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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1642
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 9:57 am: | 
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My brother & his wife just had twins (yay!!!). Since they live in Manhattan and don't have a car, Auntie Greenetree has custody of the car seats (for now).
After an hour of physics experiments & several phone calls to another brother in Chicago, I am now an expert in the installation of car seats. However, I have the lap belts with the sliding buckle, so my car requires the "H" buckle to lock the straps when the car seat is installed. My car only came with one; there are two tiny people.
I'm sure I could get one from the dealer, but I hate giving them any money. Does anyone know where I can get more "H" buckles? I'm not sure that's what they are officially called, but it's that "H" shaped clip that prevents the lap belt connector from moving.
Thanks- |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 58
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 10:03 am: |
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Greentree-- Try calling the car seat manufacturer. They will probably have it in stock and can send it to you at no charge. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 59
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 10:05 am: |
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PS-- Congrats on becoming an Aunt of twins!! |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 145
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 10:11 am: |
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I think you are referring to the locking clip. It's about $3.00 at any baby store. Babyland in Millburn has them. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1643
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 11:13 am: |
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Thank you!
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hismom
Citizen
Username: Hismom
Post Number: 53
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 12:23 pm: |
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When we had our second child, we got an extra set of locking clips free from the Ford place on Springfield Ave - we didn't even buy our car there. Most car dealers are the same. They want you to use car seats properly. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1645
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 2:33 pm: |
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Hismom-
I called DCH (where I bought my Passat). They offered to sell me & install the conversion kit for child seats. I declined.
FYI- I called a couple places & was told that they are out of them, because of the dock strike. When I called my other sister-in-law to see if she had a spare she could mail to me, she told me about the "Mighty Tite" seatbelt latch. It's very cool; you slip it on the lap portion & hit a little lever until the seat is tight enough. I read all the consumer safety test info & it seems like a great product.
I bought two for the twins' parents. I figure that there will be plenty of times when Mom has to take a baby to the doctor or something in a car service by herself. This should make it easier.
At this rate, I am going to become the world's greatest non-parent expert on children's equipment in the world! |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 556
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 6, 2003 - 5:09 pm: |
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Greenetree, I am shocked the Passat doesn't have locking seatbelts, which would alleviate te need for the locking clip.
FYI, I was in Babys R Us yesterday and they had planty of the clips. |
Michael Janay
Citizen
Username: Childprotect
Post Number: 42
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 8:15 am: |
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Mighty tites are great (I am a dealer for them), but they are belt tensioners, not locking clips and shouldn't be used as locking clips. What year passat is it?
Car seats now have to come with locking clips, and you can get them at just about any place that sells car seats. But I do have a supply of them.
BTW, I am a nationally certified child passenger safety technician.
Give me a call at 973-313-0147 and I can help get you straightened out.
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sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 428
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 11:15 am: |
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We have a Britax car seat and it has clips built into the side of the seat that alleviate the need for locking clips. The seat is a breeze to install. I set the seat put my knee into it, then pull the strap up and into the attached clip and it works like a charm. IMO every seat should be designed the same way. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1647
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 2:09 pm: |
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Oy! The confusion! It is a 2002 Passat. The seatbelts do tighten with sudden stops (self-tenioning?). I am getting conflicting info from many parents on whether or not you need locking clips with the tension belts. The manufacturer's instructions for the car seat say "yes". My sis-in-law who recommended the Mighty-Tite is a safety-freak; she & my brother go to every police department child seat installation clinic held in & around their town (both extreme Type As). Maybe they don't know that they need the Mighty Tite and the locking clip?
Perhaps the babies can just be duct taped to the seats? That stuff holds everything... |
gemini
Citizen
Username: Gemini
Post Number: 177
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 9, 2003 - 2:13 pm: |
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Greentree for some reason I have plenty of ducttape lying around if you need it!! |
Michael Janay
Citizen
Username: Childprotect
Post Number: 43
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 9:14 am: |
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Seatbelts tightening in stops are called ELR type retractors, If you pull the seatbelt all the way out does it ratchet back so you cannot pull it out anymore? If so then it is called an ALR type retractor and you wouldn't need a locking clip. Federal law mandates that there be some lockability in all but the driver seatbelt in 2001 cars and later, so you really shouldn't need a locking clip for a 2002 model car. Many dealerships have no idea how to put a child seat in correctly in their cars!
I'd be really surprised if any other car seat clinic or police station recommends Mighty tites. They're not supposed to. While mighty tites are great products, NHTSA doesn't get in to aftermarket products. I really only recommend them if there is a need for them (like parents that aren't strong enough to tension the belt without one or various other reasons), usually there isn't, but they do make moving the seat between cars easier.
Problems like these are why 9 out of 10 child seats are installed incorrectly.
Please call me, I'll make sure they are in right.
Oh and sportsnut, make sure you are also using the seatbelts lockability with your seat (if your seatbelt has lockability). Its more reliable than any locking clips.
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