We are looking to buy an element. I am in love with this car. Anyone know if a baby seat will fit easily in the back seat?. My wife is "expecting" and we are doing the SUV search.. We want to go "element " as we are loyal honda people... Any info woudl be great...

Not only will it fit, it is designed for it. The Element has the seat anchors to hold the baby seat in the back.

While we don't have kids, it looks easy to secure one.

Good luck with the baby

The owners manual has a few pages outlining the process to use in attaching front/rear facing seats for infants/children. When we went for the first test drive, the salesman did not know where the anchor locations were located. My wife located the the tether supports on the ceiling area just inside the cargo door - there is one on each side) and apparently anchors location are available for Canadian market needs as well per the owners manual.

We have used the baby seat on both back seats - need to tighten seat belt per manual instructions and then attach tether strap to ceiling and also tighten as you probably do with you your current auto.

Hope this helps

I even received a booklet on child safety with all my Element info.

i received the child safety info too with my element, too, but i think that is Standard Operating Procedure for any vehicle.

Suggestion perhaps find the seat you want for your baby to be, or borrow a friends.. take it to the dealer try it in the vehicle to see how well it fits in and check to see how stable it feels.

i would expect it should be fine, but i believe in assume nothing, be safe, be careful & be sure..! Let us know please when you do, do this and what you experience.

I do have an element, so if i transport any of my friends kids in it i will let you know. I am also hoping to have kids so i eventually will know too.

Good luck!

One of the main reason we got this Not a minivan - not and SUV, non a pickup truck, not a van wunderKar!

We have a youngster on the way. The baby seat fits right in the back seat using the federaly mandated LATCH system.

We have one installed (which also has the LATCH, so it's really easy to install). IMO, the baby seat is easier to deal with in the E than it is to deal with in my wife's 98 Accord...

That is a great help Puppy: about the install of the child seat in the Element.. I kind thought the higher interior might aid in that as well.. curious what you think does make the difference, also which seat you are using that works nicely! Thank you!

Me and my wife have a 5 month old girl and the loading and unloading of car seats is easier then any vehicle I have owned. With the doors both open, the front seat scoots forward on its own. There is a ton of room to access the rear seat. The whole thing being higher helps alot as well. We are about to switch to a front facing seat and am really glad that the LATCH system is in place and available. I can't think of another vehicle that would provide easier access.

As to what makes a child seat so easy to use in the Element, "There is a ton of room to access the rear seat."

I don't remember what brand seat we have, but anything with the LATCH system is very easy to use (the LATCH is essentially a hook that's built into the child's seat and it hooks right onto some hooks that are built into the Element). My wife's car, 1998 Accord, doesn't have the LATCH....

I've been usin the "Comfort" brand car seat in my E (bought it the same day, 'cause the old one didn't match). The LATCH system is sweet! I've been using the old seatbelt style carseats for about 4 years now, and the safety in this new system is obvious. Also, WAY easier to get it in secure. The thing I like about the Element and carseats is the ease of loading and unloading my daughter. She loves it because she has the best view in the house (including the sunroof). I found that the upper strap is easier to "snug" up if you recline the seat you're mounting it to just one notch, tighten it (afore mentioned strap), then raise the seat back up to fully upright. Also, I bought a (color matched, of course) floor mat, folded in half (soft side out), and placed this under the carseat to avoid leaving any unsightly grooves in the Element's seat. I folded it in half because it is twice as big as it needs to be, the abrasive side is not in contact with anything but itself, and it makes the barrier twice as thick. You can't get away with putting anything under a car seat if you're using the seatbelt style system, but with the LATCH type, the secure-ness (?) of the carseat is not dependant on upper body strength, and is not held "down" onto the seat (ie, it cannot work loose, if the floormat, towel, blanket, etc., under the car seat works loose).
-Anthony
PS. Honda rules!

We have 19 month old, and the Element is great for us. Especially the plastic floor, since he loves to throw food and drinks when he is done. We thought the suicide doors would be a pain, but its already become natural. The only downsides are that you need to lean farther in to get to the baby (than a sedan), and the kid is pretty far away from you when you are driving. Who ever suggested sliding back seats is a genius! We love it, its a perfect family machine.

Dont have kids but, I put my nephews car seat in today and it was a breeze. The roominess and highness of the backseat make it easy to install. And the points for the strap are built right in the ceiling, unlike in the car where they are on the back deck. The roominess also let him swing his legs and he sit and stared out the roof the whole trip. Hope this helps.

After we picked ours up we went to Florida for a week. Acfter a week of beaches, sand, Disney, Cheerios, and various other snakcs, spills. The Elephant just cleaned right up. Witht he way the door open its perfect for getting kids in and out of the carseat.

So now they are telling me that there's an EX-AWD GG rolling out of the factory in 2 weeks with my name on it (assuming the dealer sticks to his word or close to it on the deal we made) - yay! My question is for those who have rear-facing infant seats (and I guess all car seats) installed in their Elements - how does it work (my little girl just turned 4 weeks old yesterday)? You LATCH the base into the seat and then install some kind of tethering device into the roof? Where is this device? Where do you get the tether straps? Or do you just install the car seat without the base? My other concern is, with LATCH and this tethering system can you remove the car seat base and safely reinstall it yourself? I want to be able to take 3 passengers on short notice when the baby isn't with me, but I don't want to have to go back to the fire station every time I want to reinstall the seat base as is the case with my pre-LATCH VW. Any help would be appreciated - thanks!

The tether straps will come with your carseat. There are two plastic covers over the Latch mounting points on the seat itself. Then in the rear just above the rear glass there are two sliding doors that expose the rear Latch point. Whe I put in our seat (front facing for a 3 year old) I installed it as you normally would with the seatbelt, then attached the Latch straps. Its easy to yourself. Its a carseat, not rocket science. The key to getting in in correct is to put your knee into the seat with all your weight when you tighten the straps. You want little or no movement of the carseat in the cars seat. Your are trying to make the baby's seat as motionless as possible by strapping it in very tight to make it a fixed object in the car.

Has anyone installed an infant carseat with the LATCH system in their E yet? We have the EvenFlo Portabout 5, which has two parts, the seat and the base that stays in the car. When I hooked it up using LATCH at the dealership, the base seemed to lock in pretty well in the back, where it hooks into the seat--but when I tightened it in there, the base near the front of the seat came off the seat and stuck up in the air.

I can post a picture when I get around to taking one. In the meantime, has anyone noticed this and/or figured out how to solve it? Our baby is not yet here but will be soon! Thanks.

I don't have any knowledge at all about baby seats in cars, but I wanted to wish you all the best for your baby's birth.

Share pictures - of the carseat and of baby - when you can!

[quote:a44349b659="TheLusciousHellcat"]I don't have any knowledge at all about baby seats in cars, but I wanted to wish you all the best for your baby's birth.

Share pictures - of the carseat and of baby - when you can![/quote:a44349b659]

Will do, of course will show the babE as soon as he/she shows up! Thanks for your wishes!

We have a 6 week old daughter and are awaiting the delivery of our E, so I am concerned about this too. In our current car, the seat base sticks up a little in the front when the back is tightened down (though it is a pre-LATCH car so it may be more pronounced in your car), but when we put the seat and the baby on the base, it sits fine and the little level indicator is all blue (good to go). I think the function of the LATCH system is to prevent as much side to side lateral movement as possible - I don't think a little looseness in the forward-backward plane is a big deal. You can confirm this with your local fire station (that's what ours told us when they installed the seat base in our VW). Other posters have also talked about tether straps that attach to the roof of the E just inside the liftgate - do you know anything about this? Our car seat is a GRACO leisuresport and I don't remember it coming with any kind of tether straps like that.

I installed seat with LATCH system today and it's slick

[quote:4d514ff6cc="Jonesin4anE"]Other posters have also talked about tether straps that attach to the roof of the E just inside the liftgate - do you know anything about this? Our car seat is a GRACO leisuresport and I don't remember it coming with any kind of tether straps like that.[/quote:4d514ff6cc]

I believe the tether straps are used for the next level of carseat, not infant, but forward-facing child carseat (22lbs and up). Thanks for your info, I will be checking with the local police/fire and making sure it gets installed right before the baby comes!

I'm certainly no expert on the subject, but I had a similar experience with our car seat. I installed the infant seat using LATCH (rear facing in a Toyota SUV), and then ran the tether strap from the back of the infant seat and connected it to the underside (frame) of the of car seat. It pulled the infant seat down flat to the car seat.

Our local police department gave the thumbs up, and also gave us a free rubberized mat to place under the infant seat to prevent slippage. The rubberized mat is very helpful.

I hope this helps.

[quote="pmhesse"][quote:6cb73c698e="Jonesin4anE"]
[snip...]I believe the tether straps are used for the next level of carseat, not infant, but forward-facing child carseat (22lbs and up). [...snip][/quote:6cb73c698e]

correct

I posted a question about carseat usage in the "shoppin" forum before I saw this thread.

I have been studying all sorts of carseat stuff lately as we are due with our second soon. Most infant seats don't come with a tether, but most convertable ones do. We have the britax roundabout which we used with our first and bought another one for our second.

The angle of the newborn seat is very important. I remember having mine installed the first time and when I had it inspected, the angle wasn't what it needed to be. The installer used a piece of solid foam pool noodle to make the base more level and still provide the stability.

The best advice I've heard so far and can give is to go to a certified installer and have it checked. I was amazed at how wrong I was. Do it now before you have the baby so you won't worry when he or she gets here.

Good luck.

bexter

[quote:9196248d02="bexter12"][snip...]
The angle of the newborn seat is very important. I remember having mine installed the first time and when I had it inspected, the angle wasn't what it needed to be. The installer used a piece of solid foam pool noodle to make the base more level and still provide the stability.

The best advice I've heard so far and can give is to go to a certified installer and have it checked. [...snip][/quote:9196248d02]

our carseat has a little level indicator on the side.
that way i always know it is properly positioned no matter what vehicle we take.

:D

One the child gets out of the carrier and into a rear facing seat, your going to have problems. You will have to get in the opposite door to put the child in. The rear seats are so far back, you do not have any room between the opening and the seat. (If this sounds confusing, you'll see when you put in the seat.) I can't wait for my daughter to be in the foward facing seat. I do have to say, the LATCH system is great.

My husband and I did an overnight test drive of an E last week to check for this thing. We use Britax seats which are some of the largest on the market. Our two-week old girl has a rear-facing convertible set and not only did it fit , but the passenger seat could be scooted all the way back with room to spare. It was better than any mini-van we test drove.

The forward facing seat for our toddler was perfect. He loved looking up and out of the moon roof.

good luck.

bex

We're having a baby! Woo-hoo! Anyway, quick questions about babies and Elements: Anyone here use a car seat in it? And, if so, do you use the rear-roof harness attachments? And, if so to that, do the straps come standard with car seats?

I hear they're not that necessary, but with your child you don't want to chance a thing! Thanks!

Let's see...
quick answers: Yes. Yes, and yes.

Actually, I HIGHLY recommend using the LATCH system and the strap to the roof. It REALLY stabilizes the seat -- you shouldn't be able to move it (at all). I find 3 point seatbelts to provide poor restraining power (on their own) with child car seats. The strap is just too long with too much possibility for play despite even He-Man's best efforts. A pure lab belt works much better (by itself vs. a 3 point belt), but the LATCH setup -- if done right -- is super.

Also, being able to fully climb in the back and fuss with getting your kid in the carseat is great.

First off, congratulations!! For the first year, your baby will be in a rear facing carseat. I agree LATCH is the easiest way to install, and since all carseats are now required to have that, it shouldn't be a problem. Your won't need to use the tether (rear roof attatchment) until he/she is over a year and you turn the carseat around. And all forward facing carseats for kids 12 mos and up should come with a tether. Good luck!!

We have a 9 month old boy and I never liked the LATCH system hooks and straps that much. Was more personal preference to use the standard seat belt looped thru the car seat base. The car seat we were using was the stationary base style with the pop-in/pop-out carrier that could snap onto the stroller. For me anyway, I got a much tighter grip by reclining the rear seat-back all the way then kneeling on and strapping down the base. Then reset the seat-back to the normal position and it would pinch lock the base extremely tight. I could shake the whole vehicle just by pushing and pulling on the base. The carrier couldn't budge. It was also easier doing it this way whenever we had to remove or reinstall the carseat. I could never get the LATCH straps as tight as I wanted and it was a literal pain to unclip. But alot of this can be due to shape and style of seat. Try both ways and go with makes you feel the most confident.

[quote:5f74c74e01=" "]We have a 9 month old boy and I never liked the LATCH system hooks and straps that much. Was more personal preference to use the standard seat belt looped thru the car seat base. The car seat we were using was the stationary base style with the pop-in/pop-out carrier that could snap onto the stroller. For me anyway, I got a much tighter grip by reclining the rear seat-back all the way then kneeling on and strapping down the base. Then reset the seat-back to the normal position and it would pinch lock the base extremely tight. I could shake the whole vehicle just by pushing and pulling on the base. The carrier couldn't budge. It was also easier doing it this way whenever we had to remove or reinstall the carseat. I could never get the LATCH straps as tight as I wanted and it was a literal pain to unclip. But alot of this can be due to shape and style of seat. Try both ways and go with makes you feel the most confident.[/quote:5f74c74e01]

Empire, it's been awhile (my youngest is 12 now) but I used the same knee in the car seat method - it was the only way I found to be able to secure it so there was no play. Great minds think alike!

Hello,
I am thinking of buying the Honda Elemnet.
I am pretty happy with its Interior/Exterior and other Features.
The thing that concerns me is ...Would I be able to put Kids Car Seat and still seat 4 people...I know its a 4 seat vehicle...
But can 5 people fit into it ..& is is possible to fit the Car seat in the middle of the Back row seating ..


