Any help w/ Snugride install- center belt?

[mrs.christie]

I went ahead and got a Graco travel system because it was such a good deal and most people like Snugrides. However, I cannot get the base installed in the center position of my 2009 Mazda 3 hatchback using the shoulder/lap belt combo.

I'll admit that I am pretty clueless when it comes to car seats, but I did read the car seat and vehicle manual front to back. The problem is that it moves sooo much (side to side), I know it can't be right. From what I can tell I don't need to use the lockoff clip, it seems like the belt retracts and locks on its own.

I am beyond frustrated! I may not be the smartest person out there, but I'm not dumb. Why is this so hard? It's a product made for the general public, it should be easy. :confused:

I did look up car seat inspections and it looks like my local Ikea offers them once a month. I guess I'll go over there and see if they can help.

[safeinthecar]

Switchable retractors (where you pull the shoulder belt all the way out to lock it) and the Snugride base(SR) do not always get along. The tension on the shoulder belt pulls up against the belt path of the SR and tilts it up off the vehicle seat.

You'll want to try using a locking clip instead.

1. route the seat belt through the belt path. Make sure the lap portion of the belt is under the "tongue" on the base.

2. put one knee into the base and pull the shoulder belt hard to get the lap belt tight.

3. While still holding the shoulder belt tight with one hand, use your other hand to pinch the lap and shoulder portions of the belt together right above the buckle. Pinch tightly so the buckle can't slide on the belt.

4. let go of the shoulder belt (while pinching tightly and not letting the buckle slip with your other hand) and unbuckle the seat belt. Do not let go with the pinching hand!

5. replace your pinching hand with the locking clip, making sure that the locking clip is no more than 1 inch from the buckle and that both pieces of belt are under the 4 prongs of the locking clip.

6. thread the now locked seat belt through the belt path, making sure that the seat belt (lap and shoulder portions) are under the "tongue" of the base.

7. kneel or sit in the base and rebuckle the seat belt. (cheater trick: if you tip the base up on it's side as you thread the belt, so that the locking clip and buckle are up in the air, and wedge the locking clip on the edge of the belt path, you can take advantage of some leverage as you lay the base flat and avoid pinching your hands trying to thread the belt.) Rebuckling can be a work out. Another set of hands to help guide the buckle together is nice when you are just learning how to do it.

[mrs.christie]

Thank you so much fo the step by step instructions! I was able to get it much tighter this time, though I still think it is moving more than an inch (not the end that meets the seatback, but the other end). I will have my husband help me with it tonight, his weight should help.

If by chance we still can't get it right, would the Keyfit work better, or maybe the safeseat?

Thanks again!

[An Aurora]

You just want to check for movement at the belt path. Some movement at the other end of the base is totally normal and unavoidable :)

[safeinthecar]

Thank you so much fo the step by step instructions! I was able to get it much tigheter this time, though I still think it is moving more than an inch (not the end that meets the seatback, but the other end). I will have my husband help me with it tonight, his weight should help.

If by chance we still can't get it right, would the Keyfit work better, or maybe the safeseat?

Thanks again!

ETA: I just reread your post. Only test for movement AT the beltpath. The end of the seat closest to the front of the car will move. That is normal and perfectly OK. If you have less than an inch of movement at the beltpath, you got it in perfect.

Well the Keyfit or the Safeseat would be easier, but I know for a fact that the SR will work.

Sometimes you just have to try the locking clip a couple of ties before you get the hang of it. It is really easy to let up the tension on the shoulder belt and let a little bit of slack in when you are reaching around with your other hand to pinch, or to not pinch hard enough to keep the buckle from sliding. It just takes practice.

When I first started doing this it took several tries and 20-30 mins every time I had to use a locking clip. Now I've done it in so many cars so often that it only takes maybe a minute or two longer.

[sunnymw]

Maybe someone can look this up, but IIRC the Mazda 3 I used to have allows LATCH borrowing. And I don't know if the Snugride does, but the Comfortsport does, right? She might be able to use LATCH and have herself a MUCh easier time.

Can anyone look it up for her as an option?

[Jeanum]

Good thought to check on that for the OP. Per the 2009 LATCH manual, Graco no longer allows borrowing of outboard lower LATCH anchors to do a center lower LATCH anchor installation for any Graco carseat, though. A seatbelt installation in the center or a LATCH or seatbelt installation outboard would be the allowable installation options for the OP's Snugride.

[sunnymw]

Good thought to check on that for the OP. Per the 2009 LATCH manual, Graco no longer allows borrowing of outboard lower LATCH anchors to do a center lower LATCH anchor installation for any Graco carseat, though. A seatbelt installation in the center or a LATCH or seatbelt installation outboard would be the allowable installation options for the OP's Snugride.

Uh oh. Is that retroactive? :p
TY for checking!!

[mrs.christie]

You just want to check for movement at the belt path. Some movement at the other end of the base is totally normal and unavoidable :)

Oh that's great to hear! I thought the whole thing shouldn't be moving. Yay, that means no more wrestling around w/the seat. I'm sure I was a sight to behold, all sweaty jumping around and cursing with my knee in the base. Of course all of my neighbors were coming home from work right then too.

[Jeanum]

Uh oh. Is that retroactive? :p
TY for checking!!

Apparently. The 2009 LATCH manual doesn't make a distinction between older Graco seats and newer ones and indicates Graco changed the allowability of borrowing outboard lower LATCH anchors for Graco seats in cars that allow it since the printing of the 2007 edition of the LATCH manual.