Re-Installing my MA RF

[Mylilboyblue]

Hi everyone. Today I had to take my 5-month old's MA out of the car to raise his straps up one level. When I put it back in I realized that my DH, when he installed it (outboard on the passenger side) had used the LATCH anchor for the outboard and then borrowed the LATCH anchor from the middle seat. I am not sure if we can do this. The width of the MA base doesn't allow for you to use the LATCH anchor closest to the middle postion. I have a 2007 SATURN ION. The ANCHORS are spaced like this -

o seat oo seat oo seat o - does that make sense? it is kind of tight LATCH wise. I can't seem, for the life of me to get the MA installed well with the seatbelt. I would love to put his seat in teh middle, but again I can't get it to be tight enough for my liking. Anyway is there an issues with using the LATCH like this?

Thanks in advance.

[crunchierthanthou]

Are you sure he's on the second slots already? Many 5 month olds are still below the first slots. Remember that for rf the harness straps should be at or below the child's shoulders, with the exception of small infants who have not yet reached the first slots. Make sure you are judging against the actual shell as the cover often slips and is an inaccurate gauge.

While you can borrow in GM vehicles if the carseat manufacturer allows it, you need to use the anchors designated for each seating position. The center has its own anchors and you should use those. The MA base is a bit wider than the standard 11", so there is almost always overlap. I try to make sure the LATCH connectors are in front of the base, rather than under it. That should help you be able to get it tight enough.

[lovinwaves]

Just adding to Crunchy

Another thing is the child will settle down in the seat after a car ride. So even if you place him in the seat he may appear even with the second slot. I can guarantee at 5mths he is still at the bottom slot though.

Have you tried installing it in the middle position? With your vehicle having 3 sets of lower anchors it should be quite easy. The safest position for the baby would be in the middle position, although it's not always feasible. Meaning, sometimes you must have passengers in that back, or their is another child installed in the vehicle and there is not enough room.

Are you using your rear-facing tether? This seat allows the restraint to be tethered while rear-facing. Although, most vehicles do not have a designated rear-facing tethering point we can still help you find one. Some parents find comfort and feel the carseat is more stable if it is tethered while rear-facing. You do NOT have to use this tether, and your seat is VERY safe without it.

Since you are new here I will also remind you to make sure the chestclip is at armpit or nipple level. Also remember to never allow the child to have a thick coat or bunting on while in the seat. The harness straps should also be tight against the child.

You said your seat is "kind of tight". To check for correct install place one hand near the belt path. Try to move the seat side to side and front to back. If the seat moves less than an inch then it is installed correctly.

:)

[snowbird25ca]

I'm not sure how the 07 ION compares to the 04 ION because I think there was a design change in there, but we had no problems with LATCH install either ff'ing or rf'ing in there. You'll want to be connected the lower anchors first, and then sliding the seat in to position. The LATCH connectors will end up coming up and to the side, slightly over top of the base of the seat.

I did have a really hard time finding a place to put the rf'ing tether though and ended up using the bar that runs under the bottom of the passenger seat to hook the D-ring. Officially Britax doesn't like you to use a part that is movable to attach the D-ring, but as long as the seat isn't going to be moved, in the absence of another suitable location, it's ok to do. Again, this might not be a problem for you if they've changed the design of the seat-tracks at all.

[Mylilboyblue]

Thanks for all your replies. I was surprised when I took the seat inside and put him in that he "looked" like he was even with the second straps, my son is a BIG 5 month old, but he isn't that big. When I put him in to drive someplace I realized once he settled in the seat that he was in fact a bit below the second straps. Luckily I only had to drive the short drive home where a butter knife confirmed it. I must move the straps back down, even if it is only for a couple of weeks.

So it is okay to have the LATCH anchors to the side of and up on the base of the MA? I wasn't sure so when we installed it we borrowed the LATCH so it was next to the base. Also is is okay if the base of the MA doesn't completely touch the seat of the car? The ION has a very sight hump which makes the base go up a tiny bit in front but about 98% still touches the seat.

Snowbird, they didn't change the seat tracks at all, so I have been using the bar that runs under the passenger seat to tether the seat RF. No one ever rides in that seat so I figured it was okay.