Let me know ...

There's no belt in the middle.

-brendan

Yes and yes
the britax roundabout and freeway plus are excellent seats.
I havent used a rear facing setup in the E as are kids were bigger when we bought it but for forward facing the tether points work beautifully.
I can send pics if you need them...

.Would I be able to put Kids Car Seat and still seat 4 people...I know its a 4 seat vehicle...
But can 5 people fit into it ..& is is possible to fit the Car seat in the middle of the Back row seating ..

I've heard of people doing this with LATCH enabled car seats. They use the LATCH points from each side closest to the middle. This does not leave much room for back seat passengers, but could possibly work if your backseat passengers were kids. I tried it with mine but decided that the remaining passenger room was not adequate for my needs.
Take your seat with you and try it out on a test drive and see for yourself

Hi, I'm considering a E purchase but, having a 2 year old, I'm concerned about the how easy it is to get in and out of the element in a parking lot.

With the possibility of little room on the side, my concern is that I'll have to do considerable 'shuffling' between doors to get to the back, unharness my son from the carseat, and shuffle to get out.

Has anyone else had this same concern prior to purchase and found it to not be a problem?

It's not necessarily a deal breaker, I just want to know what to expect. Your experiences are greatly valued. Thanks!

ps. IMO, for anyone in the market for a carseat, The Brytax Roundabout is THE BEST!!

Hinano,
I have a 5 year old and a 14 month old. I try to park at the end of a row if possible, next to a median or landscaping, etc. This way, I always have one side that I can open completely. Even if I have to climb in myself to latch seatbelts/carseats, it's not a big deal. The door shuffle is a pain, especially when you get a jerk next to you that has parked WAY too close! Just my two cents, hope it helps!

[quote:ebf36f5579=" "]With the possibility of little room on the side, my concern is that I'll have to do considerable 'shuffling' between doors to get to the back, unharness my son from the carseat, and shuffle to get out.

Has anyone else had this same concern prior to purchase and found it to not be a problem?

It's not necessarily a deal breaker, I just want to know what to expect. Your experiences are greatly valued. Thanks!

ps. IMO, for anyone in the market for a carseat, The Brytax Roundabout is THE BEST!![/quote:ebf36f5579]

room on the side.. actually the size of the doors are much smaller then most vehicles so it is easier to open and close. if you need extra room to manuever a stroller, just close the front with the back open.. it is no biggie to reopen the front to close the back when youa re done.. i have done this for my pup, friends kids etc.. so it is no problem.. and once you do it once or twice it is second nature.

Kids are strapped in so well, you would have to open the rear door anyhow.. and there is more then enough crawl in room for you to reach in and unstrap them to get them out of their seat.

I had thought about this as well, since we have been "trying" to have kids, and everyone i know has kids.. my E has been very kid friendly!

the britax is great! Consumer reports loves them, they are highly rated, and work in all vehicles.. so that is a big plus!

good luck with your choice.. do take your car seat and kids when you look at the E in person.. and see how it feels to you.. remember the doors are unique to what you are used to.. anything unique will take getting used to .. but see how comfortable you feel with getting in and out.

amrcanpoet Congrats.. when are you guys due?? Great advice out there.. there was nothing i could add, smiles! :D

yes, your comments are very helpful, thanks. I appreciate your honesty, I was afraid of just getting E-vangelized if you know what I mean. :)

I also did a search in the forum (I searched for 'carseat') and found that this is a recurring topic. Here are other threads that I found helpful too (for anyone else treading this way).

http://elementownersclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4748&highlight=carseat
http://elementownersclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6404&highlight=carseat

Thanks again, I look forward to my own E someday soon!

Hinano: welcome to our group.. and good luck with your vehicle choice.. the E is very new, very unique, very versatile.. and just a wonderful vehicle.. but it is not made for everyone.. no vehicle is made for everyone!

I chose the E before this group was created, i joined as i was waiting for my E to arrive officially.. so i am one of the original E owners (smiles).. and i have no regrets, i completely love my E..

friends of mine with kids love how easy it is to clean the E inside & out.. with us looking at having kids that was a favorable thought to.. even with out kids.. i love not having a nasty carpetted floor in my vehicle... i love the function and versatility.. just a wonderful vehicle!! Plus it is soo CUTE!

But that is me, i am completely in love with the E.. good luck with your choice & do keep us posted! please! again welcome!

Theses questions and answers on carseats is exactly what the docter ordered.I to was going to ask the same questions since my wife is do in November :D (I have a 13 yr old son as well,I know sarting all over again).The thing is we had been trying for a year and a half and no luck :( .Then in March our '91 Honda Accord EX got into an accident (the other drivers fault)and the drivers insurance totaled our Accord out.So with the money from the insurance co.we decided to get a new car(since we gave up on getting a new baby).Exactly one week after bringing our new Element home my wife finds out she's pregnant :D.So now we got two new babys within a week of each other :P .Anyways thanks amrcanpoet and others for the questions and answers to the car seat dilema.

The E is perfect for kids. Taking him in and out everymorning for day care is simple... I can basically stand inside of it. Road trips are so easy now. It's big enough inside to change his diaper, let him stand and play, or open up all the doors and take a breezy nap.

[quote:c60d45fe73=" "]The E is perfect for kids. Taking him in and out everymorning for day care is simple... I can basically stand inside of it. Road trips are so easy now. It's big enough inside to change his diaper, let him stand and play, or open up all the doors and take a breezy nap.[/quote:c60d45fe73]
funny you would point out the diaper change, that is something i thought about too.. that it is easy, clean, and etc to change little ones in the E.. love that!! Serious BONUS there!!

[quote:622041f231=" "]We're having a baby! Woo-hoo! [/quote:622041f231]

congrats! My son will be 3 mos. this Saturday. Welcome to the most exciting
time of your life. Parenthood has been great so far and I'm sure you'll love it
too! :D

I just recently found out my wife is pregnant and I was wondering if anyone who has kids can tell me if a baby car seat will work in the back seat of the E. Ususally they are resting against the front seats, but with the large amuont of room between the front and back seats I am wondering if it will still work? Also I would take any recommendations on car seat brands that people might suggest.

Thanks!

The rear seats are equipped with LATCH anchors for baby/child seats. I just got my E, so I have not used the LATCH anchors (my son is in a booster seat).

We have a booster-style seat 'cause ours is a little older now (22 mos.), but I know that what you're wondering is if a baby seat with integral handle (the kind that snap up for carrying/snap forward for in-car use) will fit.

It will!

We came from an Odyssey and so my concern was whether or not the Element wouldn't place the kid too far back to easly extract, because you'll see that when the back door is open the rear seat sorta sits back beyond the opening a bit.

It's not that big a deal, and still better than if you had to use a sedan.

However, if I was getting a vehicle with kids in mind today, instead of spending roughly $20k for a new E I'd spend roughly $20k for an '03 Odyssey EX-L with like 35,000 miles. That's what we had, and that's about what we got for ours at trade in. The only reason we got rid of the van was because of the payments.

Not necessarily trying to talk you out of the E, but consider that a used Odyssey will gain you a V6, the same or better MPG (believe it), more storage, better comfort etc.

I should add that by far the best way to judge the baby-seat thing is to shop for the baby-seat FIRST. Then, take it with you when you car shop, and take the time to see how well it installs/removes. Some are a bitch to work with, some are much quicker --- and futzing with the car seat will absolutely be the most un-fun you've ever had. I'd tell you what we have but I honestly don't remember right now ... but yes, get something with the L.A.T.C.H. system.

I have a one and half year son and the main reason we got the Element was because we knew he was coming. We started him out in the rear facing infant seat Deckeda mentioned that snaps in and out of the base which is strapped down to the rear seat. It also could snap onto it's own large stroller. I believe it was made by Evenflo. When he out grew that one we moved to the 20-80lb car seat made by Summit. Took awhile but we managed to actually find one to match the black and grey interior perfectly. It even includes a slide-out cup holder in the base. Went ahead and bought 2 of them since it matched the Cooper's black leather interior also and we don't have to worry with constant removal and installation for vehicle swapping. The Element's rear seats actually make installation easy for the car seats. Recline the seat back load the child seat, lock it down with the seatbelts and/or LATCH straps, the seat will still have some wiggle but when you bring the seat back upright it locks the car seat down damn tight. I can load and unload his seat in less than one minute now and have it secure enuff that I can shake the entire vehicle by gripping the seat.
Another tip for you, no matter what vehicle you decide on, is to use a folded towel or blanket under the car seat to help reduce impressions in the surface.

With this LATCH system there has been attempt to standardize both the child seats, and the car seats.

paulj

I have an expensive Britax-brand "convertible" car seat for my 9 month old. Its a really nice car seat - it converts from rear-facing to forward facing. I think the one I got is called the Marathon. It fits great in the Element. AFAIK its the only rear-facing brand on the market that allows you to use the LATCH system to tether to the top tethers while in the rear-facing mode, not just to the latches at the bottom.

I also used a Graco Snugride for my son until he was about 20 pounds , and it also fit really well. I'd advise you to get at least two child seats - the tiny one for when he's an infant (like a Snugride), and then a rear-facing one for the time in between the infant seat and when your child reaches 1 year and 20+ pounts, and then a forward facing one for after that. I killed two birds with one stone by getting a car seat that can do rear AND forward facing, so hopefully the only one I'll need after this is a booster.

So my path was Infant Seat -> Convertible Car Seat in Rear Facing Mode -> Convertible Car Seat in Forward Facing Mode -> Booster Seat

Some people do Infant Seat -> Rear-Facing Seat -> Forward-Facing Seat -> Booster Seat

Still others skip the Infant Seat and just get an insert for a regular rear-facing seat.


The infant car seats are great because tiny babies fit in them well, and most if not all come with a base that you LATCH into place and then you latch the car seat into the base. This means the baby can fall asleep in the car seat and you can take them out without waking them (car seat and all) - you just leave the base behind.

Last please note that there is absolutely no reason that a child's car seat needs to rest against the back of the front seat. If installed correctly a good car seat is very stable - your baby will be much safer than you are :). In fact, I'd wager that an "expert" wouldn't be happy to see a rear-facing car seat resting against a seat back - but who knows. Summary: the Element rear seat's distance from the front is not a bad thing - and I've heard its great that your kid won't be able to kick the backs of the seats later on in life :).

I hope my train of thought drivel didn't confuse you too much here :).

We have a 9 month and 3 year old currently. The 'baby' seat was great in the E, just click it in the base, put the handle down (yes, you're supposed to put the handle down for travel) and you're set. Our oldest is in a belt-positioning booster now, works great, she climbs in and you put the seat belt across and click it in.

But....after 20lbs or whenever you get tired of carrying a baby PLUS carrier, you have to switch to a rear-facing seat and that's kind of annoying right now with the E. We take the CR-V more often right now because it's more difficult to get her in the seat. You have to do a little up-over-between-down move and remember not to bump her head on the body. Once we turn the seat forward-facing at 1 year PLUS 20 lbs, it'll be smooth sailing again.

And yes, the rear legroom is great because our oldest can't kick the front seat like she does in the CR-V.

I love this thread. It reminds me of all the problems I don't have with my Grand Kids! :lol:

I got my E in May before I found out about the baby was on the way, and have no intention of parting with it for a minivan. I love my E and it is part of the family. I'm glad to hear that the babyseat will not be a problem. Thanks everyone for tips. :D

[quote:0a2579298b=" "]I got my E in May before I found out about the baby was on the way, and have no intention of parting with it for a minivan. I love my E and it is part of the family. I'm glad to hear that the babyseat will not be a problem. Thanks everyone for tips. :D[/quote:0a2579298b]

You'll actually love some of the E features in regards to kids:

no kicking the front seat

spills wipe right up and don't stain the seats

installing a seat is a cinch, just recline the seatback, install child seat somewhat tight, right the seatback again to finish the tightening

kids love looking out the rear sunroof while rear-facing, even when forward-facing

kids can't get out of the rear without you opening the door, good for safety although eventually might be a little inconvenient when they get older

I love the E for may reasons, but I'm sure I will be find many more reasons to love it as I embark on my new journey into parenthood. T

They only drawback I can see is trying to get the car seat in the back in a crowded parking lot. It is the same drawback with rear passengers in tight parking lot. It ends up being a lot of shuffling to get around the doors. I guess I will just have to start parking in the empty area of parking lots to make sure I have the clearance I need, near the E owners just trying to avoid getting scratched. :wink:

When my kids were little I was driving a 2 door sporty sedan, so I opted for a car seat that stayed in the vehicle "permanently" rather than the snap-on & off the base type. I also preferred a cheapie umbrella stroller as opposed to the big fancy things. (The umbrella strollers are really easy to pop open, plus they take up so much less room.)

Wish I had a vehicle like the E when the kids were little--I guess now they are old enough to appreciate it, though--LOL.

I have a 9 month old and a 2 1/2 year old and love my E for them both. THe youngest is rear facing and the eldest is forward facing and both are in Britax Marathon seats. They went in a like a breeze and are incredibly stable.

Getting the baby in and out is a bit hard, but it was tricky in my sedan too. I just climb in the backseat after my daughter has gotten into her seat and get the baby all set, then I buckle my toddler in. I can then easy walk over the console and get into my seat.

I really can't imagine trying to get both kids in and out of a 'regular' car anymore. It would seem like such a hassle.

If you're worried about the install on your seat, have it safety checked at a fire or police station.

I had a rear-facing stroller/childseat combo from Evenflo when my son was an infant. We bought an extra base (the combo only came with one) so each of our two cars had a base. That made it so simply to just lift the basinet out of the car to carry him around.

