rf- can it be TOO upright?

[kangato2roos]

Is there a certain angle a carseat cannot go past when rf? I know 45 degrees for newborns and infants, but it can go more upright for older babies. My question is... can it be too upright?

My dd's school has a policy... the child MUST enter the car on the passenger side. We initially had my ds's MA installed on the passenger side. This was so it could be semi-reclined and not affect the movement of the driver's seat... this way other people (namely dh, who is 6'2" whereas I am only 4'10") could drive my car and not have to move carseats around. My car is the only vehicle we can all go out in as a family and dh is so tall he cannot comfortably sit anywhere but being the driver... and I prefer he drive anyway. He's a better driver than I am.

I have found that if my ds's carseat is installed (in recline mode, of course) without using the tether to adjust recline, it sits basically completely upright, BUT the driver's seat can be moved all the way back and not affect the install of the carseat, so my husband could drive it... but the seat is basically completely upright.

Is this okay or do I need to use the tether to get a more appropriate recline and just move the seats when somebody else needs to drive my car?

 

[daycaremom2002]

It can be anywhere from 30 to 45 degrees. You don't have to use the tether to adjust it if it already falls in this range. It seems a shame to not use the rf tether though.
.

 

[azgirl71]

you can have it as upright as 30 degress and reclined no more than 45 degrees. You cna still use the RF tether even if it is at the correct angle. You just don't make it tight only take the slack out. That is what I do.

ETA: The purpose of the tether is not to adjust the recline. Yes it can help if you need it. Is there another location you can put the D Ring for RF tether? You could always adjust it each time you change drivers as well. It may be a pIA, but why not use one of the best features since it is available :twocents:

 

[Melanie]

Not a tech, but I'd still use the teather and as prior poster said, just take the slack out. You will have to re-adjust each time you change drivers, but it's not really that big of a deal. I'm 5'2" and hubby is 6'3" so not moving the driver's seat isn't an option for us either. I just loosen it (reach in from between the front seats) before you move the driver's seat, and give a quick tug to tighten after the seat has been moved.

 

[kangato2roos]

Oh I guess I wasn't clear enough... I can use the tether regardless of the position of the front seat. It does not interfere with the seat track or anything, so I can leave a little slack in it with the seat all the way back... it's just I HAVE to use the tether to adjust the recline. My seats are very sloped and when installed, the MA is upright. I think more than 30 degrees... I don't know for sure though.

What is the best way to check appropriate degree of recline? I know how to check for 45 degrees, but how do I know if I have it more than 30?

 

[Victorious4]

Call Britax about using a pool noodle -- I don't remember what their advice is on that :question: I was taught that the tether should not be used as the means for achieving recline, that the seat must be properly installed before using the tether.

My dd's school has a policy... the child MUST enter the car on the passenger side.

How about just parking & walking? That's what I always did

 

[snowbird25ca]

What is the best way to check appropriate degree of recline? I know how to check for 45 degrees, but how do I know if I have it more than 30?

You could take a side shot and post it, usually seats that are too upright you can spot at a glance.

The best indicator though is to watch your ds when he falls asleep. If his chin goes straight down towards his chest, then he's too upright. If it goes to the side, then it's fine.

My ds is almost 14mos old - just about 1yr adjusted age now, and he still needs around a 40* angle. (I had someone measure the angle based on a picture I'd taken after we'd already set it for him. I don't advocate installing the seat to a certain number, instead just making sure it's within the range allowed by the manufacturer and that it's allowing kiddo to still breath properly when he falls asleep.) So it just varies from kid to kid. Some older kids like being as upright as possible (no more than 30* upright though,) and others prefer a happy medium.

 

[kangato2roos]

Call Britax about using a pool noodle -- I don't remember what their advice is on that :question: I was taught that the tether should not be used as the means for achieving recline, that the seat must be properly installed before using the tether.


How about just parking & walking? That's what I always did

Britax told me no pool noodle (mind, this was back in March when I got the seat), but did not specifically state the tether could or could not be used to achieve proper recline. I remembered reading here that the tether could be tightened to get more of a recline with the Britax seats, so that's what I was doing. I always install the seat, check for movement (and get none), and only then do I hook the tether and tighten. I check for movement again (still none). I had assumed I was installing it properly... was that incorrect?

I'll get a picture tomorrow and see if somebody can tell me if it's too upright without the tether assisted recline.

I might end up just following your advice... park and walk. They have the passenger only rule because they have one lane for pick up and drop off and the lane next to it is for cars to pass, either to get back on the main road or to park in the parking lot. It can get quite busy in that other lane and they don't want kids to get hurt.

 

[CDNTech]

Britax keeps changing their mind... depending which CS Rep you talk to.

I personally am fine with using the tether to adjust the angle *within* reason. 5 degrees or so is no big deal... taking the slack out and an extra little tug would do that. Any more than that though and you should really be re-installing the seat to start out closer to the correct angle you want/need.

You can make a seat more reclined by putting the base closer to the vehicle seat bight and pushing down on where babies bum goes when tightening up the LATCH OR seatbelt (depending which install method you are using).

 

[melniemi]

I don't know if this will be any help at all, but can your dd just crawl under your ds's seat to get to her own seat? When I had 2 rfing seats in the captain's chairs in the 2nd row of my van, my boys (6 & 7) crawled underneath them to get to their seats in the back seat. They didn't seem to mind and it didn't really take any more time.

 

[Victorious4]

I personally am fine with using the tether to adjust the angle *within* reason. 5 degrees or so is no big deal... taking the slack out and an extra little tug would do that. Any more than that though and you should really be re-installing the seat to start out closer to the correct angle you want/need.

You can make a seat more reclined by putting the base closer to the vehicle seat bight and pushing down on where babies bum goes when tightening up the LATCH OR seatbelt (depending which install method you are using).

:yeahthat: