Carseat installation frustration!!!

CactusGirl

So yesterday I decided to install my carseat into my Nissan Xterra (anyone else putting a carseat in one of these? Give me advice!). Anyway, I wanted it in the middle of the backseat, but there is no latch system there and you have to use the belt. Well the problem was that it is a retractable belt and I cannot get it to lock tight at all! When I finally get it to lock and I pull it again, it just loosens.

So, it looks like I will be having to put it behind the driver or passenger seat with the latch system. However, the carseat is big, the back seats are small, and both DH and I have long legs. So, the problem is that whichever seat it goes behind I am going to have to move that seat up and forward which leaves that person less room. I will probably put it behind the passenger seat (because I don't want to be crammed up to the steering wheel when I am driving all the time), but it just stinks for the passenger that is going to be cramped up in the front seat and not able to lean the seat back for any reason.

Is anyone else running into this issue or am I the only one?

TristaD81

I think you can buy seatbelt locks?  Or the carseat might come with one?  That might help. 

ksulli

I have the same thing. In my car (a tsx) I just have to push my seat up a little bit, and only for the full seat, not the base, so I put it behind me. In dh's car (a fusion) he put it behind the passenger seat b/c he's so tall, so my seat is pushed up a bit. I had no idea these babies took up so much space!

awollenweber

We have a Maxima and ran into the same issue.  We just decided to put it behind the passenger seat and deal with the reduced front seat room.  We went ahead and installed the base and seat, so our dog can get used to riding next to the baby and leaving him alone.

It has been annoying so far though, if I'm driving, DH has little leg room.  I'm 5'6, so leg room isn't too much of an issue, but when he is driving the only comfortable seat arrangement for me is to have the seat leaned back pretty far (so it isn't crunching my belly up) and that isn't possible with the car seat.  That won't be an issue after pregnancy though.

I've also found that those carseat mirrors (that attach to the headrest) don't allow you to see the baby when he is on that side - really defeats the whole purpose.

kateisgreat

My car seat installation instructions just said that the seat belt just has to be a locking seat belt- not that is has to be locked all the time (although mine is). My sister has an Xterra with the car seat behind the passenger. She and her DH are both tall, and it worked out OK. I'm pretty sure they had the front seat backed all the way up so it was touching the car seat. I hate the back seat on that vehicle though- and my sister is looking for a new car b/c she is pg with her 2nd and she can't get 2 car seats in there. 

mbritto4

Can you make an appointment with a carseat tech at your local police or fire station? May be the best option to get a snug install.

tawillers

mbritto4:

Can you make an appointment with a carseat tech at your local police or fire station? May be the best option to get a snug install.

Ditto this suggestion.  They'll probably be able to give you a better solution.

CactusGirl

mbritto4:

Can you make an appointment with a carseat tech at your local police or fire station? May be the best option to get a snug install.

I do have an appointment, but I need to have the car seat installed before I get there (they want to make sure that I can install it right and not just have them do it). I will put it behind the passenger seat and if they say anything otherwise then I guess they can show me how to install it in the middle.

rbysliprs4

We're having the same problem regarding not having a LATCH system and the middle seat belt not locking. The carseat basically rolls all over the back seat! You touch it with your pinky and it seems to tip over.

We have an appt. with CHP today so I'm hoping they tell us what to do. (I'll post on this thread when I get back.)

princessjulia28

We bought the saftey 1st aerolite travel system.  DH had a cop put it in for us in the middle.. In DH jeep liberty the passanger seat is so far up and im tiny its uncomfortable, in my CX7 its the same issue.. We actually took it back and got the baby trend flex loc which is 100times better. The saftey first seat is just too big. side by side with the baby trend it is huge, and the base is huge too.. What car seat do you have? We also went to babies r us and they brought a couple out for us to try in the car which I NEVER knew you could do.. That helped us decide as well..

