enhancements and spb last night. Today I will try twisting the seat belt stalk and see if that helps :)
Our headrests are in the garage.

[Twin_Mummy]

Hi,

I am running up against this same issue with my BMW X5...the headrests are too low to allow a taller backed carseat. Am I reading that it is okay to remove the headrests?

[dd9736]

Hi,

I am running up against this same issue with my BMW X5...the headrests are too low to allow a taller backed carseat. Am I reading that it is okay to remove the headrests?

double check the carseat manual and the car manual, but it seems in most cases it is ok. I know of 1 seat the requires high seatbacks in the car, but I don't recall offhand which one it is, as I've only read about it.

[Patriot201]

double check the carseat manual and the car manual, but it seems in most cases it is ok. I know of 1 seat the requires high seatbacks in the car, but I don't recall offhand which one it is, as I've only read about it.

The Cosco/Safety 1st (Dorel) high back boosters require high seatbacks or headrests for taller children.

All low back boosters require high seat backs or headrests.

[snowbird25ca]

Hi,

I am running up against this same issue with my BMW X5...the headrests are too low to allow a taller backed carseat. Am I reading that it is okay to remove the headrests?

Check your vehicle manual and the child restraint section specifically. In our truck the 2nd row needs to be reclined when car seats are installed - the manual is very specific about it.. without it reclined, there's no way the Marathon would fit in there properly, but it fits just fine when the seats are reclined.

So check that out when you're looking for the headrest information, there could be directions in the manual that make the problem disappear without removing the headrests.

[Twin_Mummy]

double check the carseat manual and the car manual, but it seems in most cases it is ok. I know of 1 seat the requires high seatbacks in the car, but I don't recall offhand which one it is, as I've only read about it.

Thanks, the car manual is next to useless! In fact, it took me forever to even find headrest in the manual because they call them "head restraints" LOL!

I am thinking a trip to the dealer is in order.

[SafeandSecureBaby]

We had a BMW X5 in the other day. We could not remove the headrests, but the owner was able to do so after taking her car to the dealer. After removing the headrests, we were able to install a new Boulevard FF. The headrests on this vehicle will not allow an install of any forward facing Britax product. They simply push the top portion of the seat too far forward and do not allow the back of the child restraint to touch the back of the car seat at all.

[ajweeks]

Lovinwaves, is that an Ody requirement to have the third row head restraints off with a car seat? Just curious as I've never tried to install my seats back there, but will in September when my in-laws come for a visit--I'm going to put the kids in the back row.

[lovinwaves]

Lovinwaves, is that an Ody requirement to have the third row head restraints off with a car seat? Just curious as I've never tried to install my seats back there, but will in September when my in-laws come for a visit--I'm going to put the kids in the back row.

Double check your owner's manual, because certain years may be different.

I think it could also be a matter of opinion. It doesn't say it is *required*, but rather just states you should. The headrests in the third row stick out a little, so I would assume with most carseats you would have to remove anyways to get a good install. It could just depend on the carseat and how it installs in relation to the headrest.

The other thing that comes to mind is how the tether would be routed under that headrest. Because of the design of the headrest the tether may not be able to be used properly...Again, I think it just depends on the carseat..