Cosco Scerena and Britax

[trashtrishy]

My dd is 3 years old on the Britax Blvd. I have bought a Cosco Scerena as an extra carseat for traveling. My ds 10month old is outgrowing his baby carrier. Both my children are at 50% on length.
I find it very hard to RF on the Cosco Scerena because it is not tethered down like the blvd. Am I doing something wrong? I have used tried using both method, seatbelt and anchors but with both methods, the carseat is still not secured. The seat move a lot.
I was thinking of saving money on buying another carseat my ds but I have so much trouble installing Cosco Scerena. Any advise is welcome. Or else I am thinking of either getting a Britax roundabout, diplomat or marathon.
Does the roundabout and diplomat the same width as the marathon and blvd on the shell? Is it only the height difference between roundabout and diplomat and marathon and blvd.
Thanks

[Misty-Bug]

not sure what to say, sorry. I have never had the scerena.
but what I am wondering is this....is your 3 year old FFing? If she is you can go to a FFing only seat for her, like the nautilus or a regent or a frontier (I believe those are the top recommended ones) and then pass the other seat onto your youngest. Since you are ok at putting in that seat right.
Hopefully a tech will pipe up. But that is what I would do myself. That is ONLY if your 3 year old is FFing though.

[wendytthomas]

Are you checking for movement at the belt path (where the seatbelt OR LATCH straps go through, not both at once) or at the head of the seat? If it's at the head of the seat and you're getting movement, that's fine. It's supposed to move. As long as you get less than 1" of movement at the beltpath it's an acceptable installation. And conversely, if you're getting movement at the beltpath that is then removed with the tether (on the Boulevard) then it's not being properly installed.

The Diplomat and Roundabout are about 1.5" less wide than the Marathon/Boulevard. I wouldn't buy them, as awesome as they are. They're just really expensive for 40 pound/15.5" torso seats.

Wendy

[trashtrishy]

I am getting so much movement that when I turn a corner, my dd in the carseat turns as well. She is still RF

[Misty-Bug]

I am getting so much movement that when I turn a corner, my dd in the carseat turns as well. She is still RF

sounds like movement at the belt path. I hope someone can help you out. I would make sure you are installing it independantly and there are no other seats next to it.
what is your car? what is the belts? I am sure someone can help you!

[wendytthomas]

Yeah, something's not right. Are you locking the seatbelt? Tightening the LATCH all the way? I've done both installations and I've not had a problem with it. Can you maybe take some pictures for us?

Wendy

[trashtrishy]

I looked at the cosco instruction again. Looks like I am missing the locking clip.
Is the Cosco scerena as safe as the britax seats?

[christineka]

The locking clip should be attached to the car seat on the back side.

If you follow the instructions and get a tight install, then the seat is safe.

[Misty-Bug]

I looked at the cosco instruction again. Looks like I am missing the locking clip.
Is the Cosco scerena as safe as the britax seats?

I believe I was told that as long as seats are installed properly each seat is as safe as another.
There are more bells and whistles and stuff with the britax's and if you have the money it may be recommended. Someone feel free to correct me :thumbsup::D

Locking clip is important. If your belts lock though you don't need it. Just lock your belts at the retractor.

[wendytthomas]

What car do you drive? You may need a locking clip, since it sounds like your belts aren't locked. The Boulevard has the built in lockoffs, so it may be those, not the tether, that make it easier for you.

Provided you use it properly each seat is as safe as the next. However at this moment your Boulevard is much safer than the Scenera. I've seen cases where the opposite is true, though.

Wendy

[wendytthomas]

Locking clip is important. If your belts lock though you don't need it. Just lock your belts at the retractor.

Not all belts lock at the retractor, though. She may have a lightweight locking latchplate in there. It's unlikely that she has heavy duty locking latchplates since she says she has LATCH, and most cars that are new enough for LATCH don't have the heavy latchplates.

All cars since 1996 have had locking seatbelts in one form or another. If your belt doesn't lock at the retractor then you probably have belts that lock at the buckle. And if so then flipping over the seatbelt 180 degrees at the buckle would be easier than using the locking clip, and easier means less likely to have errors (which is part of the appeal of the Britax. You've found it's easier and therefore it's more likely to be used properly).

Wendy

[Patriot201]

You have a very similar group of seats as I have. I also use a Boulevard and Scenera.


In order to install RF, I had to use pool noodles. Here are some pictures.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/DSC_2398.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/DSC_2392.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/Scenera/S8000379.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/Scenera/scenera.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/Scenera/S8000378.jpg

[trashtrishy]

I drive a Mercedez C class 2002. I have not used a locking clip. I have used the anchors and pulled it the tightest it would go but it has a lot of give.

[wendytthomas]

Ok, two things come to mind.

When you install it with the seatbelt, do you pull the seatbelt all the way out so that it locks, then let it go back in? You'll hear it ratcheting as you do that.

