Question Frontier 90 Owners

[glockchick]

I had the FR 85 and upgraded to the 90. I love it. I can't imagine going back.

I did love the 85 though and if I'd never touched a 90, I'd still be happy with that. The 90 install is so super duper easy... it's awesome.

 

[ketchupqueen]

It's amazing... I'm keeping my 85 for the taller booster, FAA compatibility, and as a spare, but using the 90 in the car.

You'll find several comparison threads if you search.

Big thanks to Sarah for getting the info that it is, indeed, a normal discoloration as I suspected!

 

[KALP4983]

Thanks to Sarah and everyone at Britax. It's been confirmed that the stress marks are okay. Their CS team is awesome.

And yes, I love my 90's. I have no regrets switching my 85's for 90's. We don't travel and if we ever do, I'd buy cheaper/lighter seats anyways.

 

[tiggercat]

So all you lovely Frontier 90 owners...how do you like it? Do any of you that now have thr Frontier 90, have you previously had the Frontier85 and/or Frontier85 with SICT? I currently have the FR85 with SICT and am debating selling it and getting a Frontier 90 and wanted to see how you all liked it. Thanks so much!

I'm technically a FR borrower, but I like it. It fits my almost 4yo nicely, as well as my 7yo 63lb kiddo (65lb harness limit in Canada).
I don't like that the harness is hard to tighten in my vehicle and the front adjust doesn't move because of how it squishes into my vehicle seat.

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[NannyMom]

So all you lovely Frontier 90 owners...how do you like it? Do any of you that now have thr Frontier 90, have you previously had the Frontier85 and/or Frontier85 with SICT? I currently have the FR85 with SICT and am debating selling it and getting a Frontier 90 and wanted to see how you all liked it. Thanks so much!

Blue is Frontier 85 and red is Frontier 90. Both are outboard in a 2008 Sienna. Top rows show how she would currently use it, bottom row shows at full height (FR85 didn't have the screw removed to show booster height).

She is 6.9 years, 42ish pounds, size 7/8 shirts.

 

[newmommy929]

Thanks cor the pictures, nice to see them. My other question is, do you think the SICT is necessary? I just HATE how wide my FR85 with SICT is...

 

[NannyMom]

Thanks cor the pictures, nice to see them. My other question is, do you think the SICT is necessary? I just HATE how wide my FR85 with SICT is...

I don't have SICT seats in my van because there just isn't enough room. However, my mother's 99 Escort will have SICT for my daughter when she moves outboard.

 

[zactayaus]

I had the FR 85 and upgraded to the 90. I love it. I can't imagine going back.

I did love the 85 though and if I'd never touched a 90, I'd still be happy with that. The 90 install is so super duper easy... it's awesome.

Does the 90 fit in the 2nd row middle seat of your suburban?

 

[KALP4983]

Thanks cor the pictures, nice to see them. My other question is, do you think the SICT is necessary? I just HATE how wide my FR85 with SICT is...

I don't think the sict is nessary. I have an advocate with it and it just makes the seat so much wider. It doesn't protect the child in the seat.

Perhaps if you had a child in a backless booster or just using the cars seat and worried they'd bang their head on the side of the car seat during an accident than you may like the sict.

 

[newmommy929]

So I tried my 5yo DS in the Frontier 90...I do like it. However, I noticed that it does not have the boot thing that goes forward or backward for harness mode vs. booster mode. For those that have the Frontier 90, do you see that being an issue that is is more upright all the time? Because currently my son is in a FR85 and it has the boot forward for harness mode sk it reclines a tiny bit. Just wanted to hear your thoughts about it. Thanks!

 

[ketchupqueen]

it's more upright, which I generally see as a good thing; safer and no lost height. There is, however, a built in redline feature.

 

[eddis]

As posted above - there *is* a recline feature on the 90 - figured ours out because DS was getting a bit of head slump when napping in the fully upright position. Took me a few tries to figure it out (had to have the seat out of the car) but yes, I like having kiddo tilted back just that little bit more.

 

[glockchick]

I prefer it reclined as well. In addition to letting the kid sleep comfortable, it installs better in my car reclined. Here's a pic of DS sleeping in his yesterday. The FR is reclined but the seat it's installed in is incredibly upright.

