Carseat questions

[MommaGreenBean]

Couple more I seem to come up with new ones every week

She's RF in a cosco $35 seat

I'm looking at moving the shoulder straps up- If she slouches, she's below the slots, but if she sits up, she's a good 1/2 inch above them. If I have them at the lower ones, they seem to slip down her shoulder sometimes and are a general pain in the bum to get all situated. Go with the upper ones?

Is the 'level with ground if rear facing' line a necessity or not? If I can put her more upright than that, then I can have 2 carseats RFing in my back seat, but if not, I can only have one in the middle.

Thanks!

[CalebsMome]

I would say go ahead and move them up. I try to abide by the rule that you adjust it based on them sitting correctly in the seat, especially if it doesn't fit right unless she is slouching. I had to do that with my son a few months ago. That being said, rear facing the straps should come out at or below the shoulders and forward facing they should come out at or above the shoulders. So, which ever is the closest to the straps being at her shoulders is the way to go. The goal is to have the straps at the shoulders. :

As far as the level indicator goes, they can be more upright if they are older and can sit upright unsupported, etc., especially if that means that you can fit more than one seat back there. The recline feature is really for younger infants as opposed to older infants and toddlers. I hope that helps.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by CalebsMome

The goal is to have the straps at the shoulders. :

Not really. The goal is for RF for them to be below the shoulders and ff above.

At is just also acceptable.

That's my take anyway- perhaps a tech can clarify.

-Angela

[an_aurora]

Yes, the general rule of thumb is below the shoulder for RF. The reason for this is to prevent the child from 'ramping up' the car seat in the event of a crash. If your DD fluctuates between being slightly above the shoulders to well below, she needs to stay at the slot below her shoulders. It can be a pain with the straps starting to slide off, but just make sure they are good and snug and you will be fine.

[MommaGreenBean]

Thanks. It depends on what diaper she's in as well, I guess. I moved the straps up a notch and she was still *at* the notch when she fell asleep, so we'll keep them there.

Incline... good to know... thanks. I could do 3 RF in our truck in the back seat, and do another up front with the airbag off if needed. I suppose I could have triplets now and be A-ok

[Mirzam]

If the harness is slipping off her shoulders at the lower slots even though you have the harness snug and she isn't close to being one inch below the top of the car seat's shell, then *I* would move them up. At the shoulders is perfectly acceptable RF, if there is head room to allow for the minute ramping up that would occur in a crash. Actually, way, way back, Britax did approve a RF harness being above the shoulders, and with the old Fisher Price seats, you had to have the shoulder below the harness slots when RF. It isn't as cut and dried as it seems.

[an_aurora]

Duh, I just realized you were talking about her height in terms of the *next* slot, not the slot she's currently at. I would move them up if she's above tehm when she sits up. Otherwise, you're talking about the straps being a good 2" below her shoulders, and I can see why you're having problems with them slipping. I made a similar call with my DD in terms of her relation to slots, and ended up having them very slightly above her shoulders.

[MommaGreenBean]

Oh, okay. I just went back and re-read my first post and it is kinda confusing

I did move them, and it's much easier to get her in right (not that that's all I care about, but it helps...)

Thanks!

Oh, she's nowhere near the top of the seat, I have another slot to go. She's something like 24 lbs and 13 months.