I used the LATCH system with the seat and it worked fine, although I had to put a towel underneath the back of the seat to get it level. (Per the instruction manual.) There was plenty of room. The only problem with the setup I had to tilt my child somewhat on his back when getting him in, because the Evenflo seat couldn't squeeze between the side of the driver's seat and the door frame. So, I had to raise him up a little higher to get him in next to the headrest. This wasn't a problem for my wife - she's shorter, so doesn't have the seat pushed all the way back.

We "graduated" him to a Graco rear-facing convertible seat, which is now forward-facing. No problems at all.

Yes, a minivan is much more convenient as some posters have pointed out. I can't argue that, but I still enjoy having my E!

Well, my wife and I have test driven the Element twice now. I am 100% in love with it. I think it fits our needs, but she will be the one driving it most. She likes it, but is a little concerned about the safety of the back seats. In June, we will be having our first child. Does anyone have any advice, experience, ect that you could offer on this?

I think her concern is that because the back seats can go into numerous positions, they are not as safe as a seat that stays in place. Is this something to worry about? Anyone out there with small children that can offer some advice? Thanks

I have an 18 month old son and the Element was what he came home from the hospital in. Infact he's the reason we got the Element in the first place. Unless you end up having an 900lb baby (god you're poor wife:shock: ), I wouldn't worry too much about the strength of the hinged or lock down points of the rear seats. Several reported Element of been in some hardcore crashes now including rollovers and side collisons and I haven't heard anything about breakaway rear seats. The weight of a normal child shouldn't affect the structural integrity of the rear seats. Trust me, having a kid inside a vehicle with fold-up/take-out seats is an automotive blessing. Even with one seat being used by the baby you'll have a ton of space available with the other seat folded up, laid flat or taken out. The Element makes an EXCELLENT kid vehicle.

Do a search here on the forums for "baby seat" "child seat" etc. and you should find plenty of past discussions on it.

Oh man. The 900lb baby comment made me laugh!! Thank you for the quick reply. I will pass that information along to my wife. Thanks.

It looks like getting the child into and out of the car would be easy as well, due to how far the doors open. Sure hope I can talk her into one!!

Note also that for the next several years the child will be in a child's seat, which adds its own rigidity. The Element has the standard 3 point LATCH mounting system for such seats. More importantly such seats help control the movement of the child within the car. It is relatively easy to engineer a car to be structurally sound, with seats that don't foldup in a crash. It is harder to prevent the occumpants from bouncing around in a crash, especially a side one.

paulj

And here's something you'll only appreciate later, but I recall several here with children remarking on it: the distance from the front seatback to any kids in the back seat who insist on kicking said front seatback insures that it's impossible, virtually eliminating that annoyance. :twisted:

My wife and I have a 9mo old son and we got the Element almost specifically for his sake. The back seat is set higher up and like others have said, its quite far from the front seats. It is VERY easy to get him in and out of the car-seat being that the doors open the way that they do. I would TOTALLY reccomend this car to parents. VERY kid friendly.

JMO though.

The Element and kid(s):

Upside: The (older) kid can't get out of the car until you open the front door.

Downside: The (older) kid can't get out of the car until you open the front door.

Upside: The kid can't kick your seat back.

Downside: You can't reach the dropped toy or pacifier that your kid is screaming about for miles on end.
and (for the same reason) you can't reach back to smack the kid that has been screaming for miles on end about the dropped toy...wait I didn't type that out loud that did I?

And here's something you'll only appreciate later, but I recall several here with children remarking on it: the distance from the front seatback to any kids in the back seat who insist on kicking said front seatback insures that it's impossible, virtually eliminating that annoyance. :twisted:

D'oh! I opened the rear door to let my 5 year old son out last night and discovered he was putting his feet up on the edge of the storage compartment on the door. It was all dirty. Sure, I didn't get the annoyance of being kicked the whole time, but I was still pretty annoyed.

Maybe the mod-to-have for parents is a back seat ottoman.

Thanks for all the replies. I will show this to my wife. With this being our first child, I know we are both just a little over protective and worry about everything. Hopefully this will ease her mind, and we can find an Element to put in the garage!

I've got two young girls and the E is GREAT for them. Spills? No worry. In and out? No worry. My oldest (age 6) can click her own seat belt and hops right in. And here's another bonus - once you have two kids...they are further apart in the E than they have been in previous cars/SUV's so they can't slap each other as easy. In fact, there is enough room between both car seats that we have a box of toys/crayons/etc that they dig in to keep themselves occupied.

Oh, and they love their view back there. Lots of windows and higher seating.

If your wife is still not convinced, have her call me or my wife. To us, it's a no-brainer. ;)

I wish I had my E when the kids were still in the rear facing infant seats. I wish I had my E when the kids were still in forward facing child seats. I wish I had my E when the kids were still in booster seat. Can you tell that the E is the best for having small children!?!

The amount of floor room in the back seat is remarkable. I know it would have been a huge bonus when trying to put the pumpkin seat and baby into the car. It also would have been a huge bonus for those 'no place to pull over but must check on baby' times - when I would go between the front seats to the back seat while husband was driving to check on the screaming, rear-facing infant.

On long road trips, we usually swapped going to the rest area bathrooms - one went, while one stayed in the car. When they were in diapers, kids didn't go to the rest area bathrooms in yucky weather - we changed them in the car. Another bonus to the floor space of the back seat of the E would have been in this situation. In our van, it was easy enough to change the baby laying him down in the back of the van - but not pleasant when trying to do it in the rain. With the E, I know we could have easily laid the child on the back seat and sat or squatted on the floor in front of the back seat - there is enough room to do that without difficulty.

With one child in a car seat, or even a booster seat - their legs stick out - usually into the back of the front seat. Not so in an E. Also, there were often the problems of the older child trying to get in or out the door on the side where the child was in the car seat - not much room to squeeze between back of front seat and legs of child in car seat. Again, not so with the E. Our kids can cross in front of the other with LOTS of room to spare - heck, they could hold a square dance back there.

Pushing on the back of the front seat is a becoming nothing more than a memory now. Our 9 year old can reach the back of the front seat with her legs extended and toes pointed - but that's about it. Our 6 year old is still a good 6 inches from being able to reach the back of the front seat.

I can't count the number of times I cleaned vomit, drinks, ketchup, applesauce, yogurt, etc., etc., off the velour seats of our Bronco, leather seats of our T&C, or the carpet in either. I'm looking FORWARD to one of them spilling a drink in the E so I can wipe it up with paper towels and a smile!

I really don't think there is a better alternative vehicle when you have small children. As far as safety goes, the E is right up there with the rest. Especially the new 05's with the standard side air bags. The only down side I can think of is if you have more than 2 children, since the back seat only seats two, and the front passenger airbag can not be disengaged (well, I don't think it can anyway).

And to top it all off, the E is a hoot to drive!

I would recommend the Element for many reasons and yes one being child friendly. Not only to you have enough room to get in and shut the door behind you as you hunched over placing your baby/kid in the car seat, you can do it all for 20k or less. I have the Element since Nov. and my wife now drives it and I have the 2003 Pathfinder (also great), but for about 15k cheaper we have a crash 5 rating car, all wheel drive and we do not have to worry about every hitting my child's head on the roof of the interior. The Pathfinder which is my second one, has a better ride, more hp, every available option but one thing that is lacks is head and/shoulder and leg room.

That alone is something you appreciate when you have kids. A car with room.

Stumbled upon this old thread today searching for something else, but figure I'll update my info.

Our kids are now almost 4 and 1-1/2 years old, both forward facing, the older in a Graco Turbobooster using the car shoulder belt, and the younger in an Evenflo something or other using it's 5-point harness.

And we just bought a minivan 2 weeks ago to replace my wife's CR-V as we're expecting our third in 2 months. The van IS EASIER, obviously as the sliding doors give you full access to both seats. But, I wouldn't say the E is hard, just not as easy as the van.

Hey SuperJett!

I don't think I would drink the water down there anymore.....sounds like there's something in it! (LMAO!) Did you buy an Odyssey? My wife has an '02 Odyssey EXL w/RES and I have the '05 E....theses are the first 2 Hondas I have owned and I have worked at Honda for 19 years....wish I had started sooner on the Hondas and having kids! I waited until I was 37 to my one and only....now I wish I had more.....good luck with the new arrival and keep 'em coming buddy! Maybe someday we (Honda) will come up with a micro bus!

I'm on the far side of Honda's target for the E-car; 72 to be specific.

We've had our 2003 for 40,000 miles (including the trip from Mount Dora, FL to Washington state. And, except for the road noise, we love it.

Now, the issue: we need a front-facing child car seat for our 18-month old grandson. The extra seat that his father has is the kind that's held in place by the seat belt going through the back of the car seat. But that allows more lateral movement than his father or we are comfortable with.
I understand there is another model that can be secured to the E-car's latches between the seat cushion and seat back. Can anyone tell me the brand/model of this type of seat?

There are several brand and models compatible with the mounts.

Sounds like your grandson is too big for an infant seat and too small for a booster seat.
So what you want to look for is called a "convertible seat" that accomodates the size/weight range of your grandson and says that it is compatible with the "LATCH" system.
This will ensure that it will secure to the latch point in the Element.

On the seat itself there are several buckle and adjustment designs used by various manufacturers and some are more convenient than others but all are safe.

We have a Costco an Eddie Bauer and, I believe a Graco that get passed from car to car.
The Eddie Bauer one is probably the nicest but ironically, the cheapest one we have is the most convenient to adjust and install.

I'd recommend shopping at either Wal-Mart or Target.
They usually have a decent selection of reasonably priced models.

Even with using LATCH there's no guarantee it will stop the seat's wiggle. Here's the trick to keep it snug. Personally for my 2 year old son's seat I use both the seatbelt AND the LATCH anchors in the base of the rear seat. Recline the rear seat about 45 degrees so it's in more of lounging position than an upright riding position. Position the carseat where you want it and kneel into it with all your weight. Lock the LATCH straps if available and/or slip the seatbelt thru the carseat's normal belt passage. Remember to pull the seatbelt ALL the way out so that when it retracts you'll hear it lockinging as it tightens. Once the carseat is locked down while you are still on it. Pull the seat recline strap and pull the seat back as far forward as you can so it pinches the carseat between the back and bottom cushions. Get off the carseat now try to wiggle it to see if that's any better. I can actually shake the entire car by gripping the carseat and it doesn't budge a hair.

I was in inspector on a military installation for child car seats. We would sit in them to get them tight enough. It works. Get that son of yours in there and start cranking on all the mountint straps. it will cinch it down, but there will be a liitle play. the seat should barely move to allow for a gradual deceleration in an accident, but not so tight it is like hitting a brick wall. just a wood fence if you will. Not to make a joke. I hope this helps.

I have been trained in my job to install car seats. One technique we use is to place your knee in the seat and press down while tightening the belt. If you are unable to tighten the belt to prevent wiggle due to seat design, try one of those foam noodles that people buy for swimming pools. Put it down in the crack between the seat bottom and seat back and then put the seat or base in.

If your seat is equipped with a dial on the side to prevent an improper angle, be sure to make sure your carseat position is ok.

Better yet, take the thing to your local law enforcement agency or AAA office and ask for install tips!

Better yet, take the thing to your local law enforcement agency or AAA office and ask for install tips!

Try your local Fire Department also. My Department puts on a 40 hour class to certify individuals in Car Seat Technology. Basically, they get trained to show other folks how to properly install a car seat. They are a great resource.

All of the previous posts basically contained what I was going to say. We have our 2-year-old in a front-facing convertible seat. His little brother, a 7-month-old, is in the same seat but rear-facing. So, get one that is both 'convertible' and LATCH compliant. I'm reasonably certain that all child seats sold now have to be LATCH compliant.

Call around to your local fire departments. In my area, there were only two departments that had someone certified to check the seat and/or show you how to install it.

We just bought our element and love it....but we didn't put the baby seat in until we got home. It's not that easy to get the baby in and out of the back seat. It's still ina rear facing position. Does anyone have any advise. I've already bumped my little ones head too many times.

Thanks:|

All I can say is hang in there till your baby's old enough to switch to forward facing. Putting our 19 month old in is a breeze and I've heard from other E owners that once your kids get even older you'll love the extra space between the seats b/c the kids won't be able to kick the back of your seat!

Just slide the front seat forward and fold it over. It should give you PLENTY of room. Hit the lever on the side.The front passenger seat also comes with a foot lever in the back so a rear seat passenger could step on it and slide that seat all the way forward. Personally I placed my son's seat on the passeneger side rear for easier roadside loading. But sliding the front seat forward should give you more room than you'd ever need for a child seat. Unless your baby weighs 400 lbs in which case I'd worry more about the mother's ability to ever walk again.

I haven't had any problems loading the car seat since my son was born 5 months ago. I usually have the handle in the forward position (towards his feet, but it stops/locks midway), grab the handle with my right hand, grab the back of the seat with the other & then place the seat into the base. I'm right-handed, so I installed the base behind the driver's seat. Now, I've yet to hit his head on anything, but I've conked my head a couple of times:oops: (placing the car seat in the E)

Rod

I have a 3 year old and he is in a booster seat now, but it can be a chore to get your child into the car seat even facing forward. I found that one knee on the floor behind the passenger seat works wonders.

I was having some similar problems. The best solution I came up with was to remove one o the back seats, scooch in on my knees from the side of the seat that I removed and put the baby in...I hope that makes sense. Anyway, if you can, just remove one of the seats.

Larry

We just bought our element and love it....but we didn't put the baby seat in until we got home. It's not that easy to get the baby in and out of the back seat. It's still ina rear facing position. Does anyone have any advise. I've already bumped my little ones head too many times.

