Question Good infant seat for 05 Ford Excursion

[C_Weimer]

I need some help trying to decide what infant car seat is best in an 2005 Ford Excursion. It has leather seats. We have tried several car seats and my husband takes his pinky on his left (non-dominate) hand and can flip the seat up with very little pressure on the front edge. We are installing it on the drivers side middle seat.

Here is a list of the ones that we have tried:
Graco Snug Ride 22
Maxi Cosi Cosi35
Eddie Bauer Sure Fit (I think, it is my sister's and it is part of the Eddie Bauer Adventurer Travel System)

I know that this is not how you test if a car seat is installed correctly, but he says that it is not safe. He is to the point of wanting to either strap down the front edge of the car seat or unbolt the adult seat and build a steel frame for the infant base to go in.

So, I need help getting a good install, or is there a different seat that I should try? Or should I put something under the seat that will grip the leather better (like kitchen shelf liner)?

 

[Kaitsmom]

How is he checking for movement, side to side or up and down? He should only be checking side to side at the belt path, rfing seats will move up toward the back of the seat. You shouldnt put anything under the car seat or base to help you get a better install, it will just mask a bad install and give you a false sense of safety. Have you looked to see if there is a CPST in your area that can help you? None of those infant seats are often suggested for one reason or another.

 

[mylittlet]

Checking movement at the top (where the head would be) is not the place to check movement. You want to check movement only at the belt path. The top of the seat is suppose to move. It coccoons in a crash.

The snugride 22 is not my favorite seat. We have owned 2 and didn't get a new one for our newbie (due anyday). It doesn't last a long time for our kids. They all outgrew it between 4-6m. If you do get a snugride22 make sure you get one that adjusts at the feet. Not behind the shell.

The Maxi Cosi35 and Eddie Bauer SureFit look like the safety1st onboard35. Dorel makes safety1st, eddie bauer, cosco and maxi cosi. So they are all basically the same seats with just different covers.

 

[kelkel2090]

I'd try a Chicco Keyfit. It is by far my favorite seat and I get a rock solid install every time! Something about the shape of the base just tucks right in to the bite of the seat. Otherwise look at the Britax infant seat. It has an anti rebound bar that prevents it from flipping up. Not any more safe....just reacting differently to crash forces.

 

[Brianna]

You might like the First Years Via, the handle goes down by baby's toes in the car and this acts as an anti rebound bar. Again, rebounding into the back seat isn't unsafe but if you're more comfortable with anti-rebound features there is no reason not to buy a seat with that feature.

 

[jess71903]

Like others have said, you don't check for movement at the top of the seat. I understand not being convinced that it's safe, though, and if he's not going to see it that way, then you might as well get something he's comfortable with.

The [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Britax-Chaperone-Infant-Seat-Black/dp/B0072AN3LO"]Britax Chaperone[/ame] has an anti-rebound bar, as does the [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Combi-Shuttle-Infant-Seat-Indigo/dp/B002VPCNSO/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1345212907&sr=1-3&keywords=Combi+shuttle"]Combi Shuttle[/ame].

If you can skip the infant seat, there are several convertibles that allow tethering rear-facing, or have an anti-rebound bar. The new generation Britax convertibles (like the [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Britax-Marathon-70-G3-Convertible-Seat/dp/B00834D5SO/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1345212569&sr=1-1&keywords=britax+marathon+70"]Marathon 70[/ame]), [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Diono-Radian-Convertible-Seat-Shadow/dp/B005MQRAAK/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1345212620&sr=1-1&keywords=Diono+radian"]Diono Radians[/ame], [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Combi-Cocorro-Lightweight-Convertible-Licorice/dp/B00261RQYY/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1345212531&sr=1-1&keywords=combi+coccoro"]Combi Coccoro[/ame] (small convertible- you'll need another convertible later unless your kiddo is tiny) all tether and fit average newborns well. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Years-Premiere-Convertible/dp/B004FN0ZB2/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1345212730&sr=1-2&keywords=the+first+years+true+fit"]The First Years True Fit Premier[/ame] has an anti-rebound bar.