How To Measure Angle on RFing Seat?

Chely7425

New member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #1

I have my 1 year old in a Complete Air, installed behind the passenger seat. I know since he is older I can have the seat at a 30 or 35 degree angle, and I think it is closer to 45. If I could install it just a tad more upright that would REALLY help the passenger seat be more comfortable to ride in. How exactly do I measure the angle? I have a level app on my iPhone, would I place it on the part of the seat wear my sons back goes to measure the angle?

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #2

Most of us just eyeball it. If you want to post a picture, dead on and level from the side of the seat, we can tell you roughly where you are.

 

Chely7425

New member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #3

Ok! Here are 2 pictures of the car seat in my car. Our driveway is slightly sloped so I tried to line the bottom of the picture up with the bottom of the carseat to give a true idea of angle, if that makes sense! If you need other pictures let know...

 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #4

That looks nearly 45 degrees, maybe around 40?

Imagine a clock. 1 o'clock is 30 degrees, 1:30 is 45.

Or use your level app. Place it against where your child's back goes. Just know it may be backwards. My app says 47º, so that means it's 43º. If I want 30º I look for 60º on the app.

Wendy

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #5

That looks pretty much 45 degrees. You could pop the towel out and get it much more upright.

 

Chely7425

New member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #6

Thank you! If we could even just move it a LITTLE more upright it would really help the passenger seat be more comfortable I am only 5'6'' and anybody taller than me can't really sit in that seat... which isn't a HUGE deal but it'd be nice to have a bit more space!! I will play around with my level app and the carseat when DH gets home.

When I am doing this... our driveway has a slight slope, like I said. Should I measure the slope of the driveway first? Like, if the slope of the driveway is 10 degrees, then will that make a difference in the measurement of the angle of the carseat?

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #7

You more want the bottom of the picture to be level with zero, even if it's at an opposing angle to the driveway.

 

Chely7425

New member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #8

So should I calibrate the level with the base of the car seat?

 

M

Maedze

New member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #9

No, with zero. You want to measure the angle of the seatback against true zero.

 

Chely7425

New member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #10

Ok! I will calibrate my level inside and then take it outside to measure the angle I want the angle on the seat to be 30 degrees from straight up correct? Like... if true zero is flat ground and 90 is straight up, the seat should be 30 from straight up but 60 from the ground right?

 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #11

With something that's flat, like the frame of the window. Or just hold it parallel to flat and calibrate it then. Or put the car on the street.

Remove the towel and you should be golden.

Wendy

 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #12

Chely7425 said:

Ok! I will calibrate my level inside and then take it outside to measure the angle I want the angle on the seat to be 30 degrees from straight up correct? Like... if true zero is flat ground and 90 is straight up, the seat should be 30 from straight up but 60 from the ground right?

Click to expand...

0 is straight up, 90 is child laying on their back.

Wendy

 

Chely7425

New member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #13

Awesome! Thank you so much I will remove the towel and see what angle that gives me and probably come back and post some pics so you guys can check it for me! I wish we had a GOOD car seat tech around here but the "car seat checks" at the hospital are a joke... they told me I should flip DS1 around at 11 months because his legs were bent and could fly up and break his nose in a crash

 

L

LittlePeanut

New member

• Jun 28, 2010

• #14

I use the iPhone app for seat checks. I make sure we are on level ground first then measure up from there. On the iPhone the 30-45* will appear as 45-60* since the ground is zero. I just place the phone on it's back against where the child's back goes and sort of press against the shell to make sure the cover isn't interfering with the angle indicator.