LATCH in rear center seat for rf infant seat

[jett254]

Hi,

I'm trying to install a Graco Snugride in our Audi A4 -- we had thought we could use LATCH and had planned to put the car seat in the rear center since we'd read that was the safest location. However, we only have 4 LATCH anchors in the back, and the inside anchors on the left and right are 14 inches apart as opposed to the standard 11 inches apart. After researching this, I've decided that this entire system is really silly and annoying -- you have LATCH yet you can't use it is in the safest position - whose bright idea was that?!?

So, my question is: should I use the seatbelt in the center position or the LATCH in the outboard position? Or, is it better to use the LATCH in the center position (is 14 inches ok? stuff I read said that it is but just not standardized). Geez, why does everything have to be so complicated....

TIA!

Jen

[DebbieJ]

Unless your car manual specifically says you can use the LATCH anchors in the center position, you MAY NOT use them! I know, really dumb, huh? I think LATCH was designed because car seat MISuse is so rampant; LATCH makes it easier to install a seat correctly.

I'd say try it with the seatbelt and see how it feels. If it is tight and secure then leave it there. If not, try the LATCH in an outboard position and see if that is better.

Or, go to a seat check and ask them to teach you how to do it. www.seatcheck.org

~ deb
DS 12/03
And a niece or nephew arriving in early August!

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[kijip]

Unless you have a rigid LATCH car seat often times LATCH is not easier to install than the seatbelt! And in some tests the belts perform better (when used correctly) than LATCH on certain seats/in certain cars. LATCH is really just another way to install the seat- it is not necessarily any safer or better. I would try the seatbelt in the center first.

[pittsburghgirl]

I would do the center, seatbelt install.

Marilee
mommy to James
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040120/1/1/1/-5/.png

[Joolsplus2]

I just read on the Graco carseat FAQ that the bars MUST be the standard 11 inches apart...I didn't put it in my favorites, so you'll have to take my word for it or look it up at www.gracobaby.com. Just use the seatbelt, you'll be fine (post back if you get a tipping base issue, and we'll fix it with a locking clip)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[jett254]

Thanks everyone. I had a certified person help install/check it today. We ended up with the outboard LATCH install after trying it about a dozen ways -- in the middle, we did try a locking clip with the belt but the angle of the seat belt buckles in my car are really tough and we just couldn't get it buckled in (and I was worried that if I ever had to take the base out, I'd never get it back in!)

Good news is that it seems really tight. My only concern was the 45 degree angle thing -- the level indicator shows it is fine but I remember reading there was some way to check it with a piece of paper?

Thanks again!

Jen

[KrisM]

To check the angle with a piece of paper, fold the paper so that you make a point at one corner. If the paper is square, you'll now have a triangle. If the paper isn't square, you won't have a triangle. In either case, put the folded edge along the seatback and the other 2 edges should be vertical and horizontal. If they aren't, you're not at 45 deg.

Does that make sense? I don't think I did a very good job of explaining it.

Okay, here is a site with a photo of the paper process: http://home.earthlink.net/~carseatsite/reclineangle.htm

I'd skip step 3, but that's me.

[94bruin]

I agree with you that the Latch on the sides and not the center is silly and annoying.

I went to a car seat check today with my carseat on the side. The tech re-installed the carseat in the middle with the seat belt. Why did I bother fretting over which car seat has the best latch system if I'm not using it! I guess if I didn't have access to a tech, then the latch system would be good because the tech had a heck of a time installing the carseat with the seatbelt. If I can help it, I'm not moving that base at all until my child outgrows it!