seat belts too short

[unregistered]

Car: '95 Toyota Avalon
Seat: Alpha Omega Elite

My son is 5 months old and 21 pounds (weight limit on his infant seat is 22 lbs) so I know he needs to be rear facing. My car does not have the LATCH system. I went to install the convertible seat I bought in my car, and the seat belts are too short (by almost 6 inches) to install the seat in the rear facing position. I looked in the book, it said to contact the car dealer for seat belt extenders. Did that, dealership said they don't sell seat belt extenders for car seat purposes, and they only sell them for the front seats. I then asked them about having the LATCH system installed in my car, and I am waiting for a call back.
I also have a Cosco Scenera seat, but I have to get it out of storage to try in this car.

Are there any car seats that I won't have this issue with? What other options do I have?

[joolsplus3]

It sounds as though you are trying to use the forward facing belt path? The rearfacing belt path is right under the baby's bum/legs and seatbelts are all long enough to fit there. Try checking out the rearfacing with a seatbelt installation section of your manual, it should have fairly good pictures/description of how to do it :thumbsup::)

This video might also help http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QVlTKBIb70&feature=channel_page

PS, the locking clip is only necessary if it's with the lap/shoulderbelt, if you have it in the middle with a lap-only belt, you won't need it :).

[Maggie]

I don't have much advice to offer you on the seatbelt length, but I can tell you that you can not have LATCH installed in a vehicle. There are a few vehicles that can have it done, I want to say Volkswagen? but Toyota is definitely not one of them.

Could you be trying to use the forward facing belt path? That would explain why the belt isn't fitting. I can't imagine it being so short for any other reason.

[Maedze]

:yeahthat:

Be sure to read your manual thoroughly and then reinstall, using the rearfacing belt path. You should have more than enough seatbelt to install.

[ketchupqueen]

I do have trouble with getting a seatbelt through that seat's rear-facing belt path in some cars (though I've never tried it in yours.) One thing you can do is take the base off. It makes it much easier.