Problems with Latch in Marathons in crash tests????

[mudder17]

Hi! We have the Marathon, currently RF, with no immediate plans on changing it (DD is only 20.5 pounds) to FF. So at the moment it is attached using the LATCH system. However, my sister has been researching infant and convertible car seats as she is expecting her first in October. She's been looking at a lot of the recommended seats in the Baby Bargains Book, as well as reading the latest Consumer Reports on these seats. In a recent e-mail she said:

"There was a CR report on carseats last month. I think I told you about it. I was concerned after you told me you have a Britax Marathon. This seat was tested also. While it didn't fly off the seat in a crash, it did tilt backwards excessively with a 33 lb. dummy. Most of these problems have to do with using the LATCH system. Don't know if you use that system, but in the case of the Marathon, the crash wasn't a problem when used with a standard belt."

Does anyone know anything about these tests and whether we'll have a problem?

Thanks!

Eileen

Mother of Beautiful Kaya, www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 15 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!

[Joolsplus2]

Don't sweat it, it's really a non-issue, fortunately...here's a tech I trust's opinion of it: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-ppcarseats&msg=56532.1&redirCnt=1
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[mudder17]

Thanks for the quick reply! So SHOULD we be using the regular belt rather than the LATCH? FWIW, my DH did mention that we will switch to the regular belt when DD's weight exceeds the weight limit of the LATCH belt, which in most cars is lower than the Marathon's rear-facing limit.

Thanks!

Eileen

Mother of Beautiful Kaya, www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 15 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!

[Splash]

No... the limit of the LATCH system is generally 48 lbs. The RF MA limit is 33. You can safely use the LATCH until 48 lbs, and THEN use the seatbelt. Or you can use the seatbelt now.
FWIW, I have RF MAs in 2 cars... one installed with the belt, one with the LATCH. I am not ultra concerned about the rotating issue. Besides, it's braced against the front seat, so it really couldn't dip down anyway.
E

[mudder17]

Don't different cars have different limits?

Eileen

Mother of Beautiful Kaya, www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 15 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!

[Joolsplus2]

You can check your car to see if there are any limits listed (a few Audis and VW's are clear their limits are 40 pounds, I think the retrofitted ones have that lower weight), but 48 pounds IS a safe limit to go by (it's the standard set for all of north america for cars older than 2005, newer cars go to 65 pounds)...at 48 pounds you will need to start using the seatbelt (If your kiddo is even that heavy when the MA is outgrown by height, lol...my "almost too tall almost 6 yo" is still only 39 pounds! :D)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Splash]

Yes, they do. Some go higher than 48 lbs... but ALL go to 48 pounds (now I wouldn't bet my child's life on this, as I could be wrong, please make sure your car does as well... but I think it's the law). I know all of mine list 48 lbs as the max. Actually... I think they all go to at least 48 pounds because Britax says they do (isn't that dumb for me to think this?)... at least they say you can use the anchors until at least 48 lbs unless your vehicle has higher limits. Julie knows the answer to this... but I think i'm right. Anyway, I KNOW that all go to at LEAST 40 lbs.
E

[Splash]

Ah, we must have been posting simultaneously Julie. So you say new limits are 65 pounds? Whoa. This applies to ALL 2005 vehicles? Huh. My 2005 says 48... or at least I thought it did. Maybe I am imagining it and in fact have not even looked (hey, I haven't owned it for long). Very good to know.
E

[Joolsplus2]

Well, there was a certain point, 9/1/2004, where the latch anchors have to withstand a 15000 newton pull test...prior to that its only 10000, which roughly translats into 48 and 65. So a MY 2005 car built 8/31/04 might still have the 10000 newton standard....So for the time being, best to just go with the recommended limits on the seat or in the manual of the car, if they are in there :)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[mudder17]

Okay, so if it's not that much of a problem because the baby remains in the seat the whole time, what happens after the seat snaps back from it's 75% tilt? Won't you end up with whiplash?

Thanks!

Eileen

Mother of Beautiful Kaya, www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 15 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!

[Joolsplus2]

It just really doesn't happen....RF seats are just SO safe...

Oh, ther's a blurb in "Safe Ride News" (THE techinical publication for techs)this month:

"As for the rotation of the rear-facing Marathon, in many vehicles the back of this large CR [child restraint] will contact the back of the seat ahead, making forward rotation a non-issue"

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[mudder17]

Thanks, Julie. I do feel better now. :)


Eileen

Mother of Beautiful Kaya, www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 15 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!