Baby Seat Installation Help

[jlomon]

Hi Everyone,

The car is a '94 C280. I'm trying to install a new baby seat in the centre rear seat position with the lap belt. This seat is replacing the "travel system" which my kid is about to outgrow. I can't seem to get the belt to hold the seat in place tightly, there is so much play in the seat in just about every direction that I might as well just put the kid in a seatbelt and let him take his chances. Obviously this isn't an option. I didn't have any trouble installing the base from the travel system, so I'm wondering if there is something I'm missing here.

Can anyone offer some advice on how they got their carseat installed properly? I've probably got about three more weeks maximum with the travel system before the little guy is too heavy for it. I should also note that the seat is being installed in the rear-facing position.

Thanks,

Jonathan

[hs_300e]

Check out these web sites for more info:

http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
http://www.car-safety.org/links2.html

In the US there are many places you can take you car seat to (http://www.car-safety.org/links2.html) and they will help you install it. Check to see if there exists such a program in Canade.

[JCE]

When we have the grandson in our 98 C230, we put the car seat in the middle of the back seat. When he was younger it was the rear facing, then forward facing. They have gone in the middle with no problem. (But his Graco turbo booster needs to be to the right or left of the center, as it relies on a shopulder harness system.) We use an upholstery protector rubber mat from babies-r-us under the seat. With the seat in position one of us leans over the seat and pushes down firmly on the seat, while the other person pulls the center seat belt as tight as possible. It can be done by one person, but is easier with two people. When cinched down, the baby seat feels like part of the car - no wiggle or movement at all. Don't leave the seat cinched down tight like thatr when not in use - loosen it up a bit when baby isn't on board - or you might deform the upholstery and padding over time. I don't know why your baby seat would be so loose!

[jlomon]

Thanks for both responses. I appreciate it.

[Michael K]

Put your whole weight on the kid's seat (and even push your back against the roof if you need to) to pin that seat down. Then buckle it so it stays super tight. This method works well if the seat will rarely be moved to another car. You may want to use one of the old fashion, extra metal clips to make sure things stay snug. A towl under the kid's seat protects the leather pretty well.

Aslo, keep in mind that the side seats in the back have the type of belts that auto retract and then hold tension. This makes it much easier to get the kid's seat fitted properly. Using the side seats works well if you'll be moving the kid's seat from car to car.

[sunedog]

I had excellent reslts with this product. It ratchets the belt down very tightly.


You can get them a variety of places including:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000056JHP/104-9345907-2626315?v=glance

[Mistel]

I see you are in Toronto. There are programs that check baby seats. If you call the Chrysler dealer on Kingston road near Morningside (Jim Davidson) they will help install a baby seat free of charge. The person doing it has to get some certification so they know what they are doing. Also look on the OPP website. We had a c230 and we couldn't fit a rear facing seat in it, had to buy a front facing, our son was just about to need it anyway when we got the car.

Peter