2.5 yr old, 34 lbs and rearfacing in Marathon

es1967 · May 21, 2009

Is my DS still okay rearfacing in his Britax Marathon? He is a little over 2.5 yrs old and weighs 34 lbs. I always get confused reading about this on other sites. Thanks for your help.

Blondie87 · May 21, 2009

Is that 34 lbs with all his clothes and shoes on? I would turn him around now, unless you want to weigh him every morning before you walk out the door. He's just so close to the weight limit already, now's usually the time to flip him.

es1967 · May 21, 2009

Yes, thats w clothes on at the Dr's office. He weighs around 32 lbs on our scale at home. Are you sure its time to turn him around? I was hoping to keep him rear facing as long as possible.

Blondie87 · May 21, 2009

Unless you get a Graco MyRide65 it's time to turn him. The Marathon only rear faces to 35 lbs, so you can't do it past that. The MyRide rear faces to 40 lbs.

jess71903 · May 21, 2009

All of this is also assuming that you have a Marathon that RF to 35lbs. That change was fairly recent. You could have a 33lb one in which case you need to turn it before you go out again.

Mama Jo · May 21, 2009

Is he close to outgrowing the MA RF by height also? (Does he have close to an inch left of shell above his head?)

If he has quite a bit of growing room height-wise, and you really want to keep him RF, I'd spring for a MR. If he's close to outgrowing by height too, then I'd just turn him.

Or you can weigh him every morning. And dress him in light weight clothes. It may take several months for him to gain that extra lb. Or he might gain it tomorrow. You just never know...

es1967 · May 21, 2009

Wow, I thought I had alot of time to go before turning him around. Glad we went to the pedi's office and I happened to research this question again. I'm going to look for my manual asap. Now do I FF in the middle of the backseat or behind the passenger seat? Hmmmn. My DH will be happy. He has been pushing this for a while.

Blondie87 · May 21, 2009

es1967 said:
Wow, I thought I had alot of time to go before turning him around. Glad we went to the pedi's office and I happened to research this question again. I'm going to look for my manual asap. Now do I FF in the middle of the backseat or behind the passenger seat? Hmmmn. My DH will be happy. He has been pushing this for a while.

The middle is safest, but if outboard is much easier for you then that's okay too. Do you have top tethers in your car? It's strongly recommended that you tether your child's seat when it is forward facing. It reduces head excursion.

Mama Jo · May 21, 2009

The middle is obviously the safest seating location in the vehicle as long as it's convenient for you and you'll be able to buckle him in safely and properly every time.

But if you need to put him on the side for any reason (other passengers, easier to buckle, etc.) I wouldn't worry too much about it. Simply being in a 5 point harness offers an element of side impact protection above and beyond what being restrained in a seatbelt provides. :thumbsup:

es1967 · May 21, 2009

Blondie87 said:
The middle is safest, but if outboard is much easier for you then that's okay too. Do you have top tethers in your car? It's strongly recommended that you tether your child's seat when it is forward facing. It reduces head excursion.

Not sure about the top tethers. Are they on the top of the seats? I have a Volvo S40. I just checked my manual and it says 33lbs.

Thanks for all the help.

celtic1885 · May 21, 2009

es1967 said:
Not sure about the top tethers. Are they on the top of the seats? I have a Volvo S40. I just checked my manual and it says 33lbs.
Thanks for all the help.

What year is your Volvo? If you look in your car manual under "LATCH" or Child Safety Seats there should be diagrams of where they are located on your vehicle. The top tether will be indicated by a symbol looking like an anchor.......(clear as mud - sorry)

Also, if you give us the year of your car we can check the LATCH manual and let you know.

es1967 · May 21, 2009

Its a 2005 and it does have them. I just checked the manual.

apsupermom · May 21, 2009

What year is your Volvo? We had a 99 and there were tether points that didn't yet have anchors installed. We bought the tether anchors from the dealer and installed them oursleves with the provided instructions...in 1999 it wasn't required by law but it was an option I guess...

mylittlet · May 21, 2009

If you are using latch, make sure to switch the latch anchors to the other side. It is in the manual.

all together ooky · May 21, 2009

Is that the model of Volvo that has the top tether anchors on the back of the seat so you have to fold the back seat down to get to it-like through the trunk? (yeah, that was clear as mud)

I saw one Volvo at the auto show this year and even DH said that the top tether anchors were badly placed (and he's never installed a carseat). I can't remember what model though-it was a small sedan.

mommy-medic · May 21, 2009

Here is a good video that shows how to switch the latch connectors for foward facing. If you removed the rubber HUGS from the harness, they need to be put back on. Also, make sure the seat is in the upright, not the reclined, position for FFing over 33 lbs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieCaEakwJos

es1967 · May 22, 2009

Thanks for the video link. I would have never known to do this. I weighed my son and he is 31.8 lbs on our scale. I'm going to make the switch tonight or tomorrow since I really need to wash the cover too. Hope its ok. If I position the seat in the middle I have to use the seat belt right?

es1967 · May 22, 2009

all together ooky said:
Is that the model of Volvo that has the top tether anchors on the back of the seat so you have to fold the back seat down to get to it-like through the trunk? (yeah, that was clear as mud)

I saw one Volvo at the auto show this year and even DH said that the top tether anchors were badly placed (and he's never installed a carseat). I can't remember what model though-it was a small sedan.

Yep, thats how it is. Not sure how thats going to work but we'll see.

Pixels · May 22, 2009

Yes, in a Volvo you must use the seatbelt for a center install. I would still switch the LATCH connectors, so that if you go on vacation or install the seat in a friend's car or something, they're already set up.

es1967 · May 25, 2009

Well, I got the seat installed FF and DS loved it. I made sure to install it with no recline but it looks like he is sitting straight up? I don't know if its correct? Should it not have a little recline? Does not look very comfortable. Did have trouble w the tethers behind the seat because the buckle sits right where the seat closes to the trunk. The seat does seem solid like a rock.

2.5 yr old, 34 lbs and rearfacing in Marathon

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