extended RFing issue

[Unregistered]

Both kids are rear facing in Britax BLVDs. We recently got a new van (Chrysler T&C) and the BLVDs are noticeably more upright in these seats than when they were in our other van (Toyota Sienna.) We did have them checked by a car seat tech and she said they looked great and just tightened them a little more.

The problem is with DDs seat. She is 2 months shy of 3 and a little over 30lbs so can still remain RFing and I wanted to keep her that way since it is so much safer. BUT she keeps kicking the seat and stretching out her legs against the seat back and it is causing the car seat to slip into a more reclined position. DH has fixed her seat twice now and we just got home from an outing and it is messed up again.

Here is DS' seat, notice how the bottom of it is flat along the vehicle seat:


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/kristin0713/PC230036.jpg

Here is DD's seat, it has slipped and the bottom of the BLVD is not flush against the vehicle seat:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/kristin0713/PC230037.jpg


What should I do? I don't think this is safe like this, right?? It does not feel secure. Would it be safer at this point to turn her around? I have to admit, it is really tempting especially since with this van it is a lot harder to get her into her seat RF'ing, and with the coats, etc. it is a pain in the rear [x] But my priority is to keep her safe.

[bombedier]

No - this is not right. When you install the seat, pull it back from the vehicle seat back by an inch and place your weight more towards the front of the seat - this will give a more upright installation (minimum 30 degrees from vertical). She will probably not have the leverage to tip it over. Also, at 3 years of age, you should be able to discipline her not to do this.

[An Aurora]

Try reclining the vehicle seatback, tightening the car seat, and then bringing the seat back up. That should help.

[Blondie87]

Is her first seat too reclined? The red line doesn't look parallel..

[Jenifer]

Hmmmmm...... perhaps a seat belt install. That way the LATCH straps wouldn't slide back on the bar.....

[CandCfam]

Not sure about the 1st seat being over reclined, as the picture isn't taken straight on from the side, but the 2nd seat isn't in recline mode, and needs to be. That may have happened with the daughter pushing the seat to get such movement.

[Blondie87]

Not sure about the 1st seat being over reclined, as the picture isn't taken straight on from the side, but the 2nd seat isn't in recline mode, and needs to be. That may have happened with the daughter pushing the seat to get such movement.

The 2nd seat is in recline mode...

[CandCfam]

The 2nd seat is in recline mode...

I don't think it is.

Notice in the first picture that the base is flush with the restraint 'seat', and in the 2nd picture it is not, there is a gap.

I edited the pics to crop to the visual:
reclined:http://i43.tinypic.com/123s87n.jpg

upright:http://i42.tinypic.com/iqybzc.jpg

[Maedze]

The second seat is reclined. The picture was taken from the opposite side of the seat.

[Blondie87]

Lol it's reclined. They are taken from opposite sides.

OP- I agree if you take the seat and move it a lil away from the bite of the seat then lean it forward more and install it, it will make it a lil more upright but it will also get in in there nice and tight.

[keri1292]

Pics are taken from two different angles. Pic 1, seatback is to the left. Pic 2, seatback is to the right. At least that's how I'm seeing it. :)

[CandCfam]

The second seat is reclined. The picture was taken from the opposite side of the seat.

How would that make a difference in how the restraint seat is in relation to the base?

Oh gosh, nevermind
duh moment of the day. lol

[Blondie87]

How would that make a difference in how the restraint seat is in relation to the base?

Oh gosh, nevermind
duh moment of the day. lol

lol. I've had my moments too. I figured you'd get it eventually.. lol

[CDNTech]

I'm thinking the seat is not installed tightly enough... basing this on my Marathon's and how much less LATCH strap I have when they are installed (in an '03 and '08 Grand Caravan).

If you look at the amount of LATCH strap between the black bar and the buckle... I have about half that amount of strap when mine is installed in our captain's chairs. I tried to find you a picture to show you what I mean, but I don't have one.

The fact that she can move it physically just by pushing her feet on the seatback also tells me that it is not installed tightly enough.

At 3 years old and 30lbs, I would be comfortable having her forward facing... either way though, the seat needs to be installed tighter than what it is.

This is FFing, but you can sort of see the LATCH strap... there is less than an inch between the black bar and the adjuster buckle on the LATCH strap.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2150/2103567737_e47694820c.jpg?v=0

When RFing, I have less than 2" of LATCH strap between the black bar and that adjuster buckle.

[Maedze]

How would that make a difference in how the restraint seat is in relation to the base?

