Re Infant Carrier...Do I HAVE to put the handle down?

Shilohsmom · Jul 9, 2008

We have a 2000 Honda Civic EX 2 door go-cart

it seems like. Right now, somehow...I managed to get our Designer 22 infant car seat in the middle and a BLVD FFing outboard behind the driver. I have the handle down on the infant seat per the instruction manual...but it makes it dang near impossible for my over 6 foot tall husband to recline his seat at all.

Do I HAVE to have the handle down? Also, it is ok if the back of the carrier rests up against the back of the seat in front of it?

We also have an evenflo infant seat but the directions said to leave an inch and a half between the back of the carrier and the seat in front of it. That makes it IMPOSSIBLE for anyone to sit in the front seat without have their legs tucked up by their ears.

Thoughts? Advice? I also have a scenera or comfortsport that I can use instead if you think that'd be better...BUT...it HAS to go in the middle then to leave space on the outside for an adult to sit down and put a baby in. That doesn't make it all so easy!

TIA guys!

Patriot201 · Jul 9, 2008

I am not familiar with the Designer 22. Hopefully someone will come along who is.

If the manual says the handle must be down, however, I think the handle has to be down.

Defrost · Jul 9, 2008

The Designer 22 requires the handle to be down.

I'm not sure if it allows resting on the vehicle seat in front of it.

I would try the Scenera and the Comfortsport - it's quite possible it will give you more room, even with the 45 degree angle (how old is your baby, btw?)

If those didn't work, I'd consider installing the 22 without the base. That can be tricky, but that might give you more legroom, and you can keep it installed and just "thread" the baby under the seatbelt so you're not constantly re-installing it.

And if THAT didn't work, the only other suggestion is to buy a new carseat and try it out first to find one that gives the best fit.

Shilohsmom · Jul 9, 2008

Thanks for the help! My baby isn't born yet! Though if she keeps my BP up as high as its been...she's going to be born sooner than we think

I'm going to try moving the seats around a little too. If I put her behind the drivers seat (I do 99% of the driving because DH HATES to drive) then I don't need it as far back as he does. The only time DH ever drives is when he is by himself...so then the carrier doesn't need to be in the car, KWIM? and he could put the seat back.

So...we will try some things. Leaving the car seat without the base might help too. We aren't the type of parents who tote around a baby in an infant carrier...I usually picked up my little boy from his seat and put him in a sling/wrap...so leaving it installed in the car is fine with me!

Thanks for the ideas. I'm going to go clean out our messy car and play musical car seats before it hits triple digits here

unityco · Jul 9, 2008

We had a Designer 22, and I used to put the handle one click PAST down, so it would be lower than the shell - does that make sense? It got it out of the way so you had that extra inch or so of space, same as if you left it up.

I will totally defer to Defrost on this, and say the handle can't be up, but I can't remember reading that in my manual (and I remember looking for it, because at the time I thought ALL infant seats had to have their handle down.) I remember not being able to find any specific direction on handle position for driving, but it could have been sleep-deprived, postpartum oversight on my part.

CDNTech · Jul 9, 2008

Designer 22 definitely can *not* be left up. We see a lot of these at checks.

I recommend that most parents move the handle down to the lowest position, as the pp described. It does give you more room to play with and can be all the way down in the vehicle.

unityco · Jul 9, 2008

I must have been totally out to lunch back then!

Thanks, Jen.

joolsplus3 · Jul 9, 2008

I think Dorel has stopped insisting the handle be down, I'd call them to find out. (Someone reported this from Lifesavers, I'm trying to find that information).
Or just buy a seat that allows the handle to be up (Graco/Chicco/Combi) :twocents:

Edit, found it... this is a report from a cps tech who attended the Product Updates and Dorel said handles up were OK

Dorel
- Infant handles can now be in the upright positions- this is retroactive on all carriers
http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=410905&postcount=33

But I really would call Cosco for clarification, unless your seat is new enough that it's actually in the manual?

Defrost · Jul 9, 2008

Oh, that's good to know, thanks Jools!

Meeh · Jul 9, 2008

Thanks for that info!

Re Infant Carrier...Do I HAVE to put the handle down?

Shilohsmom

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Patriot201

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Defrost

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unityco

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