How do I install the Graco Snugride without a base?

[raychie33]

If I recall correctly I have to put the seatbelt throught the slits on the side, however this does not make sense to me because in an accident, what keeps the seatbelt from sliding right out of the notches?

 

[Chameleon]

You will need to lock the seat belt. Either pull it all the way out and it will slowly click back in at the retractor to lock itself, or it will lock at the latch plate part of the seat belt. If you sit down and buckle yourself up and you pull up on the lap part of the seat belt and that is locked then that is how it locks. Other wise it's the first way I mentioned at the retractor.

If none of those, then you need a locking clip.

 

[ame0312]

If I recall correctly I have to put the seatbelt throught the slits on the side, however this does not make sense to me because in an accident, what keeps the seatbelt from sliding right out of the notches?

youll also need a tightly rolled towel or pool noodle to achieve the proper angle...

 

[raychie33]

When I pull the belt out to the end I do not hear that click that I heard in my Honda accord. Now I have an odyssey.When I check the angle by the peice on the side that shows me if the angle is okay it shows that it is fine. I am just worried the seatbelt will slide out of the slits as they are open at one end unlike in my MA where the hole the belt goes through is closed.

 

[Nisha]

When tightened properly, the seatbelt won't slide out of the slits. (trust me, I had a crash with a snugride installed with the seatbelt and no base )
I have never had to use a rolled towel or pool noodle with my infant seats, once they are tightened like they need to be they've always held their angle. This might not always be the case though...

 

[Christi61315]

I used to drive an Odyssey and I had locking seatbelts..

 

[Nisha]

When I pull the belt out to the end I do not hear that click that I heard in my Honda accord. Now I have an odyssey.When I check the angle by the peice on the side that shows me if the angle is okay it shows that it is fine. I am just worried the seatbelt will slide out of the slits as they are open at one end unlike in my MA where the hole the belt goes through is closed.

When in a crash, the RF infant seat is going to rotate toward the back of the seat it is installed in, then it will come to a rest. The only way the seatbelt could come out of the slits is if you pushed it toward the back of the seat and pulled it down. Is that confusing?!

Figure out what locks your seatbelt...
buckle it without anything in it and tighten it, then pull up on the lap portion of the belt and see if it comes loose.

 

[Chameleon]

youll also need a tightly rolled towel or pool noodle to achieve the proper angle...

I never needed anything to get the proper angle.

 

[Nisha]

About the slits holding the seatbelt...
Take this car seat - locked in a tight seatbelt - shake it, push it, pull it - where is it going to go? (nowhere - I tried!) Try that when you install it - you'll feel much better about it!

 

[canadiangie]

Remember that up until about 10yrs ago infant seats didn't always come with bases. Still very safe to use IF done correctly.

The important thing here is to make sure your seatbelt is super tight.

Like pp said, you Need to figure out how your seatbelts work.

Then once you figure that out we can walk you through the steps.

Installing an infant seat w/o the base takes a good minute for most people.

It isn't as simple as placing the infant seat on the vehicle seat and buckling.

If done correctly it's very safe. The rub is that most people don't take the time to do it correctly each and everytime.