Opinions please??

lil.miss32

New member

• Oct 17, 2011

• #1

Michael is 3 years 3 months, and is in a Britax Multi-Tech. I know that they allow the top of the head to be even with the shell, but what is YOUR personal opinion on that?? Would you follow the 1 inch rule? Or ride it out? I, obviously, want him RF'ing as long as possible, but with the 1 inch rule being "law" for so many seats, I'm not sure I feel comfortable NOT using it. LOL.

Ignore the death stare. LOL

 

Pixels

New member

• Oct 17, 2011

• #2

Generally speaking, I have a personal two inch rule. It looks to me like the dummies generally ramp up at least two inches in crash testing, so I want my kids to have that much clearance before ramming their head into something. My kids' seats are directly behind the front seats, and DD's seat is wedged under the front head restraint in both vehicles, so her jamming her head up into that is a real concern as she grows. If she was in the center and didn't have anything to hit her head on, I wouldn't worry so much.

That said, with a foot prop the seat won't rotate down much and that will reduce ramping up, and also he doesn't have anything to hit his head on. So in your case I would be comfortable with going to even with the shell.

 

cookie123

New member

• Oct 17, 2011

• #3

If you haven't seen it, this thread might help with your measuring.

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=30201

 

lil.miss32

New member

• Oct 17, 2011

• #4

I have seen that, thank you I'm just curious about personal opinions

 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician

• Oct 17, 2011

• #5

With a foot prop, I wouldn't even consider being concerned about using the seat to the stated limit.
Scroll down on this page to see the video of a braced seat crashing... http://cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx

 

lil.miss32

New member

• Oct 17, 2011

• #6

So I've got about at least until he's 4 then (theoretically)??

 

Carrie_R

Ambassador - CPS Technician

• Oct 17, 2011

• #7

Yup, with the seat braced like that (foot prop) I wouldn't hesitate to use it to the limits of the manual (ie, head even with the top of the shell in this case.) He should make it to 4.

 

TechnoGranola

Forum Ambassador

• Oct 17, 2011

• #8

Okay, I thought the Multitech could be used RF until tops of ears were even with top of shell? Or is that the TWE I'm thinking of? Or a different seat entirely?

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lil.miss32

New member

• Oct 17, 2011

• #9

Just looked at the manual, and it says eye level. I'm not sure I feel comfy with THAT tho...

 

TechnoGranola

Forum Ambassador

• Oct 17, 2011

• #10

lil.miss32 said:

Just looked at the manual, and it says eye level. I'm not sure I feel comfy with THAT tho...

Click to expand...

Ah okay, eye level. The seat passes ECE testing that way and has the foot prop so I'd probably be fine with it.

Although I don't personally have a kid in that situation so perhaps I'd think differently if I did.

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Pixels

New member

• Oct 17, 2011

• #11

lil.miss32 said:

Just looked at the manual, and it says eye level. I'm not sure I feel comfy with THAT tho...

Click to expand...

I agree, because of whiplash. Top of the head, sure. Eye level, no. Ramping up will be reduced, not eliminated.

 

gsdguenter

Well-known member

• Oct 17, 2011

• #12

I will use our MT until the top of the head is even with the top at the highest setting, but I don't think I'll go over. We'll see.

 

finn

New member

• Oct 18, 2011

• #13

We used our freeway until ds's ears were inline with the top of the shell, mainly because he loved the seat so much I was trying to get as long as possible in it he out grew it at 3 years 9 months it doesn't have a foot prop but has been tested & passed that way so I was fine with it.

You'd have trouble going over the top of the shell in the MT wouldn't you? I would think the belt guides would get in the way.

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