Some questions/problems w/Snugride installation

[murphydog77]

Hi Allison. First, make sure you're installing it next to the window (called the outboard position). In the Blazer, you can't install a car seat in the center position of the back seat.

Second, yes, you must lock the seat belt or it won't stay tight on the base. You can lock the seat belt itself or use a locking clip. If the seat belt locks at the retractor (pull it all the way out slowly, then let it retract some--if it starts to click and you can't pull any slack out, then it's locked), you'll want to use a locking clip. Why? Because the tighter the locking mechanism gets on the seat, the harder it pulls up on the shoulder belt and the more it will cause the base to tip to one side. Using a locking clip allows you to leave the seat belt unlocked since the clip locks the lap belt to the shoulder belt for you and keeps it tight for every day driving. You can get away with not using a locking clip and just lock the seat belt, but you'll probably find yourself reinstalling the base every few weeks to correct the tip. Check your owner's manual or look for a tag on the seat belt to see how to lock the seat belt. Here's how to install a locking clip: http://www.carseatsite.com/lockingclips.htm .

When you test for tightness, test right at the belt path and tug. There's no need to shove, just tug. You want 1" or less of movement there. The further away from the belt path you get, the more movement you get and it will move *a lot* up by the baby's head. That's completely normal. The infant seat itself will also move some when it's on the base; just make sure you hear it click into the base and give it a quick tug to make sure it's latched in before you drive off.

HTH!

Heather, CPS Tech
http://www.CarSeatSite.com

[MommyAllison]

Thanks Heather, we did install the seat in the outboard position and we locked the seatbelt - I'd really prefer not to use the locking clip. If I have to use the locking clip anyway, whats the point of the seat belt locking? I thought it was one or the other, not both? We did the whole installation according to our Blazer manual and the Snugride manual, and neither one said we needed to use locking clip w/locking seatbelt. I guess it just seems like an extra pain because if DD needs to ride in a different car, I'll have to make sure I took off the locking clip from our car before I left, which might not always happen (For example, if it was an unexpected thing, didn't think DD would be driven anywhere else). And then we'd have to reinstall the locking clip... :( Ugh. DH looked at the directions and said "thats it? doesn't seem so hard" but maybe it really is that hard? :) TIA for any help/advice!


ETA: On the car seat compatibility website, it said people usually needed to use something (like those pool noodles I think) when installing Snugrides in Blazers - is that for stability? recline? Is that something we should be doing?

Allison
EDD 10-30-05 It's a girl!
http://lilypie.com/days/051030/0/25/1/-8/.png (http://lilypie.com)

[Joolsplus2]

I never install a Snugride withougt a locking clip :(....it's just the easiest way for long-term, tilt-free installs. You can get it done once, then leave the locking clip on the seatbelt forevermore, if you want. If you go in another car, you can either just use the seatbelt's locking mechanism (for a short ride, tipping is usually minimal) or just bring the seat (only the lapbelt runs through the belt guides, the shoulderbelt can't pull it up sideways).

Maybe if you do this: Roll up a towel or use a leveler or cut pool noodle, a la' this page http://home.earthlink.net/~carseatsite/reclineangle.htm when you do the base install (that's a convertible, but it's the same principle), and then install the seat without pulling the shoulderbelt out at first... get the lapbelt cranked down really tight, get both belts under that little tab in the middle of the base, and *then* you can gently pull the shoulderbelt all the way out and let it retract slowly...dont' try to shove it up hard into the retractor...just get the slack out... that MIGHT help the seat from tipping sideways. Make sure the towel or noodle don't overrecline the seat of course, but it might be just enough height to prevent 'too much' pull on the side from the shoulderbelt.

Or, chuck it all and get a Combi Connection or Chicco Key Fit or Britax Companion, that have built in lockoffs so they don't tip (juuuuuust kidding, I promise ;) )
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[murphydog77]

Yeah, it's really disappointing that they don't mention it somewhere about the locking clip trick, isn't it? One thing you can do is if you have a Ford dealer nearby or if you drive by one, drop in the Parts dept. and ask for a locking clip. They give them out free. Use that one on your seat belt and keep the one that came with the car seat on the back of the car seat. That way if you need to use someone else's car in a pinch, you've got the spare locking clip.

But, like Julie said, in someone else's car, you can just lock their seat belt for a short trip because it won't tip that badly. It's just something that happens over time. Also, all cars made since 1996 have locking seat belts, so as long as you're riding in one newer than that, you're set to not need a lc in a pinch.

Heather, CPS Tech
http://www.CarSeatSite.com

[khalloc]

Out of curiousity, why cant the Snugride be installed in the center of a Blazer? I have a '97 Blazer also and will be installing a Snugride in the coming weeks. thanks!

[Joolsplus2]

It's just absolutely prohibited to install a seat in the center of any Blazer (and clones). The manual will say so, but the reason is because the seatbelt anchors are so close together, GM fears that the seatbelt may actually fail in a crash with any carseat installed.

Fortunately, properly installed and used seats in the window/outboard seats are still very safe..in this case, safer than the center seat.

:)

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

[khalloc]

Gotcha! Thank you. I would have read my Blazer manual before installing but its nice to get the explanation in plain English rather than in those car manuals.

[MommyAllison]

So, DH and I installed (we think!?) our Snugride in our 97 4 dr Blazer today and there are a few things that don't seem right. I don't know if it's just our error or what - the instructions that come with the Snugride seem pretty unhelpful though :) We installed the base, did the whole lock the seatbelt and feed it back in while pressing down hard on the base itself. It seemed mostly solid, but then we snapped the carseat into the base and tried pushing it around - and it definitely moves. Mostly the problem is that it moves side to side - the seat belt is holding it in front to back pretty well, but side to side DH almost tipped the car seat over! It doesn't seem like the install addresses movement side to side - the base can just slide along the seat belt. Do we need to lock the lap belt as well? Is that even possible? Hopefully this makes some sense...we are going to have the car seat checked in a few days...but I feel like I will get advice I can trust on this board :) I'd rather have the install perfect before I get it checked :) TIA!

Allison
EDD 10-30-05 It's a girl!
http://lilypie.com/days/051030/0/25/1/-8/.png (http://lilypie.com)