True Fit Install Pictures and Questions

[PJMama]

Sorry for making another post...I think I've done like 15 in the last couple days. I just really want to get this carseat installed correctly for my little guy. I seem to have the seat tight...it doesn't move at all side to side but it rocks a little bit if you push on the top of the seat. Is that normal? Okay can you look at the pics and tell me if the angle looks right...the baby is 9 months old. Also I have a question about the harness adjuster...since there are only 4 settings I'm a little confused about which one he should be on right now. If I do the lowest one it seems that his shoulders would come over it too far and if do the second setting it seems that the straps would be too high. I could take a picture of him in there later if you need to see it. Also I'm kind of worried that he won't be able to rear facing as long as I want because you can only use the first and second harness position for rear facing. hmm maybe he won't grow tall very fast? I don't know this is my first kid so I have no experience. Thanks for your help.

also does this carseat have to be tethered when forward facing? This is for the future (I drive a 96 Lumina so no top anchor). Thanks

[PJMama]

Here are the pictures

[codex57]

Looks and sounds ok from what I can see and what you're describing. I've never installed one before so I don't know if you've used all the parts (wondering about the brown piece under the seat). Because it's sitting on compressed foam, it's hard to make any seat completely stationary in all directions.

[featherhead]

To me the angle looks pretty good for a 9 month old. Just make sure you check him when he falls asleep. If his head is falling forward you could recline it a bit more. Are you using the infant padding? I forget the weight of your little guy. I believe the padding can be used till 22 lbs. A picture would be great to figure out harness height. And don't worry, positions 1,2 and 3 can be used for rear-facing. If you go to the Learning Curve website and go to the FAQs for the True Fit it mentions that. On some TFs they were labeled 1 and 2 for rear-facing, but 3 can be used as well.

I'm not certain about the tether, as I live in Canada and top tethers are mandatory for ff. But I think with the US TF you don't have to use the top tether when forward facing. If you check your manual it should say in there.

[featherhead]

Looks and sounds ok from what I can see and what you're describing. I've never installed one before so I don't know if you've used all the parts (wondering about the brown piece under the seat). Because it's sitting on compressed foam, it's hard to make any seat completely stationary in all directions.

the brown piece is the recline foot. It goes forward for rear-facing and back for forward-facing.

[MOM25BOYS]

From the pic the angle looks great for your little guy.;) A little movement when you push the seat back forward is normal, you just don't want more than 1 inch of movement at the belt path, but from the sound of it you got it nice and tight. As for the harness you want the straps to be AT OR BELOW his shoulders for Rearfacing. When he is FF you want them to be AT OR ABOVE the shoulders and Yes you need to tether it when FF.;) Now for the question on the slot positions.... You can use position 3 for RF.:D The newer ones are labeled that way and if you call Learning Curve they will tell you yes. It is retroactive on all their True Fits. I hope he loves his new seat!:)

ETA: It is not required for the seat to be tethered Forward Facing, but it does help.;)

[SamPacey&Joshua]

It looks like you did a great job on the install. I take it twisting that buckle stalk down helped? I hope you enjoy the new seat!

I haven't read the other replies thoroughly, so if I repeat anything, I apologize.

I wouldn't worry about RF room...little man will have tons of it since the straps need to be at or below his shoulders anyway.

As for the top tether, as it's already been said, you don't have to have one, but it does make things safer. You can usually have one installed (or order the parts and do it yourself) by the dealership. One of the techs. here should be able to help you out with that (part number and what to do).

If you don't/can't get top tethers installed, I would recommend putting the seat outboard when your little man turns FF. The locked shoulder belt will act somewhat as a tether, to hold the top of the seat back (whereas in the center, there's nothing holding the top back).

Oh and that movement at the top of the seat is completely normal and you'll get it with any rear-facing seat that can't be top tethered (Britax convertibles and the Radian are the only ones that can). As long as it's tight right at the beltpath, it's fine.

[snowbird25ca]

The angle looks perfect to me. :)

Tether is never used rfìng with the TF and preferred ffìng though not mandatory unless you`re in Canada. :thumbsup:

Most vehicles can have tether anchors added and since you have a long time before ffìng, I`d get them retrofitted ahead of time so that it`s done. Most dealers do it for free, otherwise it`s fairly inexpensive. If you do end up having to pay for it, you have some time to save anyways. Top tethering a ffìng seat greatly reduces the risk of injury in a collision, so should really be done whenever possible. Since you have time to plan there`s no reason you wouldn`t be able to do it when the time comes. :)

(I'm moving this to the technical and installation forum for you too. :))

[snowbird25ca]

I forgot to answer the question about harness positioning...

How much does your guy weigh? If he's under 22lbs, I've be inclined to put the infant padding back in and use position 2 of the harness if it gives a better fit. Otherwise it sounds like he needs to be in position 1 since you want the straps at or below the shoulders when rf'ing. When the straps are tightened with them in position 2, how far above his shoulders are they coming out? Did you check his fit in the vehicle or in the house? It's possible that if it was upright in the house and now reclined in the car, that he might actually be even with position 2.

First Years does allow position 3 for rf'ing as well. They made that retroactive to the old seats. I haven't actually seen a US seat with the new stickers on the harness adjustment yet, but all the CDN seats came in with position 3 marked as a rf'ing choice right on the sticker. I'd expect that as the redesigned ones show up it'll be the same deal. :)