Hellobee Boards

@Mrs D: Yep, bases installs are great!!!!

Really the only thing you have to check is that LATCH install is allowed for that seat in your specific car, in that specific spot (really the middle spot is that only one you have to double check). And if the carseat touches the front seats when in you need to make sure bracing (touching) is okay per both manuals.

Other than that... Base install = compared to some other seats I've installed! Lol

Yes, base installations are easy!

@Foodnerd81: Check your vehicle manual in the section about the airbags... Some vehicles these days have sensors in the seats (if noone is in them they're off & if there is weight in/on the seat they're on)... It should say something in regards to not hanging anything on the back of the seat or something along those lines if it's not okay. If it doesn't say anything, then it should be fine.

I think the same goes for the carseat manual.... I actually just recently learned that our infant seat was never installed properly b/c Chicco seats don't allow for bracing/touching at all even though our Honda did. *womp womp* lol

ETA: Every seat is different & it should specify if there are certain limitations. (Some allow for touching, some don't, and some even require a certain amount of space between the car seat & vehicle seat.).

@Anagram: The safest spot is where you can get the best install! I'm pretty sure Honda allows for bracing, but I don't know about what Britax allows.

Also, check you seat AND vehicle manual to see what it says about the LATCH anchor distance..... Most cars don't have a separate middle set of anchor so in essence you're "sharing" the anchors from the outboard seat & they're farther apart than the standard 11"... some cars do permit still using them BUT some seats specify the max distance the anchors can be so it ultimately may not even be an option to use LATCH in the middle.

Using the seatbelt, if you can get a good install, WILL help give you more space for others to sit/ride though. We currently have our Combi set up outboard behind the passenger b/c I couldn't get it tethered behind the driver seat (Combi allows for rf tethering)... since we'll be adding another seat back there soon (along with G's backless booster) we're going to have to install with the seatbelts...... I just haven't gotten un-lazy enough to get P's seat changed yet. lol

@Mrs D: @Anagram: @chanzi: So just did a quick google search (thanks car-seat.org) & found that Britax does allow "gentle touching" (like the car seat doesn't indent into the front seat) as long as your vehicle allows it (should say in the airbag section about hanging things from the back of the seat or something along those lines).

Hope that helps!!

We installed our base with the seat belt because our old Audi didn't have ISOFIX (European equivalent of LATCH). At first I was paranoid about it, but it turns out a seat belt install is just as secure when done properly.

Now we have LATCH and it's great, but I feel equally confident doing a seat belt install, especially in rental cars.