installing car seat in a 98 explorer tightly

[Unregistered]

I have a 1998 Ford Explorer and can not get my car seat installed tight enough. I am trying to put it in the middle where there is a lap-belt only. I have an Eddie Bauer Delux Enspira and am trying to put it in rear-facing. Can anyone help me???

[scatterbunny]

Is it loose at the belt path, or at the top of the seat?

How old is the child using the seat?

Generally, you want to thread the belt through the correct (rear-facing) belt path (under baby's bum), buckle it up, position the seat correctly (appropriate recline for the child), press down and back on the seating portion and sometimes at the top of the shell as you tighten the belt.

There will be some movement at the top of the seat shell, that's normal. You want to test for movement at the belt path only.

You'll need to register in order to post back to this thread.

[rgresafe]

I guess it's only loose at the top of the seat, when I tug at it towards the seat-belt it doesn't move. My son is 8 months old.

So, does this mean it's ok?

Thank you very much for your help!!

[crunchierthanthou]

Yup, movement at the top of the shell is fine. :) You check for movement at the beltpath. It should move less than 1" in any direction (front to back or side to side).

[scatterbunny]

Right, it's okay as long as it's tight at the belt path. :) It can be a little scary to see it move at the top of the seat, but it's totally normal. Only seats that can be tethered when rear-facing (Britax and Sunshine Kids) will be rock-solid at the top of the shell.

You are very welcome, and I hope you stick around--this is a great place full of wonderful information that one doesn't normally learn elsewhere. :D (Such as, babies should rear-face longer than 12 months and 20 pounds, they are safest rear-facing to the limits of the convertible carseat; in your case, that's 35 pounds as long as there is seat shell above his head)