FAQ

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 car seat be installed in the front seat of a vehicle?

A. NEVER place a child seat rear facing in a front passenger seat that has an airbag, unless the airbag is off. If you need to place the child seat in the front seat, make sure the airbag is turned off. DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY can occur if an airbag contacts the seat. (The airbag does not HAVE to be switched off when the seat is placed forward facing in front of an airbag.)

Q. Can a lap belt only be routed over the "LATCH bar" if the latch plate of the buckle is too large to pass between the shell and "LATCH bar?"

A. Britax certifies child seats equipped with a "LATCH bar" with the lap belt routed UNDER the "LATCH bar" on both sides.

Q. Can a locking clip be used with a Britax car seat?

A. Locking clips can be used with certain Britax car seats in certain situations. Refer to your child seat user guide to determine if a locking clip can be used with your Britax child seat.

Locking clips are not recommended for use with Britax child seats that feature built-in lock-offs.

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 install my Britax car seat in a seating location next to side impact air bags?

A. Britax recommends that caregivers follow directions provided by the vehicle manufacturer for installation of child seats next to side impact air bags.

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. Can my Britax convertible (infant/child) car seat be tethered rear-facing?

A. Yes. Britax convertible (infant/child) car seats, such as the Roundabout, Marathon, or Boulevard, may be tethered when installed rear facing. Britax recommends one of two modes of rear-facing tethering:

Australian Method:
  • This method requires the tether hook to be attached to a tether anchorage located to the rear of the vehicle.

  • Consult the vehicle's owner's manual for tether anchorage locations.

  • Use the same tether anchors as designated for forward-facing child seats.

  • This method controls forward rotation of the child seat in front impact crashes.

Swedish Method:
  • This method requires the tether hook be attached to a location to the front of the vehicle.

  • Consult the vehicle's owner's manual for tether anchor locations.

  • Do not attach to a tether anchor that is on the same seat as the child restraint system.

  • Attach to a strong structural point of the seat frame in front, the non-moving track to which the seat in front is attached, or the safety belt anchor of the seat in front.

  • A D-ring connector strap (anchor strap) is provided with each Britax convertible child seat to assist with this installation, if needed.

  • This method controls rebound of the child seat in front impact crashes and aids with achieving correct recline angle for newborns and infants.

Please consult for child seat's user guide for illustrations of these two methods.

Q. Do I need to use my lock-offs during installations?

A. It is recommended that lock-offs be used when installing the child seat. The lock-offs allow for a snug pre-crash installation. The built-in lock-offs on Britax car seats serve the same purpose as locking clips.

If you have a locking retractor on your vehicle seat belt and can get a tight installation, you can bypass the lock-offs. For more information on the type of seat belts you have in your vehicle and how to use the locking retractor with a child seat, contact the vehicle manufacturer or check your vehicle owner's manual.

Q. Does Britax offer a LATCH/lower connector retrofit kit?

A. No. LATCH/lower connector retrofit kits are not available for Britax car seats. The use of non-Britax covers, inserts, toys, accessories, or tightening devices is not approved. Non-approved accessories include LATCH/lower connector retrofit kits. The use of non-approved items could cause the seat to fail safety standards or to perform worse in a crash. Their use automatically voids the Britax warranty.

Q. Does Britax offer training programs on installation techniques?

A. Special training programs are not currently offered by Britax.

To have your installation checked by a certified child passenger safety technician visit www.safekids.org to find an inspection station near you.

Q. During installation, should the automobile seat belt go over or under the "LATCH bar?"

A. For seats equipped with a "LATCH bar": For lap-only belt, the belt should be routed under the "LATCH bar" on both sides. For lap-shoulder belts, the belts should be routed over the "LATCH bar" on both sides. It must be routed over the "LATCH bar" for lap-shoulder belts to allow the shoulder portion to pass through the forward-facing lock-off.

Q. How can I tell if my car seat is properly installed?

A. It is important to follow the directions provided with the child seat AND the vehicle in order to achieve a proper installation. After installation, grasp the seat near the belt path to check for excessive movement. Excessive movement is described as movement of more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back at the belt path.

Britax encourages you to have your installation checked by a certified child passenger safety technician. To have your car seat installation checked visit www.safekids.org to find an inspection station near you.

Q. How do I know what type of seat belt retractor is in my vehicle?

A. For details on the type of seat belt system in your vehicle, consult your vehicle's owner's manual.

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 bought a convertible (infant/child) car seat with LATCH/lower connectors but I cannot find the LATCH/lower connectors, where is it?

A. The LATCH/lower connectors on convertible (infant/child) car seats have been placed in a storage area under the cover. To access the connectors, lift the cover off of the seat from the bottom and you will find a recessed LATCH/lower connector storage area in the shell under the comfort foam.

