Too tight tether? Too upright?

[lemonmama]

I installed my DD's Marathon and am having a hard time with the recline..or lack thereof!

The bench seat of my 2003 Jeep Liberty is very steep.

Is there such thing as a tether being too tight? Pulling it has helped with the recline but her head still seems to bob forward when sleeping, which she does a lot in the car. She is almost 11 months and about 20 lbs.

I've read about using pool noodles etc, but I don't understand exactly where that would go.

From what point do you measure the angle of the seat?

P.S. I know it looks like the base is lifting up towards the back of the car's seat, but it's just an optical illusion due to shadow!

Thanks!

View attachment 1782

 

[crunchierthanthou]

It is too upright (even for an older child) and the tether can be too tight.

Try scooting the base closer the the vehicle seatback. It's a few inches from the seat bight, which makes for a very upright install. Then put your pressure toward the back of the MA as you tighten the LATCH connectors (over where her bottom goes). It should be reclined at least 30 degrees, but no more than 45. Older babies and toddlers can usually be more upright (closer to 30 degrees).

Overtightening tethers has been linked to both broken recline mechanisms and energy absorbing tethers. It only needs to be taut so there is no slack, not so tight that it affects the recline.

edit: in looking more closely at the larger version of the picture- it might be pretty close to 30 degrees already. It might just be the angle of the picture and how the seat relates to the vehicle seats that makes it look so upright at first glance. I would still try moving it closer to the seat bight and trying again for a less tight tether. We used to recommend using the tether to adjust the recline, but like I said, doing that has been linked to broken seats. If you really can't get an acceptable recline with the slope of your vehicle seat, you can add a tightly rolled towel or pool noodle under the front of the base.

 

[BookMama]

Do you see the big yellow stripe on the sticker? There is also a red stripe on the sticker on the other side of the seat. Those stripes will be parallel to the ground when the seat is at a 45 degree angle. (Assuming you have the car parked on a level surface, of course.) So you want the stripe to be parallel or slightly angled up, but not as far as you have it now.

Crunchy's instructions should help you get the right recline.

 

[lemonmama]

Ok, before I run out there I've got one problem.

Edited because I mispoke..was thinking 2 things at once...

What I should have said was that if I move the seat towards the bight, the base gets lifted up...just something about the angle of the car's seat. Is this where noodles and towels come in?

 

[crunchierthanthou]

no, I'm sorry if that wasn't clear. Move it closer to the the bight. The closer to the bight, the less upright it will be.

 

[lemonmama]

You explained it right, I've just got Elmo distracting me!

 

[lemonmama]

Ok I'm back. Is it correct to use a noodle or a tightly rolled towel _under_ the base close to the bight? I've not been able to locate a clear picture with noodles or towels in use.

Is there some rule for determining if the seat is ok with a towel in there? Is it the non-dominant hand belt path 1" wiggle test?

 

[crunchierthanthou]

It's sometimes necessary to add a rolled towel or pool noodle(s) if you can't get an acceptable recline just with positioning. You need to follow the manufacturer's instructions (although there are only a few that don't allow it). The MA manual states that a tightly rolled towel or pool noodle is fine to adjust the recline (pages 13, 15 and 17).

• When properly installed in the rear-facing position, the back angle of the child seat should be 30º – 45º from vertical (not to
exceed 45º) when the car is parked on a level surface (Fig. F).
• If necessary, the proper recline angle can be achieved by placing a rolled towel or pool noodle in the crease of the
vehicle seat to level the child seat’s base.

The rule for less than 1" of movement at the beltpath applies regardless of adding something to adjust the recline.

 

[lemonmama]

Thanks so much for the input. I think I was focusing too intensely on the fact that the base was 100% on the vehicle seat. I see from some install videos that it doesn't need to be completely flush (I'm talking towards the bight).

I didn't like my previous install's recline but it was rock solid

I've got a towel in there now, recline looks good and while it's not as solid it's still darn solid (I tend to obsess a bit..I know that won't be foreign to anyone on here)!

Thanks again!

 

[singingpond]

Isn't RF with lap-only belt the one that has to go under the LATCH bar? I think that's what I remember, but it's been a while since ours was installed RF in the center -- OP, perhaps you should double-check your manual.... I don't have time to look at mine right now.

Katrin

 

[crunchierthanthou]

Isn't RF with lap-only belt the one that has to go under the LATCH bar? I think that's what I remember, but it's been a while since ours was installed RF in the center -- OP, perhaps you should double-check your manual.... I don't have time to look at mine right now.

I believe that first picture is a LATCH install (which both Britax and Jeep allow in this case)- the strap can't help but be anything but over the LATCH bar.

The manual only speficies routing around the LATCH bars for ff. A l/s belt goes over the LATCH bars (to accomodate the shoulder portion) and a lapbelt goes under. I'm in agreement that both lap only and l/s belts should go under the LATCH bar rf whenever possible, but Britax doesn't give direction on that.


OP- I'm glad you got an install that you're satisfied with. Hopefully your dd will be more comfortable.

 

[joolsplus3]

Isn't RF with lap-only belt the one that has to go under the LATCH bar? I think that's what I remember, but it's been a while since ours was installed RF in the center -- OP, perhaps you should double-check your manual.... I don't have time to look at mine right now.

Katrin

I think that's when it's FF, but still a good idea to double check the manual, those LATCH bars are kind of tricky!

 

[singingpond]

I believe that first picture is a LATCH install (which both Britax and Jeep allow in this case)- the strap can't help but be anything but over the LATCH bar. ....

Duh... yes, I should have looked more closely . I just knew something looked odd, and I saw the tail on the belt, so I thought lapbelt; however, the reason it looked odd to me is probably that I've never had occasion to actually use the LATCH straps on our Britax seats. My apologies for adding confusion to the thread.

Katrin