Question Latch AND seat belt?

wvmommy007 · May 23, 2010

I was talking to a friend about her new seat. I don't know exactly the type. I know it came from Wal-Mart, in-store, and is nearly, if not completely, black. The glance I got of it makes me think Evenflo. She swore, even after I asked her if she was sure, that the manual said latch and seat belt could be used together. Does this sound right? That is how it is currently installed, and if it isn't safe I would like to let her know. Maybe with a webpage I could direct her to, so it isn't just me being bossy.

Thanks for any help.

scoutingbear · May 23, 2010

To my knowledge there isn't any seat that can be installed with LATCH and seatbelt AT THE SAME TIME. You could always direct her here! Or look at her manual together.

Mae · May 23, 2010

No, that is not allowed. No car seat manufacturer allows that. It hasn't been tested that way, or perhaps it was and it failed terribly, we don't know. We certainly don't want to turn our children into our own person crash dummy and find out.

The idea has been tossed around that it's possible that when using both LATCH and seat belt, the webbing of both materials together aren't able to stretch enough, putting too much strain directly onto the child. Keep in mind that this is just a theory that's been pondered, like I said, we don't know why it's not allowed. What we do know, however, is that the car seat has passed testing with only seatbelt, and it passed again with only LATCH.

It's definitely not safe how it is installed and it needs to be fixed immediately, before she drives with her child with her.

Some links:

http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseats/f/LATCH_SB.htm

http://www.car-safety.org/latchfaq.html

christineka · May 23, 2010

Unless maybe she has a combo seat that allows latch in booster mode and somehow she understood that wrong?

wvmommy007 · May 23, 2010

I wish I knew what seat it is, so I could find an online manual to try to determine her cause of confusion. It could be a Triumph, possibly Titan. Are there confusing instructions for either seat? I'm just so curious now as to why she felt so sure about it.

Mae · May 23, 2010

christineka said:
Unless maybe she has a combo seat that allows latch in booster mode and somehow she understood that wrong?

Ah, that is true. There are a few select seats that allow you to LATCH the seat while in booster mode, and then you use the seatbelt to secure the child to the booster. Is the child using the harness?

Evolily · May 23, 2010

wvmommy007 said:
I wish I knew what seat it is, so I could find an online manual to try to determine her cause of confusion. It could be a Triumph, possibly Titan. Are there confusing instructions for either seat? I'm just so curious now as to why she felt so sure about it.

Sometimes when I'm reading I'll skip words- it could say "Do not use LATCH and the seat belt at the same time" but she might have read "Do use LATCH and the seat belt at the same time". Car seat manuals can be confusing and overwhelming. I'd encourage her to call up the manufacturer to clarify.

wvmommy007 · May 23, 2010

I will have to pay her another visit and be very interested in her seat as a possible back-up seat for my DD.

Maybe I'll even feel the need to read her manual to decide if I like it or not.

I'll update when I find out what it is, and if she listens to me this time.

wvmommy007 · May 23, 2010

I think this might be her seat!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Evenflo-Chase-Booster-Car-Seat-Winchester/12960875

So, is this one of the seats you can latch in while in booster mode?

Question Latch AND seat belt?

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