Harness slot question

gobsmacked · Sep 5, 2006

DS is in a MA. When he sits in the seat in the house with no cover on, his shoulders are below the 3rd slot. But, in the car, the seat has a slight recline (he's FF, btw) and that, combined with the adding the cover puts the straps right at and almost slightly above the shoulder. So, should I move up to the top slots?

gobsmacked · Sep 6, 2006

Can anyone help me out on this one?

chaoticoctopus · Sep 6, 2006

gobsmacked said:
DS is in a MA. When he sits in the seat in the house with no cover on, his shoulders are below the 3rd slot. But, in the car, the seat has a slight recline (he's FF, btw) and that, combined with the adding the cover puts the straps right at and almost slightly above the shoulder. So, should I move up to the top slots?

(bold mine) I thought that while FF, the harness is *supposed* to be at, or slightly above, the shoulder? And at, or slightly *below* for RF. Or is it different from carseat to carseat?

If the harness is still at or above his shoulder when properly installed in your vehicle, and the mfr's manual recommends that for FF, I would assume it's still fine as it is. But, I would personally go by the in-vehicle installment measurements than the in-the-house measurement.

Disclaimer: NOT A TECH.

gobsmacked · Sep 6, 2006

Well, that's the thing. It is ABOVE his shoulders with the cover off and the seat not in the car. In the car, it is right at the shoulders with cover on, and seat at a slight incline compared to being inside. So, I need to know which one to use- with cover or without?

chaoticoctopus · Sep 6, 2006

I'm curious to see what the techs will say. I would assume to go by the configuration you will actually use in the vehicle (cover on, at a slight recline), rather than how the child fits in the seat outside of that environment. But assuming can be dangerous, so I hope you get a for-sure answer from a tech.

Kellyr2 · Sep 6, 2006

Not a tech, and I thought I responded already, but I'll respond again because I don't see it!
Okay, first off, I woudln't worry about what its like OUT of the car at all, as obviously, you'll be IN the car when it actually would be used. As for the cover - I've seen techs mention to make sure that the actual restraint's slot is at or above - not just the slot in the cover.
So - I'd put the seat in the vehicle, and then the child in the seat and then FEEL to see which slot is at or above. You can usually wiggle the slots on the cover around enough to tell if they're higher or lower than the slots in the shell.

tech_raechel · Sep 6, 2006

Yes, go by the way he measures in the seat when it's installed. Just make sure that the slots in the cover are lining up with the actual slots in the shell when you're measuring.

So, at this point C is right where he should be. Do keep an eye on it, but don't worry about moving it up to the next slot until his shoulder is just above the slot. Mainly what you want to avoid is having the strap come out actually behind him (for forward-facing) and introducing slack in an accident - and I'm quite sure what you're looking at is minimal and you're over-thinking it.

Raechel
mom of 3 boys and CPST

Harness slot question

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