your child seat

[toy4x]

^+1

Always left the base attached all the time behind the passenger seat, then brought the baby in the seat itself. If she was awake or not, its just so much easier this way and the seats lock and release so easily. We have the Chicco Keyfit rear facing seat and stroller combo. The Chicco system is so ridiculously easy to use....100% recommend it. We use the Britax Marathon for front facing, and it is extremely comfortable for the little one.

Also, my wife is only 5'2" and she is the only one that can fit in the front seat with the rear facing baby seat there. At 5'11", there is no way I can sit in the front passenger seat for more than 5 minutes with the baby seat there....so I always get to drive :smile (2):

 

[omgitselaine]

I use a Chicco KeyFit 30 base from my FX to another car often and I was able to find these Latch tabs very easily so I'm not sure why it was so difficult to locate these ?? I can literally secure the base behind the passenger seat in seconds :smile (2):

So much easier having the car seat in my FX but then again that was me coming from a Lexus IS !

 

[papa_giorgio]

I was hoping that wouldn't happen, I noticed the slit is small, and the latch to the Recaro ProRide is rather large. I'm wondering if I should switch to using the shoulder belt to save 2 big holes in the seat.

I'll try to take a photo of how the ProRide fits in the second gen rear facing, which was why I started this thread in the first place. I did noticed that you get about an extra 2.5" of recline than the Keyfit30 infant carrier.

Same thing on the first gen. There are slits in the seat but the actual LATCH anchors are quite deep that thr car seat buckle needs to go in tge slits. After a while those slits become full blown black holes depending on the size of the carseats "clip in@ buckle

---------- Post added at 08:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:35 AM ----------

Having said that removing the bottom pad will preserve it but I wouldn't do it

 

[porkandbeans]

Are there any baby seat / infant carrier liners that minimize heat on the inside for the little guy? When he's asleep I want to let him be, but the soft plush padding holds the heat in so well.

 

[neva4self]

I agree with all the previous post that using the Latch System to anchor your child seat will ruin your seats. The FX is not he only car this will happen to though it will happen to any car where the Latch System anchors are buried that deep in the seat. Before my wife had her Murano she owned a Scion TC and the Latch System Anchors were just as low. She only had it anchored like this for a few months before trading up and it ruined the seats by leaving two big gaps in the seats where the latches on the babies car seat had to be shoved down into the Scion's seat to reach the anchors on the car. I think they buried the anchors that deep because if you've ever seen a car with them showing, they are not very attractive looking. Me personally I bought a seat protector from Babies R' Us and I use the old fashioned seat belt method, if done correctly, it works just as good as the anchors. The anchors are meant only to be a little more convenient. If you pull the seat belt all the way out to engage the safety lock mode then pull it through the seat enough to compress it a little when strapping it in, then on top of that use the strap on the car seat that goes over the seat and anchors to the car in the back/trunk of the car, in our case located on the back of the rear seat, the child seat will be strapped very sturdy. So much so that when my daughter is not in the seat I release the seat belt because I have found that even with a seat protector the seat belt keeps the seat strapped so well that it still leaves an indent in the butt part of the seat cushion. As long as you pull your seat belt all the way out to engage the lock mode before you strap the seat in, the seat should remain strapped in sturdy for a long time with the seat belt method. I check mine every time I strap her in and I rarely have to adjust it.

 

[tranceduden]

Ok, so I need help in this department. We got our car last night, and then tonight I installed the kids 2 car seats. However, I didnt install them as most. I removed the lower seat portion and stapped them down to the actual sheetmetal/framing under the seat. So here was my issue. I didnt like how the 'safety Anchor points' are setup in this car. If you use those connectors (which I did), you seem to have to really crush the lower seat to get them to attach in that section. I am not takling about just pushing down on the seat cusion, I am talking about those little 'seat buckle' like connetors you make to the built in safety anchors that comes with the car. I have done this on 3 different cars, including my GTR, and all worked perfeclty, however the FX50 locators seem to be down low and away from the seat cushions, again practically squishing the seat foam between those locations. Am I missing something here? Has anyone else experienced this? (this is why I removed the foam cushion, I didnt want to already start crushing my wifes new FX50 seats.

Thanks for the help!

Jon

I want to see a GTR with a child seat installed, got any pics of that ?

 

[RIPnFX]

Lol any child that gets to rock in a baby seat in a GTR is soooo lucky

 

[tranceduden]

I agree with all the previous post that using the Latch System to anchor your child seat will ruin your seats. The FX is not he only car this will happen to though it will happen to any car where the Latch System anchors are buried that deep in the seat. Before my wife had her Murano she owned a Scion TC and the Latch System Anchors were just as low. She only had it anchored like this for a few months before trading up and it ruined the seats by leaving two big gaps in the seats where the latches on the babies car seat had to be shoved down into the Scion's seat to reach the anchors on the car. I think they buried the anchors that deep because if you've ever seen a car with them showing, they are not very attractive looking. Me personally I bought a seat protector from Babies R' Us and I use the old fashioned seat belt method, if done correctly, it works just as good as the anchors. The anchors are meant only to be a little more convenient. If you pull the seat belt all the way out to engage the safety lock mode then pull it through the seat enough to compress it a little when strapping it in, then on top of that use the strap on the car seat that goes over the seat and anchors to the car in the back/trunk of the car, in our case located on the back of the rear seat, the child seat will be strapped very sturdy. So much so that when my daughter is not in the seat I release the seat belt because I have found that even with a seat protector the seat belt keeps the seat strapped so well that it still leaves an indent in the butt part of the seat cushion. As long as you pull your seat belt all the way out to engage the lock mode before you strap the seat in, the seat should remain strapped in sturdy for a long time with the seat belt method. I check mine every time I strap her in and I rarely have to adjust it.

