TLTrance

...added a Recaro ProRIDE convertible car seat! Hell yeah!

I was wondering if anyone else is using this seat in a rear-facing configuration. I installed the seat last week in my 2005 TL in the middle seat position and was wondering why it looked so "tall". Yes, I can see clearly through the rear window using the rear-view mirror, but when I load up my daughter (14 mths old, 21 lbs), I literally have to bend her to get her into the seat.

Better yet, does anyone have side-profile pics of this seat installed in a rear-facing configuration? I'm curious to see if this is "normal".

SharksBreath

iTrader: (33)

nice upgrade! let's see some pics!

350

iTrader: (4)

I have the same seat but I haven't had it in the Acura yet. I mounted our other car seat in my car once rear facing and had to move the front seats all the way up, I don't think it'll be as bad when it's front facing. Can't you flip it front facing past a year old?

UA6

BeezleTL85

^x2

TLTrance

The recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics is now rear-facing for 2 years, not 1. See here: http://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-an...Safety_SLR.pdf

Technically the laws vary from state to state, but this is now the recommendation with the hope that all states require this as law in the coming years.

LockDots

F5 F5 F5 F5 F5

Is something wrong with the pics not loading?

TLTrance

Yeah, I'll get some pics soon... It almost looks like she's riding in an SUV inside my TL..

Renescent

Why in the center? Mounting points are under the sides as well?

TLTrance

Center position is safer than the sides as this reduces the chance of side impact having as much of an "impact". Again, this is the recommendation of AAP...

Wacker

When we were kids, we spent half of the time bouncing around the car....climbing from the front to the back seat...irritating siblings.... I'm shocked we all survived, but we did. Our car seats were more to give our moms a break and chain us down than to protect us in a crash. Today's car seats are crazy!!!!

Btros

If you're securing it with the center seat belt, it's the safest spot. But if you're using the LATCH system, you should use the left or right seats.

TLTrance

Actually, I don't think this is correct. See here: http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/0625/

That said, there was a time (and probably still is true to some extent) that LATCH wasn't an option in the center, only the sides. In this case, some people thought that LATCH would be safer to use on the sides than using a seat belt for securing the car seat in the center. Of course, the reason this seemed to be the case was because LATCH is much easier to install correctly.

TLTrance

Actually, I think I know why you mentioned LATCH isn't supposed to be as safe in the center. Many cars use "shared" anchors for the center. In some cars, the distance between the inner anchors is more than 11". Some car seats cannot support this. However, there are many that do. For example, the Recaro ProRIDE supports 11-20" of distance between the inner/center anchors. Thus, it is okay and just as safe to install this specific convertible seat in the center position using LATCH.

abracing

My son is 15 months old and has been using the recaro proride since he is 8 months old. No problem with me loading him in or out of he car and he's very comfortable. We also have him rear facing on the center reclined all the way.
I dont have a picture right now but will take one for you.

Btros

Sorry, I should have clarified: if you read the manual, the 3rd gen Acura TL specifically does not recommend using the center seat with the LATCH system. It has to be one side or the other. Other vehicles do allow for use of the LATCH system in the center seat, just not our car specifically.

EDIT: just read your second post. Maybe you're right. I just remember (if I'm remembering correctly) that the manual specifically says to install a car seat using the LATCH system on side or the other. I hope that's wrong, because the seat I have sure fits much better in the center.

08WDPTL

Not Recaro, but here's a pic of the car seat in my TL. Yes, it's pretty high up there when in the center.

powdbyrice

my son has a proride as well. its on the passenger side. i've been pleased with it. will get one for my daughter when she's the appropriate size.

abracing

sorry for the blurry shot, I was in a hurry.

truonghthe

how the hell can you see on the rear view mirror with that seat being that high?

abracing

It looks high because of the way I took the shot ie kneeling on the floor. I can perfectly see the back.

TLTrance

Thank you for all the responses.. I'll have to check this out at home since my stupid work computer blocks certain websites, including those that are image hosting in nature.

TLTrance

Thank you! It looks like that I got it correctly installed then! Man, this thing looks stupid high! :P

Yeah, I guess it won't look "as high" once I can mount it forward facing when DD is old enough...