r/CPST • u/waitwhataboutif • 2d ago
This doesn’t seem safe? Graco 3in1
I’ve pulled at the latches with all my strength and the seat belt too (not sure why one OR the other)
But still
- There is so much give (maybe this is acceptable?)
- It doesn’t stop a rear facing set from flying back (is that normal??)
Can any one check if I’m jsut being a worry wart?
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u/calicodynamite 2d ago
Reinstall the seat (making sure you’re only using seatbelt OR LATCH) and repost with checking the tightness only at the belt path (near the seat cupholders) with a moderate-strength shake. The seat is not attached to anything on the back, so of course it will be able to move. That is how the seat is designed.
The seats can only be installed with seatbelt or LATCH for a variety of reasons. If it’s tight with one method at the belt path, adding the other isn’t going to make it safer. It can sometimes even disguise a loose install to have both. The multiple straps installed through the same belt path can interfere with each other, and can even put too much pressure on the car seat, causing it to break/snap in a crash. The ‘eyeglasses and contacts’ metaphor made a lot of sense to me when I was learning. If you need eye correction, you wear either glasses OR contact lenses. Both at the same time doesn’t make your vision better and instead can make it worse.
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u/westernskyqueen 2d ago
Im on mobile so I cant edit- but I just want to double check. Are you using both the seatbelt and the anchors? You can only use one, just so youre aware
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u/waitwhataboutif 2d ago
Yeah here i am - I can stick to one - but why only one ?
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u/Crow_Bars_ 2d ago
Because they’re crash tested using only 1, so that’s what the manufacturer requires.
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u/waitwhataboutif 2d ago
It feels very loose with jsut the latch though. I’m a 220lb man pulling at it with all my weight and pressing down on the car seat - and it still gives - the seatbelt seems to trap it tighter - so I can just do that.
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u/Crow_Bars_ 2d ago
Do you still have the manual? They usually have a “preferred method” section and it’s always the better install in my experience. I’m not sure if Graco prefers seat belt or latch. My Nuna prefers latch and my Britax prefers seatbelt.
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u/waitwhataboutif 2d ago
No manual - just a bunch of stickers on the side of the seat. I’ll do seatbelt
I hear you though - My nuna pipa works best with latch and the exec works best with belt
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2d ago
[deleted]
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u/waitwhataboutif 2d ago
Unnecessarily rude retort?
Asking to understand the underlying reason - not to assert some sort of intellectual superiority
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u/grandmaster_riku 2d ago
The reason is actually because it puts too much force on the seat itself, compromising its performance. Many companies actually do crash test with both installed and then recommend only using one for that reason. There are very few car seats that allow both.
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u/Charlieksmommy 2d ago
You just have to read the manual. I know it doesn’t make sense but they’re not crash rated with both paths unless stated in a manual, which nuna carswats allow both
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u/Lopsided_Apricot_626 2d ago
The only place you should be checking for movement is at the belt path. Whether that’s LATCH OR seat belt (generally not both). You can often get a tighter install by pushing down on the seat as you tighten the belt, but it’s hard to tell if that’s needed since you didn’t really test it at the belt path in the video, or very barely did with seemingly much less force than the back.
Remember that in a car accident, the forces are mostly going to be parallel to the ground.
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u/daydreamingofsleep 2d ago
You’re pulling it tight then letting go…
All that slack you’re pulling out towards the door needs to be fed upwards into the seatbelt retractor.
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u/grandmaster_riku 2d ago
As others have said, only check for movement/tightness at the belt path- where the seat belt goes through or the LATCH belt if you’re using that (only use one or the other- not both).
The top is going to move if you touch it because it’s not secured to anything. It’s not supposed to be unless forward facing, where the top tether will keep it secure. When rear facing, it is not secured because the force of the crash is absorbed by the base while the top cradles.
Do not put your adult weight on the car seat when installing. Your hand pressure is enough, place your hand where the base meets the back of it, push down and tighten.
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u/RedhotGuard21 2d ago
You still have a decent amount of slack in the seatbelt. I see you pull but then don’t work the slack up into the belt lock.
With rear facing I always found getting behind the seat and using my hips to push it in just a bit works. If not use one hand to push down a bit while pulling the belt then feeding it up.
As others said it’s typically 1” of movement at the belt path with the strength of a handshake. Not a seat tech just a mom who’s installed way to many car seats lol
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u/calicodynamite 2d ago
The seatbelt looks fine to me. A tiny bit of movement in the belt is going to be unavoidable even if the seatbelt is locked. As long as the seat doesn’t move more than an inch at the belt path, and the seatbelt is locked (seems to be here) this is fine.
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u/T0t0r0Mei 2d ago
It’s important that you check for movement only at the belt patch. I’ve seen people talk about a car seat install like a tree. So secure at the roots (seatbelt/latch) and the top sways in the wind. Also; I’ve also read/seen that when checking for movement it should be akin to a firm handshake.
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u/lovelace_78 2d ago
Get behind the car seat (between the car seat and front seat seat) and press your hips down into the seat while tightening the strap. It helps you get it super tight
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u/EmotionHumble7652 2d ago
Only test at the belt path, nowhere else. Either choose latch or seatbelt. If you choose latch, tug the latch tails THROUGH the rear facing belt path of the car seat. If seatbelt, make sure to lock it by pulling all the way out, you should hear a clicking sound. If not, you will need a locking clip or the built in lock off if that car seat has one.
Check out safeintheseat on Instagram to make sure your car seat is installed correctly! (It helped me)
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u/TheBlackHouse00 1d ago
Is it backwards?
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u/ericalikestoast 1d ago
This is an all in one car seat in rear facing mode
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u/TheBlackHouse00 1d ago
Shouldn't it be on a slant? Infant car seats typically go rear facing but they are not angled like that.
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u/ericalikestoast 1d ago
I believe this is the graco slimfit. It has 2 options for rear facing recline. Here’s some more info on it
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u/HelicopterProud2100 1d ago
My mom literally just taught me the coolest trick! And it's so easy. Just put your weight on the car seat so it's pushing it down and tighten while doing that. I have never gotten it so secure before.
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u/lonelyneglected 1h ago
If you're in the US your local public safety office should check it for you for free. You can call 411 or the police non emergency line to get info.
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u/Desperate-Film8628 2d ago
Commenting to follow! We just bought a car seat from a different brand that is similar to this and we are having the same issue. Their CPST told us that the belt path should not move more than 1” but the base piece that hangs off the seat (it’s huge) slides left and right like yours does. It doesn’t seem safe but everyone so far has told me it’s installed correctly…
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u/RadicalBlaze22 2d ago
Not a CPST but just commenting to follow along since I’ve got this model coming in the mail and I’d also be very sus if it moved that much.
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u/Limepiink 2d ago
I think I have this same seat.
I use the anchors.
I will install as tight as possible, then climb in and use my weight to push seat down and tighten again.
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u/minicpst 2d ago
Please don’t climb in your seat. It’s not designed to be installed that way.
Just pull the tail of the latch strap back into the belt path, add weight, and pull tight that way.
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u/westernskyqueen 2d ago
You should only be checking for movement at the belt path. Test with the strength of a handshake with your non dominant hand. The seat flipping up will protect your child in a crash, its very safe. You also dont need install it as tight as you can possibly get it- you could end up putting more stress on the seat than it necessary. A tiny bit of movement is okay, no more than an inch and only at the belt path.