Oh gosh, nevermind
duh moment of the day. lol



We all have them. Be glad you weren't handling a sharp object while it happened. :p

[Blondie87]

I'm thinking the seat is not installed tightly enough... basing this on my Marathon's and how much less LATCH strap I have when they are installed (in an '03 and '08 Grand Caravan).

If you look at the amount of LATCH strap between the black bar and the buckle... I have about half that amount of strap when mine is installed in our captain's chairs. I tried to find you a picture to show you what I mean, but I don't have one.

The fact that she can move it physically just by pushing her feet on the seatback also tells me that it is not installed tightly enough.

At 3 years old and 30lbs, I would be comfortable having her forward facing... either way though, the seat needs to be installed tighter than what it is.

This is FFing, but you can sort of see the LATCH strap... there is less than an inch between the black bar and the buckle.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2150/2103567737_e47694820c.jpg?v=0

Yeah, I agree it's probably not tight enough.. But since her seat is RF isn't there a lil further for the latch strap to go so there would be more space then when it's FF like yours. Right?

[Maedze]

I'm thinking the seat is not installed tightly enough... basing this on my Marathon's and how much less LATCH strap I have when they are installed (in an '03 and '08 Grand Caravan).


I agree with this...when I get my Marathon installed with LATCH I literally have no 'extra'...the bar is nearly bumping the lock on the webbing. You've got a good 4-5 inches of extra webbing there you should be able to pull out by getting your knee into the seat before tightening.

[Blondie87]

I agree with this...when I get my Marathon installed with LATCH I literally have no 'extra'...the bar is nearly bumping the lock on the webbing. You've got a good 4-5 inches of extra webbing there you should be able to pull out by getting your knee into the seat before tightening.

Ah... well nvm my previous post then. lol

[CDNTech]

Yeah, I agree it's probably not tight enough.. But since her seat is RF isn't there a lil further for the latch strap to go so there would be more space then when it's FF like yours. Right?

There's a little extra, but not much. I edited to clarify that I have less than 1" when FFing and less than 2" of strap when rear facing. The op's strap appears to be 3" or 4" of strap... times by two sides and that's a lot of slack. :)

[An Aurora]

Yep, I'm betting it's pretty loose, but I didn't want to be mean :p

[Mom to a few]

Bulky coats really are a pain, and should be removed before the child is placed into the carseat--They can compress in a crash and leave the straps too loose to offer the proper protection.

I agree that her seat is probably installed too loosely. I've seen a lot of Boulevards and Marathons that were installed rear-facing with LATCH, and the LATCH strap had gotten caught on the rear-facing seatbelt lock-off.

So when you get her Boulevard positioned properly, and start to tighten the LATCH straps, make sure they they aren't getting caught on the lock-offs.

And I don't know if the tech actually taught you how to install the seat yourself, but here's the way I find easiest:

1) Move the front seat forward, so that it will be out of your way.

2) Position the carseat correctly

3) Attach the Lower Anchors to the LATCH bars

4) Stand up behind the Boulevard (You'll be facing towards the back of the vehicle).

5) Lean over the Boulevard (being careful not to cause it to recline) and put your left hand on the area of the carseat where your child's feet will go.

6) With your right hand, grab the LATCH strap on that side, pull the slack out of the strap, putting pressure down with your left hand, being careful that the strap isn't getting caught on the rear-facing seatbelt lock-off.

7) Then put your left hand where the child's feet would go, and repeat step six for the opposite side.

8) Then pull the last bit out of slack out of each side, making sure that both sides are about the same so that the seat won't lean to the right or left.

Good luck, and please post back with any additional questions!

[jen_nah]

Also make sure you are not over tightening the rear face tether. The tether is not to be used to achive the recline.

[keri1292]

Also, my T&C manual says to recline the vehicle seatback two clicks to use LATCH. It gives my big RF-er some extra leg room.

[mimieliza]

...
The fact that she can move it physically just by pushing her feet on the seatback also tells me that it is not installed tightly enough...


This is not necessarily true. My DD pushes on the seat back as well, and over time her BLVD becomes over reclined. It is rock solid when I install it, and still pretty solid once she over reclines it, just at the wrong angle. It usually takes about a week or two before it gets too reclined, so I have just been re-installing the seat once the angle starts to look bad.

[mykidsmylife]

This happened once in my MIL van.
I fixed it by doing what the PP recoemended. I reclined the seatback, installed the seat, tightening the latch and leaning n each side to get a tight install, then pulled the seat back upright.
The seat was not going anywhere and he couldn't make it budge.

You have a post full of great advice so I am sure you will get it.

PS I am jealous. Those vans are nice!