Unregistered
04-14-2009, 11:16 AM
Hi! I live in Brazil. The issue of car safety here is still a few years behind US standards. (for example, airbags are still not standard features) and forget LATCH and tethering. Despite laws requiring the use of carseats for infants and children, people rarely use them, preferring to hold babies in their laps. (Especially after several horrible incidents with carjackings and parents not able to remove children quickly from cars.) Anyway, I'm American and insist that my DS travel in a car seat. I luckily came across this wonderful site, and found out about the importance of RFing for as long as possible.
I was able to find 2 models sold in the country that allow for RFing after 9 kilos (20 lbs): the Chicco Vector/Travel Jet (TERRIBLE!) and the Britax First Class Si (I got the last one in town -a floor model, but that's OK.) which is RFing to 13 kilos. At 16 mos., my son is on the small side at 10 kilos / 77 cm, so I think we have a couple years of use RFing at least, and basically, it was the only possibility and I was lucky to find such a respected brand available to purchase.
As for my questions:
We installed the seat in our Renault Clio (not sold in US), there is a lot of give at the backrest, for example, I can make the seat rock from side to side. From what I've read here, the only thing that matters is that the seat is tight at the seat belt, but is this much give normal?
Also, I can't see my DS at all! Even with a mirror, the First Class's side wings totally obscure him from view. Is there any remedy to this?
And, his head also falls forward when he's sleeping, and I think it's reclined all the way.
I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks for reading!
I was able to find 2 models sold in the country that allow for RFing after 9 kilos (20 lbs): the Chicco Vector/Travel Jet (TERRIBLE!) and the Britax First Class Si (I got the last one in town -a floor model, but that's OK.) which is RFing to 13 kilos. At 16 mos., my son is on the small side at 10 kilos / 77 cm, so I think we have a couple years of use RFing at least, and basically, it was the only possibility and I was lucky to find such a respected brand available to purchase.
As for my questions:
We installed the seat in our Renault Clio (not sold in US), there is a lot of give at the backrest, for example, I can make the seat rock from side to side. From what I've read here, the only thing that matters is that the seat is tight at the seat belt, but is this much give normal?
Also, I can't see my DS at all! Even with a mirror, the First Class's side wings totally obscure him from view. Is there any remedy to this?
And, his head also falls forward when he's sleeping, and I think it's reclined all the way.
I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks for reading!