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View Full Version : Is it okay for a tether strap to cross over another car seat?

diaperjoys
06-22-2009, 02:10 PM
And is this angle okay?

Here are some pictures. We have a '99 Suburban, and there are (very) limited tethering possiblities. First is a shot taken from the front of the vehicle so you can see general arrangement of the seats.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o88/diaperjoys/100_0992.jpg

Unfortunately the only way to tether second row seats is by tethering to a female 3rd row buckle. Since there is only one buckle free (snug up against that Regent), we have only that one option. But look at that angle! Is that okay? I'd say it is at least 45 degrees.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o88/diaperjoys/100_0993.jpg

There is plenty of room for the 4yo to fit in the seat without being smushed by the tether strap. See, my thumb and first finger are touching the tether strap, but there is still lots of room for me to spread my fingers out.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o88/diaperjoys/100_0994.jpg

Here's another shot of the location of the tether point.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o88/diaperjoys/100_0995.jpg

And, finally, a close up of the manufacturer-supplied gadget for correct second row tethering.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o88/diaperjoys/100_0996.jpg

If this isn't okay, (and I'm guessing it isn't) can ya'll help me come up with some other solutions? Yes, I can put the True Fit in the middle; it fits fine. HOWEVER, we have a looooong road trip coming up, and the baby has discovered how to pinch. She can reach her brother's arm just fine, and he can't really move out of the zone. A silly little thing, really, but we'd rather put some distance between the two seats and remove the cause of the quarrel rather than try to deal with it while driving.

I suppose we could move the 5yo (turns 6 this week) to a booster seat that doesn't require tethering, and put the 3yo in the third row. But the 5yo still fits fine in a harness and we had no plans to move him up anytime soon. 6 is still youngish, isn't it?

Ideas?
Polola0628
06-22-2009, 02:20 PM
I'm curious as to what others will say. Do you have the possiblity of getting another tether anchor retrofitted into the suburban?
ketchupqueen
06-22-2009, 02:35 PM
I'm more concerned about the angle than the crossing over, though that might be a concern. Let's deal with them separately.

I think that the angle may be more than 30 degrees. That, as you know, is not okay. It's really hard to say without pics from behind, though, and I know it'd be hard to get pics showing the true angle...

I'm just a slight bit worried about the child in the Regent's body parts (specifically arm, leg) impacting the tether in a crash. If he's old enough not to mess with it I guess that would be my only concern with the crossing over.

But if the tether anchor causes it to go back at more than a 30 degree angle, that makes the worry about the tether strap moot.
chickabiddy
06-22-2009, 02:38 PM
I'm not comfortable with the angle or the potential interference.

Neither the Nautilus nor the TrueFit *requires* tethering, and the Regent only does sometimes. While I think tethering is a very good thing, if you can't do it safely, you can't.
diaperjoys
06-22-2009, 02:49 PM
I'm curious as to what others will say. Do you have the possiblity of getting another tether anchor retrofitted into the suburban?

Unfortunately, no. We researched that option, and according to the manufacturer the correct (and only) way to tether 2nd row seats is by using the belts on the 3rd row.
diaperjoys
06-22-2009, 02:51 PM
I'm more concerned about the angle than the crossing over, though that might be a concern. Let's deal with them separately.

I think that the angle may be more than 30 degrees. That, as you know, is not okay. It's really hard to say without pics from behind, though, and I know it'd be hard to get pics showing the true angle...

I'm just a slight bit worried about the child in the Regent's body parts (specifically arm, leg) impacting the tether in a crash. If he's old enough not to mess with it I guess that would be my only concern with the crossing over.

But if the tether anchor causes it to go back at more than a 30 degree angle, that makes the worry about the tether strap moot.

I'm sure the angle is more than 30 degrees - I think it is 45+. And the child in the Regent would delight to use the strap as a leg rest.
J-max
06-22-2009, 03:47 PM
They won't retrofit another tether anchor, just give you the male tether seatbelt thing (nice technical name). (I had a 98 and this is what they told me)

What about switching the TF and the regent? The split tether on the regent might decrease the angle of the tether and the trap would not go over someone's lap because of the shell of the TF?? Or putting the regent in the middle of the second row and either letting the RF baby stay there and possibly not able to pinch because the regent sits lower (and you could tether the regent and the TF to 3rd row seatbelts) or putting the MA RF in the 3rd row?
safeinthecar
06-22-2009, 06:38 PM
Could you just put the TF in the center of the 2nd row so the tether has a straight(er) path?
ketchupqueen
06-23-2009, 12:16 AM
Or if the TF won't puzzle with the MA enough, maybe the Nautilus will.
Judi
06-23-2009, 02:30 AM
She mentioned she could, but the baby pinches.
ketchupqueen
06-23-2009, 02:32 AM
Ah, missed that.

Mittens for baby?
Judi
06-23-2009, 02:36 AM
lol

I know one person that put up one of the pop out sun shades, between the kids.
ketchupqueen
06-23-2009, 02:37 AM
That's a seriously good idea.

My one year old keeps pulling the five year old's hair...
Judi
06-23-2009, 02:41 AM
Not weird?
ketchupqueen
06-23-2009, 02:44 AM
Of course it's weird. Weird and brilliant. Seriously, think of that "Brilliant" in the 10th Doctor's voice. That brilliant. :D
Judi
06-23-2009, 02:50 AM
Why thank you!
natysr
06-23-2009, 07:55 AM
Picture #1 made me think of a new game.

"Which seat made this imprint" :p
diaperjoys
06-23-2009, 08:11 AM
Picture #1 made me think of a new game.

"Which seat made this imprint" :p

The imprint is from the True Fit, and it does fit well there. We have it moved over on the side currently, untethered, and it is really, really nice to have all the kids spread out a titch. And it doesn't block the aisle too much either. I was able to scoot by just fine.
Judi
06-23-2009, 11:10 AM
Yeah, DH noticed the imprint right off. I figured it had to be the True Fit.