LATCH or center seat?

jfloyd18 · Oct 8, 2005

Hi. I actually have two questions.

First: I have a Montana minivan with 3 seats in the middle section. The two outside seats are equipped with LATCH, but the middle seat is not and only has a lap belt. Is it safer to put my daughter in the middle or to use the LATCH system?

Second: I just bought a Graco Turbo booster seat for my older son and was not positive on how to do the seat belt. Mine lock if pulled all the way out. Should I strap him in like I would an adult (not locked) or should I lock the belt after strapping him in?

Thanks for any help.

Jennifer

Victorious4 · Oct 8, 2005

We might help more if we know year/make/model, ages/weights/heights & brand

1. Read your vehicle & carseat manuals.... If your vehicle manual does not completely disallow installing a carseat in the center with LATCH & the space between the lower anchors does not exceed the carseat manufacturer's requirement then it's OK - you may need to call the carseat manufacturer customer service.... Also, is your daughter rear-facing or forward-facing? If she is RF, then it won't matter yet whether there's a top tether anchor for the middle ... but if she is FF she is safer using a top tether.

In my 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid, the manual said carseats shouldn't be installed in the middle with LATCH unless the carseat manufacturer is OK with doing so - I called Britax ... they had me get the measurement between the lower anchors & said it was OK to install our seat there.

2. You don't have to lock the seatbelt, but if your son is not used to the booster & might not sit still properly for the entire length of every ride, then locking the belt can be a safe tool for reminding kiddo to sit still

jfloyd18 · Oct 9, 2005

My daughter is 21 months, forward facing and in a Alpha Omega carseat. My 2001 Pontiac Montana has the tether in the middle seat but not the lower anchors. However, the side seats both have the lower anchors as well as the tether. Is it safer to put her in the middle without the lower anchors or to put her in the side seat with the lower anchors?

Thanks,
Jennifer

shellebelle · Oct 9, 2005

It's safer to install her car seat in the center with the seat belt and use the top tether anchor for that position. You want her away from any possible source of intrustion in a crash.

Victorious4 · Oct 10, 2005

If you have a hard time getting a good install (less than 1" movement), visit your local tech for free help

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/

LATCH or center seat?

jfloyd18

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Victorious4

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jfloyd18

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shellebelle

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Victorious4

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