Help with carseat in non-LATCH 2000 Forester?

[Rich Carr]

We have a 2000 1/2 (though it's called a 2001) Subaru Forester. It is non-LATCH, and I'm having a devil of a time getting the base of our Graco rear-facing seat installed.

When I try it in the center position, once I pull everything tight enough to hold the seat base properly, it's impossible to put the latchplate clip/lock on (because the the angle between the lap part and shoulder part as they come off the latchplate is enough that when everything's under tension, I can't push the belt segments together enough to get the clip on). And I can't use a ratchet (like a Mighty-Tite) because there's no room -- the center belt is buckled in two places and on neither side is there enough room between the buckle and the chair to use the ratchet.

When I try it in the left or right position, I can use the Mighty-Tite to crank things tight enough, but then the front seat has to be moved so far forward to not hit the back of the carseat that it's impossible for me to sit in the front seat and near-impossible for my wife.

Has anyone managed to solve this problem with a Forester? *sigh*

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

	Graco - Click for more info Graco is one of the world's best known and most trusted juvenile products companies. They started the entire juvenile products industry with an invention called the Graco Swyngomatic. Since then they have invented products that have changed the way that parents travel with their children such as the travel system, which has made it so parents can lock an infant car seat into a stroller easily, without waking their sleeping baby. Their Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat is pretty much synonymous with the term “infant car seat” because of its safety and design features coupled with its affordability. Today Graco continues designing and developing top-quality products that inspire parents and keeps children safe. Check out the new Infant Safe Seat Step 1 and Toddler Safe Seat Step 2 for proof of Graco’s continued commitment to child safety.

	LATCH LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the Federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints without using the vehicle's seat belt system. New vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.

[bensmom]

Definitely don't use the mighty-tite, in any position. Here's some information about why you shouldn't use it (http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/SeatBeltTite.aspx)

In terms of the locking clip, you cannot put the clip on while the belt is buckled. What I do is buckle the safety belt and while pushing down on the base of the car seat, I pull the shoulder portion tight. Then I hold the lap and shoulder belt together (to mark how tight the lap portion should be) and unbuckle the safety belt. Install the locking clip with the belt unbuckled (I sometimes make the lap portion a tiny bit shorter while the belt is unbuckled). It will be difficult to re-buckle, but you need to push down on the base (I put my knee into it and rock side to side). This page probably explains it better than I can: http://www.carseatsite.com/lockingclips.htm

HTH!

Ilana
CPS Tech and mom

[noodles]

You might want to try calling the dealership (it doesn't have to be the one you bought the car from either) and ask them to install the latch system. I have a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan and it isn't installed in mine, I called the dealership the other day and they are going to install it for me, free of charge. They ordered the parts and said it will take about half and hour to install each one. Hope this helps.

	LATCH LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the Federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints without using the vehicle's seat belt system. New vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.

[JoolsPlus3]

They can't install the entire LATCH system, just the top tether anchors that can be used with forward facing harnessed seats.
This page explains it all very well http://www.car-safety.org/latch.html
Of course, a top tether is a wonderful safety enhancement and it's definitely a great thing to get!

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	LATCH LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the Federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints without using the vehicle's seat belt system. New vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.

	Top-Tether A top tether (or top strap) is the supplemental attachment now standard on almost every new carseat in the USA. Top tethers can be used with either the seat belt or with the lower anchors (as part of the LATCH system). In other countries, their use may be required by law. A top-tether is simply a strap that connects the top of the carseat to an anchor mounted in the vehicle at a location behind the carseat, usually the parcel shelf or a point on the floor of the cargo area. It is designed to prevent the forward movement of the top of a forward-facing carseat in a frontal crash. This reduces the head excursion of the child, and can reduce the chances of injury. Almost all current carseats can only meet the tougher new federal safety standards when the tether is used, even though they must still meet the minimum safety standards without a tether.