help check proper angle!! SS1

[minismom]

I know the seat is supposed to be at a 45 degree angle, but the way the seat looks I just can't figure out how to do that at all. I read about using a sheet of paper and I stil couldn't understand what the "back of the seat" is exactly (In understand in a convertible but not the infant seat). I told DH who's the technical guy of the family and he still didn't get it. Can anyone post a picture of where you hold the sheet of paper? I know the SS1 is usually very upright, I tried to get it a little more recline once and it got so reclined the front seat wouldn't fit as usual and I could barely drive. And the level indicator was still blue, so now I understand why we're not supposed to trust it.

On a related topic, what's the deal with those "buttons" on the car's seat belt? They usually end up right in the middle of my SS1 lock off and then I can't close it. I guess that's how when I installed it so inclined I also had to move it to the left to avoid the button and that's why my driver's seat ended up being all the way forward. What can you do when you pull the seat belt as tight as it will go and the damn button is right on the lock off?

Thanks!

[crunchierthanthou]

To use a piece of paper to estimate a 45 degree recline, you fold a square in half to make a right triangle. Then you place the longest side on the back of the seat- as in, where the child's back and head go. If the side that is parallel to the ground is straight, then the seat is at a 45 degree angle. You always want to measure the angle based on the part where the child is actually sitting- not the base or wings of the shell. It can probably be a little more upright since your dd likely has good head control at her age. However, I don't think it's like a convertible that you can make as upright as 30 degrees. Remember that you can leave the handle up in the car. That should minimize the space it takes up.

You're not the first poster to have problems with those buttons and the SS1 lock-off. They are only there to keep the latchplate from sliding down next to the seat. You can take a credit card or something flat and pop them off. Just be careful not to use anything that will cut or damage the seatbelt.

[snowbird25ca]

I know the seat is supposed to be at a 45 degree angle, but the way the seat looks I just can't figure out how to do that at all. I read about using a sheet of paper and I stil couldn't understand what the "back of the seat" is exactly (In understand in a convertible but not the infant seat). I told DH who's the technical guy of the family and he still didn't get it. Can anyone post a picture of where you hold the sheet of paper? I know the SS1 is usually very upright, I tried to get it a little more recline once and it got so reclined the front seat wouldn't fit as usual and I could barely drive. And the level indicator was still blue, so now I understand why we're not supposed to trust it.

On a related topic, what's the deal with those "buttons" on the car's seat belt? They usually end up right in the middle of my SS1 lock off and then I can't close it. I guess that's how when I installed it so inclined I also had to move it to the left to avoid the button and that's why my driver's seat ended up being all the way forward. What can you do when you pull the seat belt as tight as it will go and the damn button is right on the lock off?

Thanks!

Looking at your siggy your dd is 9mos old, is that right? At 9 mos old, she doesn't need a full 45* recline anymore. She can be more upright as long as the indicator is still showing only blue and her head isn't slumping forward when she falls asleep. A picture is always helpful for us to see if a seat is over-reclined. If you can take one straight on from the side, it will give us a good idea.

What I always tell parents about the indicators on the sides of the carrier, is that they give a range of acceptable angles. With newborns, I start out more reclined and then tell parents that they can reduce the recline as baby gets older by shortening the foot on the base as long as the indicator is still showing only blue.

The SS1 base will allow you to adjust the angle in small increments if you just turn the knob by 1/4 turn or whatever amount you need. Anywhere between all the way up and all the way down is fine, and should give you a good angle. I've found I have a lot of flexibility in the angle I can get in my truck with the SS1 base, and the convertible seats I have don't have the same range at all...

The piece of paper trick you're talking about is unreliable because it's counting on you being able to see know for 100% certain that the top edge of the paper is parallel to the ground. Many rf'ing seats (infant and convertible,) come with a line that says to have it level to ground when rf'ing. When parents try and recline their seat according to that line, they almost always end up with it over-reclined. It's important to reiterate, that those lines are to help parents get a 45* angle - which is needed for a newborn in order to protect the airway, but most 9mo olds don't need it.

The buttons on the seatbelt are placed there to prevent the belt buckle from sliding down to the floor. They don't have an actual safety benefit and if it's ending up in the middle of the lock-off, it's fine to use a credit card or something similar to pry the button apart. Just make sure you don't use anything sharp that could damage the seatbelt itself. I've had to take the buttons off of 2 of my 3 2nd row seating positions in my truck for this reason, and the center position the button is bent from being on the edge of the MA LATCH bars, so I'm guessing it'll come off on it's own one of these days. :rolleyes:

Hope that helps some.

p.s. Here's a picture of my ds's SS1 installed in our truck. It's at close to a newborn recline, but not quite.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/snowbird25ca/car%20seats/12maymisc002.jpg

[joolsplus3]

If you don't see any orange in the angle indicator, the angle is fine. It's really not necessary to worry much beyond that (and yes, it can be more upright--you can see orange in the upright direction--for an older baby--or not! As long as there's not orange in the too-reclined direction, you are A-OK)
I'm sorry the board has been so obsessed with recline angles lately, it's really not that big of a deal.

(edit: I hadn't read the other responses ;) )

:)

[minismom]

Thanks. I will try and post a picture, but I'm travelling and dh is really the one that can get pics onto the computer. I'm pretty sure I'm not reclined more than 45 the way I have it now though. It's way more upright than it was when I first installed it. here in Brazil we travel a lot so I like it more reclined so she can sleep as I travel during nap time. But when we get home more upright is good. She's 10 months this week, so yes, good head control, but I still put a blankie on the side of her head sometimes as her head can move from side to side with curves. She doesnt like those infant things around her head, they're too tight. I supposed i should put back on the infant support that came with the SS1, I took it off cause I ended a smaller one.
Julie, I used the red nob that controls the incline to get a tigher fit this time around, I add incline and it felt tighter, so I don't want to mess with it, unless I just take it all apart and try and get a tigher fit after removing the seat belt buttons. I think I'll try that!
thanks again!