Michi or other tech-help please! Was Britax Monarch-seatbelt buckle hitting armrest

[Unregistered]

Someone posted that Michi has a Monarch installed-I would love to find out about the buckle hitting in the "red zone". (Or help from any other tech familiar witht his would be great!) I am not sure how to get a good install ...the manual for the monarch says the buckle should not rest between the red belt guide area and the arm rest...how do I acheive this? When we put the booster in, the corner of the buckle touches the armrest. Is this a problem? We can still snug up the seat belt and seem to get a good fit-I just want to make sure this is ok...it doesnt SEEM to interfer at allwitht eh belt being snug enough. I SO hate that he has gotten too big for a 5-pnt harness. :( thank you for your help!!

[scatterbunny]

bumping for Monarch owners

[Cedarmom]

Have you tried twisting the buckle stalk? You can twist it up to three full twists. That should lower it down enough that it doesn't interfere. I think touching is okay as long as the belt is still tight and it isn't actually in between the red zone and the arm rest.

I ran into this with our rental car last week and I twisted the buckle to solve the problem. If there is another solution, I'd love to know what it is. :shrug-shoulders:

You could also move the seat to a different position in the car to see if you get a better install somewhere else. :)

[Unregistered]

We have tried it in different locations in the van...we have it in the seat with the shortest stalk in the van (which still hits in the "wrong" place). It is also used in hubby's truck. The problem is I just know when DH is out with Noah, he will forget to twist it. Is there anything else we could try? It hits in the "red zone" where the manual says it shouldnt...but I cant figure out why that is even a problem. help! :)

[Chameleon]

Have you tried twisting the buckle stalk? You can twist it up to three full twists. That should lower it down enough that it doesn't interfere. I think touching is okay as long as the belt is still tight and it isn't actually in between the red zone and the arm rest.


This is allowed?? I thought that was only for installing harnessed seats. To me that would make the belt twist and act funny and maybe interfere with the fit on the child.

[azgirl71]

This is allowed?? I thought that was only for installing harnessed seats. To me that would make the belt twist and act funny and maybe interfere with the fit on the child.

No, it is not allowed to be done with belt positioning boosters. You can only twist the buckle stalk when installing a car seat.

To the OP. If the buckle stalk is to long for the buckle to not rest in the red zone you will likely need to try a different booster.

Page 14 of the Monarch manual (http://www.britaxusa.com/support/documents/Monarch_P281400_R1.pdf) specifically states it is incorrect to use it that way. I would call britax and ask them. Here is thier contact info.
Consumer Services
888-427-4829

Telephone
704-409-1700

Hours of operation:
Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 4:45 pm (EST)
Friday 8:30 am - 1:45 pm (EST)

ETA: This info came from more than 1 instructor. I emailed and asked when I saw this before posting anything.

[Cedarmom]

My bad. :o

FWIW, it didn't do anything weird to the seat belt at all, but it was a very loose buckle stalk so it stayed twisted easily.

[Cedarmom]

Okay. Some other suggestions.

Try making the base as wide as it will go. That may move the buckle just enough so that it isn't in the red zone.

Same thing with the back. If the seat is in the 'recline' position, try sitting it upright, or vice versa.

[azgirl71]

My bad. :o

FWIW, it didn't do anything weird to the seat belt at all, but it was a very loose buckle stalk so it stayed twisted easily.

NP :love:. I just needed to make sure the OP knew this was not acceptable.

Okay. Some other suggestions.

Try making the base as wide as it will go. That may move the buckle just enough so that it isn't in the red zone.

Same thing with the back. If the seat is in the 'recline' position, try sitting it upright, or vice versa.

Both great ideas :thumbsup:!

[Unregistered]

Thanks for your help everyone! Britax had told me to try twisting the seat belt stalk as well-so dont feel bad LOL! But I just know my hubby would forge to do that...plus to be honest when I tried it myself I think it made it less safe...the seatbelt went all wonky...it wouldnt lay right and was trying to unwind...so it would lay funny across him (even when I locked it).

I called Britax again. The person I got this time said as long as it wasnt bending around the red zone in a way that it would cause kind of a pressure point on the buckle, and as long as the seat belt snugged up properly, it was ok. In our van the buckles dont come out of the crease of the seat, but slightly forward...if they were located farther back it wouldnt do this. (Note to vehicle manufactuerers...dont make the seatbelts like this any more!!) In our case just the top of the male part of the seat belt was the culprit, and Britax said they thought it would be fine. I am glad...I really didnt want to have to get a different booster...I really wanted him in something with TSIP. If only he could still be in a 5-pnt! *sigh!*


SO...it sounds like we are ok. thank you SO much for your help!

[scatterbunny]

(Note to vehicle manufactuerers...dont make the seatbelts like this any more!!)

These are called "forward-of-the-bight" belts. The seat "bight" is the crease/crack where the vehicle seat back and seat bottom meet.

It also sounds like, in addition to being forward-of-the-bight, you have long buckle stalks in general. My Ford Windstar's middle row captain's chairs have forward-of-the-bight AND long stalks, as well.

Forward-of-the-bight seatbelts can make some carseat installations difficult (and in some cases, impossible), but generally speaking, they provide a better fit for children who pass the 5 step test and no longer need a booster, and for adults. This is because the forward-of-the-bight belt will position the lapbelt lower on the hips or upper thighs, lessening the risk of the lapbelt riding too high on the abdomen and causing internal injuries in a crash.

I just wanted to put that information out there, because sometimes we blame vehicle manufacturers so much (and often, with every right ;) ), but in this case I think the forward-of-the-bight seatbelt has a useful purpose that isn't well-known.