I had child seat installed using the Latch system for almost 2 years now and there were no signs of any wear on the seats, I agree the latch anchors are pretty low in the FX but I would still recommend using that over the seatbelts, this is much more secure mounting system. I would recommend safety of your baby anytime over a small potential of damage to the seats (which I never had).

 

[tchuck]

I had child seat installed using the Latch system for almost 2 years now and there were no signs of any wear on the seats, I agree the latch anchors are pretty low in the FX but I would still recommend using that over the seatbelts, this is much more secure mounting system. I would recommend safety of your baby anytime over a small potential of damage to the seats (which I never had).

Good call. I think both systems (LATCH and the conventional seatbelt method) are perfectly safe, provided they are employed according to the seat and vehicle manufacturer's installation instructions. The big no-no is modifying either of those systems without a comprehensive reassessment of the system as a whole. Things like removing the rear seat cushion, using the two middle LATCH anchors, or stretching the two side rear belts into a 5pt racing harness - That is when you are venturing into uncharted child safety territory for the sake of a little piece of leather. :thumbdown:

SfmDRuT2

 

[Chedman13]

Please note to the specs of both the car and car seat as Tim mentions. Specifically the LATCH maximum weight capacity of the baby/toddler in it.

I forgot which car seat of mine, but one of them had a 40 lb (toddler) limit for the LATCH and the seat belt must be used for toddlers above that weight.

I personally check if both LATCH and seat belt can be secured without interfering (usually the case) and just do both. The LATCH is much more snug and tight, but the seat belt has a higher weight limit (according to both the car seat and car manual I was looking at). I remember looking for the LATCH maximum weight capacity for the 2003 FX45, and it was not stated in the manual, so I used both in the FX.

Good call. I think both systems (LATCH and the conventional seatbelt method) are perfectly safe, provided they are employed according to the seat and vehicle manufacturer's installation instructions. The big no-no is modifying either of those systems without a comprehensive reassessment of the system as a whole. Things like removing the rear seat cushion, using the two middle LATCH anchors, or stretching the two side rear belts into a 5pt racing harness - That is when you are venturing into uncharted child safety territory for the sake of a little piece of leather. :thumbdown:

SfmDRuT2

 

[porkandbeans]

Since there have been discussions about child seat's affect of leather, I thought I'd share mine. These pictures show the seat "damage" (if you can call it that). The seat base was installed with the LATCH system and tightly bound in place for over 6 months. A seat protector was used and only minor indentions were left behind. The picture was taken immediately after removal and I was quite impressed with the condition. I had larger indentions from a bag of groceries.

 

[papa_giorgio]

Thanks for these photos porkandbeans. It definitely puts my mind at ease that I'm not totally destroying my seat. But as someone mentioned above, even if it does, safety first when it comes to the lil one.

 

[defjamz]

Thanks everyone for this informative thread. Recently found out my fiancé is expecting, and I started thinking about car seats. Sounds like the fx should fit a car seat just fine.

 

[Dxtreme1]

I'm looking to move away from the infant carrier to a rear facing child seat. I'm looking at the Recaro ProRIDE Convertible Car Seat.

Does anyone have this and will I have room to recline the front seats on the second gen?

I have the exact car seat and have the front seat reclined. Keep in mind that taller individuals with longer legs may not make this possible. I also bought a seat protector so that the leather seats dont get messed up. It's the best seat in the car if you ask me and looks so sexy compared to any other car seats out in the market.

 

[Dxtreme1]

This thread got my brain on overdrive to find a solution to saving the leather opening from looking mangled using the LATCH system. I went to the local OSH and picked up a couple of Swivel Bolt Snap 3/4in x 3 1/2 in for about $ 5.99 each. I attached the snap end to the inside latch of the seat and the swivel to the car seat latch. It just gave me enough room to have the swivel part protrude out of the opening to provide a convenient way of unlatching the car seat if needed

 

[neva4self]

I had child seat installed using the Latch system for almost 2 years now and there were no signs of any wear on the seats, I agree the latch anchors are pretty low in the FX but I would still recommend using that over the seatbelts, this is much more secure mounting system. I would recommend safety of your baby anytime over a small potential of damage to the seats (which I never had).

