Forum Index
»
Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Graco Snug ride base sliding around in our Honda Accord
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
jloukiss
Member Offline
Member Offline
|
I'm hoping someone out there can help with a tip for how to keep our Graco SnugRide base from shifting in the back of our car. We drive a Honda Accord (2005, if that matters). Regular seats, not leather. Twice now we have had to have the car seat base reinstalled because it came too loose. This morning the seat completely shifted to one side when my husband made a turn. The baby was fine, strapped in, etc, but we are very concerned about this.
Has anyone else had this problem? Is it the tilt of the seat? The fabric? What can we do to keep this from happening? The seat is in the middle, not on right or left where we have LATCH. Should we move the seat to one side? I've heard that's less safe in the event of a crash (god forbid). Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated! Jennifer |
Anonymous
| The car seat inspector I saw recommended getting some of that plastic sticky mesh stuff you use to keep rugs from slipping. It's been working for us. |
Anonymous
|
We also have a Honda Acc (2001 though) and we angled it so the snug ride blue ball indicator was level (just make sure the car is parked on a level surface).
We put a towel underneath to stabilize the base, but we also found that using the seat belt was more effective than the LATCH. Does that make sense? It's a little hard to describe. Too bad I can't post a pic. of it. |
Anonymous
| i feel like i've read or heard that you're not supposed to use any kind of wedge underthe car seat, but i'm not sure. why not just use the latch? |
Anonymous
| who is installing the base? it doesn't sound like it's tight enough. are you (or whoever is installing it) pressing down on the base with your knee when tightening the belt? |
jloukiss
Member Offline
Member Offline
| We only have latch on the side seats (not the middle). I've heard that in a crash the middle is the safest spot for an infant/child seat. I just don't like that the base is moving around on the seat! I can't understand how it's getting loose. Very frustrating. Sounds like this isn't a problem for others. We've had two different people install it now and it's come loose again. My husband is taking it in to a police station tonight to have it reinstalled. Maybe they will have a solution. |
Anonymous
We don't have the latch in the middle either. I keep the carseat on the side. I'd rather have it secure than in the middle sliding around. If you get in a wreck, what good is the middle, if the child is not secure? Also, if you ever have a 2nd child, you just have to get over the whole middle reccomendation. |
Anonymous
agreed. I'm the poster who asked who was installing it and said it didn't seem like it was tight enough. I drive a CR-V and have always had the car seat on the side even when I only had one. I briefly put the car seat in the middle (forward facing convertible, installed by the professionals, no LATCH) and it was not as tight as previous times. Maybe because LATCH wasn't being used and it's harder to get a tight fit? |
Anonymous
| The trick for us was to stand on the base while tightening the strap - yup, the police lady who installed it did it that way too. It's about as easy as wrestling a pig but onee it was in, I'll be damned if we were taking it out. My husband took it out to bring home the christmas tree and I was pissed. But of course I was the one who had to reinstall the base. |
Anonymous
|
Our fire department used that sticky plastic stuff with holes (they sell it in rolls to line cabinets with) underneath our base. Also, the trick they showed us for getting a tight fit was to stand on your backseat, facing the front of the car, put your back onto the inside ceiling of the car and your foot in the middle of the base. Then my husband pulls with all his strength while I push down.
We have reinstalled our base several times due to moving furniture, car needs service, etc. and each time I feel like we get a solid reinstall using the above method. (We have a Camry with cloth - for what its worth) |
jloukiss
Member Offline
Member Offline
|
Well, the update here is that the police department my husband went to yesterday reinstalled the car seat putting a foam noodle underneath the seat! I thought you weren't supposed to have ANYTHING under the seat. I'm so frustrated. I'm going to call GRACO to see what they advise. I hate that no one has a clear answer for the best way to install the seat. The standing in the seat base sounds like something worth trying.
Thanks to everyone. Jennifer |
Anonymous
| I don't know why you think that you aren't supposed to put anything under the seat. Our very knowledgeable installer in Montgomery County said it is ok to put up to 3 foam noodles under the seat in order to make sure that it sits correctly. Montgomery County has special centers where you make appointments to meet trained installers and they seemed like they really knew what they were doing. |
Anonymous
| We took our carseat to Childrens in DC and the seat NEVER moved. As PP's have said, using your foot or putting your weight against the base will help with a tight fit. I'd sugguest using the seatbelt so you can lock the belt and use that metal "I" bar thing to secure it. Be safe! |
jloukiss
Member Offline
Member Offline
|
We had those foam rollers under the seat initially--installed by the Montgomery County person. They got squashed with several months of use, making the seat loose. When the DC police person re-installed it she said you should never use those noodles, but instead raise the base foot. The Graco user manual says to use a rolled up towel, if necessary.
I think the Children's recommendation is a good idea. Thanks everyone. |
Anonymous
Yes, I second the towel (I think a PP said that too) and we've had no problems with our Accord. |