FTM, confused! Subaru and Graco Snugride

Help! I tried searching the threads, you all are so knowledgeable but I think I am hopelessly confused.

I have a 2003 Forester and a Graco Snugride. Can anyone help with a few ?s:

1) The way I understand things I can install the seat in the center with the seatbelt or outboard with the LATCH. Assuming a good installation in either location, which is safer?

2) The seat seems to tilt to the left when installed in the center with the belt, am I doing somehting wrong?

3) I am confused about the "45 degree angle". With respect to what does the angle need to be? 45 degrees "forward" or 45 degree towards the "back"?

THANKS!

Jamie

1) The way I understand things I can install the seat in the center with the seatbelt or outboard with the LATCH. Assuming a good installation in either location, which is safer?

Assuming a good and tight installation in both the middle is safer.

2) The seat seems to tilt to the left when installed in the center with the belt, am I doing somehting wrong?

Is it a shoulder/lap belt? If so you may need to use a locking clip if you want it in the center. Are you putting the shoulder strap through the belt path on the base? Check the manual, should that happen? Are you tightening the lap belt first, then pulling the entire shoulder belt out until it locks, letting it retract back in while you apply extra pressure (a knee or hand) to the base?

3) I am confused about the "45 degree angle". With respect to what does the angle need to be? 45 degrees "forward" or 45 degree towards the "back"?

With respect to the road (provided your road is flat). With an infant seat you should have an angle check somewhere, either a line that should be flat to the road when it's correct, or a line on a swivel that should be in the green, or a bubble like a shop level, or a dot that needs to sit in the green spot. It'll tell you somewhere if the level is right. If you cannot get it right with just the leg or moving it around (if there is a leg) then you need to take it to a tech and they'll use pool noodles to get it tight and at the right angle.

HTH

Wendy

Thanks! You make it sound so logical. I really appreciate your input!

http://www.carseatsite.com/reclineangle.htm

That page might help you with the recline angle. Wendy gave you lots of great advice. LATCH and seatbelt installs are supposed to be equal, safetywise. One may be safer than the other if it provides a better installation, so definitely use whichever you can get a better installation with. Center is safest because it's farthest from any point of impact, but if LATCH outboard gets a better install, by all means, put it there.

Make sure your CAR manual says that you can use LATCH in the middle. Car makers only have to install 2 LATCH positions and usually the center isn't one of them.

Some car makers do go above and beyond---I have 3 LATCH positions in my car, but I can't use all 3 at once because 2 positions share an anchor.

Susan