Tips/Tricks/Advice for installing Comfortsport

[InternationalMama]

Hi -

We're borrowing a friend's ComfortSport to use on an upcoming trip. I won't be able to see the seat or the instruction manual before we arrive so I'm a bit nervous about installing it and wanted to ask if anyone has advice they can offer to ward off problems. I'll be installing it rear-facing in a UK rental car of unknown make/model/year. I ordered a locking clip on Amazon. :)

Thanks for any help you can offer!

[sunnymw]

Hi!

Depending on the age of the child and the degree of recline you'll need (45 for newborn, up to 30 for toddler) you may need pool noodles. In most vehicles I've installed it in, I've needed either 1 noodle (toddler) or a 3 noodle tower (newborn).

The bubble indicator was, in my seat's case, not exactly accurate. In order for me to have it reclined enough for a newborn I had to have the bubble almost in the red.

I don't know if you'll have time to read a manual, but. Bottom 2 slots RF only, top 2 slots FF only (there are 3 slots). The harness has 2 different settings for length, so if it's too long or too short, turn the seat upside down and rethread it to the longer/shorter setting as needed. For RFing, the foot on the bottom of the seat needs to be folded in.

I don't know if you'll be using LATCH/isofix or seat belt, but either way, I found it helped to move the front seats forward, then get behind the CS, push my chest into the top of the shell to push the seat down and back, and tighten while doing that. Should you have to do a locking clip, that might help with you having two hands free to work the buckle and all (if you don't have an extra set of hands).

If you ARE in a car w/o locking shoulder belts on the outside but there's a lap belt in the center that locks, try that route first ;)

Good luck!!

And here are some pics, if it helps to see it in person installed first.
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm16/sunnywallace/Car%20seats/seatcheck2044.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm16/sunnywallace/Car%20seats/seatcheck2040.jpg

Also, if you're putting an itty-bitty in the seat, the head support isn't the greatest and the crotch buckle is a mile out there, so you can roll up a receiving blanket on each side of them, and roll up a wash-cloth to put between their crotch and the crotch buckle, if necessary.
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm16/sunnywallace/Car%20seats/gcs006.jpg

[InternationalMama]

Hi!

Thanks so much for the tips! I'll print this out and bring it with.

Quick question: My DS is about the same size (height and weight) as your son Mikah. Does Mikah still fit in the CS rear-facing? I read about the seat being outgrown early so I thought I'd ask since stats are similar although I know torso height matters most.

[Pixels]

I totally agree with 98% of what Sunny said. My own DD at over a year old still has horrible slumping to the side because the seat is so wide. She also still has a couple of inches to go before getting to the crotch strap, but I don't bother with a washcloth because she doesn't slouch down and there's no chance of her getting her leg up into it (so her legs would both be on the same side of the crotch strap).

Just to clarify one thing Sunny said: There are three slots. The bottom one is for RFing only. The second one is for RFing or FFing. The top one is FFing only.

I find it's easiest to pull the LATCH/Isofix/shoulder belt from inside the carseat. Pull back the cover on that side, and pull the tail of the belt through the belt path, into where the child sits. Pull from there.

My DD's stats are in my siggy. She still has inches to grow. She'll outgrow it either by weight, or by her shoulders going over the top slots.

ETA: The instructions say that if you're doing a seatbelt install, the LATCH belt needs to be moved to the other belt path. I have tried to get away with not moving it, and had the LATCH belt interfere so that it felt like the seatbelt was tight, but really it was just caught up on the LATCH belt. Now I always move it, pain that it is.

[InternationalMama]

My DD's stats are in my siggy. She still has inches to grow. She'll outgrow it either by weight, or by her shoulders going over the top slots.

If your DD is 27.5 inches and she only has a couple of inches to grow and my DS is over 29.5 inches then maybe I should be concerned that he won't fit RF... Hmm. Well, we'll find out.

ETA: The instructions say that if you're doing a seatbelt install, the LATCH belt needs to be moved to the other belt path.

This sentence stresses me out! I have no idea what "the other belt path" means, but now at least I know to look out for this. Thanks!

The only other thing about your post was that the helpful poster was "sunnymw" I'm the confused poster "internationalmama". :)

I definitely appreciate all the advice.

[2BunniesMommy]

There is a belt path for rear and one for forward. If you install rear facing with the seatbelt you need to move the latch strap to the belt path that would be used for forward facing to keep it out of the way.

[BeachMama86]

Also, I always like to point out the pulling method when installing a stubborn seat like the CS.

Get in the seat with your knee, and run the belt that you are pulling on back through the belt path, and pull sideways/parallel to the ground, that should help you get a nice tight install. Make sense?

[murphydog77]

If your DD is 27.5 inches and she only has a couple of inches to grow and my DS is over 29.5 inches then maybe I should be concerned that he won't fit RF... Hmm. Well, we'll find out.



This sentence stresses me out! I have no idea what "the other belt path" means, but now at least I know to look out for this. Thanks!

The only other thing about your post was that the helpful poster was "sunnymw" I'm the confused poster "internationalmama". :)

I definitely appreciate all the advice.


Here's a link to a manual: http://www.gracobaby.com/Instruction%20Manuals/ISPC099BA.pdf .

The "other belt path" is the forward-facing belt path and it's the opening behind the child's back. You can see it well in the very first picture in sunnymw's post. The reason they want the LATCH belt there is to just get it out of the way. There should be some spots on the outsides of the shell where you can clip the LATCH connectors after you've moved the strap out of the way.

[sunnymw]

Yes, Mikah would still fit in it (it's wrecked now :p so no one's fitting in it, it's sitting naked in a storage!)

My 2.5yo's stats are, in the pic I'm posting, 25lbs and 35".
The angle is weird, but he still had 2" of growing room over his head.
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm16/sunnywallace/Events%20and%20trips/chattanooga/ChattanoogaMove096.jpg

[InternationalMama]

There is a belt path for rear and one for forward.

Oh, of course. I'm still in infant seat mode. Thanks.

that should help you get a nice tight install. Make sense?

Makes sense. :)

Here's a link to a manual:

Great! I googled and somehow decided the manual wasn't available online. Now I'll be prepared.

Yes, Mikah would still fit in it.

What a relief. I thought maybe it wasn't in your siggy because he doesn't fit anymore. Sorry about the wreck!

Thanks for all the help everyone. I wish I had found this board back when I was installing DS's infant seat. I think the installs I did were horrible in so many ways. I'm so glad nothing ever happened.