2007 Kia Optima carseat help!

[mygirlsmom]

I'm new here, and stumbled across this site while looking online for answers. We have a 9 month old child who has outgrown the infant car seat. We are looking to install a car seat, rear-facing, in the back of our 07 Kia Optima. We only have two sets of anchors for the LATCH system, and cannot "borrow" one from each side to use the LATCH system in the center rear seat. Is it still more desirable for the child to be in the center of the rear seat, and the car seat restrained with the seatbelt, as opposed to the infant seat being installed at either side of the rear seat, utilizing the LATCH system? We purchased an Evenflo Triumph seat for the baby yesterday, and are having a hard time making it fit in the backseat.

The baby is 9 months old, approx. 22 lbs., and 26 inches.

Thank you for your help!!!

[CandCfam]

A RF seat is perfectly safe installed outboard, if installing with LATCH is important to you.
Center install with the seatbelt is perfectly safe, if that is where you wish to install the restraint.

Whichever position gives you the best installation.

Did you get the new Evenflo Triumph Advance? If not, I'd recommend you return the one you got and exchange it for the Advance, as you get 5 lbs more of RF weight limit, MUCH taller top slots and a MUCH taller shell.

Also, if you install with LATCH, remember that once your child hits the weight limt for your vehicle's LATCH anchors, you will need to reinstall using the vehicle seatbelt. This is not for quite some time, and once she is FF - so 2 + years down the road.

[mygirlsmom]

Thank you so much for your quick reply. I just checked the box, and we bought an Evenflo Triumph Advance Premier. : ) I really liked it for so many of it's features, and really would like for it to work. However, it has been a frustrating adventure so far today.

When my husband installed the seat in the center, (using the seat belt, not the LATCH system) it seems to lean to one side. Also, I can easily slide the car seat side to side, a couple of inches each way, while my daughter is in the carseat!

Where can I find someone in my area to help me with installation to ensure we are making this carseat the safest it can possilby be for our baby?

Thank you so much!

[CandCfam]

To fix the lean when installing with the seatbelt, it is allowed to use a locking clip, as shown on THIS (http://carsafety4kids.com/lockingclip.html#05) page.

However, you need a good installation first.

You can locate a CPST using www.seatcheck.org or at SafeKids' website (https://ssl13.cyzap.net/dzapps/dbzap.bin/apps/assess/Webmembers/tool?pToolCode=TAB9&pCategory1=TAB9_CERTSEARCH&Webid=SAFEKIDSCERTSQL)

hth:)

[snowbird25ca]

Hi & welcome to the forums. I'm moving this to the technical & installation questions forum for you. :)

I'm not too familiar with the seatbelts and stalks in the kias - it's possible you may need to twist the buckle stalk to get a tight install - up to 3 complete turns is allowable and is very helpful if you have longer buckle stalks or forward of the bite seatbelts.

I find that when putting on a locking clip I often will slide the latch plate slightly down on the belt to shorten the lap portion further before putting on the locking clip. This makes the install tighter. Although sometimes I slide a bit too far and can't get it rebuckled. :whistle:

Now that your little one is 7mos old you'll be able to install the seat more upright. There's a line on the seat that says to have it level to ground when rf'ing, but you don't have to have it that reclined with an older baby. Putting pressure on the bend by the foot area when tightening the belt will make the seat more upright and should make you have the same or more room in the front seat as what you had when using the infant carrier.

When checking for movement, you only want to be looking at where the seatbelt goes through the carseat shell - this is known as the belt path. If you hold on to the seat at the belt path with one hand, and try to slide it side to side, you're looking for less than 1" of movement. The top of the seat is going to have movement and that's normal. What you're wanting to know is if the seat is tight at the belt path. :thumbsup:

If you can take pictures of your install that always is helpful to help us troubleshoot.