RE: car seats. Is this ok to do?

bim38106 · March 2011

DH and I switched cars for the week so that he can take my car in for maintenance. When he installed DD2's car seat (still RF), he reclined the seat (it's a bucket seat) so that she would have more leg room. And she has WAY more leg room and seems so much more comfortable this way!!

At first, I thought Wow, great idea! Maybe I'll be driving DH's car until we switch her to FF! But then I immediately wondered if reclining the seat somehow makes it unsafe or not installed correctly...? Anyone know?

It's installed w/ LATCH and DH doesn't think reclining the seat made any difference... I know, I should check the manual. Just seeing if anyone knows off-hand

emathis2 · March 2011

Is it still really tight/secure? I would assume that you should install the way that is recommended. But that said, we had tons of problems getting both of DSs seats in tight enought when they were rear facing. We tried several wedges etc. We finally decided that he would be safer FF since the seat is way tighter plus we can tether it. I think RF is only safer if the seat is in properly. KWIM? But if your seat is in very securely then I would think it would be ok. Maybe have the carseat person at BRU check for you?

emathis2 · March 2011

Does your seat have the little ball that rolls from the red and green zones? That is supposed to let you know when its angled correctly.

mbritto4 · March 2011

You can usually take them to a police or fire dept to have them verify installation.

Liz342 · March 2011

Emiliemadison is a bumpie who is a car seat tech I think. She usually posts on 12-24. She answers a lot of car seat questions over there.

JaysonandKristin · March 2011

While in the RF position my Britax is supposed to be reclined.

cactus5 · March 2011

JaysonandKristin:
While in the RF position my Britax is supposed to be reclined.

Same here.

tabi_ja · March 2011

I think she's talking about the seat in the vehicle being reclined, so that the back of it is a little further from her daughter's feet while RF. Not the child's car seat, but the vehicle's seat. Does that make sense?

Oh, and I have no idea. I would think it would be fine, so long as it's not reclined completely horizontal or anything. I would still have it checked out, though.

JaysonandKristin · March 2011

tabi_ja:
I think she's talking about the seat in the vehicle being reclined, so that the back of it is a little further from her daughter's feet while RF. Not the child's car seat, but the vehicle's seat. Does that make sense?
Oh, and I have no idea. I would think it would be fine, so long as it's not reclined completely horizontal or anything. I would still have it checked out, though.

Clearly, I read that wrong!! DER!!

I have no idea, OP. I'm sorry!!

bim38106 · March 2011

tabi_ja:
I think she's talking about the seat in the vehicle being reclined, so that the back of it is a little further from her daughter's feet while RF. Not the child's car seat, but the vehicle's seat. Does that make sense?
Oh, and I have no idea. I would think it would be fine, so long as it's not reclined completely horizontal or anything. I would still have it checked out, though.

yep, that's right. The seat in the car. We have captain's chairs in the back, rather then a bench. That's what I meant to type but I wrote bucket seats (which we do have, but captain seats would have made more sense).

Anyway, I did post on 12-24, hoping Emilimadison would see I got some responses back, just not from her. It sounds like the seat of the car should not be reclined. Someone mentioned it should "cocoon" the carseat in a sense, in case of an accident.

I'll look more into it. It would be nice to have extra legroom for DD, but not at the expense of her safety!

ked77 · March 2011

bim38106:
tabi_ja:

I think she's talking about the seat in the vehicle being reclined, so that the back of it is a little further from her daughter's feet while RF. Not the child's car seat, but the vehicle's seat. Does that make sense?

Oh, and I have no idea. I would think it would be fine, so long as it's not reclined completely horizontal or anything. I would still have it checked out, though.

yep, that's right. The seat in the car. We have captain's chairs in the back, rather then a bench. That's what I meant to type but I wrote bucket seats (which we do have, but captain seats would have made more sense).

Anyway, I did post on 12-24, hoping Emilimadison would see I got some responses back, just not from her. It sounds like the seat of the car should not be reclined. Someone mentioned it should "cocoon" the carseat in a sense, in case of an accident.

I'll look more into it. It would be nice to have extra legroom for DD, but not at the expense of her safety!

I was just going to write this. I know when the seat is RF, if you are in an accident the seats are designed to "flip up" which is why the back is not secured down, it creates a like a shell over your LO. So I would think you should not have your vehichle seat reclined.

prism207 · March 2011

ked77:
bim38106:
tabi_ja:

I think she's talking about the seat in the vehicle being reclined, so that the back of it is a little further from her daughter's feet while RF. Not the child's car seat, but the vehicle's seat. Does that make sense?
Oh, and I have no idea. I would think it would be fine, so long as it's not reclined completely horizontal or anything. I would still have it checked out, though.
yep, that's right. The seat in the car. We have captain's chairs in the back, rather then a bench. That's what I meant to type but I wrote bucket seats (which we do have, but captain seats would have made more sense).
Anyway, I did post on 12-24, hoping Emilimadison would see I got some responses back, just not from her. It sounds like the seat of the car should not be reclined. Someone mentioned it should "cocoon" the carseat in a sense, in case of an accident.
I'll look more into it. It would be nice to have extra legroom for DD, but not at the expense of her safety!
I was just going to write this. I know when the seat is RF, if you are in an accident the seats are designed to "flip up" which is why the back is not secured down, it creates a like a shell over your LO. So I would think you should not have your vehichle seat reclined.

That doesn't sound right to me, the idea that the seat should flip up. If that was true, why on earth would I have a tether to use rearfacing on the Marathon?

PhilsWife07 · March 2011

Did you check your vehicle owner's manual? It sounds like you might have a minivan... I know mine mentions in which recline position the seats should be.

Want a personalized experience?

RE: car seats. Is this ok to do?

Re: RE: car seats. Is this ok to do?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards