what's the proper way to carry a car seat?

Melanie

New member
I've been carrying my Marathon (& previous DC & BV) by the harness straps. I'm getting the impression from other threads that this is not ok. Can I carry it by the tether strap? Am I stuck having to carry it by the shell only?

Do different car seats have different ways to carry them? If so, how is a Frontier carried?
 
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mom2juliarose

New member
I always carry my Marathon by the shell, with the harness straps facing towards me. (Hooking my hands on the edges of each side of the shell.)
 

Melanie

New member
So have I damaged the harness straps? Do they need to be replaced?

I haven't carried it through an airport or anything. It's been used for about a year and gets switched between cars or brought into the house 2-3x a month.
 

Ahzryn

Active member
I'd call Britax and ask. I believe it causes problems/damage to the adjuster. The last time I looked there was a warning to never carry it by the straps in the manual :(
 

crunchierthanthou

New member
You're fine. really. It's probably not the best for the webbing and it's not something I'd keep doing, but I don't think you've ruined the harness. The radian actually recommends using the harness to carry. The Frontier manual is the first I've seen that specifically forbids it. Until now, Britax manuals have only warned against carrying by the adjuster strap (and that's still all the current convertible manuals say on the matter).

Carrying by the tether is fine and is my prefered method. I like to loop the tether over my shoulder and carry it like a duffle bag. Although, we use a luggage cart for travel rather than lugging it through the airport.

here's what the MA/BV/DC manuals say-

Never use adjuster strap to lift or carry this child seat. Doing so
could cause damage to harness adjuster and webbing. Always
carry this child seat by its shell or tether straps.
 

Mommy2Marcus

New member
I generally carry mine by the shell. However I have been known to accdently pick it up once or twice by the harness. I have also carried it using the tether strap. I do not think you have damaged the harness unless you're carrying it this way daily! So I would not really worry about what you have done in the past, just now that you know better use a different method to carry the seat!
 

Jeanum

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
Staff member
You're fine. really. It's probably not the best for the webbing and it's not something I'd keep doing, but I don't think you've ruined the harness. The radian actually recommends using the harness to carry. The Frontier manual is the first I've seen that specifically forbids it. Until now, Britax manuals have only warned against carrying by the adjuster strap (and that's still all the current convertible manuals say on the matter).

Carrying by the tether is fine and is my prefered method. I like to loop the tether over my shoulder and carry it like a duffle bag. Although, we use a luggage cart for travel rather than lugging it through the airport.

here's what the MA/BV/DC manuals say-

Quote:
Never use adjuster strap to lift or carry this child seat. Doing so
could cause damage to harness adjuster and webbing. Always
carry this child seat by its shell or tether straps.




I'm a tad surprised the Britax manuals indicate carrying by the tether is allowed because of the rip-stitch tether, KWIM? I wonder if Britax needs to consider an update to the manuals? :confused:
 

crunchierthanthou

New member
I'm a tad surprised the Britax manuals indicate carrying by the tether is allowed because of the rip-stitch tether, KWIM? I wonder if Britax needs to consider an update to the manuals? :confused:

that's an excellent point. even the Frontier manual still suggests the tether as a carrying option-

Never use the harness or adjuster strap to lift or carry this child
seat. Doing so could damage the harness adjuster and webbing.
Always carry this child seat by the shell or tether straps.
 

Jeanum

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
Staff member
It sure looks like "boiler plate" wording that Britax probably just carried forward from versions of the manuals pre-dating the rip-stitch tether, doesn't it?
 

cowgirlsmommy

New member
Britax seats are so huge I just carry them in front of me by the shell. Except for the Regent. That thing I basically hold it upside down behind me by the shell with the bottom of the seat on my head. It's too big to carry any other way.
 

sunnymw

New member
Usually I turn it upside down and set the seat of the seat (where DS's butt goes) on the top of my head :p Sucks after road trips cause I get cheerio'd!!

Sometimes--and I'm not sure if this is ok--but there is a metal bar on the back of the seat and I move it short distances holding it by that.
 

Victorious4

Senior Community Member
Carrying a lightweight seat like the Cosco Scenera by the straps probably isn't as worrisome as carrying a heavy seat like the Britax Regent by the straps ;) Although, mostly for the sake of forming good habits, I do routinely teach parents to carry seats by the hard frame/shell, usually by the base of it (I've seen adjustable headrests become somewhat warped overtime from constantly holding onto the same side).

Continuing to use straps that have been machine washed or ironed or that were restraining a child during a crash is far more dangerous.
 

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