Thanks:|

I had the same issue; However it is only a matter of time when you will be facing the baby fwd... Until then you can just step into the back and buckle up...:grin:

Baby seats are a bitch, but still easier than duct taping the little wriggler to the ceilng. It's not the car. It's you. After winging junior in and out a few hundred thousand times it gets a little better.

Originally, we had the baby seat on the driver's side. This helped when you were the only one out so you could put the seat in from the driver's side. Both my wife and I didn't have a problem there.

Then when he grew out of the basket, so I moved the seat to the passenger's side. I'm 6'4" and was able to hold the baby in my arms, duck, and climb right into the back without even moving the driver's seat. Then I sat down on the left seat and placed the baby in the chair.
My wife is 5'2" and had a harder problem with this. She would either hold the baby and climb in on her knees... or put the baby on the back seat (bracing with hands) and climb in. A bit more work.

Now he's forward facing so we've got him on the driver's side again. I can easily just plop him in the seat and pull him out. My wife, however, finds too much strain on her back doing this and usually climbs in.

My issue is yet to come. How are we going to deal with 2 kids? Assuming we have one forward facing... once the second baby is rear facing out of the basket... I'm not sure how we're going to get them in. You almost need somewhere to sit down... but you won't be able to because of the forward facing seat.

I was a big fan of convenience over curb side loading. I'm in a small town and didn't find a need to put the baby in on the safe side. It's more convenient entering through the driver's side, especially when you're the only one with the baby.

I found it was too hard to put the baby in the rear facing position from outside of the car, and it was impossible for my wife.
I debated buying the sidesteps to help out, but thought it would only increase the chances of a slip.

When loading/unloading my son I usually just put one knee or foot down on the floor and lean in. Tho now he typically crawls in or out of the seat himself and I just buckle or unbuckle him.

I leave the right front seat reclined flat so my son can climb up onto the seat back and then up into his chair.
I follow him in and buckle his belt.

He really likes the front seat reclined because he can see where we're going.

This is really not the car for the rear-facing baby seat.. there I said it, with my second son still 2.5 months away from forward seating..... However there is light at the end of the tunnel... my six year old loves the E, he climbs right in ( I got the outrigger step, or what ever you call it) and when he is board tell him to look out the skylight.

When he has a friend there, they have a blast, there is a lot of room, no kicking the drivers seat (he can't even reach), and we can carry the dog at the same time.

However rear-facing baby seats are not for this car... I guess you need to borrow someone else car for that time... it's only 6 months or so.

However rear-facing baby seats are not for this car... I guess you need to borrow someone else car for that time... it's only 6 months or so.

I would disagree.. I did it for a year with no issue. Enough room to slide in with one knee and set the baby in... Plus if you have one of those seats that go into a stroller and a car seat.. Simply set the seat in place... The E is good for everything!:grin:

For me the rear facing seat was so much easier than loading him into the forward facing, and even that isn't a problem. Of course I did have the snap-in/snap-out seat that ADAMLSTL mentioned that detaches from the mounted car seat base and onto a stroller or is just carried so that did make it much easier. I wouldn't agree at all that the Element isn't a good rear facing child seat vehicle. You just have to get the right style seat to better fit the application. I mean it's basically like placing a picnic basket onto the rear seat with a single locking click. It can't get any easier.

Hello everyone--- first time poster.

I need to know if it's possible to put 3 (yes I have three children in car seats) car seats in the E. I've wanted this car since it first came out, but went with the mini van instead figuring it would suit me better in my situation. Let me say that I LOATHE the minivan, and now that it is giving me mechanical problems, I'm looking for a good reason to get rid of it in favour of the E.

If someone can tell me I can do it (3 car seats) because they've successfully done it themself... then I will too.

Thank you in advance.

Hello everyone--- first time poster.

I need to know if it's possible to put 3 (yes I have three children in car seats) car seats in the E.

No you can't. Don't even think about it. You're screwed. See you in 10 years or so, minivan boy.

Dan's right.
Only 2 will fit.
Yes 3 average Japanese would fit back there hence the 3 person bench seat available for the Japanese model. But most car seats are much wider than the average Japanese ass.




Here's a shot of just one car seat in the back.



http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/8628/seat14kx.jpg


Here's a shot with one car seat in the middle. (for space comparison only)


http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/463/seat21ng.jpg

A pic is worth a thousand words.:D

D' OH!

grumble grumble... minivan junk.

Thank you for that crushing news complete with pictures. I'll go cry myself to sleep now and dream of a slightly bigger E.

Having recently acquired my first born, I find it extremely easy to install our Graco SnugRide rear facing seat. It has a base which we leave in the car, and the seat (carrier) clicks in and out with ease. If you are continually bumping your kids head, I would say toss the seat and buy a snugride!!

(Another bonus is that the carrier portion fits on shopping carts.)

I Have Two Kids. One 4 Year Old And A 1 Year Old. The E Is Great. My Kids Have No Way Of Opening The Doors. They Spill Something I Can Wipe It Down Pretty Quick. I Love It. I Have Two Visor Tv's And The Flip Down. I Enjoy Riding In The Back When My Wife Drives, I Watch Tv With My Kids. I Really Enjoy The Ride.:) :)

I have to agree, the room and easy access to the back is a huge plus. I have a 11, 5 and 3 year olds, They all fit, and the no seatback kicking is great!!!!

My kidneys are so happy with my new E now!

lae10851,

I am in the market for a Graco Snugride/Quattro travel system for my expected new born. I have a E AWD and would you happen to have a picture of your system docked inside the E, installed..a picture of either rear facing or front facing. Share with us a pic please. I just want to have a feeling so that i know what to buy...

Tks a million

Found this link at google, Check ur Britax Marathon

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/notices/Dser/d200405/menu.htm

[quote:9196248d02="bexter12"][snip...]
The angle of the newborn seat is very important. I remember having mine installed the first time and when I had it inspected, the angle wasn't what it needed to be. The installer used a piece of solid foam pool noodle to make the base more level and still provide the stability.

The best advice I've heard so far and can give is to go to a certified installer and have it checked. [...snip][/quote:9196248d02]

our carseat has a little level indicator on the side.
that way i always know it is properly positioned no matter what vehicle we take.

:D

Yes... it wasn't on our E, our kids are a bit older and only use booster seats now, but before, on our Civic and Integra, we used rolled up towels.

Some police departments, fire departments, or children's hospitals generally have at least one person on staff who is trained to install and inspect child safety seats.

If you want to read about child safety seats online, I recommend the iVillage forum here (http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppcarseats), and the page for their FAQ and Compatibility Database, etc. is here. (http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bsafety/0,,8w2w8lhm,00.html)

Got my new GRACO Quattro travel system. Installation was really easy !!.

http://www.boytoys.ca/drupal/files/images/DSC00709_0.JPG

Now my E dubs as my 6 year old mobile playroom, recling seats are slide, sunroof is the watch tower....

http://www.canadahobby.com/boytoys_outdoor_track/DSC00719.JPG

It's a keeper..no more tossing for may be I need a ODY or MAZDA V

http://www.canadahobby.com/boytoys_outdoor_track/DSC00720.JPG

I just installed the Graco snugride from our Metrolite travel system. It was very easy to install.

- Fold down the seat back.
- Remove the LATCH covers.
- Clip each LATCH hook to the seat.
- Pull the strap until tight.
- Lift the seat back to it’s fully inclined position.

If anyone would like pictures, just let me know.

- Ray

I'm in pondering the Element stage now, and may be so till the SC? comes out but really want to know how hard/easy it is to place a child in the back ours is almost 2, and he can be a real pain to put in the car sometimes. Thanks in advance.

I'm in pondering the Element stage now, and may be so till the SC? comes out but really want to know how hard/easy it is to place a child in the back ours is almost 2, and he can be a real pain to put in the car sometimes. Thanks in advance.
NO... Very easy to use...:cool: I've been for 16 months now and no issue:)
The 3 n 1 Graco(I think it is called) while facing rear is the way to go in seats, Just click in place......

REVNUL has it right. As far as getting the seat tight and not moving around. I have found that reclining the seat back and then tightening the straps on the base to the d-rings and then raising the seat back up is the best way to get the full tension on the straps. Then hook up the top teather strap and tighten that one. You kinda have to pull hard on the back of the seat to get it to pop into the correct postion but once it is there the seat doesn't move an inch! Best way to do it by far, you just can't pull on the car seat straps enough to tighten them enough. This works best.
-Brock

Just Curious to see what side people put there Baby's car seat in ????

I got less than 5 Days to decide....

The safest is the middle...but the E doesnt have a middle.

I settled on the passanger side. Why? I feel it is safer. On a multilane highway, staying in the right lane puts the baby away from traffic. In intersections the baby is away from traffic on right hand turns....and on left hand turns is only exposed to those on the right, not the left

Leaving them on the drivers side opens them up to higher chance of being in contact. I dont think its scientifically proven...but it seems safer to me.

The safest is the middle...but the E doesnt have a middle.

I settled on the passanger side. Why? I feel it is safer. On a multilane highway, staying in the right lane puts the baby away from traffic. In intersections the baby is away from traffic on right hand turns....and on left hand turns is only exposed to those on the right, not the left

Leaving them on the drivers side opens them up to higher chance of being in contact. I dont think its scientifically proven...but it seems safer to me.

isn't is also easier to see them on the passenger rear side? you can drop the mirror or turn around and more easily see them there too.

We put ours behind the passenger seat. That way we can see the seat and also if my wife is riding shotgun, she can reach back if she needs to. Though lately, she has just been riding in the back so she can entertain the baby.

i dont have a baby yet.but if i have one..i would want to put the baby seat on rear passenger seat..:D

We don't need no stinkin' safety seats! :D

http://www.hunterdonmill.com/babywillie/drivinelementsmall.JPG










:razz:


Just kidding....Left (Driver's side) .....rear of course. The right rear seat has been out of the E since it (the car)was about a month old. Baby Bear came along later and the driver side just worked well.

Easy in/out when by myself. Can fold the seat up when haulin' big stuff (and the baby is home) w/o creating visability problems. Easy to sit on the rear/right side floor area for diaper changes on the reclined front passanger seat. (Glad they're waterproof!;-) )

Will

Passenger side here too. The wife sits behind me. We also put the back of the front passenger seat down all the way. Aids in baby removal and regains some stowage lost.

I love Daddy's Element!!!

Am I the only one that thinks behind the driver seat? What if you are alone driving the little tot, and you need to get them out. You will then need to come around to the other side and do the door shuffle. Mine is due in a little over 2 months, so you may convince me to change my mind, but for now the driver's rear seems like the best spot to me...

i have one on each side, but then i have 2 kids.

The reason I say the rear passenger side is if in the case of being parallel parked you would load and unload the child on the safer sidewalk side and not facing the side of traffic.

The reason I say the rear passenger side is if in the case of being parallel parked you would load and unload the child on the safer sidewalk side and not facing the side of traffic.
Good point! Although in San Francisco, there are times where you can parallel park on either side one way streets.

how on earth did we ever survive without car seats and lengthy discussions on which side of the car was safest?

we have evolved "survival of the fittest" into "survival of the most paranoid".

Passenger side. Easy to see what's going on back there with the use of rear view mirror and also by simply looking ove rthe shoulder.

Also, I removed the front passenger seat headrest so she can have a better view and get better air circulation (she's almost 4 and sitting forward-facing).

When my wife sits in the car, she sits behind the driver and play with her therefore, the front passenger seat is rarely used in our case.

My opinion is that it just doesn't matter.

For the record, we have two kids, both in boosters, and both can buckle and unbuckle themselves, and it's been like that since I bought the first E.

However, if I had one in a baby seat... it depends on which E. We back out E's into the garage. My wife's is on the left (as you face the garage, drivers door in the middle of the garage, not the side). It'd be significantly easier for her to have the car seat on the drivers side. I park on the right (passenger door in the middle), so it'd be easier for me to put the seat on the passenger side.

Being able to see the child more easily while driving is a plus, I suppose. I guess we're just not in the car that much for very long to really make it an issue.

Driver's side. Don't parallel park very much, however, when I have it's been on less crowded side streets. It's easier for me to load the car seat in to the base & then get into the driver's seat without having to walk around the car. Sometimes my wife will even enter the back seat from this side so that I don't have to walk around (or reach way over) to close the passenger door. Also, with the baby seat directly behind me, I have practically no obstruction looking over my right shoulder. Once he's sitting facing forward, I might have him sit on the passenger side (still have at least 3 months to think about that).

I have the booster seat on the passenger side, and the child seat on the driver’s side. The baby is well restrained while the toddler can have a mind of his own. Sitting him on the passenger side allows me quick access to deal with issues as the come up. Like: dropped toddler cups, dropped toys, break downs :evil: , eye to eye contact :-o , and handing him snacks that need to be keep up front. With a mirror I can watch my nine month old with out any problems at all. The only gripe is until I can turn his seat around, It is difficult to load unload the baby in the seat. :sad:

Side note: I was plowed in the side last year by some psycho women (she received a reckless ticket and license suspension for her driving style) in a mini van. She killed my passenger rear door, put a dent under the gray siding, and knocked me and my element sideways about 20 feet while I was traveling 55 mile per hour. Not only did I have control of the Element after touchdown, but I drove away still water & sound tight. I was never more impressed by my "E". I feel safe with my kids in the car anytime.
I would kiss a Honda engineer on a bad day!

We don't need no stinkin' safety seats! :D

http://www.hunterdonmill.com/babywillie/drivinelementsmall.JPG











:razz:


Just kidding....Left (Driver's side) .....rear of course. The right rear seat has been out of the E since it (the car)was about a month old. Baby Bear came along later and the driver side just worked well.

