Q&A: Can’t get car seat installed in a way that seems safe to me?

Question by Ava: Can’t get car seat installed in a way that seems safe to me?

I am 35 wks preg and we are just about ready. I have one irritating problem though. I hope someone can help!

We have the Graco Safety First carseat system for our cars. It is a rear facing infant car seat system with detachable “pumpkin” seat and “buy as many as you need” bases.

Question part 1 – Mine is an older model SUV in good condition (1996 Explorer), but does not have one of the “latch” clasps for the carseat. That leaves me securing the base with a center, self tightening lap belt.

When my husband installed it (using the manual, obviously), it seemed horribly loose and not safe at all!!! I was very discouraged and spoke to a friend who said that we literally needed to shove our knee into it and push that sucker down as hard as we could to get the belt to tighten as much as possible. She said it wasn’t supposed to wiggle more than an inch in any direction. We did that, and it is much better, but I am still concerned that the only thing holding the base in place is that fabric lap belt in the back! The front of the base (corresponding with the front of the backseat) has nothing holding it down! I can still lift the front end of the seat straight up if I pull on it and it does still wiggle marginally. Am I missing something here? Is there supposed to be some clasp on the front end of the base the holds it down in the front as well? I thought the law said it had to be a 3 point connection and obviously the lap belt is only 2 points. ??? Confused?

Question part 2 – My husband’s car is much newer (2001 Mustang GT) and does have the “latch” that was required to be installed in the last few years. He also has a lap belt. Is he supposed to use the lap belt and the latch to secure the seat or just one or the other? You’d think this would all be clear from the manual, but I promise it’s not. Didn’t think was supposed to be rocket science and I’m a bright girl, but I don’t want to take any chances with my baby.

(I know I can contact our Children’s Hospital for a car seat check and/or make an appt with a local fire dept – although I know they won’t guarantee installation for legal reasons. I am just wondering if anyone else has faced this situation themselves and if it sounds like something is way off or not?)

Thanks to all who take the time to really read this and answer it. I know it’s a long question, but I want my little one to be safe. We still haven’t approached the GPs with the last base yet and want to make sure we know exactly what we are doing before we tell them how to install it, since they will switch it back and forth among their cars. They must be able to secure it properly and I have to be able to tell them.)

Thank you!
I want to reiterate that we have used the manual, just in case anyone thinks we haven’t. Thank you for all your answers so far. Additional help is appreciated.
I smile – this is very interesing information. Thank you.
And no, most hospitals will NOT show you how to install the car seat. You must have it installed yourself before they will release you from the hospital. Because of liability, the nurses and assts are not allowed to install it for you or tell you how in case you were to later have an accident and attempt to sue them and the hospital, claiming their work to be guaranteed. (I work as a paralegal and know this, but also was explicitly told this during our prep for parenthood class at the hospital.) They used to do it, but no longer!

Best answer:

Answer by Ethel
It should work fine in either vehicle, and since it comes with a manual it’s time to consult the manual. However here are some pointers, at no time so the base be loose at all – it should be so tight it can not be budged, my husband has to put his knee on it and tighten in order for this to occur. Sometimes with the base to get the proper angle you need to get a towel, roll it up and place it under the base.

After you try your darnedest, call your local fire department or police department and ask if they can tell you when the next car seat clinic is or if you can bring the vehicle to the station and get it checked. Do it even if you feel comfortable with what you have done.

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