Q. Are the tether requirements the same for short and long belt path installation methods?
A. Yes, Britax recommends that the Versa-Tether® be used at all times. Always use the Versa-Tether for children weighing 65-80 lbs. Please refer to your User Guide for more information.
|
Q. Are there different weight capacity ranges based on the short and long belt path installation methods?
A. No. Either the long or short belt path methods can be used for lap-shoulder vehicle belt installation based upon vehicle compatibility when the seat is in harness mode for children who are at least 2 years old and 25 lbs, up to 80 lbs. The short belt path method is the only acceptable method for lap-belt only vehicle belt installation.
|
Q. Can a locking clip be used with a Frontier or Regent since they do not have built-in lock-offs?
A. Yes, a locking clip can be used in certain situations for seats such as the Frontier, Husky, Regent and Companion. Please refer to your child seat user guide as well as your vehicle owner's manual to determine if you require the use of a locking clip with your child restraint.
Seats with built-in lock-offs do not require the use of a locking clip.
|
Q. Can I use the alternate long belt path installation method for a lap belt only install?
A. No, the lap belt installation referred to in the User Guide is the only belt path method for a lap belt only install.
|
Q. How long can my child seat be used or when does it "expire"?
A. Please refer to the user guide that came with your child seat to determine its recommended useful life. Britax recommends that the use of a child seat be discontinued after a certain number of years from date of manufacture, depending on the seat, or if the seat has been involved in a severe crash. Expiration dates are recommended for various reasons: technology has changed, components degrade from the environment (depending on how and where stored), parts get lost or installed incorrectly, or instructions and labels may not be available or not legible. After a child seat has met its expiration date, Britax recommends that the child seat be destroyed.
|
Q. How tight does the install have to be when using LATCH/Universal Anchorage System for the Frontier in booster mode - less than 1" of movement as in harnessed mode or just secure?
A. The use of LATCH/UAS to position the Frontier in booster mode is a convenience feature. The vehicle seat belt system is restraining the child in the event of an impact. While the 1" rule is not as important, Britax would recommend that you pull the LATCH/lower connector straps tight with reasonable effort and force to remove the slack in the straps (a.k.a. webbing).
|
Q. I tried installing the Frontier in harness mode with the recline block in booster mode (towards the back of the seat) and got a good installation. Is this an acceptable install?
A. No. The Frontier was tested and certified with the recline block in the forward position for harness mode. Do not use the recline block in booster mode for a harness installation.
|
Q. Is my child seat aircraft approved?
A. A child seat has been tested and certified to meet FAA requirements if it is labeled, “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.” Even though your child seat may be certified for use on aircraft, it is still a good idea to contact the airline prior to travel to ask. Some aircraft have seating configurations which are incompatible with certain child seats.
Some Britax child seats are not certified for use on aircraft. Please refer to your product user guide to determine if your Britax car seat is certified for aircraft use.
|
Q. Is my vehicle compatible with the Frontier?
A. Not every child restraint fits in every vehicle due to the variability in vehicle seat designs and belt systems. Britax always encourages that you try before you buy. Many retailers will allow you to try a floor sample in your vehicle before you purchase.
|
Q. Is one belt path installation (short or long) method preferred over the other?
A. No, both installation methods meet or exceed all compliance standards required by the government.
|
Q. Is one belt path installation (short or long) safer than the other?
A. No, both installation methods meet or exceed all compliance standards required by the government.
|
Q. On page 21 of the Frontier user guide it says that in booster mode the seat can be secured to the vehicle seat using LATCH and use the vehicle lap-shoulder belt to secure the child. The child must be over 40 pounds to use the seat in booster mode, and LATCH generally is used only up to 40 pounds (unless otherwise noted by the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation). Is this instruction conflicting?
A. When LATCH is used to secure a harnessed child seat in a vehicle and the harness itself is restraining the child in the child seat, in the event of a crash then the load or force is applied to the LATCH system. In this scenario you would not use LATCH to secure or install a child seat with a child who weighs more than indicated by the vehicle manufacturer as maximum capacity of the lower anchors.
When LATCH is used in a booster mode, as allowable with the Frontier, the LATCH system is pre-positioning the booster seat. The lap-shoulder belt is then used to secure the child. In this scenario, in the event of a crash the load is applied to the vehicle seat belt system as with any belt-positioning booster seat. Since the load is not applied to the LATCH system in this scenario, it does not contradict the maximum capacity rating of the lower anchors by the vehicle manufacturer.
|
Q. On page 4 of the Frontier manual, step 4 states: the top of the child’s ears must be below the top of the child seat shell when seated. Is the head restraint considered part of the “child seat shell”?
A. Yes, on the Frontier, the head restraint is considered part of the child seat shell. When adjusting the fit of the harness system, the harness must be at or above the child’s shoulders and the top of the child’s ears must be below the top of the head restraint.
|
Q. On page 5 of the Frontier manual step 2 states: the ears must be below the top of the head restraint. What part of the ear must be below the head restraint?
A. The top of the ear must be below the top of the head restraint.
|
Q. The recline block does not snap into position on my Frontier. Is this okay?
A. Yes, this is okay. Snapping into position is a convenience factor and not safety related. The important thing about the recline block is that it is in the correct position for the mode of use - towards the front for harness mode and towards the back for booster mode. Once the recline block is placed in position, the installation or positioning of the child seat keeps the recline block in position. If you are going to carry the child seat, fold the recline block towards the back, attach the tether hook to its designated location (this will hold the recline block back) and use the tether strap as a carry handle.
|
Q. The tether on my convertible (infant/child) car seat has an extra webbing (a loop) under the cover. What is this?
A. In 2006, Britax began to introduce an energy-absorbing tether assembly to its convertible (infant/child) car seats. It consists of a loop of webbing with colored (red) stitching held under the cover at the top of the seat shell. In the event of a severe crash, the colored stitching will break and the loops will partially pull through the back side of the shell, reducing G-force effects on the child's head and body. If the red stitching has broken on your tether assembly, discontinue use of the child seat.
|
Q. Why can't I use the Frontier seat until my child is TWO years old and 25 pounds?
A. The Frontier was released with a 25 pound/2-year minimum requirement with great support from key child passenger safety advocates because it supports "best practice." Britax does not want to promote forward facing children too early, i.e. moving your child from an infant carrier directly into a Frontier. We want children to transition from an infant carrier to a rear-facing convertible car seat and remain rear facing until the maximum weight allowed by the seat (up to 35 pounds). This aligns with the recommendations set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics: "Once your child is at least 1 year of age and weighs at least 20 pounds, she can ride forward-facing. However, it is best for her to ride rear facing to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of her car safety seat."
|