Easy in/out when by myself. Can fold the seat up when haulin' big stuff (and the baby is home) w/o creating visability problems. Easy to sit on the rear/right side floor area for diaper changes on the reclined front passanger seat. (Glad they're waterproof!;-) )

Will

DO NOT IMITATE WHAT YOU SEE BRITTANY SPEARS DO!!!

I like the driver side. Actually, since she's still rear facing, it's easier for us to kneel on the passenger side to unbuckle, and pick her up. The car seat has allot of side impact protection and blocks easy access through the closer door.
19538

Am I the only one that thinks behind the driver seat? ... You will then need to come around to the other side and do the door shuffle. ...

Yeah....see my post about 2 (now 6 or 7)posts up.

There are pros and cons to both positions, but I can't see a real safety advantage to either.


Will

THank you everyone for the advise it's my first baby so E here we go Im going to go with the Passenger side everyone made great post....and good points....Thank you for your Support EOC!!!!

hopefully my baby comes out on the 4th of July

Here's my pictures Edit*****

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/xpwex/Projects/DSCN1564.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/xpwex/Projects/DSCN1561.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f273/xpwex/Projects/DSCN1563.jpg

Do you think you could make that a little bigger???? :lol:

I use drivers side rear for my rear facing. Its much faster for me and my number one co-pilot.:D

i have one on each side, but then i have 2 kids.

Same here...2 kids and 2 kid seats.

Good luck and post pics when the baby arrives.

There are line of mirror products that let you see the babies in rear-facing infant seats. Here's one of them.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000E3D8L/102-0838264-9560960?v=glance

Its merits are subject to debate as noted in the accompanying reviews. I had one installed in the car when mine was accommodated in a rear-facing seat and benefited greatly. They are made of shatterproof plastic and does attach firmly to the seat if you follow the instructions. On the other hand, getting easily scratched part is very true and some do consider it distraction while driving.

Good luck and post pics when the baby arrives.

There are line of mirror products that let you see the babies in rear-facing infant seats. Here's one of them.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000E3D8L/102-0838264-9560960?v=glance

Its merits are subject to debate as noted in the accompanying reviews. I had one installed in the car when mine was accommodated in a rear-facing seat and benefited greatly. They are made of shatterproof plastic and does attach firmly to the seat if you follow the instructions. On the other hand, getting easily scratched part is very true and some do consider it distraction while driving.

Do you have PICS???

Thank you I could use all the help
(first time Dad)

looking at the Box it might be possible to place the seat in the middle...
It looks to be the same distance......and its actually a yet more flat surface ...
any inputs????:rolleyes:

My wife and I are expecting our first child in about 3 weeks and I'm running around trying to make sure that I have everything in order. Has anyone experienced any problems with installing the car seat in the E?

Check out this thread (http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21254&highlight=child+safety+seat) and see if it is helpful for you.

When you do a search to read past discussions, try "child safety seat" or "baby seat" or "infant seat".

Happy reading! :smile:

My wife and I are expecting our first child in about 3 weeks and I'm running around trying to make sure that I have everything in order. Has anyone experienced any problems with installing the car seat in the E?
Congratz! We are expecting #2 at the end of DEC.:cool:
Answer: NO. The E is great for kids. When using the clips in the seat bend/crack...just lean the seat back then clip the baby seat in then pull the seat back up and this will make the fit more snug...:D

I was reading from that other thread and seriously, if you haven't gotten a car seat yet, get a travel system! Gracco are the best. Yes, you will have to buy a front/rear facing one when they reach the weight or height limit, but for those 7-12 months of having the snap out carrier, it is WELL worth the money! You will never again beable to take them anywhere while sleeping in their infant seat. Just a little advice from a mom of a 14 month old!:D

I just purchased the Chicco Cortina travel system for our first (just six weeks to go!) and it went in without a hitch. I can't speak to its ease of use with a little one strapped into it but I can't imagine it would make any difference. The base clips into the existing points in the seat without a problem and getting the carrier in and out of the base is a breeze.

I tried out many other models including Graco and Eddie Bauer and the Chicco had two things going for it over the others, weight and ease of opening and closing. The stroller itself is made of aluminum and high-impact plastic so its solid as a rock without weighing a ton. Compared to the others in its price range it moved more smoothly and effortlessly because of its weight and balance. I also liked the opening/closing action more than the others; it only takes one hand and it has a positive lock in the closed position so you can close it with one hand, then lift it in with one hand, leaving the other free to hold the kiddo on your hip.

Just my $.02

I'm just the auntie, and have transported el kiddo in the Element both in a rear-facing and front-facing car seat. The rear facing seemed a bit of a hassle to put her in, so I climbed in back with her and sat in the seat next to it to get her in. I wouldn't look forward to that part, but it is temporary and the E is definitely a kid-friendly vehicle!

The front-facing is much easier and secures so frigging well that we (remember again, just aunties!!) almost couldn't adjust it after her dad put the seat in! The rear latch things are great and really secured the car seat. I felt very comfortable that the baby was secure.

Good luck! Oh yeah, find a friend with a rear-facing seat and baby and practice a couple times ... just give it a whirl if you can!

Using the 3 N 1 for the rear facing seats is the best way to go. All you have to do is snap the seat into the base. We have the Graco version....:cool:

We're less than 2 weeks out for our little guy, and we are using a Graco Snug Fit, and it went into the E like bread goes with butter. Things have come a long way since I was a kid and my folks put me in the back of the pinto in a car bed.

These babys gotta look good also. Now our car seats match the interior colors. Had to sell the SOP because the blue just didn't match with Orange. ;-)

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g282/bobhch/ablog4.jpg

I was reading from that other thread and seriously, if you haven't gotten a car seat yet, get a travel system! Gracco are the best. Yes, you will have to buy a front/rear facing one when they reach the weight or height limit, but for those 7-12 months of having the snap out carrier, it is WELL worth the money! You will never again beable to take them anywhere while sleeping in their infant seat. Just a little advice from a mom of a 14 month old!:D

I have to agree... we also bought a Graco travel system and it is great!!! We took that travel system everywhere with us (road trips, plaines, etc...) Actually, we've bought all of our car seats from Graco and have had absolutely no problems at all.. the last I checked, Graco has the least amount of recals on it's child/booster seats of any company according to Consumer Reports...

As for the E , it is great for car seats; it has the latch system and child and booster seats are very easy to install... My son's grandparents (my parents) drive a 2003 CRV and the E's seats are much easier to install than on the CRV... I put the carseat in the rear passenger side....

Hope this helps!

congratulations on the new additions.
just a little aside, and not meant to hijack the thread.
i will also post a new thread regarding the info.


please inquire at local FD, and PD about the W.H.A.L.E. program.

W.H.A.L.E. -- “We Have A Little Emergency”

in an emergency the free stickers, and decals notify emergency responders that their is important information affixed to the car seat. name, allergies, medications, doctors and contact information.

DO NOT PAY FOR THE CONTENTS. many organizations offer the material for free.

these guys offer it for free
http://www.swedish.org/body.cfm?id=206

once again enjoy the new kids, and congratulations!!!

Thanks for all of the insightful information. I'm happy to know that I won't be faced with a big headache when putting the child seat in the E.

Well we found travel systems rather bulky. We stuck with a infant/toddler seat that stayed in the car and a baby sling for carrying the baby. We are a Britax family all the way. We found the Roundabout to be very easy to install rear-facing in our old cars. However by the time we got our E, our son was already in a booster seat. I have the Britax Parkway in Woodstock (which is blue-jean denim with blue and green tie-dye accents).

I got my element while my daughter was still technically rear facing, but she was already too long for sitting in the carrier with the lock in base.

regular rear facing carseats can be a bit of a challenge to get the kid into because the seat sits behind the door opening. you'll find it easier to install the carseat (just for that phase) behind the passenger rather than the driver, so you can reach in easy. Front facing kid plopping is a piece of cake, and plastic floors/chairs + little kids = one relaxed set of folks!

Amen and Amen. The Element is really exceptional as a kids' vehicle. My wife took our 7 month old, my wife's sister, and her 1.5 year old in the E on a road trip from Utah to Washington. I used to have pride in the cleanliness of my car, not anymore. They loved the car! My niece has a problem of kicking the back of the front seats, as she is in a front-facing carseat. Not in the E! My child is still in the rear-facing Peg Perego carseat which is attatched with the latches in the seat. The best tip was already given on these, recline the seat before attatching the latch, then re-incline(real word?) it. When they got back the car looked like a war-zone. I still haven't had a chance to clean it. There is something melted on the floor in front of the subwoofer that I am NOT looking forward to getting off. The only problem they had was with the sunroof. I had it tinted to 20%, but should've insisted on limo-dark. According to the moms the sun bothered my daughter that was rear-facing. However, I have not seen it in all the times I've driven her. Also, a little trick that helps in the hotter months of the year. There's nothing more miserable for a child than to be put into a boiling-hot car! We leave the sunroof cracked open all the time. Since doing that, I have never been even uncomfortably warm climbing into the E. It's incredible the difference this trick has made! A few times we have forgotten that it's open and it rains. The last time this happened I ran out into the rain to see how much gets into the car with that open. Not very much at all. The rain was coming down really hard too! The design is very good, as with most other "elements of the Element".
Congrats on your new addition. Good luck! Enjoy the water-proof seats!

Oh yeah, as far as travel systems go I've been very pleased with my make-shift system. We have a Peg Perego Viaggio carseat(a few years old) that we have paired with a Bumbleride Rocket. The Rocket is very compatible with different brand carseats. It's a versatile stroller as it has 3 12" wheels with a front swivel/locking wheel. We have also owned the Peg Perego Aria, Venezia, and one other. They were all great travel systems as they are extremely light. I believe the Aria is 9 lbs where the Graco metro-lite is at least 14 lbs, although it's been a couple years since I've researched them. The Viaggio carseat weighs 9 lbs as well, making the entire stroller/carseat 18 lbs! My wife and I are not small people, but saving a few lbs still makes a big difference.

I usually have the car seat on the passenger side and just load her in from the driver side. On long road trips I will move her seat to the drivers side so my wife can recline the front passenger seat and slide on back to relax with the kiddo.

Good luck and post pics when the baby arrives.

There are line of mirror products that let you see the babies in rear-facing infant seats. Here's one of them.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000E3D8L/102-0838264-9560960?v=glance

Its merits are subject to debate as noted in the accompanying reviews. I had one installed in the car when mine was accommodated in a rear-facing seat and benefited greatly. They are made of shatterproof plastic and does attach firmly to the seat if you follow the instructions. On the other hand, getting easily scratched part is very true and some do consider it distraction while driving.

I bought an Eddie Bauer one (the "deluxe" teddy bear version)

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-3470744-4179856?_encoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B000CRGN34

and both the wife and I are happy with it. The mirrored element is not a glass or hard plastic, but a soft, very flexible plastic. We haven't scratched it, but we have had no need to clean it and it hasn't fogged up on us either. We like it and have no regrets. It's also funny seeing the expressions baby makes while strapped in the car seat!

I had my old CR-V when my little guy was a baby, so he was in the middle. In the Element don't think either side is necessarily safer than the other. Once I switched him to a booster I put him on the drivers side because it's more convenient to get him in and out of the car. If I had the E with a newborn same applies; I'd put the newborn on the drivers side. I also have a a little mirror that clips onto the rearview mirror so I can see my son.

My monster sits behind the passenger seat. Stops his juice bottle hitting me on the back of the head when he gets fed up;-)

I put mine on the inside.

Get it! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha:razz:

The driver side.

This was one of my issues when looking at the E, that there was no middle. I went to a lamaze class before mine was born and there they told us the middle and if that's not possible, then the passengers side. I also went to a car seat safety class and they said the passenger side again, if the middle is not available. If you have two, put the youngest on the passenger side and the older one, that can handle more, on the drivers side. There are studies they showed us that prove the more harmful accidents happen on the drivers side. Just how I was informed. So, Av is going on the passenger side! I choose safety over convenience....:)

I usually have the car seat on the passenger side and just load her in from the driver side. On long road trips I will move her seat to the drivers side so my wife can recline the front passenger seat and slide on back to relax with the kiddo.

Same here. I also found that if I have to take the kid to daycare & have my bike inside it's better to flip up the driverside seat. The rear window is partially obscured and leaves a bad blind spot on the passenger side for me with that seat flipped up.

Another plus for the passenger side is I can put the mirror to see my 2 y.o. way up high in the left corner of the windshield. No blocking of my line of sight for driving like with the kind that hang off the rearview mirror.

Mark another one down for passenger rear. I also heard from classes that it is safer to be on the passenger side. As a convenice the E parks center space in a three car garage with an empty spot on the passenger side. So there is plenty of room to load and unload without having to worry about door dings on the truck.

Side note: the dogs get the third car garage as their dog house(they have about 5' x 5'). They have a pen and doggy door going outside, they love to come say hello and goodbye as we load up the little one.

Passenger side for now, since he's still in his car carrier thing much easier to pop that in and out of the passenger side. But when he gets into the big britax seat (very soon) that's going on the drivers side while he's rear facing as it'll be easier to load/unload him if it's on that side. (big ass piller behind the rear door is right in the way) But once he's forward facing he'll be back on the passenger side until we have another one. ;-)

Oh and LATCH is the best thing ever! Every monday/wednsday I have to take my son in my GTi, what a PITA that is

I saw a post that someone was putting a Britax in their E. I am at a point w/ my 9.5 month old where I'd like to put him in his Britax; and wondered if anyone's used the Britax as rear facing in an E. It seems like it will be hell to get him in and out with the design of the backseat and the rear door. Any tips?