Both the latch and seat belt are very secure methods. Using both together (at the same time) is overkill in my opinion. From experience I have used both and when they applied correctly they both are very secure. To say that the seat belt that secures a full grown adult to a seat would not secure a child seat just as good is reaching. The damage employed by the latch system would only be noticeable if you leave it latched for a long period of time, in your case you say two years, that would surely be long enough to notice that the the leather where you push the latches though would be stretched open and some times so much so that it looks like you have two small holes there that will never bend back into shape. Again this is only my opinion but I do speak from experience and seeing a set of seat slots for the latch system look horribly stretched. I use the seat belt and like I said, if you engage the locking by pulling it all the way out and then pull it tight to secure the seat, there is little to no movement from the car seat. Coupled with the Prince Lion seat protector, I wouldn't go any other way. I could understand the concern for your childs safety if you don't trust the seat belt not to fail but then again your trusting the nylon straps that hold the latches to the seat in the very same manner the seat belt does. So in the end it is simply a matter of preference. Anyone's child will be safe when either method is employed correctly.

---------- Post added at 06:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 AM ----------

Since there have been discussions about child seat's affect of leather, I thought I'd share mine. These pictures show the seat "damage" (if you can call it that). The seat base was installed with the LATCH system and tightly bound in place for over 6 months. A seat protector was used and only minor indentions were left behind. The picture was taken immediately after removal and I was quite impressed with the condition. I had larger indentions from a bag of groceries.

Very nice. The FX seats seem to hold up pretty good when the latches are placed through the slots for them. Seems like the bottom back prat of the car seat stretched the leather more than the latches did the slots.

 

[tchuck]

Both the latch and seat belt are very secure methods. Using both together (at the same time) is overkill in my opinion. From experience I have used both and when they applied correctly they both are very secure. To say that the seat belt that secures a full grown adult to a seat would not secure a child seat just as good is reaching.
...

It's not the yield strength of the system, it's the way in which the system engages the seat. It's very easy to achieve a much more snug and "secure" (Im using that term loosely) fit with LATCH than is even possible with an auto-locking seat belt. Will they both work? Of course, but seatbelts are designed for loose people and LATCH is designed for child seats. Ergo, the latter is a little better at doing exactly the same thing (restraining a child seat in the event of an accident). Its also virtually fool proof in terms of installation, unlike the "threaded shoulder belt" method.

 

[neva4self]

It's not the yield strength of the system, it's the way in which the system engages the seat. It's very easy to achieve a much more snug and "secure" (Im using that term loosely) fit with LATCH than is even possible with an auto-locking seat belt. Will they both work? Of course, but seatbelts are designed for loose people and LATCH is designed for child seats. Ergo, the latter is a little better at doing exactly the same thing (restraining a child seat in the event of an accident). Its also virtually fool proof in terms of installation, unlike the "threaded shoulder belt" method.

I guess that's a matter of opinion then because I have secured my child's seat on more than one occasion IMO more securely with the seat belt than the Latch system. By securely I mean that there was little to no movement when the child's seat was pushed or pulled compared to the Latch system. Also I think I forgot to mention that I also use the strap from the child's seat that goes back over the seat and anchors to the back of the cars seat or trunk floor. I belive that as of 2000 or 2001 all auto manufacturers are reqiured by law to include Latch anchors but the seat belt method is not going anywhere. To say that the seat belt was not made to secure a child seat to the car but a loose body is correct. But the child seat on the other hand was manufactured to be secured by a seat belt and that too is a fact. So again it's simply a matter of preference which method you choose. It should be whichever method is going to secure your child seat the best in you specific vehicle.

 

[jdTrader]

neva4self, how were you able to install with the seatbelt without much wiggle? with our FX in the center rear, I have not been able to do so. On the sides using latch it doesn't move a mm, but with the seatbelt it would move literally an inch or two.

 

[neva4self]

neva4self, how were you able to install with the seatbelt without much wiggle? with our FX in the center rear, I have not been able to do so. On the sides using latch it doesn't move a mm, but with the seatbelt it would move literally an inch or two.

I install my child's seat behind the passanger seat and my young one is going on 3yrs old about 35lbs, so her seat is already facing foward. Also I use a Prince Lion seat protector you can get one at most Babies R Us. The seat protector is somewhat firm and IMO gives the child seat a little more sturdy support than the soft leather. I engage the auto lock by pulling the seat belt all the way out first. Then I thread the seat belt through the back of the child seat and tighten it with a considerable amount of strength, not worrying about the pressure on the seat because the seat protector bears most of the pressure points. Then I take the strap in the back of the child seat and pass it back over the seat under the head rest and I anchor that strap to the anchor point on the back of the FX rear seat. Once that strap is secured and tightened properly the child seat doesnt move without purposely trying to rip it out of the seat. This is the method I always used and IMO it is more secure (again meaning no movement) because it will tighten the child seat to the cars seat for as tight as your physically able to pull the seat belt and rear strap. If you pull the seat belt tight enough you can almost feel that you gotten to s point where the child seat is sunken into your cars seat. Not that you want to make it that tight but the point Im making is that it can be tightened that much. You can only secure the child seat with the Latch system to a certain point since its an entirely different method and angle of securing the seat. And again Im not taking anything from the Latch, l've used both, I just feel like the seat belt gives allows me to tighten the child seat down as snug as my heart desires.