Question Is it Possible to Overdo it? :)

Kanuni · May 19, 2011

The seat has to be firm, and the belt needs to be "as tight as possible" in US and Swedish seats, right? When I am installing it I am really using my strength and I am a power lifter, so I know that I am not only stronger than moms here

, but probably than most of their husbands.

I am not saying this to brag or anything, I am just wondering if it is possible to overdo it, by maybe streching the harness or the tether straps, or is human strength simply not enough to make any damage to them even if you had Ronnie Coleman install your carseats for you?

wendytthomas · May 19, 2011

Some engineers say yes, others say no. The seat was designed to take crash forces, which are unlikely for even you to be able to recreate.

However, it doesn't need to be that tight. You need less than 1" of movement at the belt path, the tether needs to have the slack removed (if you're talking rear facing you can actually damage the seat by having the tether too tight), and the harness needs to be tight enough so you can't pinch anything. That's it. No need to go beyond.

I love when someone tells me (usually a small mother) that it took two 300 pound firemen to get their seat in, and I go and replicate it (I'm a size six) with ease. It's not about size and strength with carseats, normally, it's about technique. Usually when I've had someone absolutely wrenching a carseat in, the biggest issue is we can't remove it from a car anymore.

Wendy

Cryssy Jane · May 19, 2011

wendytthomas said:
Usually when I've had someone absolutely wrenching a carseat in, the biggest issue is we can't remove it from a car anymore.

Sorry had to laugh at this one, as this was my first experience as a tech. This gentleman had the seat in so tight that it took 4 people to be able to wrangle it loose.

jourdysmom · May 19, 2011

I actually cracked the base on my Britax Marathon by installing it too tight before I became a tech. If less than 1" of movement is good then NO movement must be better RIGHT??? Not so much. Thankfully Britax replaced the seat for me, or it could have been a $200+ mistake!

Less than 1" of movement side to side, and front to back is acceptable. You test this by giving the seat a "firm" (but not bone crushing)

handshake AT THE BELT PATH with your non-dominant hand. You may get movement at the head of a Rear-facing seat and that is OK, you only check at the belt path

jjordan · May 19, 2011

When they test the seats they test them with a certain amount of tension on the seat belt or LATCH strap. If you put the same amount of tension when you're installing the seat, it will likely have a little (less than 1") movement. So if you want to replicate the installation the way it was tested, then don't knock yourself out getting it in there super super tight.

Kat_Momof3 · May 19, 2011

as long as you are checking (not just pulling and pulling and then fighting for even more strap way after it would likely be rock solid already) to see if it's solid yet after you have removed obvious slack, I don't think it's an issue.

Question Is it Possible to Overdo it? :)

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