Second, with LATCH. Reach under the cover for the Scenera and pull the LATCH strap tail back through the belt path and pull it tight from there, while putting weight on that side. Sometimes changing the angle of attack, as it were, helps get a little extra slack out.

For both methods, make sure there are no twists anywhere. And for the seatbelt, make sure the lap belt is tight since that's what's doing the holding.

Wendy

[MaggieQ]

Really put your weight into the seat , pull the cover back and thread the latch strap thorugh the hole in the shell, and pull as hard as you can. Try pushin the seat from the top of the shell into the seat back while pulling tha latch strap.

[skaterbabscpst]

I drive a Mercedez C class 2002. I have not used a locking clip. I have used the anchors and pulled it the tightest it would go but it has a lot of give.

It sounds as if your seatbelt may not be locked. After buckling the seat in, SLOWLY pull the seatbelt out all the way. You should hear/feel a "clicking" or "racheting" sound as the seatbelt locks.

[wendytthomas]

Really put your weight into the seat , pull the cover back and thread the latch strap thorugh the hole in the shell, and pull as hard as you can. Try pushin the seat from the top of the shell into the seat back while pulling tha latch strap.

Those are Patriot's pictures. I'd guess her installation is just fine.

Pushing the shell into the seat back is a good idea.

Wendy

[trashtrishy]

I am a little confused with the instruction on the Rear-Facing Installation with Latch: Install Latch belt. p28 on instruction book. I am confused about point 2,3,4. First I hook one side of the latch hook onto the anchor. Then I just route the other side of the latch hook /latch belt through the upper side slot underneath the seat cover behind the crotch strap and to the other side of the side. Then I anchor the other latch hook. I think I am doing this wrong. Can someone please explain to me what I am missing

[wendytthomas]

Are you putting it through the rear facing beltpath (under the baby's legs) or the forward facing path (behind baby's back)?

I normally like to route the LATCH strap first, make sure it's flat, and then buckle it, but provided it's laid out properly there's no harm in attaching one side first, I guess.

Wendy

[trashtrishy]

I am confused with how to thread both the seat belt and the latch.
With the latch belt, do I first anchor the latch hook on one side, then thread the belt with hook through the belt path slot making sure that it is not twisted and underneath the fabric and behind the crotch strap.
The only difference with the seat belt will be seat belt should be through the front of the crotch strap. Am I missing something totally

[trashtrishy]

Are you putting it through the rear facing beltpath (under the baby's legs) or the forward facing path (behind baby's back)?

I normally like to route the LATCH strap first, make sure it's flat, and then buckle it, but provided it's laid out properly there's no harm in attaching one side first, I guess.

Wendy


I am putting the latch belt under the baby's leg. I am also putting the seat belt in the same path under the baby's leg.

[trashtrishy]

Ok, two things come to mind.

When you install it with the seatbelt, do you pull the seatbelt all the way out so that it locks, then let it go back in? You'll hear it ratcheting as you do that.


Wendy

When I use the seat belt I usually pull it all the way out and then let it go back in

[wendytthomas]

Are you doing the LATCH and seatbelt together?

Wendy

[trashtrishy]

Are you doing the LATCH and seatbelt together?

Wendy

No but I have tried both to see if one was better than the other

[snowbird25ca]

It sounds as if your seatbelt may not be locked. After buckling the seat in, SLOWLY pull the seatbelt out all the way. You should hear/feel a "clicking" or "racheting" sound as the seatbelt locks.

Could the Mercedes be one of the rare vehicles with the little switch on the retractor for locking the seatbelt? I remember learning about them in class and that only high end vehicles had them.

OP - have you looked in your vehicle manual and read the child restraint section? It will tell you how to lock your seatbelts for use with carseats.

In terms of tightening the LATCH belt, it sounds like you're routing it correctly, so I'm guessing it could be a matter of the angle that you're pulling on the tail... when you go to tighten the belt, move the tail of the belt so that it's up the one side of the belt path and on top of the seat - poke it through so it's out the side of the cover. This will let you pull on the end so that it's parallel to the belt itself. Sometimes what happens is that the tail end of the belt and the belt itself get offset, and then they jam in the adjuster preventing the strap from tightening any further.

Chances are pretty good that you'll need to use a rolled towel or pool noodles as well - if you're not using one already, this could also be part of the problem. I had an install the other day that needed a noodle but there was nothing appropriate at the clinic. I finally was able to get an acceptable install by using a rolled up sweat shirt to add just that extra bit of recline, so that could definitely be influencing things if you're not using something already.

[Patriot201]

Those are Patriot's pictures. I'd guess her installation is just fine.

There was controversy about my installation since the LATCH strap was outside the little foot on the front of the Scenera, but it finally got an OK from a tech and Dorel. :o