Does This Install Look OK?

[Lilsid]

I have not put a RF MA in the car in some time so is this ok. I am not sure if he is too reclined. You can also see that he does not quite reach the RF straps. My Son is 7.5 Months and 14.7 lbs. It also shows how squished my seats are in my 1999 Toyota 4 Runner. My Son seems to like his new seat and he has really been fighting the Combi Tyro II infant seat.

Click the small pictures to see bigger ones Thanks.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/th_DSCF1226.jpg (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/DSCF1226.jpg)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/th_DSCF1217.jpg (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/DSCF1217.jpg)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/th_DSCF1222.jpg (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/DSCF1222.jpg)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/th_DSCF1220.jpg (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/DSCF1220.jpg)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/th_DSCF1216.jpg (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/DSCF1216.jpg)

[snowbird25ca]

Your ds is an absolute cutie pie. :D

Where are the slots in the plastic shell of the seat compared to the slots in the cover? Britax is ok with kids using the seat as long as they're within 1" of the bottom slots. I know some of the MA's I've seen at checks recently have had a big discrepancy between the cover holes and the slots in the shell, so he may not be below them at all.

The HUGS are optional when rf'ing - mandatory ff'ing, so make sure you store them safely if you do decide to remove them, and you'll probably find the harness fits him better if you remove them. Are you able to get it tight enough right now so that you can't pinch a horizontal fold at his collar bone?

The seat looks a tiny bit over-reclined to me, and at his age he can definitely be more upright. Anywhere from 30 degrees to 45* is ok. Only newborns and babies with poor head control need a full 45* angle, and putting it more upright will buy you some front seat space... but I'm thinking right now that you might be slightly beyond 45*, so I'd definitely make it a little more upright.

Is there a reason why you're not using the rf'ing lock-offs?

Your tether point looks perfect, you might even get a good angle just by loosening off the tether a little.

I think that answers your questions?

He is such a cutie pie and I am a huge fan of that cover. He really does look comfy in it. If you can get the harness adjusted snugly and he's within 1" of the bottom slots, then I'd be ok using it. I suspect he's likely not as far below them as he looks though when he's checked against the seat shell itself. :thumbsup:

[azgirl71]

You could put the car seat a little more upright. I agree with the PP is may be a little to reclined. Whne you tighten the RF tether you only need to pull the slack out so it is taught. If you pull the base of the car seat away from the vehicle seat bight a little and apply pressure at the leg area you will get a more up right install.

[An Aurora]

The recline does look a little too much for a 7 month old. I would put the belt through the lockoffs, whether you use them or not ;)

BTW, my DD had a Combi Tyro II as well, and then moved into a RF MA :)

[crunchierthanthou]

I agree with putting him a bit more upright. I'm indifferent on the lock-offs, as long as your seatbelt locks on its own. The manual does say to open the one farther from the buckle, but britax has also said that you can use either, both or none (as long as your seatbelt locks in some way). Other than that, it looks okay to me as long as it moves less than 1" in any direction at the beltpath before you tighten the tether.

The tether doesn't have to be so tight that it affects the recline- just taut so there's no slack. Overtightening has actually been linked to broken recline mechanisms and can also pull the rip stitching out of the energy absorbing tether.

[Lilsid]

Thanks to you all for looking at my install. I have the other Lock off being used. If I use the one in the picture it dose not close. There is too much room between the Seat Belt and the lock off. My Seat belts also lock so I am not worried. I will go out in a few minutes and let the tether out some. I will also check the seat pad holes versus the seat shell.

My Daughter was turned FF at 2.5 yrs since she reached 33 lbs then. Now she is 3.5 yrs and slimed down a ton. I took her milk bottles away and she went to the sippy cup, which she did not drink as much out of. Then she Started Preschool and that got her very active. We live in Phoenix AZ so we only have a few months of good out door weather but at school they have room in doors to run around too.

Now she is 33.3 lbs on the dot and she wants to RF since brother does. I don't know if I should get her a RF seat to 35 lbs or not. She rides in a Regent most of the time. But has a MA as a back up. I had her Regent out of the car when the pictures were taken since it was gross. No more food in the car. I could have fed a small country for all the Gold Fish I found under the Regent.

[crunchierthanthou]

completely OT, but what's that at the bottom of your signature picture?

ds keeps asking what the scary thing is and is trying to convince me it's "someone dressed up in a monster."

[Lilsid]

Its from the zoo. My DH, DD, & DS are sitting on a Warer Bufflo I Think. Or a Wart Hog. I am not sure. Her is a bigger pic of it and one of DD by her self on the same thing. Click to make the pic bigger.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/th_DSCF0657.jpg (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/DSCF0657.jpg)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/th_DSCF0649.jpg (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/DSCF0649.jpg)

[Lilsid]

Ok I went out side and loosened the tether strap and braced the back of the MA with my front passenger car seat.

I took butter knife out and put DS is the Seat and wow I found out there is a huge difference between the holes in the cover and the holes in the seat shell. He is just fine I took some more pictures. I also took one of him waiting in his stroller for mom to get the car ready. Thanks to you all for helping I get nervous.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/th_DSCF1360.jpg (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/DSCF1360.jpg)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/th_DSCF1365.jpg (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/DSCF1365.jpg)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/th_DSCF1364.jpg (http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e11/lilsidney/DSCF1364.jpg)

[crunchierthanthou]

it looks good. :)

and thanks for the warthog pictures. I thought it was something like that from the hair and I could make out eyes, but kept trying to figure out if it was just a rock formation or stump with grass on it or something because of the background.

[NannyMae]

Kind of OT, but how tight is the tether strap supposed to be when FF? If it can damage it RF, I'd assume not tight FF as well?

[crunchierthanthou]

no, it can't hurt the base ff. it can damage it rf because it's pulling the top of the shell down. you can have it too tight though. it doesn't need to be so tight that it's pulling the seat to the side (not all anchors are directly back) or lifting the base off the seat. Again, just taut so there's no slack.

[azgirl71]

Kind of OT, but how tight is the tether strap supposed to be when FF? If it can damage it RF, I'd assume not tight FF as well?

FF you want it tight. If it is not tight it will not do its job of reducing head excursion. It will not damage the seat as it is at a upright angle and not being pulled in a odd direction like happens when RF thetering.

ETA: Not so tight it is pulling the carseat at the wrong angle ot the base off the seat, but tighter than when RF.

[NannyMae]

Gotcha. Thanks ladies! I like to have reasons of "why I say so" when I tell people what to do.

[mommy_quigg]

What adorable kids :)

Your first picture I assumed is level because the door is open so I can't go off of the window line to make it level. It is 50 degrees so definitely too reclined.

Your second picture (after you fixed it) I rotated 1 degree counter clockwise to make the window line level. It is 41 degrees so acceptable :thumbsup: You could put it up to 30 degrees if you like. If his head flops forward when he falls asleep, recline it more.

[Lilsid]

Thanks He looks pretty cozy right now. As he gets older I will set him up more. When he falls asleep I don't want his head to flop foward. He is fine when he is awake, but asleep he still needs the recline.

Thanks again for the help.