Steep recline FF 4Ever

MelodyoftheForest

Active member
My LO is small and might not hit 30 pounds, my state's lower FF weight limit, until after her 4th birthday. And she may not hit 40 pounds, my state's lower booster weight limit, until she is 7. Her seat in our car now is a RF 4Ever, and she will have to be in recline 4 FF, probably for the whole time she is FF. Is that going to be super annoying for her as she gets older? The 4Ever is probably not what I would have chosen given more time, but I had to get something when her last seat was crashed out, and I felt most confident about that one of the options I had. I have a SureRide that I plan to use as her grandparent/travel seat when she is FF, so that will be pretty upright. She rides with my parents daily during the week, only short trips. I like having something more comfy in our car because we drive long distances a few times a year. Do you think a cushy combination seat would be something she would be happier to use at 6 years old instead of the really reclined 4Ever? I am mulling things over now in case I want to keep an eye out for a combination seat during Black Friday sales. I probably won't use it until next summer.

Hopefully my brain fog doesn't keep y'all from understanding me!
 
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murphydog77

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
I really dislike the full recline 4 that Graco requires on a few of their seats because of the lack of legroom it leaves kids. We know FF kids are prone to more leg injuries so I'd be looking for a combo seat.
 

CTPDMom

Ambassador - CPS Technician
It would irritate the poop outta me to have to ride so reclined, so I'm going to say yes, it's a possibility she won't appreciate it and yes, I'd be looking for something else.

The Graco Atlas was just $88 and that's one of my favorites!
 

MelodyoftheForest

Active member
Thanks! I am leaning toward the Evenflo SafeMax 3 in 1 right now. I like that it has the temperature-regulating fabric and extra testing. I was hoping Consumer Reports would have testing of this category of seats out by the time I was looking at them. Also, there is the Chicco mystery seat that seems likely to be a combo seat. If that comes out 1st quarter next year as they have said, I might be interested in that. We loved our KeyFit and NextFit!
 

MelodyoftheForest

Active member
I went and did some test installations of the 4Ever today. In the position it is in now, RF behind driver in a 2017 Corolla, it is at about a 34 degree angle. FF on recline 4 in the same spot is about 49 degrees from vertical. It isn't much better in the flatter center position, where it is at 45 degrees. I also noticed that the angle of the 4Ever would cause the head section to hit the slightly forward-tilting outboard head restraints within a notch or two of where she would need it FF. In the center, the 4Ever is too wide for pretty much anyone to sit next to it. However, it didn't have a head restraint behind it to restrict the raising of the headrest because I had to remove it for installation.

So, yeah, I don't think V would appreciate being significantly more reclined FF than RF. Once I explained all this to my DH, he understood that the 4Ever was not going to be a good long-term solution. Does anyone know why there are these rules for more recline for lighter kids? I noticed the same kinds of rules on a number of combination seats from different manufactures, too. Of course, the recline on those seats shouldn't be anywhere near the 4Ever.
 
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MelodyoftheForest

Active member
I figured it had a basis in testing results. Chest loads make sense.

V sat in an Evolve Platinum at BRU yesterday and loved the coziness of it. I guess she is not a kid to feel restricted with giant head wings and lots of padding! I will be keeping an eye out for deals on that and the SafeMax. I think the temperature-regulating fabrics are going to make a big difference for V’s comfort.
 

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