Can you check this install?

[stacie78]

Ok, everytime we have to change something with the carseat, I get so stressed out... can you check this install for us?

It's time to go FF... we have a Britax Diplomat in a Honda Fit... here are the pics with our questions...
btw, it doesn't move at all ... not at the belt path or anywhere else. :)

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee9/bradandstacie/11-8-20082-57-05PM.jpg
Picture from the driver's side

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee9/bradandstacie/11-8-20082-57-14PM.jpg
Manual said we don't need to use the locking plate there as long as we have ALR on the shoulder belt - does that look right?

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee9/bradandstacie/11-8-20082-57-22PM.jpg
The back of the base is not touching the seat, but that's the only place (either side) that it's not... is that ok?

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee9/bradandstacie/11-8-20082-57-42PM.jpg
From the passenger's side - the whole base is touching the seat.

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee9/bradandstacie/11-8-20082-57-58PM.jpg
From the front - it's not actually crooked or leaning, base is in contact (tightly) on both sides

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee9/bradandstacie/11-8-20082-58-57PM.jpg
(looks crooked, but it's just the manual under the cover, didn't notice that until I looked at the picture)

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee9/bradandstacie/11-8-20082-59-07PM.jpg
The seat is not squarely in the middle of the backseat, rather in the middle of the seat belt latches - seems more secure this way because the latches are straight. If we center on the seat, the seatbelts are diagonal and there is more movement at the path... seems to want to sit here. That's right, right?
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee9/bradandstacie/11-8-20082-59-50PM.jpg
Close-up of the top tether. The way they're sewn into the seat makes it twist slightly... if it's not supposed to be that way, we need advice, because we can't figure out how to attach it without the twist.

Thank you so much for your help!! Sorry the pictures are so big - PB was supposed to reduce them, but at least this way you can see details!! :rolleyes:

[Maggie]

I'll leave the seat checking to the techs, but I just have to ask about the harness adjuster. Is it as frayed as it looks in the picture? If so, have you called Britax? The Diplomat is a new seat, so your's can't be that old?

I wouldn't be comfortable with that much fraying already and would be contacting Britax about it!

[cpsaddict]

My friends MA has frayed that much. It looks much worse than it actually is. I would assume this one is the same.
As for the install, I think it looks ok. My MA tends to sit the same way in my Escape. In my experience, the Britax bases do not sit flush against the seat. I would try to get it a little closer. What I do is put the seat in the car super upright. By the time you kneel in the seat, it will sink down a little more and more of the back will be in contact with the seat of the car.

[stacie78]

I'll leave the seat checking to the techs, but I just have to ask about the harness adjuster. Is it as frayed as it looks in the picture? If so, have you called Britax? The Diplomat is a new seat, so your's can't be that old?

I wouldn't be comfortable with that much fraying already and would be contacting Britax about it!

Haha, yes, it's frayed on the end, but only the end... that's from my little one chewing on it! When she first got her teeth, she liked putting it (and anything) between them and then yanking it out forcefully... and she frayed the end. :) It's not like that all the way down. Thank you, though! I'll keep an eye on the fraying to be sure! :)

[stacie78]

My friends MA has frayed that much. It looks much worse than it actually is. I would assume this one is the same.
As for the install, I think it looks ok. My MA tends to sit the same way in my Escape. In my experience, the Britax bases do not sit flush against the seat. I would try to get it a little closer. What I do is put the seat in the car super upright. By the time you kneel in the seat, it will sink down a little more and more of the back will be in contact with the seat of the car.

Thank you!!

[An Aurora]

Is she already at the weight or height limit? She's awfully young to go FF :twocents:

[jen_nah]

Can I get the child's stats please?

[stacie78]

Is she already at the weight or height limit? She's awfully young to go FF :twocents:

?? She's over 14 months old, 21 lbs, and her head is about an inch from the top of the seat. We were holding out, but the manual says to turn the seat FF when the child's head is an inch from the top of the seat. :confused:

[jen_nah]

?? She's over 14 months old, 21 lbs, and her head is about an inch from the top of the seat. We were holding out, but the manual says to turn the seat FF when the child's head is an inch from the top of the seat. :confused:

Can you take a picture of her in the seat? A lot of parents aren't measuring at the proper angle. I am sorry but I do find it hard that a 14mth old that is 21lbs to be outgrowing a Diplomat already. My youngest who is been off the charts from birth for height didn't outgrow her Roundabout until she was 23mths old by height and still fit in the rear facing Marathon at 3yrs old (outgrew it by weight).

[stacie78]

I don't have a picture now, I can take one tomorrow... isn't she fine either way at this age and weight, though?

