Thank you very much! This video was a lot more helpful than the manufacturer. Also really helpful pointing out the middle seatbelt. Had to refer to the owners manual.
When the child is under the lower anchor limit (45 lbs forward facing, no limit rear facing) either is equally safe if you can get a good install. If one is easier for you to get a good install use that. Once kiddo reaches the lower anchor limit you must discontinue use of the lower anchors.
You only check for movement at the belt path. As long as the base is flat on the seat and less than one inch of movement at the belt path then yes that’s ok
For the high back booster, you do use the latch system with the regular seat belt? I thought I read that if the weight of the child plus carseat are over 65 pounds you shouldn't use the latch system? It just seems like it would be much more protective to have it but I haven't gotten a clear answer yet, even from the manufacturer? I have a 5 year old that weighs about 55 lbs
In booster mode you can use the LATCH system but you don’t have too. Yes lower anchors have a max of 65 lbs including the seat and the child when the child is in harness mode. In harness mode the lower anchors or seatbelt are what is holding the child and car seat in the seat of the car. But the harness is holding the child in the car seat. In booster mode the seatbelt is what is holding the child and car seat in but the seatbelt is all that’s securing the child. The latch is just to hold the seat in the car when unoccupied. It serves no purpose when occupied in booster mode. If you don’t use the latch system in booster mode then the child needs to buckle the empty car seat in upon exiting the car. Other wise the seat is a projectile risk (and a very heavy one at that!)
No. This is a convertible seat. You install the whole seat. And it stays in the car. It rear faces and forward faces. This one happens to be an all in one that also becomes a high back booster. The only seats that have a base are the infant carrier (rear facing only) style (with the exception of Orbit which does have a convertible seat attachment for their base as well).
You will need to move the seat to a seating position with a top tether location. All vehicles manufactured in the US after 2000 were required to have top tethers. Graco does not require the use of the top tether. However, they (and I) STRONGLY recommend the use of it for a forward facing car seat. It is not required or needed In booster mode. You will just need the child to buckle the car seat in every time they leave the car seat. Top tethers are not used rear facing for this seat. If the seating position doesn’t have lower anchors you just install with the seatbelt.
In some vehicles it does and others the middle seat doesn’t. You’ll have to look at your vehicle owners manual. In a 5 seater there should be three tether anchors across the back row. In a 6, 7, 8+ seater vehicle there usually is 2 in the outboard middle row seats and at least one in the third row. Depending on vehicle manufacturer there are more.
No you cannot per the manual. Graco only allows either the seatbelt or lower anchors. This is because it was either tested with both and failed or was not tested and we don’t know if it would fail or act correctly in a crash. The manual for the triride says one or the other not both which means the car seat has passed testing with one or the other.