Should I make it forward facing at this point even though its recommended not to do that until he's 12 months old?

Any advice is welcomed. Thanks!

Depends on his weight and size. Otherwise, leave it backwards.

And that other post answers all your other questions ;-)

I didn't have a Britax, we had a Evenflo Triumph. But, we did have it rear-facing before our daughter turned one. Yes, it's a pain to get the kid in there, but it's only for a few months. It's better than the possible alternative.

i love my car seat and my element
http://www.babydakota.blogspot.com/
you can see some old photos look up element
my child is still R-facing she is 13mounth old and i planon kepping it that way till she is 25-30pounds

The only bad thing about going beyond that 12 month/20 pound rule is that usually by that time their feet are resting on the seatback and if they are any longer they'll be in nearly a crouching position.

For my second son I'm using a base mounted Combi Centre EX infant seat.
The rear facing configuration is simple because the entire seat snaps in and out from the base. I also picked up the matching EX stroller so the seat docks into that also. The stroller is great because it only weighs 11 lbs compared to our older stroller of 24 lbs which did the exact same thing.
Plus it matches the Element's interior, in colors and design styling unlike a lot of the traditional (boring) LL. Bean type styling of most child seats.


http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/489/combiseatvd4.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3438/strollertj9.jpg

If you are going to a full size seat the Britax is the best no question. I have one in my E my wife has one in her Saab 92x. They are worth every last cent. I can get my son into the Roundabout mounted on the passneger side with no problems. Right hand behind head/neck, left hand under thighs a litltle dip and a wiggle and he's in. My wife can't do it. Anyone can do it if you mount the seat on the opposite the side that you enter from. I hate going into the street to put Trapper in his seat. So I lower him in from the passenger side. At home I put him in from either side it's easier from the driver's side.
Don't rush to turn your baby around. Trapper is almost fourteen months and he's still rear facing and will remain so untill he fusses too much, it is without a doubt the safest position for a baby. If adults get whiplash when they are rear ended imagine what a baby would feel like in a forward facing seat!
I'd recomend a bigger seat than the Roundabout stick it on the drivers side rear facing, enter from the passenger side and know that your pide and joy is comfortable and safe.

My wife and I are expecting in february, and we are having trouble with our rear facing infant car seat. we have one of those systems, where you install the base in your car, and you can pick up the carrier, snap it into the car, then snap it out and put it in the stroller, etc.

according to the recent consumer report on car seats, the brand we have did fine when using the chest/lap belt, but did not do well in the tests when using the LATCH system.

the problem is, when i install the rear facing child seat base in the element using the lap/chest belt, i can not get a proper fit. the more i tighten the chest/lap belt, the more the chest strap torques the base and almost lifts it off the seat. i am able to get a ROCK solid install using the LATCH system, but because of the recent report, my wife will not let me install it that way.

We are bringing our cars to the car seat inspection to get the checked out by professionals, and I am willing to bet my HOUSE that they will not be able to get a proper fit using the lap/chest belt.

anyone here able to install a rear facing child seat base into the back element seat using the chest/lap belt?

I look at it like this. This was one test. LATCH itself has been tested for years and has always been reliable.

I look at it like this. This was one test. LATCH itself has been tested for years and has always been reliable.
Does the latch system work well in your E??????

LATCH fails. All the time. Use the seatbelt. It might be harder that way, but it's worth it to be safer.

DON'T use LATCH.

anyone here able to install a rear facing child seat base into the back element seat using the chest/lap belt?

Yep. Graco SnugRide. It's cake. The LATCH things just aren't reliable. That's from many studies as well as anecdotal evidence.

according to the recent consumer report on car seats, the brand we have did fine when using the chest/lap belt, but did not do well in the tests when using the LATCH system.


How did this seat fail? Did the LATCH system fail, allowing the carrier AND base to fly free, or did the carrier separate from the base?

Does the seat belt go around both the carrier and the base, or just the base?

Based the earlier discussion of the CR report, I though the main problem was that the carriers separated from the base in a number of cases. One piece seats designed for old children wouldn't have that separation problem. I did mention, though, that a government safety study found that the LATCH system was often not properly used. It was intended to be a safe standardized way of mounting the seats, but in many cases it is confusing or difficult to use. I don't know, though, whether the problem lies more with the seats, or with the cars.

paulj

Does the latch system work well in your E??????Yes it worked perfectly fine.

Bottomline is, any fire department does these installs for free and are certified. Take it to them and let them do it, than listening to some "faceless" people online.

LATCH fails. All the time. Use the seatbelt. It might be harder that way, but it's worth it to be safer.

DON'T use LATCH.Lets see. So its safer to use his setup with the seat completely out of position (more dangerous), than to use the latch system that just about every fire deprtment recommends?

No fire department I know recommends LATCH. Do as you will. As for my daughter, she will not be LATCHED. Her seat fits perfectly fine and is by no means out of position.

No fire department I know recommends LATCH. Do as you will. As for my daughter, she will not be LATCHED. Her seat fits perfectly fine and is by no means out of position.I guess the 3 different stations and jurisdictions I have lived in since my wife getting pregnant and having our child had no clue what they were talking about then :rolleyes:

Lets see. So its safer to use his setup with the seat completely out of position (more dangerous), than to use the latch system that just about every fire deprtment recommends?
Yes true. The latch system is very safe!:cool: The 3 n 1 ones were the issue; but only the older ones up till 2002 or something. Any newer one is safe; as per my recent conversation with my daughters doc Monday.:) Details details....:rolleyes:

P.S. Fire depts do know what they are saying.....They see all the resultzzz....

I guess the 3 different stations and jurisdictions I have lived in since my wife getting pregnant and having our child had no clue what they were talking about then :rolleyes:

I didn't say that. I said MY locals and consumer reports, and various other articles I have read, all say that LATCH isn't a good system. You have different information and have made a different choice. Good for you. I hope you made the right one.

I didn't say that. I said MY locals and consumer reports, and various other articles I have read, all say that LATCH isn't a good system.

I'd like to see specifics, not just my authority v. your authority.

So what is wrong with the LATCH system? What fails? Do the bars at the base of the seat break? The upper bar? The hooks on the car seat? Or is there something wrong with the placement of the bars, allowing the car seat to shift, even if the things stay attached? Or is it mostly a matter of user error?

paulj

I didn't say that. I said MY locals and consumer reports, and various other articles I have read, all say that LATCH isn't a good system. You have different information and have made a different choice. Good for you. I hope you made the right one.If there is so much anecdotal evidence, please provide some. I would sincerely like to read, because everything I have read lists pros and cons for both...some favoring a little more either way. The bottom line is always about what is more of a sure thing, and LATCH provides the feeling that you KNOW if you have a secure fit.

Another reason I ask for some of this info is because a consumer reports article I was reading yesterday from August of 06 did NOT say the LATCH isnt a good system. It merely stated that in some vehicles it did not save as much time, and may not be as convenient as it should be. And in some cases not positioned well. But they also go on to say that they will give a more "Secure fit" than with belts. They also say that its most often causes by those NOT installing them correctly.

Its also known that either connection is ok, as long as they are done RIGHT. Which is why I suggest a fire department in either case.

This is the one from February 07 article just released with some of these quotes:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/child-car-booster-seats/car-seats-2-07/overview/0207_seats_ov.htm

If that is the article you are referring to in CR that is condeming LATCH, you may want to re-read it.

This is the article from 8/06, and in my opinion a more accurate account of pros and cons of both. I just dont see how LATCH can go from being accepted and a more sure thing, to not reliable at all from the same publication in a 6 month period.:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/news/august-2006/child-seats-latch-for-safety-8-06/overview/0608_child-seats-latch-for-safety_ov.htm

I find it kind of funny the same publication wrote 2 somewhat different articles in such a short period of time.

I agree 100% with the quote from the '06 article:
"At least with LATCH, when you get all of that done you can be fairly sure that you have a tight fit, something you're not always sure of with the safety belts"

Anything that leaves me "unsure" will never be done around my kid.

Or is it mostly a matter of user error?

paulj

The second article I posted above says this:
"Installing a child seat with safety belts is a difficult process that often leaves the child less secure than you might hope. In fact, up to 75 percent of child seats are installed incorrectly or used improperly."

Again take that for what its worth since the articles are somewhat different in nature.

So a few things i've learned over the past few days:

1. never attempt to install a car seat base for more then 30min. at a time. give it a shot, take a break, try again.

2. don't get your hand caught between the belt and the seat base. i almost ripped my finger off.


Heres how i got a pretty rock solid fit in my element using the seat belt and not the LATCH:

install the base with the back seat FULLY RECLINED. feed the belt through, activate the locking belt by pulling it out all the way out, then begin feeding the seat belt back into the celing. i then stood on the base with one foot while pushing by back against the celing. after i couldn't release any more slack, i unclipped the belt, and put on that metal locking belt clip. after putting that thing on it is nearly impossible to clip the belt back into place, but thats how you do it (and it is the dumbest/most difficult thing to do in the world. it makes me angry that this is the way to do it and its so terrible)
finally bring the seat back to an upright position and the base will be rock solid.

it still lifts off the seat a little on one side because of the tightness of the belt, but that will be for the inspectors to decide. also i really think some kind of grip mat underneath would help, but i'll have to ask the inspectors.

as far as the earlier test using the LATCH that failed the consumer report:
-they were installed by professionals and still failed the crash test. there was NO human error involved.
-these tests were a step up from the previous government tests. the LATCH passed the easy tests, failed the new tests.
-the LATCH failed to hold the base still, and the baby inside the carrier was thrown around to the point of injuring their body against the seat and belts of the baby carrier. the seat belt, when properly installed, did a better job of holding the base still then the LATCH did, properly installed.

Okay, here's my mindset;

My father in law, a professional policeman and volunteer fireman ( and pretty high up the chain in both organizations) advised against LATCH due to his experiences with it's preformance in auto accidents. Between his job and his hobby, he's seen more than a few. I trust his judgement and experience more than any laboratory study.

He and I installed my seat in both the Element and my wife's Altima. No problems either way.

That said, my brother also gave me an article from his local paper (Warren Chronicle?) a few months back about various problems with LATCH. It was older, as he clipped it when his four year old was a mere expectation. I didn't save it, but the point was that LATCH isn't a great system and the belt is more reliable.

Data? No, sorry. I provided none. Simply the experiences of two people I trust with the experience to know better and a vested interest in the well-being of my daughter.

If you chose to write me off and disregard me, you do me no offense. I would only advise you to use what information seems most reliable to you. I will grant you that my case isn't compelling to you. It certainly was to me.

Good luck and god speed.

If you chose to write me off and disregard me, you do me no offense. I would only advise you to use what information seems most reliable to you. I will grant you that my case isn't compelling to you. It certainly was to me.

Good luck and god speed.Never said that. You stated antecdotal evidence. I'm not a grammer expert, but none of this is antecdotal.

I still think the articles above are odd given the stance they take in such a short period of time...all from the same publication.

Again this is why I mentioned the OP would be better off going directly to the firestation of their choice and TALKING to someone face to face, rather than faceless interent people like you and I.

LATCH or belt, its still mostly about user error. And I still feel that the quotes above are true in that you KNOW if you have a snug fit with LATCH, even if it may be installed incorrectly. With a belt, unless you know what you are doing (such as your family), you can never be sure the fit is snug, and you can still have the same user error.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cu-press-room/pressroom/2007/2/0702_eng0702ccs.htm

http://www.nhtsa.gov/



what a bunch of *******s. i guess they were trying to get a jump on april fools day...?

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cu-press-room/pressroom/2007/2/0702_eng0702ccs.htm

http://www.nhtsa.gov/



what a bunch of *******s. i guess they were trying to get a jump on april fools day...?
Wow, just wow. Any credibility I was willing to give CR is out the window. First 2 conflicting reports about the same thing in a 6 month window, and now this.

Dictionary.com defines anecdotal as:

. based on personal observation, case study reports, or random investigations rather than systematic scientific evaluation: anecdotal evidence.

as my father in laws statements were based on his personal observation . . . yeah.

Anyhow, I only meant to say that I had done a poor job of making my case, and was admitting to that.

Peace.

Anyhow, I only meant to say that I had done a poor job of making my case, and was admitting to that.

Peace.
LOL. As did I in saying I wasnt quite sure what you meant by it all, and admitted my definition was likely wrong.

I was a math major and just always looks for concise and confirmed data to back up things. Thats all I was saying.

And I'm an English teacher, so I guess it's safe to say we don't even speak the same language.:razz:

I know this is an older thread, but I guess it's better than starting a new thread.

We have a rear facing seat for our 9 month old. Tonight was the first night in our Element and the seat doesn't seem to be working out too well. She can not stretch out her legs, because she is too close to the back of the seat. I'm not sure what to do.

We knew for the next few months it would be a chore to get her in and out of the seat, but I didn't anticipate this kind of problem. I took the seat out of our Mazda6 where the seat works perfectly--there is plenty of room for her legs.

Is there something that I could place under the seat to make the angle wider?

.... She can not stretch out her legs, because she is too close to the back of the seat. I'm not sure what to do.

We knew for the next few months it would be a chore to get her in and out of the seat, but I didn't anticipate this kind of problem. I took the seat out of our Mazda6 where the seat works perfectly--there is plenty of room for her legs.

Is there something that I could place under the seat to make the angle wider?

Our seat (hand me down Graco-front or rear facing) didn't have this problem...but now "Bear" is 1 year old. (we just switched him forward facing this month---btw he is 29lbs /33inches!)

