Rear facing car seat help needed

[JumboAg99]

My son is 2 months old and it looks like I'm going to be the person dropping him off at daycare every morning instead of the wife. I'd like to be able to drive my 2016 Mustang GT more often than just on the weekend (I also own a full size truck and have so far been taking him to DC in it).

My car seat is a Chicco Keyfit 30. I'm the only adult in the car, so having the passenger seat all the way forward is not a problem. My concern is that I cant seem to get the base situated adequately using either the LATCH connectors or the shoulder belt. Even if I stand on it and yank with all my strength while my foot is braced on it, there seems to be way too much wiggle in the car seat. In addition, anytime I tighten it, the front kicks up and the bubble level thing is no longer in the "safe" zone. In my F150, once I tighten the base, it's superglued in place.

Looking for advice on what I'm doing wrong or need to change. Once my son's a few years old and can move to a forward facing, I'll put a Recaro in, but I'd like to be able to drive my car regularly until then.

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[jojo4711]

Make sure the strap isn't twisted under the part the kid sits in. If it is, u can't tighten it down no matter how hard u try. Ask me how I know lol. U also need to adjust it so the kid isn't upright or laying down, since the rear seats are angle downward, I put my car seat at the most incline, this way when it's tightened down, he is in a good position. I don't worry about the bubble, it's just a suggestion, I just make sure my kid isn't laying down but also not sitting upright, regardless of where the bubble is.

 

[notstok5.0]

You might need a car seat leveling wedge.

 

[Litenin75]

You might need a car seat leveling wedge.

This... I have the Graco seat in mine and it has a built in leveler. I have to raise it all the way up to make it level in the mustang. Also, it does have more wiggle than it does in our SUV.

 

[IsolatedSnail]

This... I have the Graco seat in mine and it has a built in leveler. I have to raise it all the way up to make it level in the mustang. Also, it does have more wiggle than it does in our SUV.

Any chance you'd be willing to post some pics of this setup? I have a 16 GT/CS as well and I'm expecting my first mini Mustang enthusiast by the end of the year. Wife and I are planning to do the Graco seat with a base in each vehicle.

I'd love to see how you got it situated on the seats.

 

[FISHTAIL]

britax worked perfect in my 2011. I think it was a marathon 70. I have both kids in my 16 now, but they are both forward facing. It took me a while to figure out how the seat wanted to be installed, but it does work fine. I haul them both to daycare everyday.

If your current seat doesn't fit properly, head over to babies r us and try a few. Britax was the one that worked best for me.

 

[Litenin75]

Any chance you'd be willing to post some pics of this setup? I have a 16 GT/CS as well and I'm expecting my first mini Mustang enthusiast by the end of the year. Wife and I are planning to do the Graco seat with a base in each vehicle.

I'd love to see how you got it situated on the seats.

I can do that, just give me a day or two. I took it out recently to allow my family to use the base and take my daughter around.

My biggest piece of advice is to get one of the protector mats they sell. It will help keep the base from creasing the seats. If it is your main baby transportation, you should even put a towel down to soak up any liquids they spill from bottles and such. Just put the towel under the base when you strap the base down. I only use mine for back and forth to daycare so you will not see a towel in my pics.

 

[Blue Rabbit]

Fold a medium towel and place it under the back edge of the seat. This is what we did couple years ago

 

[350Mike]

Britax worked great for me. I made a leveling wedge

 

[JumboAg99]

I folded up a towel this morning. Turns out that's all it needed. Might buy a foam pad from Amazon just to placate the wife because she frowned about a "towel", but 1) the car seats now level and 2) @#$% thing aint moving at all now.

Thank you everyone that offered advice!

 

[Litenin75]

Tell her the towel is two for one. Keeps the seat level and soaks up bottle spills to keep the seat clean.

 

[JumboAg99]

So, pretty soon we're going to have to upgrade from the pure infant to a convertible car seat for my son (still rear facing, he's only 9 months old, cant go front until 2 years). He'll outgrow the current Chicco in another 2". The Chicco is a tight fit in my '16 GT. Afraid a convertible seat's going to be even bigger!

 

[JCFoster]

You can also use the round foam pool nuddles cut to length.

 

[Bcart50]

I tried to put my sons recaro in there and wow... Not sure how its going to work. Also I couldn't find the latch clips. Gave up and took the truck.

 

[Kenny_S550GT]

Very helpful thread. My baby girl will be here in mid July and these tips will come in handy when istalling the rear facing seat. Thanks.

Kenny

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