My in-laws are using FPrice Safe Voyage and have had Natalie in it 3x or so. DH and I never checked it out until today and my goodness I'm so glad I did!! I discovered that there's no LATCH in their Tracker, so it's installed with a seatbelt (totally unfamiliar to us anyway). The seat is VERY loose and flips around! I almost had a cow. In addition to that, they've been strapping Natalie in VERY loosely. I had to tighten it quite a bit to get it right on her.

I think they were offended but I could care less. DH is going to tighten it and double-check the install when we go over to their house Thursday night. She won't be in it before then. I'm still amazed that it isn't obvious that the seat straps at the very least are too loose. I would look at them and think 'what is the point of this if they'r not tightened'

Long story, but my question is about car seats installed without LATCH. Should the seat in general fit more loosely in a seatbelt installation or just as tight as with LATCH? DH gets our seat so tight really doesn't move at all. I wanted to double-check with you.
They do have a car with LATCH, is that safer? Of course they never will because one of them uses it for golfing, but just for my own info. Thank you

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 05:12 pm:

Good thing you checked! Yikes! LATCH vs. seat belt installation - as long as installed correctly, one isn't safer than the other. Either way, the car seat shouldn't move more than one inch when the car seat is tugged at the belt path. Tighter is even better. Which position do they have it installed in? What kind of seat belts? They may need a locking clip or perhaps they don't have the seat belt in the locked mode. ??

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 05:16 pm:

BTW, you may or may not be aware that LATCH has weight limits, 40-48 lbs. depending on the vehicle manufacturer. This is an issue for car seats like the FPSVD that harness past 40 lbs.. Once the child reaches the LATCH weight limit, the car seat must be installed with the vehicle seat belt. Not an issue for Natalie for awhile, but thought I'd mention that. I can look up LATCH limits if you'd like.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 06:15 pm:

Thanks for that FYI on the weight limits because I didn't know that. She's only 32 lbs. so we have a while, but I'll keep that in mind.

I bet it moves 6" each way!!! I couldn't believe it. DH gets ours so tight it doesn't budge. What did you mean by "what position is it installed in"? It's on the passenger side. I'll print this off and have DH check those things on Thursday. They are no thorough at all, so DH will check it out and get it done correctly. Thanks for letting us know what to check on. I really appreciate it.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 07:14 pm:

You're very welcome. Six inches is way, way too much! Phew, good thing you checked! You'll need to figure out what kind of seat belt they have and then you'll know if you need a locking clip or not. More info here:

How to Lock in a Child Restraint

I wish I could explain further but I need to make blueberry muffins with DD for her to bring in to school tomorrow for her birthday. I'll check back later.

By Kaye on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 11:17 pm:

Just to be clear here....I think that the movement is not side to side, but if you grab and push it near the seat belt path. Is that right trina? I am suprised sometimes by how much car seats can move up top, but still be in very tight at the base. I think tethers help that.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 09:14 am:

For this one, they have it strapped in so loosely that the whole thing moves side to side at least 6" each way. I can actually tip it with my hands. It's swinging back and forth in the seat. It moves ALL over. There's nothing right about the installation.