Too reclined right?!

[momof3boys]

Could someone please check my recline? It really installed very easily that way, I didn't force it or anything, but now looking through some install pics, mine looks too reclined. This said, T3 is very comfy in it and sleeps very well in and it was such an easy transition from the SS1. I just want to make sure I am doing everything right. I also posted pics of the rf tether and the d-ring just to cover all of my bases. Please point out anything that needs to be fixed...thank you! Fingers crossed!! BTW T3 is 15 months old.

[JerseyGirl'sMama]

It is hard to tell from the pictures, what is the RF tether mounted to? It looks like a plastic piece?

The angle looks a little reclined for a 15 month old. You could try re-installing a tad more upright to see if he is still comfortable that way.

[Maedze]

No, I don't think it's more than 45 degrees reclined, but it certainly could be more upright :-)

[momof3boys]

The d-ring is connected to metal, I also did check that it did not move with the seat, moved it back and forth and didn't budge. I looked for something else and this was all I found.

Thank you!

[Pixels]

If the top of the far door (visible in pic 1) is level to the ground, it is too reclined.

Be careful moving the seat back and forth with the D-ring there. If you move it farther back, it will tighten up the top tether, causing the seat to recline more and also possibly breaking the recline mechanism on the carseat. If you move it forward, it will leave slack in the tether that needs to be removed. If you need to move the seat, loosen the tether, move the seat, and then take the slack out of the tether.

[Tonya48615]

whats the harm in having it reclined like that?:confused:

[momof3boys]

Ooops, I guess I said that wrong, I tested the bar under the seat, BEFORE, I connected the D-ring, not after.

I am not sure I understand what you mean about the far door window, I can see some of it in the picture, do you mean if the whole window is visible, it is too reclined?? Or are you saying that b/c the whole window is not visible, it is ok???

[Maedze]

Better question. Is the plastic seat base under the plush part of the vehicle seat the MA is on parallel to the ground?

If it is parallel to the ground, the seat is not more than 45 degrees inclined and is ok.

[Maedze]

(however, I would say that it is between 40-45 degrees and it certainly could be more inclined for the safety and comfort of the rider. The full 45 degree angle is really only appropriate for a newborn without neck control.

[ame0312]

doesnt the tether have to be in a straight line? not going under the seat then back out like that? or am i just making that up? lol!

[snowbird25ca]

I think it's borderline. If it was for a young baby I'd call it good and tell you to install it more upright when babe was a little older. Since T3 is over a year old, I'd install it a little more upright now. In picture 1 it looks slightly over reclined, in #2 it looks ok. Which leads me to think it's really just borderline and being a little more upright would be ideal. If you pull the base a little ways back from the seat back then push more on the front edge of the seat (by the seat back, or where baby's feet would be,) then it should do the trick easily enough.

To the PP asking if the angle is ok on the tether, it's fine for it to be like that so far as I know. It's not going straight down or backwards from the top of the shell - it's going towards the front of the vehicle in a straight line. So the slight resting against the seatback that it does as it comes out from the point that it's anchored doesn't seem like a problem to me.

[Tonya48615]

Sorry to ask twice... But why wouldn't it be ok to have an older child at that much of a recline?

[Gypsy]

Sorry to ask twice... But why wouldn't it be ok to have an older child at that much of a recline?

It passes testing, no doubt.

However, over rotation is a concern with bigger rear facing kids and the more upright the seat is, the less likely it will over rotate.

Over rotation is simply the top of the seat moving too close to the floor of the car in a crash. It's good to avoid that - it's why when tethering "Australian Style" you tether a rear facing seat to the top tethers we use for forward facing to prevent over rotation. Australian style rear facing tethering isn't currently approved on any US carseat models.

[NannyMom]

Sorry to ask twice... But why wouldn't it be ok to have an older child at that much of a recline?

Go ahead and ask twice, they didn't fully answer the question ;)

An older child is both taller and heavier. The heavier the child is, the higher the chances it will over rotate too far in a crash. The taller the child is, the higher the chances of ramping up the seat and the head going out of the seat (if they are close to the top).

I hope that answered it. But I have a feeling I didn't fully explain it well. So maybe someone else will :whistle:

ETA- Gypsy's post wasn't there when I first typed this

[Tonya48615]

It passes testing, no doubt.

However, over rotation is a concern with bigger rear facing kids and the more upright the seat is, the less likely it will over rotate.

Over rotation is simply the top of the seat moving too close to the floor of the car in a crash. It's good to avoid that - it's why when tethering "Australian Style" you tether a rear facing seat to the top tethers we use for forward facing to prevent over rotation. Australian style rear facing tethering isn't currently approved on any US carseat models.

Thanks... I've never known why and I would have never even thought about it like that! Ya learn something new everyday :)

[Tonya48615]

So what are the different angles supposed to be for the different ages? Or does it go by weight??

[Gypsy]

So what are the different angles supposed to be for the different ages? Or does it go by weight??

It's just a matter of the older a child is the less reclined they need to be for sleeping comfort, airway protection, and safety - so the older they are, the more upright they can be. It's not nearly as specific as 45 degrees for newborn to 3 months, 40 degrees for 3-9 months, 35 degrees for 9-18 months and 30 degrees 18 months and up :D it's not that scientific or precise.

[southpawboston]

the seat is definitely over-reclined. according to my computer estimate, it's at 47.1 degrees. even for a newborn, this is over-reclined and must be adjusted.

basically, the recline guidelines don't go by age or weight, per se. once a child has enough neck strength to fully support the head, the seat can be adjusted more upright, to the tune of about 30-40 degrees of recline from vertical. i don't think you are ever supposed to be at less than 30 degrees, but i could be wrong.

[snowbird25ca]

Australian style rear facing tethering isn't currently approved on any US carseat models.

Britax convertibles all allow Australian style tethering. :thumbsup:

i don't think you are ever supposed to be at less than 30 degrees, but i could be wrong.

You're correct - though I don't have a precise reason why, lol. :) I'm thinking that angle limit is more of a comfort reason than anything else, but I really don't know. I can't imagine wanting a kid more upright than 30* anyways...

[Gypsy]

Britax convertibles all allow Australian style tethering. :thumbsup:





US Britax convertibles? I don't think I've seen it mentioned in an owners manual for years... Off to check the online manuals :)

OK, it's there :) I was wrong.

[momof3boys]

Thank you all so much, I re-installed it and it seems better. I kinda had a feeling it was too reclined once I started looking at pictures. I tried to post the new pics but they would not load, don't know why...I appreciate all of your help in keeping my little guy safe. :)