 

[StillThankful]

it's more upright, which I generally see as a good thing; safer ....

Just curious. How would a more upright install be safer than one in recline? I've seen this posted before (not by you) about the My Ride not being as safe because of it having a natural recline when forward facing. Is there a peer-reviewed study that confirms that or is it theoretically based? Some actually speculate that there would be less HE because of the recline on the MR while forward facing (if I remember correctly).

As I see it, if the kids can keep their heads within the seat protection with a recline feature (that actually helps), then their heads will gain more protection on the sides from flying debris (glass and metal). My children heads' dangle so much like a spaghetti noodle outside of the seat area; therefore, I feel more comfortable with them in a seat where they can sleep with their head upright versus hanging forward and down.

Just trying to figure it all out. I did find some research done in reference the necessity of an actual car seat (not child restraint) being in the upright position because it being reclined can affect the way the seat belt and air bag function. But I wasn't able to find anything on child restraints when reclined.

 

[tiggercat]

Just curious. How would a more upright install be safer than one in recline? I've seen this posted before (not by you) about the My Ride not being as safe because of it having a natural recline when forward facing. Is there a peer-reviewed study that confirms that or is it theoretically based? Some actually speculate that there would be less HE because of the recline on the MR while forward facing (if I remember correctly).

As I see it, if the kids can keep their heads within the seat protection with a recline feature (that actually helps), then their heads will gain more protection on the sides from flying debris (glass and metal). My children heads' dangle so much like a spaghetti noodle outside of the seat area; therefore, I feel more comfortable with them in a seat where they can sleep with their head upright versus hanging forward and down.

Just trying to figure it all out. I did find some research done in reference the necessity of an actual car seat (not child restraint) being in the upright position because it being reclined can affect the way the seat belt and air bag function. But I wasn't able to find anything on child restraints when reclined.

I think (and I could be wrong) that is has to do with how the child loads the harness on impact. On an upright seat, the loading is spread fairly evenly across the 5 points of contact (shoulders, hips, crotch). When the seat is very reclined, there is more loading on the crotch/hips, and less on the shoulders, making injury more likely.

It's kind of similar to how an adult riding reclined in a vehicle seat is more likely to submarine out from under the seatbelt.

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[StillThankful]

I think (and I could be wrong) that is has to do with how the child loads the harness on impact. On an upright seat, the loading is spread fairly evenly across the 5 points of contact (shoulders, hips, crotch). When the seat is very reclined, there is more loading on the crotch/hips, and less on the shoulders, making injury more likely.

It's kind of similar to how an adult riding reclined in a vehicle seat is more likely to submarine out from under the seatbelt.

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Thanks for answering

It just seems that there is always something else to be concerned about. A little annoying if you ask me. I'm going to continue to use the recline features and keep being prayed up.

 

[Kac]

I'm so excited. I'll be getting my FR90 tomorrow.

 

[ketchupqueen]

Well, for the record, I did end up reclining mine so she wouldn't have as much head falling forward stuff. But yes, less reclined leads to more even spread of forces, and is safer for kids and adults. (There was also a study on adults, drivers and passengers, that found a huge increase in mortality and morbidity associated with significantly reclined seats, though there are other contributing factors there.)

Man, the 90 has spoiled me already. I put the 85 in my mom's car this morning and was grumping in my head that I didn't have another 90!

 

[StillThankful]

(There was also a study on adults, drivers and passengers, that found a huge increase in mortality and morbidity associated with significantly reclined seats, though there are other contributing factors there.)

Thanks. I did find a study on adults using reclined seats but the focus was more on the 3 point adult seat belt not restraining and air bags not deploying for an adult in a reclined seat--all they way reclined was the worst. I failed to find any study on reclined child restraints though. Wondering if there is one out there or IRL findings.

I don't have the 90s but continue to love my 85s!

 

[tiggercat]

Thanks for answering

It just seems that there is always something else to be concerned about. A little annoying if you ask me. I'm going to continue to use the recline features and keep being prayed up.

I don't think we need to worry about using crash tested reasonable recline features built into the carseats. I do think that we have to be reasonable, and cautious in making sure we're not overly reclining seats especially when the vehicle seat is already very reclined (or back x clicks as directed in the vehicle manual).

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