New Carseat installation Question...

[susant]

I am living overseas in the middleeast, and our carseat availability here is different than the states (except for toys r us, which only stocks a few older models).

So, a newer store which just opened here (Kika), had car seats 1/2 off (the store has only been open 2 months!), and I got a:

Maxi Cosi CabrioFix

and

Chicco Key 1 X-Plus.

The MC is for a newborn expected this fall and the other is for my two year old.

I have a question about installing these two. I've looked at the books and realize because these are euro seats, I need to not use them in the middle lap belt only position.

My car is a 99 suburban, leather seats. What should I be looking for on installing these? My car has no manual with it (we bought it used), and I'm wondering about the car seat installation on it (with the older car, euro seats)? Anyone have any advice?

Also, I don't have any options here for a car seat for my thin 6 1/2 year old. What would be better safety-wise for him? Middle sitting with a lap belt or in the outboard seat with a shoulder belt? His head is under the back of the car seat in both positions.

Thank you,

Sue

[susant]

Just to let you know, my 2 year old is rf in her graco now (i can't remember the model name, and it's in dh's car right now), but we will be giving that seat to my neighbor with a 9 month old (she bought a maxi cosi tobi for her 2 year old), and moving to the Chicco.

My daughter is going to have to be ff, weight wise, and I wanted a seat that could recline easily when she sleeps (she is special needs). It was very useful when my 9 year old dd was young (she had a maxi cosi priori that is now the "kitchen chair")

All the Euro seats here are ff beyond the infant seats, and the U.S. seats are all infant or smaller convertibles (like the gracos).

Sue

[LISmama810]

I'm not familiar with European seats, so I can't help much with that. (I wasn't aware that you can't install with a lap-only belt--maybe someone else can confirm that.)

Your older child should never use the lap-only belt. In fact, that position should never be used for anything other than installing harnessed seats.

Does your 6-year-old pass the 5-step test? http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=9009

If not, he needs a booster seat. Do you have those there? If not, can you get one from somewhere?

[kirsty]

would you be able to get a britax eclipse or freeway you can use them with just a lap belt, then your 6 year old could sit on the outside in a booster.

[susant]

I have seen Britax, but they were phased out, and I haven't seen them since.

When I did see them, they cost an arm and a leg.......like 350 USD or something, for a standard one (and they had been on a display for a LONG time).

Mothercare used to carry them, but stopped carrying them here.

I live in the Middle East and people do NOT use carseats, generally. THey usually don't even use seat belts, and kids can be hanging out the window, or running around the car, and so on.

I was happy to find what I found......I moved my posts to the International forum, if anyone has more information for me???

Sue

[joolsplus3]

I moved this thread for you, we do have a Canadian CRST living in the Middle East, she may be able to help :)

LISMama, yes, Euro seats do require lap/shoulderbelts, I don't think they even have lapbelts in Euro cars... so infant seats need the shoulderbelt wrapped around the back to prevent overrotation, and FF seats have lockoffs for the shoulderbelt (they also don't have locking belts or top tethers, so a shoulderbelt lockoff is a pretty nice extra safety feature!)

:)

[susant]

Also, no one including me, is going to be able to do all the 5 pt test, to not have a carseat.

The suburban's seats are really long in the seat part.

I will look at the youth seat in Chicco, but please let me know in the meantime, is this correct that my 6.5 year old and 9 year old are safer in shoulder vs. lap belts?

Just making sure because the shoulder belts obviously hit me 6.5 year old wrong......are better on the 9 year old.

And anyone who can comment on the seat belt in my suburban vs. the maxi cosi question????

Thanks so much!

Sue