These pics were taken when we brought home the Christmas tree (11mo old)....not very helpful to the thread but I like any chance I get to show off my "Bear." (He's "wearing" my Carhart work coat 'cause it was kinda cold on the ride home w/ the hatch open.)
http://www.hunterdonmill.com/babywillie/Ewillietreedad1.JPG http://www.hunterdonmill.com/babywillie/Ewillieandtree2.JPG

Anywho.....

Try reclining the back seat almost all the way before snuging up the LATCH straps....then pull forward on the seatback so the child seat gets nice and tight. The seat back will probably still be reclined a bit, so the little bugger will have extra leg room. :)
You can also used a rolled up towel/blanket between the safety seat and the Element seat bottom to give it a bit more "angle," but watch the "level indicator" the seat probably has...don't go too nutty.

Yes, rear facing seats in the E are a pain. Only a few more months to go...hang in there! I have only one seat in the back, so I just open the doors opposite the seat, kneel on the floor to stick him in the seat....keps us both out of the weather too. I can pull him out on the same side if I'm carefull not to smash him into the ceiling! :rolleyes: He seems plenty durable so far. ;-)

Good luck,

Will

My daughter is 2 1/2 now. Before she turned one she was very tall and the carrier would keep her in a very uncomfortable position with her feet. So around 10 month or so we got her a front facing car seat even though she wasn't 12 months. We had a ford taurus at the time. I couldn't afford the pricey carseats that you could face backward or forward, so we did what we could at the time.

Thank you for your replies. I actually figured it out on my own...it was easier than I thought.

What I needed was a wedge to change the angle of the base. Babies R Us carries them (I'm sure other places do as well). Here is what it looks like (click on the image to see the Babies R Us page):

http://trus.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-2908626reg.jpg (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2343250&cp=&fbn=StorePrice%7CUnder+%2410.00&f=Taxonomy%2FTRUS%2F2254197&fbc=1&fr=StorePrice%2FTRUS%2F00000000%2F00001000&kw=car+seat&parentPage=search)

I'll post pics of the seat in my E tomorrow.

Please help!
My son has switched from an infant bucket car seat to a rear facing alpha omega seat. He has to sit rear facing until he is one and I can not get the seat to work right. Also I cant get to it! The rear seats are so far back, I can reach him and therefore have to constantly undo the seat lift the whole seat, put it on the floor of the car and then get him out!
Anyone else have these problems?????

I have to climb inside my element everytime to remove my daughter. It's a pain but manageable. If you have the "latch" type car seat it's very easy to secure the base into the latch bars at the bend of the seat. There are small plastic covers on them and you just have to pop them off.

I have to climb inside my element everytime to remove my daughter. It's a pain

Exactly why my wife gave me the E and bought a van when she got sick of climbing into the back seat.

I never had any trouble installing a car seat in the E(had peg p. infant, rear facing alpha then turned the alpha around) I always reclined the seat tighten the latch straps the pull the seat forward to get the car seat tight enough that it wouldn't move at all.

In my wifes van I had to sit in the car seat while I tightened it in order to get it to not move at all.

At least you can reach the child once they are forward facing, and you no longer have to enter the E to remove said item.

Having had both an 06 Odyssey and (now) an 07 E, I understand your challenge. We (it's my grandson we're talking about), because of the space between the seats, never faced the infant seast backwards in either vehicle. We always made sure the straps were uber-snug (on the seat itself), and made sure the LATCH system setup was the same. I found it's easier to recline the seatback BEFORE latching in the LATCH system hooks, THEN, after the seat ones are hooked up, I brought the seatback up to "its full upright and locked position". Then I attached the roof one (in the E), and the setup is so secure, I think I could sit in it (well, maybe not........ :shock::shock: ).

The E provides just as much protection, if not more, as your (or any) minivan, as long as it's secured right (and it's really not that difficult to remove said infant in and out (we did it everyday for a 6300 mile road-trip)).

It's a good idea to keep an infant seated facing aft for as long as possible. I know it's legal to face them forward at a year, but their little necks can't take the force of a front on collision.

Friends of mine recently had a baby boy. They have permenantly mounted the car seat in the passenger-side rear. If memory serves me the local (Norfolk VA) fire department showed them how.

I can't find that information but here's a link from the Edmunds website about car seat installation.

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/articles/104581/article.html

FWIW, I used an infant, rear-facing seat w/base until my son was almost 13 months old. He was at the point of using his feet to push back on the seat back when I switched to a forward facing toddler/child seat. He had displayed good head/neck control since he was 3 months old & had just reached the minimum weight for this seat. For me, at 6'-2", I have no problem getting him in/out of the carseat from outside the E (watch your head!). My wife, at 5'-4", has to get in the car to access the carseat.
On the positive side, the extra space between the front & rear seats allows for plenty of room to change diapers!:cool:

The Element really is a poor choice for infants and very young children:

A: Difficult to access rear seats, because there is a pillar right next to the seat where there would be an open space.

B: The seats are too far back to reach back to the kids easily, unless you have long ape arms like me.

C: Very young children have a hard time climbing into and out of the rear seats, unless you put van-style running boards on the sides. If you're going to put running boards on it, you may as well drive a van.

D: In the AWD models, the sun shines on the kids a bit more than you might like, unless you either put up a shade or live in a perpetually overcast area (cough Central CA cough)

E: The rear doors are a pain with little kids in tight parking spaces. This has been covered ad-nauseam in other threads.

I am having a dilemma. My son has out grown his infant seat but is not ready for a forward seat. I had planned on using my daughters old convertable seat for him now that she is in a booster. It is the Evenflow Triumph. The problem I am having is the seatbelt tensioner for the child seat is the rotating knob style and it gets pressed into the seatback of the E seats making it almost impossible to tighten or losen when the seat is installed. Has anyone else had this problem? I am going to go look at a new seat that has the pull strap tightening system but didn't know if anyone had any suggestions on which worked best with the E.

I did search but all I could find were situations of forward facing seats, been there and have no problems with that.

The problem I am having is the seatbelt tensioner for the child seat is the rotating knob style and it gets pressed into the seatback of the E seats making it almost impossible to tighten or losen when the seat is installed.

Sounds like poor engineering to me. Why put the adjuster where it can't be used. Kind of like wearing your belt on the inside of your pants. You could try this, put the seatback down, crank on the adjuster and pull the seatback up again to put more tension on the childseat?

I have the strap adjusters on mine and they work great with that technique.

We're hoping to avoid this whole too big for one too small for the other by having a good deal of overlap in our seating systems. We're hoping that by the time the monster is 22# (the limit on her infant seat) she'll be a year old and can go to her foreward facing seat. If not there will be an awkward period with the convertible seat.

The seat workes fine in my wifes car and my old car but the E seats are too soft and the padding pushes into the handles.

My son is under the weight limit but over the height limit of the infant seat.

Reclining the seat back would work for a pinch but not when there is stuff behind the seat preventing it from reclining.

I recommend the Britax Marathon. We have one rear facing in our E, and it's fantastic. It has the pull strap to tighten the belts. this car seat is actually considered the best and safest one out there.

http://www.amazon.com/Britax-Marathon-Convertible-Seat-Mariposa/dp/B000QE5BRW/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_3_txt/104-6087387-3967943?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-2&pf_rd_r=16GKR998XFHWBW3T7XHP&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=304485601&pf_rd_i=B000F1QL20

We're about to have our first baby and curious what baby seat people are having the most success with.

Thanks

We went with a Chicco travel system (car seat, stroller and car seat bases) that worked well for us. Now that my daughter is almost 2, she has a Recaro baby seat that fits her great and looks cool in Dad's car too.:)

We initially used an "All in One" system from Graco (IIRC).
It worked well because you don't have to hassel with getting an infant in/out of a carseat in the car since the seat separates from the base and locks right to the stroller. Plus you get the added bonus of a stroller that will last long after they outgrow the carrier.

Link to similar stuff at Target. (http://www.target.com/b/ref=sc_pfc_r_3_0_1041968_1/601-3765987-0825739?ie=UTF8&node=3579971)

From there, we went to a "convertible" style seat. These are the ones that start by facing them backwards, and then turn around once the child is of a certain age/size. We had a few different models; an Eddie Bauer, a Graco, and, I believe, a Costco. All seemed to work OK and held him securely in place.

The biggest difference I found were the way the straps adjust to the anchor and tether points. Some have a very user friendly and simple design, others were a royal pain in the @$$ to get the upper tether strap adjusted. So that's something to look at when in the store. If the strap is a pain to adjust standing in the isle, it's really going to be a bear in the backseat of Grandma's Lexus.

Link to similar stuff at Target. (http://www.target.com/Convertible-Car-Seats-Baby/b/601-3765987-0825739?ie=UTF8&node=3579961)


Now that my son is big enough, he's graduated to a booster.
These are by FAR the easiest to install and remove.

Again, I have a couple of types; a Graco and (I think) an Evenflo.
I like the Graco Turbo Booster seat in the Element. The backrest is adjustible so that it is not "bolt" upright and conforms to the rear seat better. My son says it's more comfortable too. The only part I like about the Evenflo is that the armrest fold up to make it easier to put him in the seat if you are using it in a car without much headroom. In the E, this is not a problem because he climbs in it himself.

Another link. (http://www.target.com/Graco-Turbo-Booster-Ionic/dp/B000LP3VEG/qid=1202775175/ref=br_1_16/601-3765987-0825739?ie=UTF8&node=3579951&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=tgt-mf-mv&field-browse=3579951&rank=price&rh=&page=1)

Overall, the E is very carseat friendly. You can climb back there easily and have plenty of room to get the seat installed correctly. Other vehicles with a tight backseat are a pain by comparison.

Good luck and congratulations!
:D

Baby seats are for wussies.....


We roll Britney style....

http://hunterdonmill.com/babywillie/drivinelementsmall.JPG

:shock:




If your baby ain't made of the same material as the composit pannels I sugest...

http://hunterdonmill.com/babywillie/bearincarseat.JPG

the Graco Snug Ride carrier thing. The base mounts in the car for easy in/out even in crappy weather or while your little bugger is sleeping.



The convertable seat we bought to replace the carrier was an Evenflow Titan. It was a little more compact/shorter than some, so it is a little easer to use while in the rear facing position. I took one rear seat out, so access to the baby seat is super easy from opposite side. I can stay inside the Element (yet out of the elements...huh:???:) to fiddle w/ straps, find lost toys or pretzels, put his hat on, change diapers, etc.

My boy is a little more than 2yo now...well over 40 inches so he's outgrown most seats....the roof rack is next!

Good luck and have fun.

Will

Both of ours are in booster seats now. However, for infants and young toddlers, you can either go cheap or quality. Graco and Evenflo are the good, mainstream cheap brands. Most models are $50 or less. If you want to spend money on a nicer seat, it's hard to beat Britax seats.

Baby trend travel system!:D

Or any travel system really. They are much more convienent and cost effective than peicemealing a set.

If you can try to get something that has some overlap (our rear facer goes to 22#) with a forward facing seat (20# minimum) as well, that way there is less of a chance at doing awkward cirque du soliel stuff while getting the kid fastened.

Kids...almost as much fun to raise as to make.:-o

The travel system and convertible were both Evenflo...and we are picking up booster seats this weekend that will be evenflo also.

Good build, they stand up well, and are easy to install. But the best part is, we LOVE the "crank" for the strap! So much easier to use than one of the pull style type.

Good price points too.

I use the Chicco keyfit 30.
Expensive but is the best.

Well congrats on your new little one one the way!

We've got both a Britax Convertible and a Graco travel system...looking to purchase a second Britax seat because the quality was so much better. The Graco always pinches when you adjust the straps :P And because now that we have the sling (www.handsfreebaby.com) we don't carry the baby around in the car seat anymore. That thing weighed a ton!

And because now that we have the sling (www.handsfreebaby.com) we don't carry the baby around in the car seat anymore. That thing weighed a ton!

Hell yeah! We have a ring and a wrap sling that we use for walks and shopping and stuff.

Heck if you want you can tie the kid to a tree while picnicking who needs a high chair?

Beats lugging around a cradle board.:-P

Good build, they stand up well, and are easy to install. But the best part is, we LOVE the "crank" for the strap! So much easier to use than one of the pull style type.

Good price points too.


Yup. I love that knob you use to tension the strap, sometime the release is stiff, but I really like it.

The Evenflow convertable (Titan) didn't have it, but the forward facing Evenflo (can't remember the name) for bigger toddlers does. Do they make a convertable w/ the tensioner knob?

I agree, they are nice seats abd a good value. The ones that score better, do so for things like materials (plushness), or fit & finish. They are just as safe as more expensive models, and are very user friendly.

Will

Yup...its their "Triumph" series convertibles that have the crank:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2734227


We are getting the Generations boosters that have them now:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2785201


Yup. I love that knob you use to tension the strap, sometime the release is stiff, but I really like it.

The Evenflow convertable (Titan) didn't have it, but the forward facing Evenflo (can't remember the name) for bigger toddlers does. Do they make a convertable w/ the tensioner knob?

I agree, they are nice seats abd a good value. The ones that score better, do so for things like materials (plushness), or fit & finish. They are just as safe as more expensive models, and are very user friendly.

Will

We are getting the Generations boosters that have them now:
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2785201

Crap...my "little" Bear was too big for that before his 2nd birthday!:confused::D

My wife keeps feeding him, he eats everything in sight....I'm in trouble. :wink:

I might as well put him to work. Sunday he took the trash to the curb (really....he's only 25months!). He cleans off the kitchen table every night (but my wife fills the dishwasher 'cause he ain't very organized.)

Will

Mine is 30 months. He is 39" tall but is still a hair under 30 lbs, so these will be more than fine. He eats, but is kind of picky. I mean can you name me a 2.5 year old who REFUSES to eat...cake OR ice cream!?!?!?!?!?!

