help please! on vacation and need install help!

[ChewyMama]

My mom has a 2000 4dr honda accord.
im installing a Britax Roundabout. for my 14mo old.

i tried to do a rear-facing but there is NOwhere to do a tether :confused: i ended up putting her forward facing since there is a rear tether but id prefer her rear-facing. i cant get it tight with her seatbelts. what should i do? is there anywhere to tether this that im just not seeing?! thanks :)


Rachel

[SamPacey&Joshua]

You don't HAVE to tether her seat RF...it's just an added safety benefit. Even without her seat RF tethered, she is MUCH safer rear-facing.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean about getting it tight with her seatbelts though. Do you mean you can't get a tight install in your mom's car? You never use the RF tether to get a "tighter" install anyway...always install the seat tightly (no more than 1 inch of movement at the beltpath) before using the top tether.

I'm not familiar with that vehicle, but I'm sure some of the others will come along and help! Just be sure you're using the correct beltpath, of course, and put your knee and weight into the foot area of the carseat, rocking it side-to-side, while tightening the seatbelt (be sure you don't put your knee right on the seatbelt though).

[MomToEliEm]

When installing a rearfacing tether (or forward facing as well), the seat should be installed well with less then 1 inch of movement at the belt path prior to installing the tether. You should never rely on the tether to give your seat a solid install.

Yes, the tether does add a little stability to a rearfacing seat, but it isn't required.

Question. Is your roundabout setup for latch install? You might try installing the seat with the latch connectors (as long as you have the instructions to follow or are familiar with the correct way to install it with latch). If you do not have a latch equipped roundabout or the seat you are trying to use isn't setup for latch, then retry the seatbelt install. (Never mind with the latch install. I just noticed you said a 2000 model car and most likely it doesn't have latch).

For the seatbelt install, move all the front seats as far forward as possible to give you plenty of room. Put the roundabout into place on the seat and thread the seatbelt through the rearfacing belt path and if using the lockoffs, open those up and route the seatbelt through it. Put all your weight onto the front of the seat (or the part near the front of the car). Push the seat as firmly down into the seat as possible and remove all the slack you can from the seatbelt. Then either lock the seatbelt or use the seat's built in locking clips to secure the seatbelt.

With a rearfacing install, the seat will move some when it is installed (especially up and down when no tether is installed), but it shouldn't move more then an inch at the belt path. If that seems okay, then you should be okay with the install without the rearfacing tether.

If you have examined the car and cannot find a place to rearface tether, then just don't use it. When you bring the seats forward, you may just find a good place though.

[ChewyMama]

thank you for your quick replys!

the car has a shoulder belt even in the middle seat (where im installing) Its locking but it doesnt work very well. i pull it all the way out and then it will lock but if I pull a few times it will loosen up again?!? my van isnt like that so it seemed weird. it wouldnt go back in tightly either so thats why I couldnt get it tight. i did finally get it to work but that was forward facing.

i didnt know if it was ok for it to move forward and back so easily like it does without a rear tether. in an accident wouldnt she slam face-first into the seat? :( if you say its ok i totally believe you its just seems so weird that it moves that much. i knew about the 1" rule for side-to-side movement and how to kneel on it, etc. Ill work on it again tomorrow.

if anyone else has any more insight please let me know. i hate not knowing if she is safe :(

thanks!

(i told my mom just to go buy a new car so we can use the latch ;))

[UlrikeDG]

The seatbelt shouldn't loosen after it's locked, but if you use the Britax built-in lock-offs, it shouldn't be an issue.

Also, here's a link for you (http://carseat.org/Technical/tech_update.htm#toptetherRF) regarding the rear facing tether and "cocooning" (flipping toward the back of the vehicle).

[murphydog77]

Are you sure you're locking the belt correctly? Pull it out all the way slowly. It could be that you're pulling on it a little to fast and you're engaging the emergency retractor which gives you a false sense that it's locked. When it's actually locked, you'll hear it click as it retracts and you won't be able to pull any slack.

But, like the others have said, just use the lockoffs and it won't matter whether or not the belt is locked. The lockoffs will hold the belt tight for you.

[joolsplus3]

I don't recall having difficulty finding a place to RF tether in an Accord..I think it was the very back of the seat track...just push the front seat way forward, and see if you can stick the metal of the tether connector strap in between the seat track and the carpet, If I Recall Correctly. Good luck (yes, voting with 'a wobbly-feeling RF install is WAY WAY WAY safer than even a tight FF install for a baby that young')

:)

[ChewyMama]

thank you all SO much for your help!!!!

I did the belt slowly this time and it was working properly - I was pulling it way to quickly yesterday. I got it pretty tight and then I also found a place to anchor it. But I didnt depend on that.

I did have to use a towel because otherwise she was at a ridiculous angle but I got it tight enough that it seems ok. it is tilted tighter to one side because I did most of my tightening work on one side - but we ran out of time so for now its like that. Im going to work on it asap though.

thanks again for all your help!