Car seat question

jbrown6714

So I have the Chicco Keyfit30 infant car seat. My car doesn't have the LATCH system but according to the manual can be safely installed using the seat belts. I have read that the center seat is best. My center seat is only a lap belt while my window seats are lap/shoulder belts. I installed it in the center seat (after reading instructions) but after watching some videos it seems that everyone installs it using a lap/shoulder belt. Would you move it to a window seat to use the lap/shoulder belt? Which is safest? I am trying to find someone certified to check it for me as well but figured I would have it installed to the best of my ability first.

LindseyTharp

As long as the lap belt locks, you should be fine. I actually think the lap belt only is a little better because it doesn't lift one side slightly due to the shoulder piece. But that is just my opinion. I also have the KeyFit 30 and used the lap belt in the middle seat of my husbands car.

lovermyboys

I personally would talk to your local fire dept. or the hospital. I have heard both ways. But more so on the side is safer because they would have the front seat as protection and wouldn't go flying threw the windshield. I don't want to say for sure. I would talk to a pro. Also in my town the local county dept. answers car seat questions. Sorry I'm not much help I just would rely on professionals with car seat questions because that is nothing to mess around with in my opinion.

ktyrd007

They say that the center seat is the safest for car seat installation because of side-impact collisions. If your middle seat doesn't have a lap/shoulder belt just ensure that your car seat is compatible with a regular lap belt. If you need to install on one of the sides they say that the driver side seat is safest because a driver will instinctively protect the driver side of the car during a crash. 

jbrown6714

LindseyTharp, Thank you! Yes the seat belt locks. My husband was concerned about how much it moves on the end not hooked in (the end towards the front of the car. Do you notice this? I'm thinking maybe I should have him pull it tighter since he is stronger. 

jbrown6714

Thanks everyone. The fire department will not pay to have the fireman certified in my town which is frustrating (went there monday). Apparently someone in the police/ sheriff department is certified but of course they weren't in when I went the other day. I am going to try again tomorrow or drive to a neighboring city that will be more likely to have people certified. Thanks for the advice!

gotdiesel2007

Def have a tech install. 80% of car seat are not used properly. Fire departments, hospital and police stations might not have a trained professional on hand.


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NYMominCA

You need to worry about movement at the belt path (where the seat belt threads through the base), not about the end closest to the front of your car. That part is supposed to wiggle due to the fact that it needs to rebound or cocoon in a crash, to keep your child safe. Here's a quick video installation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b28O0zcaGmM

Your seat is installed as safely as possible when it is in tightly (no more than 1" of movement left to right at the belt path). Whether or not it is with LATCH, lap/shoulder, or lap belt doesn't matter as much. I think since lap/shoulder belts are the norm now that's why you see a lot of videos or pictorials with them. We have had our car seats successfully installed in the center of DH's '97 CRV with a lap belt only and had no problems.

Check out safekids.org to find a tech near you. Good luck!