Handle of carseat Question

BabySmiles31 · November 2012

So tonight my friend said the handle of the carseat needs to be back all the way when it's in the base, and I thought I read up all the way in a holding position. I double-checked the manual, and its very vague. Just says not in "B, C, or D" position... so basically all the way up or down is what I took that to mean. Anybody know the exact safety rule? I've googled it and looked on Graco's website, but can't find an answer. I have a Graco Snugride 30. Thanks!!

Lovemyflightmedic18 · November 2012

I think most need to be all the way down when in the car. I know there are some car seat experts on her. Hopefully they will weigh in.

MelleTX · November 2012

Most newer car seats are ok to have the handle in any of the fully locked positions - specifically fully upright or back below the top edge of the seat below the baby's head.

ellewoodsSC · November 2012

BabySmiles31:
I double-checked the manual, and its very vague. Just says not in "B, C, or D" position... so basically all the way up or down is what I took that to mean. !

So your manual provides you with this answer, position A or E is the only acceptable handle position while driving. So locked in the carry position or all the way down. In your manual, there should be a picture showing the diagram of the handle positions.

gimmietimmies · December 2012

Graco infant car seats can have the handle in any locked position while in the car. Here's a quick list that was just compliled:

https://www.carseat.org/Resources/660_handles.pdf

penguingrrl · December 2012

That's fairly old information, so go with what your carseat manual says. The earliest carrier/base combos required the handle to go down because the act of lowering the handle was what locked the carseat into the base, so at that time it was critical to lower it! Since then the locking mechanism has changed, so many seats can have the handle up while in the car, and sometimes that even serves as an anti-rebound mechanism. But the old information is still repeated by many people and I only recently found out that's not true.

MouseInLux · December 2012

I think it depends on the car seat. Ours is supposed to be up in the car, it's a "safety feature".

gimmietimmies · December 2012

penguingrrl:
That's fairly old information, so go with what your carseat manual says. The earliest carrier/base combos required the handle to go down because the act of lowering the handle was what locked the carseat into the base, so at that time it was critical to lower it! Since then the locking mechanism has changed, so many seats can have the handle up while in the car, and sometimes that even serves as an anti-rebound mechanism. But the old information is still repeated by many people and I only recently found out that's not true.

I remember this, and when they brought out the first ones similar to the current ones, where you grab at the back to release the seat from the base, they had issues then too. Sometimes the latch plate would come off or it would latch, etc, and they had some seats eject. Graco just issued a statement not that long ago (since September I think) that all current/non expired infant car seats (so, retroactive to the instructions) that they allow the handle to be in any locked position. I think the Car Seat Lady also posted it on her FB page. She's cited as a resource on Graco's site as well.

thismplsgirl · December 2012

gimmietimmies:
penguingrrl:
That's fairly old information, so go with what your carseat manual says. The earliest carrier/base combos required the  handle to go down because the act of lowering the handle was what locked the carseat into the base, so at that time it was critical to lower it! Since then the locking mechanism has changed, so many seats can have the handle up while in the car, and sometimes that even serves as an anti-rebound  mechanism. But the old information is still repeated by many people and I only recently found out that's not true.
I remember this, and when they brought out the first ones similar to the current ones, where you grab at the back to release the seat from the base, they had issues then too. Sometimes the latch plate would come off or it would latch, etc, and they had some seats eject. Graco just issued a statement not that long ago (since September I think) that all current/non expired infant car seats (so, retroactive to the instructions) that they allow the handle to be in any locked position. I think the Car Seat Lady also posted it on her FB page. She's cited as a resource on Graco's site as well.

This is accurate; I recieved an email from my tech training instructor just a few months ago. If you question the accuracy of the information, just call Graco customer service and they will verify.

Treschic81 · December 2012

It definitely depends on the car seat. I have a cybex Aton and it says in the manual that it must be up, like the way you carry it. Some require it to be down, at least the graco I had with my son 8 years ago did. If the manual isn't clear call graco and ask.

stephanie6607 · December 2012

I got my car seat installed last week at the state police, and the officer told me the handle has to be all the way down.

Now i'm going to look in the car seat manual and see what it says.

SuperCuteBenz · December 2012

FWIW, you need to make sure that the person at the fire department/police station is actually a certified technician, because the majority of them aren't. They just end up trying to be helpful, and in some cases giving out incorrect information. In my city, we have ONE certified police officer, and he just happened to be in my tech class.

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