Is it okay for me to tether the MA to the passenger seat if the carseat is in the middle? When I tried to the tether was on a sight angle even with me hooking the D-ring to the closest spot in. I wasn't sure if it was okay.

Thanks again!

[crunchierthanthou]

Children almost always fit differently when the seat is installed in the car than when it's in the house.

Yes, it's fine if the LATCH connectors go to the side and up the base. As long as at least 80% of the base is on the vehicle seat and you get less than 1" of movement in any direction (when tested with one hand at the beltpath).

The passenger seat is fine. You can tether rfing at a bit of an angle. Even when the carseat is installed outboard, the rf tether point is rarely directly behind it.

[Mylilboyblue]

Thanks again for the replies. I moved the straps back down to the first setting. He has about 1 of growth before he is even with the next setting. I will check again in a few weeks to see if he is ready. I also fixed the LATCH so the seat was using the right set of outboard LATCH. I couldn't take the time to move the seat to the middle today since we have a rainy, icy, storm going on in NJ today. I will move it this week.

To the poster who mentioned the heavy winter coats and seats, I never put my son in the car with heavy things on. I use a lightweight (thinner than a sweatshirt) fleece footie thing over his normal clothes. I work at Buy Buy Baby and I always ask the people who are buying our heavy jackets if they know they shouldn't use the coats when their child is in a carseat. Some thank me for telling them, others smile and nod, and then there are those with attitude. But hey I am trying to help them keep THEIR kids safe. I do what I can!

Thanks again for all your help. I will be back when I finally can afford a new SIP seat. ;)

[joolsplus3]

Hi everyone. Today I had to take my 5-month old's MA out of the car to raise his straps up one level. When I put it back in I realized that my DH, when he installed it (outboard on the passenger side) had used the LATCH anchor for the outboard and then borrowed the LATCH anchor from the middle seat. I am not sure if we can do this. The width of the MA base doesn't allow for you to use the LATCH anchor closest to the middle postion. I have a 2007 SATURN ION. The ANCHORS are spaced like this -

o seat oo seat oo seat o - does that make sense? it is kind of tight LATCH wise. I can't seem, for the life of me to get the MA installed well with the seatbelt. I would love to put his seat in teh middle, but again I can't get it to be tight enough for my liking. Anyway is there an issues with using the LATCH like this?

Thanks in advance.

I didn't see all the responses, but did you check the car manual? Sometimes you need to do that LATCH 'borrowing' on purpose (use what looks like the middle one with the other outboard anchor).

Sorry if someone else covered that, I think they got all the other questions :)

[Mylilboyblue]

I didn't see all the responses, but did you check the car manual? Sometimes you need to do that LATCH 'borrowing' on purpose (use what looks like the middle one with the other outboard anchor).

Sorry if someone else covered that, I think they got all the other questions :)


Hmmm I didn't even look to see if that was the case. I will have to check and see tomorrow. I also want to try to get the seat in the middle position, which would be easier if I can borrow the LATCH.

I'll let you know what I find and take pictures once I get it in the car. :cool:

[snowbird25ca]

I didn't see all the responses, but did you check the car manual? Sometimes you need to do that LATCH 'borrowing' on purpose (use what looks like the middle one with the other outboard anchor).

Sorry if someone else covered that, I think they got all the other questions :)

Hmmm I didn't even look to see if that was the case. I will have to check and see tomorrow. I also want to try to get the seat in the middle position, which would be easier if I can borrow the LATCH.

I'll let you know what I find and take pictures once I get it in the car. :cool:

The center seating position in the ION has it's own dedicated anchors- there are 3 sets in there so you could have 3 seats installed with LATCH if you had seats narrow enough to fit. :thumbsup:

[singingpond]

The center seating position in the ION has it's own dedicated anchors- there are 3 sets in there so you could have 3 seats installed with LATCH if you had seats narrow enough to fit. :thumbsup:

I think what Julie meant was that the assigned anchors may 'overlap', e.g. maybe 1.........2.1......3.2.........3 ?? And that that's why the OP should check the vehicle manual.

Katrin

[Jeanum]

Good advice to double check the owner's manual as a general rule. In this case, the Ion's lower anchors don't overlap at all, and as Trudy posted, all 3 full sets of lower anchors can be used simultaneously. :thumbsup: :)