Well, I Was Misusing One Of Our Seats

NatesMamma · Jul 13, 2011

It was a nice wake-up call not to get too confident in my car seat using abilities.

DS rides in an Avenue when we travel, and we also used it a handful of times in DH's car. It's been sitting unused in our guest room closet for the past 6 months, and when I was cleaning that room, I decided to thumb through the manual. Only the first 2 (of 3) crotch strap positions can be used for RF, and guess where I had it? Yup, 3rd slot out. It actually fit DS really well when he was in bulky cloth diapers, and I somehow managed to miss that point when I read the manual before we started using the seat. I moved the strap to an appropriate slot and re-read the entire manual to make sure I wasn't doing anything else wrong. (Thankfully, I wasn't.)

Incidentally, does anyone know *why* you can't use the 3rd slot? Are they assuming RF kids won't be big enough for it, or it is actually a safety issue??

ketchupqueen · Jul 13, 2011

It's because the 3rd slot is in the RF belt path.

NatesMamma · Jul 14, 2011

ketchupqueen said:
It's because the 3rd slot is in the RF belt path.

That makes sense. I don't remember ever having a problem threading the seat belt in front of the crotch strap, though. I don't know if the seat belt ended up pushing the crotch strap back a bit w/o my noticing or if there was enough room left in front of the slot, or what. I *was* always careful to thread the seat belt in front of the crotch buckle. Either way, I'm glad it's not an issue any more.

Ladyl · Jul 14, 2011

Does the scenera have this same rule?

ketchupqueen · Jul 14, 2011

While the version of the manual I'm reading online doesn't specify (newer versions may be available) it does specify that the belt must go in front of the crotch strap, and the rear-facing belt path does go right over the front crotch strap position (as clearly indicated in the illustrations.)

StillThankful · Jul 14, 2011

hmmm.....maybe I should reread my manuals too to ensure I'm using my seats properly.

CPST_Augie · Jul 14, 2011

Ladyl said:
Does the scenera have this same rule?

The old Scenera doesn't specify a slot, though it DOES say that you have to thread the seatbelt in front of the crotchstrap.

Pixels · Jul 14, 2011

I saw the no-third-slot-RFing rule in a Scenera manual a few years ago.

ketchupqueen · Jul 14, 2011

I thought I did too. I well might have; the version I found online was from 2007.

EmmaCPST · Jul 14, 2011

My Scenera 40RF is loaned out at the moment, but I'm almost positive it has the first and second slot only rule for RF. I know for sure the Uptown does.

Emi's Mommy · Jul 14, 2011

ketchupqueen said:
It's because the 3rd slot is in the RF belt path.

Is that the same reason behind why you can't use the 3rd slot for the CA?

Not that I'm using it, simply curious.

bnsnyde · Jul 14, 2011

And no third slot crotch strap allowed RF on the SceneraRF.
It's going to be a very uncomfy fit for some.

I can't find anything in the manual about not using certain harness heights.
Gosh, the third one is the one that fits for my kids RF.

Wonder if I overlooked something. If you can't use the 3rd slot then we couldn't use the seat. I have the manual right in front of me.

Pixels · Jul 14, 2011

You can use any harness height for RFing.

christineka · Jul 14, 2011

When I bought my avenue and read that, I reread my scenera manual a couple times and the rule wasn't in there. I had heard that the 40 pound rfing sceneras have the same rule.

The other day I sold a radian. The couple wanted to come out and see how to rfing tether the seat. I moved my dd's booster out of the way to show the belt path and low and behold, the belt wasn't in the belt path!!! That was shocking. There's now rough velcro on that buckle release button.

Babywearing Meghan · Jul 14, 2011

that is ok I learned I have been misusing our radian xt for crotch slot position, but only cause I thought Nolan was 29 lbs, he was 30.5 when I weighed him today.. I have to use the third slot for the crotch buckle now, this actually stinks cause he might slide forward now.

Jessica61624 · Jul 14, 2011

Babywearing Meghan said:
that is ok I learned I have been misusing our radian xt for crotch slot position, but only cause I thought Nolan was 29 lbs, he was 30.5 when I weighed him today.. I have to use the third slot for the crotch buckle now, this actually stinks cause he might slide forward now.

This confuses me. It also says it shouldn't be too forward right?

Pixels · Jul 14, 2011

The Radian says the crotch strap should be coming from at or under the child, never in front, except if the child is 30 pounds then the crotch strap must be in the outer most slot.

Ladyl · Jul 14, 2011

CPST_Augie said:
The old Scenera doesn't specify a slot, though it DOES say that you have to thread the seatbelt in front of the crotchstrap.

Ok thanks! I only occasionally use the seat. I know I have it on the third slot but I can't remember where the the belt lays in relation to crotch buckle. I think I need to bump it back to the second slot, anyway, since DS1 has potty trained

and is out of bulky cloth diapers.

ketchupqueen · Jul 14, 2011

Emi's Mommy said:
Is that the same reason behind why you can't use the 3rd slot for the CA?

Not that I'm using it, simply curious.

Yep.

Babywearing Meghan · Jul 14, 2011

Jessica61624 said:
This confuses me. It also says it shouldn't be too forward right?

yerps

:thumbsdown: well unless they are 30 lbs, but I always assumed slumping was also misuse.

Well, I Was Misusing One Of Our Seats

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