kick mat safety and rec and sun shield rec please

I think the consensus in the past was that a lightweight kickmat is okay to use on newer front seats, because it's not enough weight to affect the sensors. However, I came upon a thread discussing the potential to block the torso airbags exit path. The kick mats I have now attach in two places, up high onto the head rest bars and low down along the seat bight. Is that okay? How can I tell for sure if I'm blocking anything?

Also, my current kick mats don't appear to be water proof and would work better being a bit longer, as the kids sometimes manage to get their feet underneath the bottom edge. Recommendations? Although I don't love the black and would prefer gray, the Britax ones look nice. Do they offer good coverage? Vehicle manufacturers don't sell anything like this, right? They should sell machine washable, safe with your car, and matching your interior kick mats, although they'd probably charge $160 for them.

Finally, we don't have tinted windows and DD2 is complaining a lot about her seat getting hot and DD1 complains about the bright sun. How well do those cling sun shades work? Can you still open the windows? Brand recommendations?

Thanks for all the help!!!

I have the Britax kick mat and had it on the back of my front seat for a bit for driving my niece and nephew around (they always get foot prints all over my seats) but they would still just tuck their feet underneath it. It connects at the top and in the middle but the bottom just hangs. I do like it for using with DS's rear facing seat in the winter though.

For sunshades, I always used hats and big white towels. Sunglasses as ds got older. throw the white towel over the seat when you take your kiddo out.

You can get cling tint from the auto parts store. At least you can see through it. The cling ons you can't see through create blind spots and that is a serious issue for all in the vehicle.

jacqui276 said:

I have the Britax kick mat and had it on the back of my front seat for a bit for driving my niece and nephew around (they always get foot prints all over my seats) but they would still just tuck their feet underneath it. It connects at the top and in the middle but the bottom just hangs. I do like it for using with DS's rear facing seat in the winter though.

Click to expand...

The elastic didn't look that far from the bottom, but you're saying it's far enough it doesn't work well? My current one isn't right at the bottom either, although it works most of the time. I haven't ruled out moving/adding ties to the bottom to go around the seat legs. Otherwise, does it provide a large area? Maybe I need to just get my hands on them and see how they work in my car, but I did't know if I should look at any other brands.

DogznKatz said:

For sunshades, I always used hats and big white towels. Sunglasses as ds got older. throw the white towel over the seat when you take your kiddo out.

You can get cling tint from the auto parts store. At least you can see through it. The cling ons you can't see through create blind spots and that is a serious issue for all in the vehicle.

Click to expand...

Which ones aren't see through? I hadn't realized there were any that weren't simply tinted areas. I would not want anything that created a blind spot. Do they sell window sized pieces or does it come in a roll?

The white towels are a great idea if I could train the kids to do it. Thanks!

i have the diono cling window cling shades. you can still see through them just fine.
i've had them on my windows for over 2 years and they stay on. never had a problem with them at all. taken them off and put them back on etc without any issues.

It still has a bit of a flap at the bottom and the elastic to attach it makes my front passenger seat super uncomfortable as the elastic hits the person about mid-back and doesn't sit flush against the seat. I wish that it was lower so that it would sit in the seat bite. If I get a chance to throw it in my car in the next couple days I will take a picture.

I love it for my rear facer though as it provides good coverage, is water proof and doesn't go under the seat so doesn't affect the install.

We have the Brica kick mats from Target and they seem to fit the (backs of the) front seats correctly. The elastic is pretty new to the bottom and kinda tucks into the seat bight. I don't notice the elastic when I sit in the driver or passenger front seats.

xursusmaritimusx said:

i have the diono cling window cling shades. you can still see through them just fine.
i've had them on my windows for over 2 years and they stay on. never had a problem with them at all. taken them off and put them back on etc without any issues.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll check those out.

jacqui276 said:

It still has a bit of a flap at the bottom and the elastic to attach it makes my front passenger seat super uncomfortable as the elastic hits the person about mid-back and doesn't sit flush against the seat. I wish that it was lower so that it would sit in the seat bite. If I get a chance to throw it in my car in the next couple days I will take a picture.

I love it for my rear facer though as it provides good coverage, is water proof and doesn't go under the seat so doesn't affect the install.

Click to expand...

I wish I'd known about that when I had a RFer. Sounds great! FYI the ones I have on now I have on a loose setting, so that the top is lower than the seat top, otherwise the elastic would probably sit too high on the seat. I don't know how adjustable the Britax ones are, but you might want to try that. For us, it's the lower part that gets really dirty.

aept said:

We have the Brica kick mats from Target and they seem to fit the (backs of the) front seats correctly. The elastic is pretty new to the bottom and kinda tucks into the seat bight. I don't notice the elastic when I sit in the driver or passenger front seats.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll check those out!

I've used the Britax kick mats for the last 8-9 months and love them. The elastic isn't that far from the bottom IMO. They provide great coverage. Their window clings don't work well in cold weather, but they work great in the summer.