Okay, here's the situation... I have a Britax Pavilion that is currently rear-facing and installed using the LATCH system. The seat has a "Versa" tether system that is supposed to add stability to installation. The tether must be locked into an anchor system, which either exists on the floorboard of the car (so the tether would go from the back of the carseat to the floor) or behind the headrest of the actual seat in the car. My car only has anchors in the second spot, behind the head rest. Anchoring the carseat to that anchor once we move to forward-facing makes a lot of sense. BUT anchoring the seat to that anchor position when it is rear-facing is a big mess. First, the tether has to wrap around the carseat, past DD, to the anchor, which seems like a strangulation hazard and which means I have to undo the tether every single time I get DD in or out of her seat, which is a HUGE PITA. Second, because of the way the seat sits rear-facing, attaching the tether actually seems to make the seat less stable because it lifts the seat off of the actual car's seat in the back. Britax suggests using the tether, but I am curious to hear from real life users - do you actually use the tether in this position???
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I used it rear facing but not ff.
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@septca: on that case, I would not use it.
I'll look for the YouTube video that explains those 2 styles of tethering on the Britax for you.
Eta: I searched "Britax tether" and it was the first video. Just to make sure you're doing it correctly. I think you are but still, I wouldn't do it if it effects the stability of the seat.
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I think the tether is optional with rear facing, at least it is with my Britax Boulevard. I did have it tethered rear facing, I had an extender piece that attached to the anchor install piece and I wrapped it around the metal piece where the front seat is attached to the chassis.
And, check youtube on the Britax Channel for how to tether rear facing, what you're describing doesn't sound correct. You shouldn't be using the front facing tether point behind the seat for a rear facing installation.
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In Canada, you now HAVE to tether the G4s (2014 models) when rear-facing. We don't have floor anchors in the backseat either, so I've taken Britax off the list.
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@looch: I totally agree that it sounds ridiculous, but there is a picture in the instruction manual that shows the tether in exactly the absurd way I described. I have no idea how that is supposed to work, but I am definitely going to check out the YouTube video.
The tether is optional (we are in the US and have a G3 - last year's model), so we have been doing without. The seat seems very secure even without the tether.
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@septca: Then I stand corrected! I have an older model of the Blvd and I had done that tether where it goes around the seat and it looked so odd, so I checked the Britax channel and lo and behold, for that model, I had done it wrong!
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I tether it, same problem. I just cram her in around it rather than undo it (which she hates, but I actually never even considered undoing it, ha ha ha). It does add to the stability of the seat, though, I thing. The top of it seems like it could whip back and forth in an accident.
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@septca: we were told by the car installation people (run by the county) to use the tether on the back seat of the car (I think that's what you mean) when forward facing.
They gave us a D ring to hook the tether behind the passenger seat when rear-facing since our new car didn't have one built in...no problems so far!
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Okay... so I feel like an idiot. I just watched the Britax installation video, and basically you can loop the tether strap around the metal chair rail for the front seat... I was looking for a true anchor loop, which isn't necessary. So, yes, I will just install the tether from the back of the seat to the floorboard, which makes much more sense than trying to loop it around the seat. (@looch: the ridiculous way, is - according to the video - correct. But they don't show you how to do it - only the same ridiculous picture I saw in the manual.)
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I have a Britax seat but I'm in New Zealand and it's illegal to use a seat without a tether if it has one! I'm sure the US seats are slightly different but my tether has an adjuster buckle thingee that allows the strap to be loosened when getting LO in and out of the seat, I'll take a picture of LO in her rear facing seat when we go out later this morning!
My seat is installed with the seatbelt and the tether strap is connected to an anchor point in the trunk of our SUV. We do need an extender piece to tether the seat but it is MUCH more stable with the tether.
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Here's Miss A in her rear-facing Britax!
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@Kemma: Thanks!!! That is what I was hoping to avoid, but it looks like I *can* use the floor anchor, so that's what I am trying.
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