EmmaCPST
CPST Instructor
http://www.facebook.com/BabyTrend/posts/337676226269282 (there were two posts because they didn't reply at first and they keep responding to a different one, so I consolidated the text here)...
Emma Douglas
I won the Fastback contest, and received the seat on Friday - thank you! But I can NOT get it installed with a seat belt in any vehicle. I'm a CPST, I've done hundreds of installs and no matter what I do, the seat belt is tight but there is still side to side movement as well as rotational movement at the belt path in the five different vehicles I've tried. The LATCH is great - but there are tons of vehicles and seating positions that don't have LATCH! I've also tried it as a booster with several kids and the belt fit is pretty atrocious, the lap belt sits way up in the child's tummy. I'm really, really disappointed with this seat, Baby Trend.
Baby Trend
We have tested the car seat in hundreds of vehicles and wanted to know, can you tell us what vehicles you installed the car seat in? We want to investigate this further. Thanks for your feedback!
Emma Douglas
1998 Honda CRV, 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 1999 Honda Odyssey, 2005 Chevy Impala, and a 2009 Mazda CX-9. Booster fit was tried with a 33 pound 3.5 year old (who does NOT ride in a booster, ever, but meets the requirements according to the instruction manual, he was just checked for fit), a 48 pound 6 year old, and a 42 pound 4.5 year old. The older kids are not mine and I don't have permission to share their pictures, but I will share a picture of my 3.5 year old.
Baby Trend
Unfortunately, we cannot locate a 1998 Honda CRV quickly to investigate. However, we are still trying. In the meantime please be advised that Baby Trend strives to make sure that our car seats can be installed in as many vehicles as possi...ble.
Since you are a CPST you should know that not all vehicles have a safe location to be installed and older models (pre 2000) do not have LATCH anchors. The FastBack’s innovative design takes full advantage of a vehicles energy management during a collision using the built in REMS and the vehicles LATCH anchors. This method is far superior over a belted installation because it eliminates the movement of the seat due to the stretching properties of belts. The FastBack can also be installed using the vehicles belts and is just as easy or difficult as any other car seat using this method in the same vehicle. However, one of the biggest features of this seat in the exclusive REMS which is the easiest, most secure and preferred installation method that takes full advantage of the increased safety features when installed in vehicles equipped with LATCH anchors.
Because it is impossible to check every production model for every car manufacture we test fit in most models for the previous 10 years. Also, please note that on page 22 of the Owner’s Manual it reads:
Not all vehicle seat belts or seating locations can be used with this Car Seat. Read vehicle owner’s manual and “Vehicle Seat Belts” section in this manual.
Some vehicles do not have any safe location for this Car Seat to be installed. In addition, many vehicles do not have seat belt systems that will adequately hold this Car Seat in the required position. Please refer to both this manual and your vehicle owner’s manual for complete information for proper, safe installation of this Car Seat.
Emma Douglas
I won the Fastback contest, and received the seat on Friday - thank you! But I can NOT get it installed with a seat belt in any vehicle. I'm a CPST, I've done hundreds of installs and no matter what I do, the seat belt is tight but there is still side to side movement as well as rotational movement at the belt path in the five different vehicles I've tried. The LATCH is great - but there are tons of vehicles and seating positions that don't have LATCH! I've also tried it as a booster with several kids and the belt fit is pretty atrocious, the lap belt sits way up in the child's tummy. I'm really, really disappointed with this seat, Baby Trend.
Baby Trend
We have tested the car seat in hundreds of vehicles and wanted to know, can you tell us what vehicles you installed the car seat in? We want to investigate this further. Thanks for your feedback!
Emma Douglas
1998 Honda CRV, 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 1999 Honda Odyssey, 2005 Chevy Impala, and a 2009 Mazda CX-9. Booster fit was tried with a 33 pound 3.5 year old (who does NOT ride in a booster, ever, but meets the requirements according to the instruction manual, he was just checked for fit), a 48 pound 6 year old, and a 42 pound 4.5 year old. The older kids are not mine and I don't have permission to share their pictures, but I will share a picture of my 3.5 year old.
Baby Trend
Unfortunately, we cannot locate a 1998 Honda CRV quickly to investigate. However, we are still trying. In the meantime please be advised that Baby Trend strives to make sure that our car seats can be installed in as many vehicles as possi...ble.
Since you are a CPST you should know that not all vehicles have a safe location to be installed and older models (pre 2000) do not have LATCH anchors. The FastBack’s innovative design takes full advantage of a vehicles energy management during a collision using the built in REMS and the vehicles LATCH anchors. This method is far superior over a belted installation because it eliminates the movement of the seat due to the stretching properties of belts. The FastBack can also be installed using the vehicles belts and is just as easy or difficult as any other car seat using this method in the same vehicle. However, one of the biggest features of this seat in the exclusive REMS which is the easiest, most secure and preferred installation method that takes full advantage of the increased safety features when installed in vehicles equipped with LATCH anchors.
Because it is impossible to check every production model for every car manufacture we test fit in most models for the previous 10 years. Also, please note that on page 22 of the Owner’s Manual it reads:
Not all vehicle seat belts or seating locations can be used with this Car Seat. Read vehicle owner’s manual and “Vehicle Seat Belts” section in this manual.
Some vehicles do not have any safe location for this Car Seat to be installed. In addition, many vehicles do not have seat belt systems that will adequately hold this Car Seat in the required position. Please refer to both this manual and your vehicle owner’s manual for complete information for proper, safe installation of this Car Seat.