Baby Trend Latch and Loc

I was in Babies R Us today, preparing to buy the Century Smart Fit V 22, as I expect to have a fairly big baby, and I'm going with the recommendation in the Baby Bargains book.

However, I saw a new seat, Baby Trend, "Latch and Loc" or "Pegasus"? I can't find a review of Baby Trend car seats in the book (4th ed). It's not on the Babies R Us website either. They don't even mention it on the Baby Trend web site!

I see you have mentioned it a few times in posts here, and are looking forward to it. Here's what I found, and I'd appreciate if anyone else has feedback.

It looked pretty good - up to 22 lbs, easy front ajustment, great handle, which is triangular and completly rubberized (which the new Graco and Century are not). Good metal locking parts. Two slots for harness growth. Latch compatible and looked easy to install, but I don't have latch to try. The diagrams and instructions on labels on the seat and base are clear. Seemed quite light to carry.

Unfortunately it didn't fit my car, which is small (Subaru Outback Sport). I only tried it behind the passenger seat, but it made the front seat unusable because i had to move it too far forward.

I installed the base in my car (admittedly on my own) and I got both the lap part and the shoulder part of the belt into the crescent slots as recommended. However there is a little tag thing at the side which is designed to keep the shoulder belt out of the way of the seat itself. The shoulder belt wouldn't stay under that last tag. It wasn't a deep enough slot to keep the shoulder belt there. It seemed a very silly little design flaw. I'd bet though that I could rig something extra to keep the shoulder belt out of the way - it didn't seem like a safety issue. And once you did get both lap and shoulder belts into the crescent slots, I'm sure they worked well as a locking clip.

Questions - Does anyone know the height limit? Will it fit in a shopping cart? Anyone else try installing it in a car?

Thanks,
Moira

I've got an early test model, and generally I liked it. I'm glad they've renamed it, I wasn't impressed with the name Latch Loc. I like Pegasus much better.

My directions were not clear about the lap and shoulder belt both going in the belt path. The sticker on the base said yes, the manual said no. I pointed this out to them, and thought it had been changed.

Mine didn't have that little thing to hold the shoulder belt out of the way. Good idea, sounds like it needs work.

I had an easy time getting the base to fit in my van with the belt system. Another tech also tried the seat and could NOT get a good fit. The base is a pretty different shape from others out there. I LOVED the latch fit, which I think is the primary use for this seat.

I thought it was pretty decent in weight limit and features, like canopy and handle and such. And the front adjuster and 5 point harness of course. I liked the angle indicator.

I told them just a few weeks ago that the stuff wasn't on their site, and they are trying to get that fixed. No idea why it is taking so long.

Did you try it in the center in your car, where perhaps it wouldn't push the front seats too far forward?

[alandenisefields]

Hi there. Yes, that seat is not in our BABY BARGAINS book because it just came out this month (Sept 2002). As you read from Toby's review, it does have some great features and we will review (and probably recommend) it in the next edition. Baby Trend contacted us last week about getting us a demo to try out, so we should have that shortly.

Alan & Denise Fields, Authors
BABY BARGAINS * TODDLER BARGAINS

I also think the LATCH-LOC/Pegasus is a top choice for any vehicle with LATCH. Seatbelt fit was average in the vehicles I've tried. Better than some infant bases I've used, not as good as others.

Here is a link to some additional comments from Toby and me:

http://boards2.parentsplace.com/mess...s471/54/1.html

Darren

OK, I went out and bought the Baby Trend seat. With the help of my husband, I managed to get a good installation in the center of my little 2000 Subaru Outback Sport (thanks for the tip, Toby). Also glad to hear that it will probably be recommended for the next edition.

The box still says Latch Loc, though the card in Babies R Us called it the Pegasus.

What I like:
- Rated for babies up to 22 lbs and 28.5 inches. Now there was some confusion about that. One label on the seat said 20 lbs and 26 inches, but the owner's manual had the larger sizes. I called Baby Trend, and they first said 20 lbs, but when I questioned, said 22 lbs. It seems the rating has gone up.
- The triangular rubberized handle is very natural to pick up. Also, the non rubberized parts of the handle don't have any edges. Epecially since the new Snugride LX5 has gone to a cheesy handle, only enclosed in the middle, and open structure at the sides, this seemed a great handle.
- It's as light as any other similar carrier. But it seems more solid than the Century Smartfit 22 V. (Also the Century only seems to come in the Westport pattern, wich I find a little cutsey).
- Seemed easier to get it in and out of the car compared to the Century which we also tried. I think it's a little narrower than the Centrury, which is probably good for air travel.
- The front adjusting harness, five point, seems great, and easy to use. It also has an adjustable crotch strap, though I haven't figured it out yet. Very strong central buckle.
- An easy dial to adjust the level of the base once installed.
- Heavy base, seems strong.
- Seat attaches to shopping cart.
- Once we used the center, lap-only seatbelt, we got a good tight fit.
- Price $80, which seems reasonable.

What I don't like:
- It doesn't fit my Combi UltraSavvy Perfect Match. Well, I might need a towel or two under the front of the carrier. Probably I'll just get a Snap N Go instead of trying to fit it into the Combi.
- Only two holes for the shoulder straps. Most carriers only seem to have two, but the Century Smartfit 22 V had three. Hopefully this will work for the longer baby.

Overall I just liked the feel and look and features of this seat. And we don't even have Latch in our car. If you do have Latch, I think you're going to love it.

Moira

Thanks Moira.

I saw one for real at my BRU today, and both your comments and mine seem right on the money. I was really pleased to see it for $79.

Don't forget that you can get the TRU coupon (in the front of the TRU stores) for 15% off any carseat at either store. They'll usually do a price adjustment if you bring both the coupon and your receipt to BRU before it expires Oct 6th.

Hi there

I saw your posting and I wanted to ask you a question. I have a 1999 Subaru Forester and have just discovered that the Graco Snugride I bought will not work in my car because the seat belts in the back are positioned in front of the seat crease. The Graco manual says this can't inusre a safe fit, and when I checked with a technician, they said not to ignore this advice. So back to square one.

The Babytrend Latch Loc (Pegasus) sounded like a possible alternative, but your post sounds like you weren't able to get it to work. I think my Forester might be a little roomier than your Outback Sport, but I'm not sure. Were you ever successful in getting it to fit? We would be trying it for the center seat, if possible. Do you have the same seatbelt situation in your car? Any ideas for an infant seat compatible with Subarus that can be used in a stroller? I am due in two weeks...need to figure this out asap!!

Thanks for any input,

Sheri L.

I did buy the BabyTrend Latch and Loc, because I was able to get a secure fit in the middle seat (see other posts under this topic). And the problems I had with the shoulder strap being in the way weren't an issue, because the middle seat only has a lap belt.

I'm sure your Forrester is roomier than my little Outback Sport - I'd say anything is! But the seatbelts are anchored into the crease, so we didn't have THAT problem.

However, this seat isn't compatible with our stroller, the Combi Perfect Match, so I'm looking to get a Kolcraft Universal stroller base, hoping it really is universal.

Good luck,
Moira