MA install and fit -- Image Heavy

[Kyras_Mama]

Now that we got the new harness from Britax and swapped out I finally got the seat installed during nap time this a.m. and I'm wondering about the install now. I've got a bunch of questions... thanks in advance and sorry for the long post! There's a car seat check on our side of the river on the 26th and I'm going to have her seat checked then, but I'm hoping to have it in the "new" car DH's grandma is giving us by then and it's not here yet. The car now is a Subaru Impreza Outback Sport from 2000. I think that's the only year they made that model. The MA is center installed with the seatbelt. There's no latch. It can't go on the driver's side outboard because DH would have to be too close to the wheel and right now we're having trouble with the belt on the passenger side and it needs to be repaired/replaced before I could put a seat there.

In order to get a good tight install and a good fit I had to twist the buckle stalk 3 times. The latchplate is still VERY close to the seat but it's not actually touching. Is this ok? Is it ok to use both lockoffs? There was less than an inch of movement before I had either lockoff closed or the tether tethered. There's less now.
Does the recline look ok?
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k285/echosmommy/MA%20harness/100_4130.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k285/echosmommy/MA%20harness/100_4133.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k285/echosmommy/MA%20harness/100_4142.jpg

It's tethered around the leg of the driver's side seat but I didn't pull the plastic piece off since we're switching it to the other car very soon. The open part of the tether hook faces the seat. Is that alright?
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k285/echosmommy/MA%20harness/100_4145.jpg

The last question is about how the seat fits her. The pictures aren't in the car, but she is harnessed in with it adjusted. The first slot is right above her shoulder and she looks like she's just swallowed up by the seat. I pulled the hugs off and the straps are nice and snug and she seems very comfortable, much more than she was in the SS1 lately. Do you think she's big enough for the seat?
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k285/echosmommy/MA%20harness/100_4124.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k285/echosmommy/MA%20harness/100_4125.jpg

[mimieliza]

I will let techs chime in on your install - it looks good to me, I know how hard the Subaru center installs are.

But I'm wondering why you're moving her into the Marathon now? Did she really hate the SS1? If so, I'll be interested to hear if she starts tolerating the car more now in the MA. My DD was terrible in the car, and then after about six months gradually started tolerating it better.

She looks like a little peanut who would have lots of time left in the SS1, it would probably give you a little more room and would be an easier install.

[Kyras_Mama]

She used to do great in the car as long as it was moving but recently she HATES the SS1, even with it adjusted to be more upright. She's been squinching herself up weird in it to to where her posture isn't great and it's hard to get a good fit with her fighting the harness. It was an easier install! No extra room though since it's so big front to back. If I need to switch her back to the SS1 for now I can, but she seems so much more comfy in the MA. She'll even sit in the MA strapped in in the house! That was unheard of in the SS1. She's been out of the car in her SS1 a total of 4 times as she just doesn't tolerate it when we're not driving.

[HEVY]

OT, What cover is that?

[sunnymw]

Not a tech...


It's tethered around the leg of the driver's side seat but I didn't pull the plastic piece off since we're switching it to the other car very soon. The open part of the tether hook faces the seat. Is that alright?

If you mean the open part faces the car seat, yes, that's right. It's supposed to face that way.

Do you think she's big enough for the seat?

I believe Britax allows for the shoulder to be up to 1" below the bottom strap slots, so looks good!

[Melizerd]

I'll agree with the other ladies. I moved my DS into an MA at 4 months and the harness was still a hair above his shoulders and that's okay on the bottom slots.

It looks good in the car to me.

As for the cover, I think that's a collegiate cover with a new patch on it right? It's a gorgeous purple!

[An Aurora]

Looks great! She fits in it very well. I love that color purple :love:

[Judi]

I love that purple. Ok, now I want one of those.

[Kyras_Mama]

Thanks! And yep, it's a collegiate cover (Kansas State) with the lettering removed and a new Alice in Wonderland Chesshire Cat patch over the rest of the logo. We have two cut out chesshire cat patches for the side wings but I haven't gotten around to putting them on yet. The seat was $209 from albeebaby and purple is our favorite color :).

[bobbysgirl7103]

But I'm wondering why you're moving her into the Marathon now? Did she really hate the SS1? If so, I'll be interested to hear if she starts tolerating the car more now in the MA. My DD was terrible in the car, and then after about six months gradually started tolerating it better.

I had an SS1 for my DD and she hated the car and would scream. From birth to 10 months old, I actually tried not to go anywhere. When I got her the MA, she was fine. DH and I still comment on what a difference the MA made overnight.

OP, I looove the cover. It makes me wish I would have gotten a plain color to add a patch too. :D So unique.

[snowbird25ca]

I believe Britax allows for the shoulder to be up to 1" below the bottom strap slots, so looks good!

Britax used to allow that, but the most recent manuals require that the straps be at or below the shoulder or else baby is too small to use the seat.

OP, it looks like her shoulders are even with those bottom slots, so I think it fits her just fine. I also love that purple cover. :love:

[azgirl71]

I have to say I love your cover!

[RockinClothBunz]

Thanks! And yep, it's a collegiate cover (Kansas State) with the lettering removed and a new Alice in Wonderland Chesshire Cat patch over the rest of the logo. We have two cut out chesshire cat patches for the side wings but I haven't gotten around to putting them on yet. The seat was $209 from albeebaby and purple is our favorite color :).

WOW! What a great idea. Okay, now we need a new carseat.

[Patriot201]

What a cute seat!

[SusanMae]

It looks like a lap only belt. If that's the case you don't need to do either lock-off. And I believe you're only supposed to do the one that is closest to the latchplate, not both.(I don't have the instructions in front of me.)

As for the recline...it looks slightly over reclined going by the line on the seat. It should be parallel to the ground and it looks like it is leaning downhill towards the front of the car.

Susan

[Kyras_Mama]

It is lapbelt only but we've gotten the other car now (a '96 olds ciera) so I need to take new pics. I'm going to try to do that tomorrow. So if I'm only to use one lockoff, what do I do with the other? Just run the belt over the top? I'm not too worried about not having them since in the olds it snugs down really good on that big bench seat even without the lockoffs fastened. That and I can get it checked at the seat check in damascus saturday.

[SusanMae]

If you are using a lap only belt you don't need either lockoff. The belt locks at the latchplate. I believe you can leave them closed...check the manual though. There should be a page on a RF install with a lap only belt.

Susan

[Melizerd]

Yup you don't need them, you can leave them either open or closed.

[Kyras_Mama]

Thanks! I'll fix that today. That's actually better since the belt will lie flatter.