Cloth diapering part-time and Marathon strap height

[lemurmommies]

DS is currently 15 months old, about 29 pounds and 33 inches, rear-facing in a Britax Marathon. He is very long in the torso and shirt in the legs like me.

We recently started cloth diapering him, and are trying to switch to cloth all the time. However, when we are going to be out of the house for a long time I still occasionally put him in disposable diapers. The problem with that is this: when he is in a disposable diaper, he is just a smidge below the third strap height, but when he's in cloth he's easily above it. Right now I have his straps in the second slots, but am finding that when he's in cloth the straps have a tendency to slip down his shoulder some because the slots are so far below his shoulder.

Short of rethreading his straps depending on the diaper he's in, it's safest to keep the straps on the second slots, right?

[crunchierthanthou]

I'd put him on the third set if it's sliding off his shoulders on the second. Are you checking against the actual shell? The cover can slip and isn't always accurate. If he's really just a smidge below the third slots (like less than 1/4" below), I'd call that at his shoulders and feel fine about using the higher slots. The at or below rule for rf is to keep the child from ramping up and striking something in a crash. If he's just barely below the next slots, there's really not much chance of that happening in the MA.

and wow, third slots at 15 months? that is a long torso.

[lemurmommies]

I'd put him on the third set if it's sliding off his shoulders on the second. Are you checking against the actual shell? The cover can slip and isn't always accurate. If he's really just a smidge below the third slots (like less than 1/4" below), I'd call that at his shoulders and feel fine about using the higher slots. The at or below rule for rf is to keep the child from ramping up and striking something in a crash. If he's just barely below the next slots, there's really not much chance of that happening in the MA.

No, I wasn't checking against the shell - just the cover. I'll have to check against the shell when I go out later. He's definitely less than a 1/4" below the third slots in a sposie when looking at the cover though. (Must remember to make sure he's wearing a sposie when I go out later...) But if he's more than 1/4" below the slot in the shell itself I'll leave the straps where they are.

and wow, third slots at 15 months? that is a long torso.

I know. It's rather ridiculous. He's in 18 month pants, but all his shirts have to be a 2T or else it looks like he's wearing a crop top. AND it means that when I do turn him forward facing he'll already be on the top slots, which is a tad depressing. Alas...

[lemurmommies]

No, I wasn't checking against the shell - just the cover. I'll have to check against the shell when I go out later. He's definitely less than a 1/4" below the third slots in a sposie when looking at the cover though. (Must remember to make sure he's wearing a sposie when I go out later...) But if he's more than 1/4" below the slot in the shell itself I'll leave the straps where they are.


I took him out in a disposable diaper and checked against the slots in the shell itself. He is more than 1/4" below the slots when looking at the shell, so he'll stay at the second slots for now. Thanks!