Question Chicco Nextfit uses Euro RF height guideline?

H

HayleyCPST

New member

• Oct 22, 2012

• #1

Came across this blog post from a CPST who attended the ABC kids Expo last week.

"While the general US rule is top of the head 1 inch from the top of the shell… the European rule (and what the NextFit uses) is TOP OF THE EARS 1 inch from the top of the shell. Which means a child’s head CAN rise above the seat and still be able to rearface."

Is this true? I'm unsure because....
#1. carseatblog did not mention this, and I trust that they post accurate, correct news.
#2. Europe's guideline for rear facing is that the child outgrows it by height when the top of the ears are even with the top of the shell (or 1/3 of the child's head above the shell), not 1" from it.
#3. Does she mean the top of the shell or the top of the head rest? The reason I ask is because the head rest extends beyond the shell.
#4. I'm assuming the 1" rule does not take into account the orange harness height adjuster on the head rest?

If someone can clarify or can ask Chicco that would be great. This could be very significant information!

 

murphydog77

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Oct 22, 2012

• #2

1" from the top of the headrest.

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Oct 22, 2012

• #3

murphydog77 said:

1" from the top of the headrest.

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That's head, right? Not ears?

 

Kecia

Admin - CPST Instructor

• Oct 22, 2012

• #4

Correct, NextFit is outgrown RF by height when top of head is 1" from top of shell.

 

murphydog77

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Oct 23, 2012

• #5

LISmama810 said:

That's head, right? Not ears?

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Well, duh, couldn't you read my mind when I typed it ? I seriously need to shut my computer down and walk away. Far away. It's really better for others if I do .

 

Cryssy Jane

New member

• Oct 23, 2012

• #6

murphydog77 said:

1" from the top of the headrest.

Click to expand...

Kecia said:

Correct, NextFit is outgrown RF by height when top of head is 1" from top of shell.

Click to expand...

wait, shell or headrest?

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Oct 23, 2012

• #7

murphydog77 said:

Well, duh, couldn't you read my mind when I typed it ?

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Well of course *I* could. I was asking for the benefit of the others...

 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Oct 23, 2012

• #8

Headrest, unless things have changed since KIM. We measured it all the way up to get seated height.

Wendy

 

Kecia

Admin - CPST Instructor

• Oct 23, 2012

• #9

wendytthomas said:

Headrest, unless things have changed since KIM. We measured it all the way up to get seated height.

Wendy

Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

Sorry - I was trying to clarify and I proceeded to muddy the waters even more! Yes, it is 1" to top of headwings, not shell.

 

murphydog77

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Oct 23, 2012

• #10

So, so, so glad it's not just me who suffered from last week .

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Oct 23, 2012

• #11

Maybe if you guys laid off the booze while there...

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Oct 23, 2012

• #12

ketchupqueen said:

Maybe if you guys laid off the booze while there...

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:ROTFLMAO:

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Oct 23, 2012

• #13

(Although, if you ever need someone to come with and stay sober, you have a willing volunteer. )

 

murphydog77

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Oct 23, 2012

• #14

LOL! I can't drink so I can't even blame that!

 

abbi_n_nadia

New member

• Oct 23, 2012

• #15

Kind of an off topic question but why are these new seats allowing their head to be above the shell? I mean cause other seats have had headrests that raise up higher than the shell but still maintained the 1" below top of shell rule. I read in another thread someone questioning the safety of having the head above the shell and said they pictured the headrest hitting something behind it, bending forward and causing the child's head to get pushed forward and chin into their chest. Nobody responded to this concern in the other thread. I'm thinking there must be metal bars supporting the headrests or something?

 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Oct 23, 2012

• #16

It's just whether or not the headrest is reinforced. The only seat I know of that doesn't allow the head to go above the shell but has a headrest that goes far beyond it is the Britax convertibles. And those headrests won't take an initial force of a crash. They'll break. They were designed to cradle the head forward facing, not extend rear facing time.

Wendy

 

abbi_n_nadia

New member

• Oct 23, 2012

• #17

So all of the other convertibles with headrests that raise up higher than the shell are reinforced? The britax convertibles are what I was thinking of but I figured there were others with headrests and the 1" rule also.

 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor

Staff member

• Oct 24, 2012

• #18

Generally, yes.

Wendy

 

abbi_n_nadia

New member

• Oct 25, 2012

• #19

Thanks Wendy! That makes me feel a little better knowing there's some sort of substantial support in the headrests. I just hadn't seen much discussion on the safety of the headrests so was wondering what makes it ok to go above the shell now.

Sorry for my rambling.