| chrisemtff |
Hey all,
Not an accessory in the true sense, but I would like any input from ya Pilot owners over the years that have bought infant car seats. Basically, it has been almost 8 years between my last baby and the one due in a couple of months. Obviously things have changed and wanted to hear from you moms and dads that have used infant seats in your Pilot. Which ones fit good and which ones didn't? Not really looking for a run down on the safety of the seat and such as I can research that.
Slainte,
Chris |
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| stubble |
We enjoyed the Graco setup: The infant seat is interchangeable with the car seat base, a travel stroller (big) and a lightweight stroller frame. Awesome.
The only problem was that my son is a monster and grew out of the infant seat at about 4 months if I recall. We now use a Britax Roudabout, with which we've been delighted in both rear-facing and front-facing phases. The big graco stroller is in service, but we gave away the lightweight frame with the infant seat.
http://www.amazon.com/Graco-SnugRid...e/dp/B0007KMUH4 |
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| NJGuy |
I've used the Grago Snugride as well. It was pretty convenient to snap the carseat into the base and remove it when transporting my daughter. It took quite a bit of effort for me to properly install the base in the middle seat by myself, but after doing it several times I was able to cut my install time to 5 minutes. Having a helper also made a world of a difference for me. The '03-'08 Pilots don't have latch anchors for the middle seat (only the outboard seats), so I used the seatbelt & metal locking clip. I also had to use two pieces of those foam pool noodles to get the base at the right incline.
The carseat was also part of a travel system. The stroller is a bit bulky when folded, so I keep it in my Pilot. My wife keeps an umbrella stroller in her Accord now because the travel system stroller consumed practially all the space in her trunk. So if you have a second vehicle that's smaller, a stroller frame might work for you.
Graco also offers another model line for infants called the SafeSeat. It's a bit larger (and a hair heavier), but they claim it can handle babies up to 30 lb. and 32" tall. But by that point, I would guess that the baby + infant carrier would be too heavy to lug around together. They are also available in a travel system.
I switched my daughter to a convertible seat when she was 7 months old because she started to dislike the confinement of the infant carrier. |
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| stubble |
quote:
Originally posted by NJGuy
The '03-'08 Pilots don't have latch anchors for the middle seat (only the outboard seats), so I used the seatbelt & metal locking clip. I also had to use two pieces of those foam pool noodles to get the base at the right incline.
I believe they intend you to use the two inboard latch anchors for placing the seat in the middle. They do provide a center latch anchor on the rear of the seat for the top strap (on my 05 anyway), so this is all I can assume. Haven't check the OM. We're using it this way, and it works well. The only drawback is that the two halves of the back seat can't be folded down or adjusted independently. But the outboard seats & belts are still usable. |
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| stubble |
quote:
Originally posted by stubble
I believe they intend you to use the two inboard latch anchors for placing the seat in the middle. They do provide a center latch anchor on the rear of the seat for the top strap (on my 05 anyway), so this is all I can assume. Haven't check the OM. We're using it this way, and it works well. The only drawback is that the two halves of the back seat can't be folded down or adjusted independently. But the outboard seats & belts are still usable.
I looked in my OM and can't find specific mention of using LATCH in the middle. Maybe I need to look again. However it seems I'm wrong judging by the collective discussions here in the past, and that using LATCH in the center is not advised. Just wanted to post here to clarify for anyone else reading this. |
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| Bowzer |
We have 2 currently in car seats (ages 1 & 2) and there's not a hint of fit problems from either. I'll post pics to help when possible. I believe both are Graco but different designs and they are mounted in the middle row outboard positions. They're certainly not considered the smaller ones and we still have enough room for the 6 year old to sit comfortably between them in the middle row.
As far as I can tell, the extraordinary width (especially of the middle row) on the Pilot will allow just about anything with ease. We're about to invest in 2 new seats for this 6 week old Pilot...keep posting on decision and I'll try to do the same. |
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| iglesias |
quote:
Originally posted by stubble
I believe they intend you to use the two inboard latch anchors for placing the seat in the middle. They do provide a center latch anchor on the rear of the seat for the top strap (on my 05 anyway), so this is all I can assume. Haven't check the OM. We're using it this way, and it works well. The only drawback is that the two halves of the back seat can't be folded down or adjusted independently. But the outboard seats & belts are still usable.
You're not supposed to use the LATCH anchors for the middle seat position. This has been covered quite a bit in the forums. |
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| waynerd |
| Snugriders here, too. A base in each car and easy to handle "bucket" for the kiddo. I put the infant carrier for my oldest in the center (with the lap belt), then with my younger daughter, on the passenger side. |
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| chrisemtff |
Thanks for all the replies so far!
I think we have decided to go with the Graco Snugride set up. I really liked the idea of the Safe Seat for the extra size for the baby down the road, but the additional size and weight seems like a drawback as the wife will be Pilot-ing most of the time after the arrival.
The first time around we used Century products as they were the highest rated and, at the time, Graco kinda had a reputaiton for being cheaply made. After reading many reviews it seems that they have improved their product.
I also saw the thread about the latch system and the car seat should not be put in the middle. What we are taught in EMS is that each seat that is capable of accomodating a safety seat with the LATCH system must have its own independent anchors and not share. Besides, there are half a dozens reasons why the seat should be in the middle and a half of dozen reasons why it shouldn't.
In my experience (EMS and being in a MVC with my infant son), if you have aproperly installed safety seat, the child typically does not even know what happened. If the MVC is so severe that it breaches the patient compartment on a side impact, you can typically expect injuries where ever they are positioned.
Thanks again
Slainte,
Chris |
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