Remind me again about installing a MA upright while RF

[DebbieJ]

My ds is still happily rearfacing, but doesn't need to recline so much anymore. In fact, he's always holding his head up and his little neck is probably getting mighty sore!

Can I install the MA RF while NOT in the full recline mode? The manual doesn't seem to address that, it only says that to install RF you should put it in the full recline, but it doesn't say you have to.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
2 year check up: 25 lbs with clothes on and 35 inches!
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/style_avatars/Ribbons/18months-bfar.jpg

[nfowife]

I have this same question!

[AtomicLush]

No...it's actually in the Child Passenger Safety article...rear-facing convertible seats must be reclined at about a 45 degree angle and should NOT be upright.

45 degree angle:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/AreYouUsing2005Web/pages/RFconvertSeatYES.htm

avoiding upright in rear-facing seats:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/AreYouUsing2005Web/pages/RFConvertNO.htm

[DebbieJ]

But Britax seats have a recline setting....

I know that RF seats should be reclined. My son is 2 1/2 and doesn't need 45 degrees anymore.

What I need to know is if BRITAX says it is okay to install RF if it's not in the full recline mode of the seat.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
2 year check up: 25 lbs with clothes on and 35 inches!
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/style_avatars/Ribbons/18months-bfar.jpg

[KrisM]

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=13&topic_id=34944&mesg_id=34944&listing_type=search

There's a link from a while ago about it. Julie says to just tighten it more without switching to upright mode.

I can get my Wizard pretty upright by just leaning on the front of it really hard while I tighten the LATCH.

But, you're right on the manual. For the FF section, it does say you "must" install it in the upright mode for FF kids over 33 lbs. Nothing quite so strong in the RF section.

[kellyotn]

Its my understanding (from here) that the 45 degree rule is for NEWBORNS. Once old enough that they wouldn't risk cutting off their airway, I remember reading that more upright is actually safer from a crash standpoint. The second link that AtomicLush provided states that seat is too upright for a newborn, but doesn't address older babies/toddlers.....

With my MA, I installed it more upright w/ LATCH just by tightening it w/o regard to angle. (In my car, its pretty upright naturally unless you fight it.) Then, I reclined it slightly with the tether. My son has been more upright than 45 since about 9 months. Now, at 20 months, he's a lot more upright.

[DebbieJ]

Okay, off to go play with it. I have to take it out and put my new lockoffs on anyway....

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
2 year check up: 25 lbs with clothes on and 35 inches!
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/style_avatars/Ribbons/18months-bfar.jpg

[o_mom]

The 45 degrees is for an INFANT - once they have good head control they can be more upright 30-45 degrees is the usual range you see, but more is fine too.

Here is an article that discusses it:

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFbasics.aspx

[caleymama]

I called Britax a few weeks ago with this same question because my younger daughter (17 mos.) was straining her neck to see up & out. I know the seat was no longer at 45 degrees but she still seemed more reclined than she was comfortable with. The Britax rep echoed the manual and said no - that the seat had to be in the reclined position when rearfacing. I was able to reinstall it to make a little more upright but DD is just going to have to live with it until she's turned forward facing, which won't be for a while.

[Joolsplus2]

If you trust me as a source with only "I talked to the Britax rep at Lifesavers", then yes, it's ok to install it upright. I asked her why the manual didn't say that, and she said it would be too long if it put in every conceivable option. A couple others of us have also heard it's ok (safely tested) to use upright when RF. The manual says no, and the customer service people say no, so that's just my 2 cents.
:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx