Rear facing infant car seat.

[hartigan85]

I just brought my baby home from the hospital today in a rear facing car seat with a convenience base sitting in the back seat of the G8. Problem is i can't seem to get the car seat to recline back far enough, the way the back seat slopes makes it to where the baby is sitting up with his head flopping all over the place. i know its bad. lol. Can someone with a rear facing car seat post up a picture of how it is supposed to go cause after trying to adjust it several times i can't seem to get it to fit to where the baby is reclined and to where it feels like it is sturdy. Hopefully this makes sense and I'm sure if you have an infant car seat it does. Thanks.

Dan

[CenTexSS]

Congrats on the baby, I have my first child due in July.

I can't help with the seat issue though, I just got my car seat in today.

[hartigan85]

Thanks, i am new at this and i don't understand why they have to make these car seats so damn difficult. lol. I even read the seat manual like 3 times, maybe i'm slow.

[GeoffA]

I don't have any pics but we had the same problem with our trailblazer and how the angle of the seat is. If your baby seat is equipped there should be a wedge that pulls down from underneath to compensate for the angle. if not you can buy a hard foam wedge from babies R us or you can use the hard foam swimming tubular things and cut it down to size. We had both, and the swimming thing we got from a Police child seat fitting and worked better.

[hartigan85]

Ok thanks i will give that i try, the base has the bottom part that pulls out to compensate but it just wasn't enough. I guess i will be on a mission tomorrow to find some hard foam.

[GeoffA]

here is the wedge I'm talking about http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2343250

If you can't find anything goto your local PD and ask if there is someone who could look at your car seat and fit it properly. They should help you out.

[GeoffA]

you can also buy side pillows to prevent head flopping...

[CenTexSS]

I'm looking at mine, and you're right they're f'n confusing if you haven't dealt with them before. We may get a fake baby for testing purposes!

[hartigan85]

here is the wedge I'm talking about http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2343250

If you can't find anything goto your local PD and ask if there is someone who could look at your car seat and fit it properly. They should help you out.

Thanks for the link. I went out and fit the car seat without the convenience base and i seems to fit really good. it doesn't move or rock at all. if i can't get any help for the police tomorrow then i might just have to take the extra min or two when i put the car seat in and do it without the base. Its no big deal to me either way as long as i know the baby is going to be safe and well supported.

[GeoffA]

just make sure that bottom piece is secure. I don't like using the seat belt to tighten it down. If yours was supplied, I use the straps that attach and hook on to the U hook inside of the rear seat.

[hartigan85]

Thanks for all the info, i will see what i can figure out tomorrow. Maybe I'm just missing something cause i am haven't really slept since Sunday night.

[GeorgeInNePa]

I don't have any pics but we had the same problem with our trailblazer and how the angle of the seat is. If your baby seat is equipped there should be a wedge that pulls down from underneath to compensate for the angle. if not you can buy a hard foam wedge from babies R us or you can use the hard foam swimming tubular things and cut it down to size. We had both, and the swimming thing we got from a Police child seat fitting and worked better.

This

My wife and I also used a rolled up towel to prop the rear of the seat base.

[GeorgeInNePa]

just make sure that bottom piece is secure. I don't like using the seat belt to tighten it down. If yours was supplied, I use the straps that attach and hook on to the U hook inside of the rear seat.

We bought a few ratchet adjusters because the seat belts never locked up tight enough. They were basically like a ratchet strap adjuster, for the seat belt. We got them at We B Toyz & Shit. (Toys R Us)

[Slizzo]

Could also bring it to the local Fire Department. Guys there should know how to properly install just about any seat.

Well, if they know their stuff they will.

[Kermit]

I agree with Slizzo. Our fire department has 4 stations designated as the official baby seat installers. We have to attend a three day class in order to install them properly. We like to use the water tube things to help with proper angle of the seats. Check with your local FD.

[miamio96]

As stated before, you can roll up a towel and place it underneath near the seatback. If I'm not mistaken the seat should sit at about 45 degrees, ours has an indicator on the side. You will want to try to use the base, it is a real PITA to buckle and unbuckle the infant seat all the time.

[DaNgErOuSgt]

My car seat base has an adjustment on the bottom/back of the base to raise or lower to help with that. I don't know if yours has it at all or not. otherwise use a towel folded up under the back and that should help.

[hartigan85]

Well i took a look at it today, the base has an indicator when it is at the right angle. i got it all set so the indicator showed green and still the with the baby in the car seat he was sitting up. I rolled up a towel and put that under the base. the indicator shows red but at least the baby is reclined and not sitting up. Thanks everyone for all the advice.

[GeorgeInNePa]

Just remember that the kid needs to sit so that if you crash into something, he takes the impact across his back, where the seat padding is and on the largest surface area of his body. You don't want him laying down so he takes the impact on the tops of his shoulders from the straps.

Too upright isn't good, but too reclined isn't either.

[miamio96]

Personally, I would go by the indicator, not what I think looks right. There should also be an insert that clips around the infant seat shoulder harness that cradles the head/neck to prevent it from moving excessively. I have a 2.5 year old, a 1.5 year old and another due any week now so I know what you are going through.

[hartigan85]

when i went by the indicator he was sitting too upright, i have the head pad things in the car seat but the problem is his head just falls forward so its kinda laying him his chest. i have it reclined just enough so his head stays back against the car seat. i know this might sound fucked up but i would rather take my chance that he will be fine if i ever get in a car accident then worry about if he is gonna be alright every time i put him in the car and his head is bouncing up and down.

[m1tankr]

when i went by the indicator he was sitting too upright, i have the head pad things in the car seat but the problem is his head just falls forward so its kinda laying him his chest. i have it reclined just enough so his head stays back against the car seat. i know this might sound fucked up but i would rather take my chance that he will be fine if i ever get in a car accident then worry about if he is gonna be alright every time i put him in the car and his head is bouncing up and down.

You don't have to be perfectly in the range. Just compromise between the green zone & keeping the babys head from rolling forward. I had the same problem until her little neck got stronger. You can also put a u shaped towel around the sides of the head to keep it straight. That helps keep the head from rolling forward.