install question

[Docs Wife]

To get my LOs seats in with a tight install I have been slightly reclining the vehicle seat, installing the cs as tight as I can and then bringing the vehicle seat back up right to finish getting it tight. Is this acceptable?

[jjordan]

Yes, though be careful that you aren't forcing it to be in tighter than it really needs to be. Up to 1" of movement in any direction (at the belt path) is an acceptable installation, where you measure the 1" by tugging with 20# of force. So it doesn't have to be rock-the-car tight in order to be a good installation.

[Docs Wife]

Our new vehicle is a nightmare to get seats into. With the exception if the infant seat base they move way more then an inch without doing this.

[brigala]

Yes, as long as you're careful, it's fine. The concern comes when the seat is really tight while the vehicle seat is reclined, and then you put the vehicle seat back up and it's too tight.

If you grab the child seat with both hands, put your back into it and really SHOVE, and the car rocks before the child seat moves, you may have it in there too tight. If there's still just a little bit of play in the child seat if you give it a good hard yank, you are probably fine.

[Docs Wife]

Thank you all, it sounds like they are good to go. Now if I can just figure out how to get three across without using an infant seat I will be good.