So he is too big for it? it says it can go to 100 lbs...bear really is a bear then isnt he ;-)

Crap...my "little" Bear was too big for that before his 2nd birthday!:confused::D

My wife keeps feeding him, he eats everything in sight....I'm in trouble. :wink:

I might as well put him to work. Sunday he took the trash to the curb (really....he's only 25months!). He cleans off the kitchen table every night (but my wife fills the dishwasher 'cause he ain't very organized.)

Will

So he is too big for it? it says it can go to 100 lbs...bear really is a bear then isnt he ;-)

The straps are supposted to be no lower than shoulder height. His shoulder were just a hair higher than the highest strap slots just before his 2 year buirthday.

At his birthday he was 40" and 38lbs. He is going thru another growth spurt now.:rolleyes:

Will

Yea, but once they outgrow the shoulder straps you can switch to use the lapbelts...but then you are supposed to check age too. its always ahrd to tell when they are too tall and weigh too much, but are technically too young.

The straps are supposted to be no lower than shoulder height. His shoulder were just a hair higher than the highest strap slots just before his 2 year buirthday.

At his birthday he was 40" and 38lbs. He is going thru another growth spurt now.:rolleyes:

Will

Yea, but once they outgrow the shoulder straps you can switch to use the lapbelts...but then you are supposed to check age too. its always ahrd to tell when they are too tall and weigh too much, but are technically too young.


Yup. We're using the lap/shoulder belts now. We liked the shoulder harness "safety" much better, 'specially if he falls asleep and leans the wrong way.

When I was growing up I held the "Oh S**t Bar" on the dash of the VW, usually while standing. My little sister rode in the "play-pen (http://www.adclassix.com/images/59coscoplaypens.jpg)" attached to the floor of the bus, usually w/ a few of the kids my Mom would babysit. The little girl from next door was in the "kiddie seat" next to me.
our kiddie seat was this plaid vinyl thing w/ two metal hooks that were laid over a car's seat back. There was a lift up "bar" in front, like a kiddie swing, that held the kids in place.
http://www.hunterdonmill.com/images/VWtruck/oldbabyseat.jpg
This looks just like it, but ours was missing the nifty steering wheel. I'm sure ours was sourced from a garage sale, everything else we had was!

I figure my kid is doin' just fine! :wink:

I'm looking forward to dragging the kid (and my wife) to a few "junk sales" this summer in the E!

Will

dang, that is a bear :-o...mine's going to be 4 in 2 mos & she's still under 40 lbs!

According to the state police safety person I contacted a while back you ignore the weight, since that's a min requirement (and there's lots of overweight kids these days), so you defer to the fit as described by the manufacturer. You have the shoulder below the top strap measurement and she also told me their ears shouldn't be above the back of the seat. Sorta like the headrest for adults, you don't want their heads to snap back into empty space, you want the seat back to stop the head inline with their spine.

ditto the remarks on the evenflo adjuster knob. Texas winter weather, 70 one day, 30 the next, which means having to accomodate different thickness clothing almost daily. The one I have in the E is the tug kind & the main one in the wife's wagon with the knob is way way way easier to operate.

so you defer to the fit as described by the manufacturer. You have the shoulder below the top strap measurement and she also told me their ears shouldn't be above the back of the seat. Sorta like the headrest for adults, you don't want their heads to snap back into empty space, you want the seat back to stop the head inline with their spine.


I agree. The Evenflows we mentioned have nice height adjustable headrests. I just wish they had a higher shoulder strap slot.

I've got a 9 month old and we're using the peg perego primo viaggio sip infant car seat. I shopped around and found that this seat had, what I thought was the best construction of the ones I looked at kids r' us, wal mart, target. It seemed like the padding was thicker and side bolsters were thicker, which looked more comfortable. I bought ours brand new off ebay. I believe I saved about 50-75 as opposed to paying retail at kids r' us. We haven't had a single problem with it yet.

I actually pick up our E today, so I've only used the seat in it once, and that was without the base, but I was loving the fact that once both doors were opened, I could fit the seat in to the back without moving the front seat forward. Big step up from trying to squeeze it into the back seat of an aveo!
Also, when removing the seat, I could unbuckle it, lift it from the back seat, set it on the front seat, shut the rear door, then pick up the seat and shut the front door. Seemed very convienent.

I plan on stepping up to the recaro young sport eventually, but I've been told to use the current seat until she's too big for it because the next step up in car seats do not just unclip from the base to carry around.

BTW, I'm not one to buy the expensive stuff. It may have been me being overly cautious with our first child, but I really thought the difference in quality between the cheaper seats sold and the peg perego was substantial.

As for actual crash test ratings though, I've not a clue. I bought our seat in the midst of that whole consumer report stating most seats were not suitable in crash tests, then they later said they ran the tests wrong. So I didn't really go by any of that.

I plan on stepping up to the recaro young sport eventually, but I've been told to use the current seat until she's too big for it because the next step up in car seats do not just unclip from the base to carry around.


Yup...the "snap into base seats" are very convienient to use, especially compared w/ the next step up...a rear facing seat. Stick w/ it as long as you can, rear facing is a pain in the E as compared w/ most cars, because of the rear doors.

Will

Has anyone installed their baby seat in the center?

We put ours in the middle (covering the cup holder part of the seats) and it snapped into the inner lower anchors of each seat just fine. We didn't leave it there, but it seemed to fit perfectly.

My G/F posed the same question last night. ( she breast feeds and occasionally she will go to the back seat to do the business and with the seat on one side and not in the middle, only one boob will get used ). I'm gonna try it out and see how it works, I'll let you know this afternoon.

I think breastfeeding is great, but I really hope that she's not doing that while you are on the road unless she has found a way to keep kiddo in the carseat and herself in a seatbelt! Hungry baby is not worth endangering everyone's life!

It's a bad idea to be rigging the seat up where it doesn't belong in the first place.

[QUOTEIt's a bad idea to be rigging the seat up where it doesn't belong in the first place.[/QUOTE]

We had the seat mounted in the center of the aveo and from looking at both setups, it mounts the same in the middle of the E as it did in the aveo, only difference is the surface underneath is plastic in the middle where the cup holders are. The base itself, once buckled in is just as solid and strapped in movement wise as in the aveo in the center.

I feel comfortable using it in the center as opposed to on one side for other reasons as well. Further away from impact of a crash, easier to see where she's at and what she's doing, two small children could sit on either side if necessary, and be buckled in as well.

I think breastfeeding is great, but I really hope that she's not doing that while you are on the road unless she has found a way to keep kiddo in the carseat and herself in a seatbelt! Hungry baby is not worth endangering everyone's life!

It's a bad idea to be rigging the seat up where it doesn't belong in the first place.

In which case, those are some saggy puppiess that have some REACH! And please, no pictures.
:lol:

Okay, can we see those pictures anyway?

I feel comfortable using it in the center as opposed to on one side for other reasons as well. Further away from impact of a crash, easier to see where she's at and what she's doing, two small children could sit on either side if necessary, and be buckled in as well.[/QUOTE]

I go more for facts than feelings. The E sits four, and the seats go on the side. They didn't write the manuals and do the crash tests for nothing. It's designed to protect your family when you do it right - everything else is too risky for such precious cargo. Point of impact isn't going to matter much if they aren't properly restrained. Two small kids (if by small you mean under 4'9) should be in booster seats too which would not fit.

To be honest, I haven't read the owners manual section on infant seats so I can't be for sure but just going by how it was strapped in and how sturdy and solid it was in the center in the E as opposed to on one side in the E or one side in the aveo we had, or even the center in the aveo It seems to be all the same.

They may just say it shouldn't be in the center becuase of all the ways you could mount it in the center incorrectly as well. Like the seatbacks being at different angles, some bases may not sit flush along the seat bottom, etc.

I'm not saying I'm right but from what I've seen so far I think this would be a valid option. I'm gonna read up the owners manual tonight, I may also stop out at the highway patrol office and ask them ( they are supposed to be able to tell you if your car seat is installed correctly ) although I don't expect too much from them from previous experience on questioning things with them.

Maybe I'm just satisfied with the way the seat is mounted because in my 89 vw fox and the car seat held in with the seatbelt in the rear, doesn't seem very safe, but the manual for the car seat states this is the correct way to install it in a vehicle with such restraints.

And I was just saying in general there would be enough room for some smaller people to sit on each side of the seat, not children that would need a booster. I haven't actually tried but by the looks of it, I think I could sit next to the seat and buckle myself in securely, I know I'm a skinny white boy ( 5'9" 135lbs ) so I'm not the average guy, but I'll try and see If I fit.

here is a suggestion :shock:

I was thinking I could save money on a car seat doing that.:roll:

Seriously though, I think we need to seek further advice on wether or not this is a safe way to install a seat.

Any updates on putting the car seat in the middle? I've got tomorrow off, I may stop by the highway patrol to see what they think about the car seat being in the middle of the rear seat. Only if we don't get the snow we're calling for. I'm not gonna bug them if their busy.

I'll let you know what happens.

Okay, so I'm not even sure where to post this but....well, we're about to go to the dealership tomorrow night or Tuesday to sign papers and pickup an 08 EX AWD (in kiwi)....and now I'm freaking out!

I've searched and searched and I see tons of posts re: child safety seats. BUT I'm scared. I know the E is super safe. I'm worried about it being impossible to have the seat in the center of the backseats. Also, what if we have 2 kids back there? No way for good old Mommy to climb into the back....

I'm a ways off from kids but don't want to buy a car and have it not work for the next few years. Any moms or dad out there who can make me feel better? I love the car but I'm scared regarding safety and practicality....

Thanks in advance!:smile:

I'm worried about it being impossible to have the seat in the center of the backseats.

You are correct. It is impossible to have the infant seat in the center of the back seats. Why would you want to do that anyway?

You are correct. It is impossible to have the infant seat in the center of the back seats. Why would you want to do that anyway?

It's the safest place in case of impact....

I've searched and searched and I see tons of posts re: child safety seats. BUT I'm scared. I know the E is super safe. I'm worried about it being impossible to have the seat in the center of the backseats. Also, what if we have 2 kids back there? No way for good old Mommy to climb into the back....

I'm a ways off from kids but don't want to buy a car and have it not work for the next few years. Any moms or dad out there who can make me feel better? I love the car but I'm scared regarding safety and practicality....

Thanks in advance!:smile:
Welcome to the Zoo.

The dunder-heads will tell you that the center is the safest place for an infant seat but you don't want to do that in an E. The manual says not to anyway. Would you argue with a book written by a Japanese engineer?

It is possible to put a carseat in the middle but, you'll hate it and so will your kid. This in turn will lead to large Psychiatry bills.

Climb in the back to what? Get some alone time?;-)

Really, how can you go wrong with all those airbags?

Practicallity is immense. Just don't plan on hauling your antique colonial sofa AND the kids at the same time. Unless they want to ride outside.:evil:


Don't be scared...:rolleyes:

It's the safest place in case of impact....
Of course it could also be the most dangerouse place to sit if a steel pipe were to fly thru your windshield.
Ridiculous I know but I like to pee over everything "They" say.
Honestly, I drive around with 2 identical carseats in the back. No problems whatsoever. Infact, both sons were brought home from the hospital in this Element. Even if you were to fit a carseat in the middle of the seat it wouldn't give you enuff room to sit beside it to actually do anything. If you get a pop-in/pop-out carrier with a base then it's extremely easy to transport an infant.

It's the safest place in case of impact....

COMPLETELY disagree!! Have you seen the pix of E rollovers and the owners walking away?? EXCELLENT safety cage surrounding the passenger area. The newer Es (06 (I think) and up) have the LATCH system - if you set them right with that system, as well as working the seatbelt through, the seats ain't movin!! If the child seat is a quality one (NOT testing your buying intelligence, just sayin') set in either of the two back seats properly, then there is no issue. If there was EVER any question on the safety of the E, I would NOT have bought it, knowing my precious grandson would be strapped in the back..... :-P:-P
My tip (having set my grandson's seat SEVERAL times) is to recline the back part of the seat, set up the LATCH (except for the roof attachment, I set it afterwards) buckles and seatbelt, THEN bring the seatback forward for a REAL tight fit!! Easier than struggling with tightening the belts with the seats upright.
Hope this helps....... :)

Thanks everyone. I know all about the amazing safety ratings but I just wanted some owner's take on the child seat setup. I bought my last car and didn't think everything through. I want my E for the long haul and a family is in the future. Thank you for your input.

You CAN still climb back there- although, IMO, you should just pull over and tend to them. I have climbed back there as one of my dogs decided that even though he was buckled in and on his booster, that the very back was better place- so I had to go retrieve him...but I dont recommend moving around in the car like that.

I wish I had the E when I had my kids- it would have been the perfect vehicle.

I honestly don't know where the safest place of a vehicle might be!!! But, I wish the Element had been available when our baby was a baby! I think you'll find the E. a very practical and functional vehicle.

Once you have children you might discover the car is the only place that you won't have to climb over/under, squat, lift, bend and contort in order to help them. Ours slept like "a baby" in the car :D:D:D

My 03 has the Latch system as do all E's. My dau got an 04 as she liked my 03 so good for her son. It's what he wants to ride in and is very practical for car seats and children. The only downside sometimes is opening the doors in a tight parking place.
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My 03 has the Latch system as do all E's. My dau got an 04 as she liked my 03 so good for her son. It's what he wants to ride in and is very practical for car seats and children. The only downside sometimes is opening the doors in a tight parking place.
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Having the car seat in the back does change my parking habits. I park further out from the stores where the lot tends to be empty hoping that when i return that there isn't someone beside me when i get back. I was worried at first about having to hoist the car seat into the back when my son was first born....now it is a peice of cake to do.