Do YOU trust SuperLatch?

[VoodooChile]

I've never had it loosen one tiny bit, so I'm happy to use it up to my vehicle's limits, which is 40 lbs. I have to take the Safe Stop off then anyway, so I'll reinstall with the seat belt at that point.

 

[bccrst]

I'll use it up to the weight limits set by the car (or 48 lbs--whichever comes first), but not beyond.

:yeahthat: And only if I coldn't get a good seatbelt install. Our RN has been out of circulation for about a year now, since DS turned FF at 4.5. I occasionally use it in a friends car, or if I need to do 3 across in the middle row of my van (I can't get the FR to install there with the lap belt). I just don't trust the SL beyond the vehicle limits (and DS is at the limit now).

I guess I don't fully trust the seat in general. I used it because of its' RF limit, and was comfortable with that, but I choose not to use it FF unless I have too.

 

[Ninetales]

No. I wouldn't use the LATCH period unless I had to. I only got it because I was desperate to keep rearfacing my two year old after she hit 40lbs and I couldn't wait for or afford a Foonf.

 

[sparkle3116]

Yes, but I guess if I had been around for the whole superlatch debacle I might feel differently.

 

[arly1983]

No, not over my cars latch limit but esp because of sl loosening. I do use a radian 65 sl but only with seatbelt install.

 

[Brianna]

If the seat belt wasn't compatible I would use LATCH to the vehicle limits, or 40 pounds. My default would be to use the seat belt though, which it is for all seats except the FR85 in the center of my Malibu.

 

[creideamh]

No, but it installs great in all modes in all seating positions in my car with the seatbelt... so it's kinda a moot point for me

 

[linneabw]

I use the latch but now you have me worried. I don't like the non-locking seat belt in our van ('06) caravan and it never seems to stay locked when I try with just the seat belt.

 

[D&L's-mommy]

I'll use it up to the weight limits set by the car (or 48 lbs--whichever comes first), but not beyond.

this is my general latch rule (no matter what the CR manufacturer said).
I'm planning to buy a radian (only way I can do 3 across in my car), now I'm very concerned. I was going to use it outboard belt install ff for my dd4 while newbie uses bucket center, then use it rf center belt install for newbie once she outgrows the bucket, and dd4 would go back in the nauti she's currently using. so, not really planning to use latch, but you never know, now I'll be sure not to use it

 

[tiggercat]

I use the latch but now you have me worried. I don't like the non-locking seat belt in our van ('06) caravan and it never seems to stay locked when I try with just the seat belt.

An 06 Caravan has cinchable latchplates, but the Radian may not be compatible with the seatbelt because of the fixed forward tilting buckle stalks. I have an 02 Caravan and the Radian only installs acceptably with the seatbelt in the third row. Second row only works with latch (IME).

Sent from my iPod touch using Car-Seat.Org

 

[Kappy]

Nope. I will defer to my vehicle manual. Until the SL is proven safe in every vehicle n the market, I will switch to a seat belt install when my vehicle states it is time. For me that is 65 pounds, weight of CR and child combined.

I just personally feel that the actual car trumps the CR in regards to the lower anchors. My kids are not Diono's lab rats. :scratcheshead:

 

[Syllieann]

Car seats themselves aren't tested in every vehicle on the market. There is a good deal of extrapolation that goes on. I don't understand why a 3 point belt is assumed to be safer when we really don't have proof that it's safe either, with diono, or anyone else for that matter. Aren't they only required to test with uas and lap belt?

 

[LISmama810]

Car seats themselves aren't tested in every vehicle on the market. There is a good deal of extrapolation that goes on. I don't understand why a 3 point belt is assumed to be safer when we really don't have proof that it's safe either, with diono, or anyone else for that matter. Aren't they only required to test with uas and lap belt?

Seatbelts have been used for decades to hold weights far greater than car seats.

LATCH is a relatively very new system, and, for whatever reason, has very low limits placed on it. Next year, new regulation is going to set ALL LATCH connectors (going forward) at 65 lbs max TOTAL weight of child plus restraint. Is that because the anchors truly can't hold more? Or because it's just easier to make things artificially low? Some other reason? I don't know.

But the fact that the federal government is essentially putting the kabblosh on SuperLATCH says something.

FTR, the SuperLATCH loosening is less of a concern to me than the fact that Sunshine Kids/Diono is telling people to disregard their vehicles' instructions. I don't like that kind of audacity.

 

[ketchupqueen]

Jennie, I thought that the rule was going to say car seats couldn't be labeled to higher than that, not the anchors. FWIW, Diono is apparently lobbying to get an exemption to that labeling requirement. Not that I entirely disagree on the audacity assessment.

 

[LISmama810]

Jennie, I thought that the rule was going to say car seats couldn't be labeled to higher than that, not the anchors. FWIW, Diono is apparently lobbying to get an exemption to that labeling requirement. Not that I entirely disagree on the audacity assessment.

Yeah, I was referring to connectors on the seats, but speculating that it might be due to the strength of the anchors.

I know Diono has petitioned against the enactment of the regulation but wasn't aware that they were lobbying for an exemption. That'll be interesting.

 

[NicoleCPST]

Seatbelts have been used for decades to hold weights far greater than car seats.

LATCH is a relatively very new system, and, for whatever reason, has very low limits placed on it. Next year, new regulation is going to set ALL LATCH connectors (going forward) at 65 lbs max TOTAL weight of child plus restraint. Is that because the anchors truly can't hold more? Or because it's just easier to make things artificially low? Some other reason? I don't know.

But the fact that the federal government is essentially putting the kabblosh on SuperLATCH says something.

FTR, the SuperLATCH loosening is less of a concern to me than the fact that Sunshine Kids/Diono is telling people to disregard their vehicles' instructions. I don't like that kind of audacity.

What is the kabblosh anyway?

 

[ketchupqueen]

I think she meant kibosh.

 

[thekatie]

LATCH is a relatively very new system, and, for whatever reason, has very low limits placed on it. Next year, new regulation is going to set ALL LATCH connectors (going forward) at 65 lbs max TOTAL weight of child plus restraint. Is that because the anchors truly can't hold more? Or because it's just easier to make things artificially low? Some other reason? I don't know.

Would the connectors be the part that is on the restraint, that hooks to the anchors?

I know the new regulations have been discussed at length, and will be hunting up threads to do more reading, just wanted to see if I was reading that one bit right.

 

[LISmama810]

What is the kabblosh anyway?

I think she meant kibosh.

LOL, yes. Thank you, iPhone. It will also rock the casbah.

Would the connectors be the part that is on the restraint, that hooks to the anchors?

I know the new regulations have been discussed at length, and will be hunting up threads to do more reading, just wanted to see if I was reading that one bit right.

The new regulations will require child restraints to set LATCH limits not to exceed 65 lbs for the total weight of the child and the seat. (I was speculating on the reasons why--whether it's connector-on-the-seat strength, anchor strength, just because they need some number, etc.)

The CHILD weight limit will be printed on a sticker on the seat. (E.g. "Discontinue LATCH and install with a seatbelt once child weighs 40 lbs.")

 

[Syllieann]

seatbelts have been around a long time but the current design is new. meh, I guess I feel like their is a lack of proof for the 3-point sliding latchplate design used with carseats just as there is for the sl. No matter how I attach my cr I am relying on a great deal of mathematical modeling.