Q. I have installed my car seat using the LATCH/Universal Anchorage System but the seat is moving left to right. Is this safe?

A. Excessive movement is described as movement of more than an inch side-to-side or front-to-back. Because LATCH/lower anchor bars in your vehicle are one inch (25 mm) wide, movement of the child seat would be less than one inch and is therefore acceptable.

The location of the LATCH/lower anchor bars in your vehicle (visible and pronounced versus hidden in seat bight) may affect the installation in your vehicle. Some tips that may help reduce the side-to-side movements include:
  • Use an anti-skid mat under base

  • Elevating the recline block being certain not to exceed level position

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 LATCH/Universal Anchorage System safer than the child seat attachment I am using now?

A. Not necessarily. A correct installation is always safest and a correct installation using vehicle safety belts is proven very safe. LATCH/UAS was developed for improved ease-of-use installation so correct installations are easier and quicker. It was also developed to offer a consistent attachment system independent of vehicle belts.

LATCH/UAS installation avoids the issues of vehicle seat belt incompatibility from different types of seat belt retractors, different belt anchor locations (for example, being too far forward), and differing vehicle belt routings that consumers found confusing.

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. My child can reach down and lift the adjuster and release the harness. What can I do?

A. The adjuster located under the flap or the button hole access of the cover is a feature of the restraint. This feature was designed in the product as a result of previous caregiver requests. Some caregivers felt that the push button adjuster on the Roundabout, Diplomat and Decathlon was difficult for individuals with low-hand strength. As well, the Marathon style adjuster is easier to access in the rear-facing mode.

SafetyBeltSafe USA has some helpful tips on their website – www.carseat.org/Resources/635.pdf on steps to ensure the child is properly secured by the caregiver, encouraging good behavior and learning new habits as your child reaches the “me do it” stage. As reported by this article, this stage shows up around age two.

Q. My child seat doesn’t seem to be as secure now as when I first purchased it. What can I do?

A. The process of seating and removing your child along with the motion from your vehicle moving can shake your child seat loose over time. It is very important that you check the fit often and reinstall your child seat periodically.

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. Regarding tether use, what does Britax recommend?

A. Consult your vehicle owner's manual for tether anchor location and weight limits. While Britax has several car seats with upper weight limits in excess of 40 pounds, not all vehicle manufacturers have similar tether anchorage weight limits.

If the vehicle manufacturer has a tether anchor limit of 40 pounds, discontinue use of the ether assembly when your child's weight exceeds 40 pounds. At that point the Britax child seat can continue to be used without the top tether attachment.

Q. The base of the Chaperone infant car seat hangs over the edge of the seat when installed in my vehicle. Is this safe?

A. Historically, Child Passenger Safety curriculum has referenced an “80/20 rule of thumb” – which suggests that at least 80% of the child restraint’s base should be in contact with the vehicle seat.

Whereas this rule of thumb is a good starting point, changes in product design and materials among manufacturers have resulted in products that defy this guideline in both directions. Some products require 100% of the restraint’s base be in contact with the vehicle seat, while other products may allow for less than 80%. If limitations to standard installations exist – it should be well documented in the user guide.

Britax has extensively tested the Chaperone Infant Car Seat under all configurations possible within the FMVSS-213 standard – with each result far exceeding the required standards.

Q. The buckle and buckle tongues are very hot against my child. What can I do?

A. In hot, sunny weather, check the fabric and buckle before placing your child in the seat. The belly pad has been provided to keep the buckle from directly contacting your child, though it can be moved out of position or removed. When parking in the sun for long periods of time, cover the child seat with a towel or blanket.

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. Where is the safest place to install my child’s car seat?

A. The safest place for your child in any vehicle is in the back seat. The center of the rear seat is the furthest from a side impact. Check your child seat and vehicle user’s guides for available seating positions.

Q. Which rear-facing lock-off do I use?

A. In rear-facing installations, it is recommended that the lock-off farthest from where the vehicle belt is buckled be used.

Q. Why does the Marathon not have to be tethered above 50 pounds but the Regent and Husky do have to be tethered above 50 pounds?

A. The Regent, Husky and Marathon are very different restraints. They have different features and functions that require different installations.

Q. Will a Britax car seat fit in my car?

A. We encourage you to try installing the seat directly into your car at the retail site, because not all car seats are compatible with all vehicles.

If you are considering a convertible(infant/child) car seat, try it in both the rear-facing and forward-facing positions.

Also, be sure to check the vehicle owner's manual for the type of retractor on the seat belt and verify that the type of retractor is compatible with your chosen child seat.

Finally, we also encourage you to have your installation checked by a certified child passenger safety technician. To have your car seat installation checked visit www.safekids.org to find an inspection station near you.