Installing a car seat with latch and shoulder seat belt...

pregnantchica · October 2010

I've installed our convertible car seat using the latch and the shoulder seat belt. Is this okay?

Mrs.tlcS · October 2010

one or the other. Latch is supposed to be better, since it lowers the center of gravity of the seat.

mljohnson · October 2010

I did both too. I suppose it can't hurt.

mljohnson · October 2010

By the way... your LO is so cute!

pregnantchica · October 2010

mljohnson:
I did both too. I suppose it can't hurt.

This is what I thought...I even have the versa-tether installed...that thing isn't going anywhere...lol!

Thanks!

shihtzumomma · October 2010

I've heard you're not supposed to use them together. But I don't know why.

GypsyEsq · October 2010

One or the other NOT both. The "correct" installation is the one that results in the most secure installation in your car, so getting info from a message board doesn't help here. Also, only a handful of seats can be installed rear-facing and properly use the tether. Make sure yours is one of them before you use it as well. Please read your manual and use only one method of installation for your carseat.

https://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseats/f/LATCH_SB.htm

Mrs.tlcS · October 2010

shihtzumomma:
I've heard you're not supposed to use them together. But I don't know why.

Carseats are tested with a belt in the latch config OR seatbelt config. There is a possibility of weakening the shell or breaking the shell if both are used. Since they aren't tested to be installed using both, they can't predict how the child would be affected in a crash.

More here:

https://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseats/f/LATCH_SB.htm

SpartanGirl · October 2010

No. It is not okay. Check your manual. It is one or the other, NOT both.

emiliemadison · October 2010

LATCH or seatbelt, NOT both. As someone else mentioned, seats are crash tested using one method or the other and are not designed to use both and the seat could fail in a crash if you do.

I noticed you said that you also used the versa tether so I assume you have a Britax seat? This is one of the only seats that allows you to use the tether when RF (which you should be doing at your LO's age).

If it didnt feel secure enough with just LATCH, then try kneeling into the seat as you tighten the latch belts. You can also tighten the seat much more easily if you pull the seat cover aside and thread the latch straps (the loose ends you pull) through the "hole" in the side of the seat so that it's on the "inside" of the seat in the area where your baby sits. This gives better leverage.

Alex17 · October 2010

emiliemadison:

LATCH or seatbelt, NOT both. As someone else mentioned, seats are crash tested using one method or the other and are not designed to use both and the seat could fail in a crash if you do.

I noticed you said that you also used the versa tether so I assume you have a Britax seat? This is one of the only seats that allows you to use the tether when RF (which you should be doing at your LO's age).

If it didnt feel secure enough with just LATCH, then try kneeling into the seat as you tighten the latch belts. You can also tighten the seat much more easily if you pull the seat cover aside and thread the latch straps (the loose ends you pull) through the "hole" in the side of the seat so that it's on the "inside" of the seat in the area where your baby sits. This gives better leverage.

I was waiting for you to show up.

If you don't feel comfortable installing the seat yourself, you can always get it inspected by a professional.

pregnantchica · October 2010

Oh....Thanks for the info ladies!

After reading the article, this makes a lot of sense now. Neither my car manuel nor the Britax manuel recommend one over the other. I'll just have to test it out myself to see which one makes the carseat feel more secure. Thanks again!

MrsCarroll.6-10-07 · October 2010

We have a Britax also and it is RFing and will be for a while. We did the same thing and did the seat belt and the anchors. This is upon DH's insistence. A friend of ours is a NICU nurse and one of her children was in some kind of accident and highly suggested doing it with both.

Now I'm doubting and will have to show DH the info you ladies have given...

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