Hopefully it works out.. Who needs this stress lol

CactusGirl

Well I ended up installing it behind the passenger seat, and I don't think it is quite as crammed as I thought it would be, so that is good. I might ask about putting it in the middle, but I tried again and I just can't get it (unless maybe I get one of those seat belt locks). I will have to see what the car seat inspector says, but I think it is fine. (Ps. We have a Baby Trend car seat, not sure the exact kind, I can't remember).

rbysliprs4:

 

We have an appt. with CHP today so I'm hoping they tell us what to do. (I'll post on this thread when I get back.)

Can't wait to hear!

magpiebride61210

DH and I have a 2002 xterra, and we do have a center back seat latch. what year is your car? i wonder if they stopped making the latch in newer models?

but i'll tell ya, even using the middle seat latch we couldn't get it tight enough. the seat is not supposed to be able to be moved more than one inch when you pull on it from side to side. well it moved about 6 inches with the latch alone. we had to use the seat belt in addition to the latch and that got it nice and tight. the seat belt in our middle back seat is just a lap belt, old school style. and we got that to hold tight.

can you take it to the police station and see if they can help?

ElizC

What type of car seat do you have?  You may want to look at other models to see if they fit in your car better.  We had to try a few different seats to get one that worked in my tiny sedan. 

beekernbaby

We have an Xterra. My husband ended up installing it behind the passenger seat as well because he didn't feel that it was safely latched in the middle. You lose a lot of leg room for the passenger.  We decided that for the time being one of us will be in the back with the baby when we are driving and that most likely we will be trading the Xterra in for something more kid friendly.  Our nieces and nephews have a hard time getting in and out of the back of the vehicle because of the height and the location of the wheel well.

graceb15

Read your car's manual, it'll tell you where they recommended putting the car seat. I have a Subaru and it says put the car seat on either the left or right side over the middle because the lump in the middle seat can cause the car seat to be unbalanced. It'll also tell you if they recommended using the latch system or the seat belt.

lcunningham

We had this issue but figured out in the middle w/o the latch. My friend showed me how to use all of my body weight to do the pulling and the tightening. Also, you might be able to bring it down to the police station in your town for installation. I know a lot of towns offer that. 

Yellow_Daisy

CactusGirl:

mbritto4:

Can you make an appointment with a carseat tech at your local police or fire station? May be the best option to get a snug install.

I do have an appointment, but I need to have the car seat installed before I get there (they want to make sure that I can install it right and not just have them do it). I will put it behind the passenger seat and if they say anything otherwise then I guess they can show me how to install it in the middle.

When we went to have ours inspected they showed us how to lock the seat belt.  If you slowly pull the seat belt all the way out it will lock, you should hear a click, then slowly feed it back in until it is tight on the base and it will be locked like when you hit the brakes and not move any further.  It will stay locked until you undo the seat belt.  It is really easy to do, but I wouldn't have known to do it unless the carseat inspector had shown us.  

Keep in mind your front seats will probably still have to be moved forward because the seat is generally wider than the middle gap and they don't want the seats coming in contact with the carseat.  So you may not gain any leg room in the front passenger seat by installing in the center vs the side.

rbysliprs4

The officer said exactly what was mentioned above. You have to pull out the belt all the way and then slowly release it back (you can hear it click.) It stays locked, but you'll have to check it every time you put the carseat in because with use, it will loosen. It made much more sense once he showed us, so I would keep that appt. if I were you!

Also, our seats are leather, so the base was sliding around. He put a piece of contact paper (that's what he called it, but it looked like liners you put in drawers or cabinets) and said that it will prevent it from rolling around. Supposedly, that's one of the only things that HAS been safety tested. Everything else you find in stores to prevent slipping on leather has not been crash tested.

hcdekarske

mbritto4:

Can you make an appointment with a carseat tech at your local police or fire station? May be the best option to get a snug install.

I would say this, totally. YOu have to get it inspected anyway, so just let a professional install it to begin with.