LATCH attachment kits & Britax car seats

[kateyk]

Help!

Our daughter is fast out growing her infant car seat! I would like to purchase a Britax convertible car seat. The problem lies in that I would like a LATCH car seat (we drive a Windstar van) and Britax told me they would not be out until September. We won't make it that long in our little carrier.

Can you use the LATCH kits (I think made by Evenflo) that will fit into the clips on the seats with Britax car seats? Or, do you know when Britax LATCH car seats will be produced? It seems like such a shame to have the safety feature and not be able to use it!

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

Katey

[Caviller]

>Can you use the LATCH kits (I think made by Evenflo) that
>will fit into the clips on the seats with Britax car seats?
>Or, do you know when Britax LATCH car seats will be
>produced? It seems like such a shame to have the safety
>feature and not be able to use it!

As you know, there is no LATCH retrofit kit for Britax models. Yes, some others may technically work, but you're at your own risk for possible incompatibility or poor crash performance. I own every kit on the market, and haven't even tried them with my Roundabout or other non-LATCH models. I have no interest in compromising safety for convenience. If you need a LATCH carseat, I politely suggest that you consider a model that is compatible with a LATCH retrofit kit, or purchase something inexpensive that will bridge the gap, perhaps a Cosco Touriva or similar model.

It's unclear if Britax will market retrofit kits at all, though I suspect some of their new LATCH compatible models might hit shelves before September.

Also see:

http://www.car-safety.org/latch.html

[tobymc]

Hi Katey.

I second Darren's post. It is very important to use exactly the right latch kit with the right carseat. It is temping to mix and match, but I look at it this way: if the Evenflo kit worked for the Britax seats, they'd have a kit out on the market already!

So what are your choices? Well, it is nice to remember that a proper latch installation is not inherently safer than a proper seat belt installation. Easier? Usually. Correct more of the time? Possibly. But most cars don't have latch in the center position (maybe not an issue in your mini-van) so many parents go with the seat belt anyway.

So if you really want the RA, I'd say go for the current one.

If the latch system appeals to you, and you think you are more likely to use your carseat correctly with it (likely) then consider the Evenflo Triumph or the Century Accel 5 pt.

[Melanie]

I had the same issue. I gave in and bought the Britax RA, even though that was not my intent upon going to BRU. The choice was seriously overwhelming. One thing, I don't know others' opinions of it, but the guy said K-Mart carries the Cosco Triad (I think that's the one) which is a convertible LATCH seat. BRU doesn't seem to carry any of the LATCH seats.

He showed us how the RA would fit into our vehicle, and it wasn't too difficult. If I didn't have something to tether it to, though, I don't know that I would have liked how it worked (putting a towel or pool noodle under it - is that really safe Toby?).

I just had my seat inspected by the CHP yesterday, and they said that not all of the retrofit kits are all that great. Apparently there is one which both sides do not adjust, making it very difficult to install properly. I do not know which brand it is, maybe Toby does.

Mommy to Little Jonah

[Caviller]

I have all the LATCH kits, and all are designed reasonably well. The latest issue of Consumer Reports is responsible for the critique of the Century kits, which only have an adjuster on one side. I only find this to be a very minor inconvenience, at least with the carseats I've used it with. It certainly is not a safety issue as long as the carseat installs tightly. It's still easier than a seatbelt installation, which you would also have to pull to tighten only from the one side with the retractor or latchplate.

Despite their nitpick over the Century model with the adjuster on one side, even CR did comment that all the kits tested well.

When most of the new models with LATCH are released for this fall, I think you will find that many are actually previous models which include the equivalent of a LATCH kit that is held in place by one or more tabs.

Incidentally, putting a tightly rolled towel or foam pool noodle is perfectly acceptable as a way to get the proper recline in a rear-facing carseat.

As a side note, I own both the Cosco Triad and Britax Roundabout, and think they are both very good carseats, each with some minor advantages and disadvantages compared to the other.

[kateyk]

thanks for your quick and timely response.

i guess we'll end up with a Britax RA. Maggie is fast out growing the Primo Viaggo seat we have. i guess that happens quite quickly when you have a 9 and a half pounder at birth.

since this is our first child, I have two questions about where to install the new seat.

1. where should we place the convertible car seat - in the middle on the bench in the back or in the bucket seats behind the driver and passenger seats? we currently have her in the bucket seat behind the passenger's front seat.

2. i see i can have the seat installed by a CPS technician. is this the same as the local police department doing it? (we live in crystal lake, illinois) they installed our infant seat and i felt confident that they did a great job. if they are not, where could i find a cps technician?

could you be of any help? we want maggie to be safe and sound, especially in our cars! in advance, thanks for you assistance!

katey and maggie

[Caviller]

1- Any of those locations are fine, as long as the carseat fits well in that spot. It sounds like you have a minivan, so putting a child in the middle of the rear seat can be a bit time consuming and that may be a factor. Incidentally, our two are in the 2nd row captain's chairs.

2- Usually, if a police or fire department do inspections, the inspectors will be certified technicians. Crystal Lake does have trained technicians and a fitting station. Feel free to ask them about their training if you are interested!

Also, you can be sure to get a certified technician at a checkup event. I have a list of those in the Chicago area posted here:

http://www.car-safety.org/seatcheck.html

I will be at the June 22nd event in Wheaton, though that is a bit of a hike for you and there's no guarantee I'd be able to help you if it is busy:-)

Good luck!

[Cara]

I am wondering why isn't anyone recommending that you look up the Britax Expressway. It is a forward facing seat equipped with the ISOFIT/LATCH system. Anything wrong with it?

[tobymc]

Hi Cara.

There is not anything wrong with the Expressway, except that as you note, it is forward facing only. This child is just outgrowing the infant carrier and is big. So there is no evidence that this child is over 12 months. And even this big baby can probably stay rear facing past 12 months in most convertibles.

I really like Britax's forward facing seats, but I have a hard time knowing when to recommend them. Children 18 months and younger can usually still fit rear facing in a convertible, and should be that way (since it is so vastly safer). So children only use that forward facing harness for about 2 years, which seems like a lot to pay for a forward facing only seat, when a parent could spend less and get one that also turns into a booster. Of course, the ff only is a higher quality seat, so sometimes the family will give the RA to the baby, and buy a ff only for the older child.

Some day, Britax will come out with a combo seat, and that will be nice. FF only seats came from Europe, where they are used from 9 months to 4 years, a much longer life than they have here.

[Caviller]

The new Expressway has rigid LATCH anchors which are extremely convenient. Even so, I doubt I will buy one if only because it is limited to 20-40 pounds and front-facing. That range is even more limited when you consider that children should stay rear-facing as long as possible, which means up to 30 or 35 pounds for all but the tallest/heaviest percentiles. Personally, I'd rather spend my money on a Britax Marathon/Wizard, which is rear-facing to 30 pounds and front facing to 65 pounds...