[Maedze]

?? She's over 14 months old, 21 lbs, and her head is about an inch from the top of the seat. We were holding out, but the manual says to turn the seat FF when the child's head is an inch from the top of the seat. :confused:

If she really has outgrown it, your best bet wouldn't be to face forward but to buy a new convertible with a taller shell :twocents:

There is so much good information about why rear facing is safer for 1 year olds. Most seats allow kids to rear face to 2 years and more but the Diplomat is really short shelled.


There's some great articles on this site about why rear facing is a much better choice than forward facing at this very young age :thumbsup:

[jen_nah]

I don't have a picture now, I can take one tomorrow... isn't she fine either way at this age and weight, though?

She maybe legally able to be turned forward facing but it's not the safest option for her. Please do a search on here of extended rear facing and you will find all the data plus crash test videos to support why extended rear facing is so much safer for her.

[Maedze]

I don't have a picture now, I can take one tomorrow... isn't she fine either way at this age and weight, though?



Unfotunately, no :(


The most recent studies show that a child your age is 500% more likely to be seriously injured or killed in an accident. Forward facing puts so much strain on the undeveloped bones of their necks. It's best to keep them rear facing for much longer :thumbsup:

[scatterbunny]

I looked over some of your older posts, and it looks like you have a Cosco Scenera? It has a slightly taller seat shell than the Diplomat, IIRC, so I'd try her RF in that before buying a new seat. Unfortunately, the Diplomat does have a fairly short seat shell compared to other convertibles we recommend around here.

[stacie78]

Found a picture, waiting for it to load... I'll post it in a second

[stacie78]

I looked over some of your older posts, and it looks like you have a Cosco Scenera? It has a slightly taller seat shell than the Diplomat, IIRC, so I'd try her RF in that before buying a new seat. Unfortunately, the Diplomat does have a fairly short seat shell compared to other convertibles we recommend around here.

Well, I wish I had known that about the Diplomat before I bought it...

We do have a Scenera, but that's in our other vehicle (still RF).

Here's a picture showing where her head is in relation to the top of the seat. Can we still use it RF? I love this seat, I really don't want to have to buy a new one. (Excuse the quality, it was from my phone.)

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee9/bradandstacie/IMG00003.jpg

[Maedze]

I see 2, maybe 2 and a half inches of shell above her head. I'd say you have quite a few more months (3-6 maybe?) before you'll have to spring for another convertible. :thumbsup:

[scatterbunny]

Unfortunately, with the Diplomat, Britax has made it very clear that need to measure from the seat shell not the adjustable headrest. :( Sarah Tilton stressed this at Lifesavers. I do see 2-2.5 inches of adjustable headrest above her head, but I can't see the carseat shell in that photo.

I, personally, have always been confused about why the headrest portion doesn't count for measuring RF room, but Sarah Tilton insisted it was the seat shell itself, not the headrest that mattered.

[stacie78]

Unfortunately, with the Diplomat, Britax has made it very clear that need to measure from the seat shell not the adjustable headrest. :( Sarah Tilton stressed this at Lifesavers. I do see 2-2.5 inches of adjustable headrest above her head, but I can't see the carseat shell in that photo.

I, personally, have always been confused about why the headrest portion doesn't count for measuring RF room, but Sarah Tilton insisted it was the seat shell itself, not the headrest that mattered.

The shell is right behind it at the same level... you can kind of see it if you look closely. The headrest is not raised above the edge of the seat. This is good news, I guess!

[Maedze]

I can see the shell, it is just above the top of the head rest. If you look closely you can see the 'line of demarcation' between the head rest and the shell :thumbsup:

[stacie78]

Thank you all for your help tonight! We really appreciate it and will be turning the seat back around in the morning! :thumbsup:
:)

[Maedze]

Yay! :D

[scatterbunny]

You guys have better eyes than me. :p

This thread (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=61649&highlight=diplomat+height+shell+headrest) discusses the Diplomat's RF height rule, and might be helpful.

[stacie78]

You guys have better eyes than me. :p

This thread (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=61649&highlight=diplomat+height+shell+headrest) discusses the Diplomat's RF height rule, and might be helpful.

YES - thank you! That picture with the lines drawn is very helpful.

[SamPacey&Joshua]

It looks fully reclined in that picture. You can install it more upright for an older kiddo who can support her own head (about 6 months+). Usually, a more upright RF install will also give you a little more height room too. It can be between 30 and 45 degrees from the seatback. When you reinstall, try pulling the base away from the seatback a few more inches. You can also put your weight where her feet would go, to get it even more upright.

She's a cutie, by the way!

[An Aurora]

She's got loads of room RF. I would not even consider FF until at least 2 years of age, especially since you already have a spare.