Should the second size car seat (forward facing) be able to move from side to side?

Foss

no way.......return and get new style if you can't figure out proper installation

cargo

You did not say which country you are located in, but try this website to find a "fitting station" in your area that has a Certified Child Passenger Safety Techician who can check your seat and provide suggestions as to whether this particular seat will work with your vehicle. The website is... safekids.org. The other website is nhtsa.dot.gov Look under "Child Passenger Safety" section. This site also has an "Ease of Use" rating chart to see which seats are easier to install.
It should be a tight fit, no more than 1" movement side-to-side when checking it (pushing and pulling on the arm rest area of the seat, not the top or upper sides of the seat.) You can try another car seat if that one doesn't "work" with your type of vehicle seats.
The top tether (strap attached to the rear top of the car seat) attaches to the tether anchor on the rear deck (shelf behind the rear headrests). Read the car seat owner's manual and the vehicle owner's manual for help in using this. The tether is designed to help reduce "head excursion" (forward movement of the head during a sudden stop or crash) on a forward-facing seat. Are you using the LATCH- type installation, or the seat belt? You can use the tether with both LATCH (required) and the seat belt. ("LATCH" stands for "Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children").
Best bet is to go and have it checked by a certified CPST (CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN)! Good luck!

If you have doubts then take it back.your child's well being is the most important thing.Check with your local dealer and ask if there are child seats that they recommend for your particular car.

carseattech

You should not be able to move the seat side to side more than an inch but you also shouldn't have any problem getting it in tight. When you tighten the seat belt, put your knee into the seat and lean into it so the seat is pushed down into the vehicle seat. When you check the tightness of the seat, hold the seat frame right above where the seat belt goes through at. This is the best place to see if it's tight enough. Also, someone else mentioned putting a rolled up towel or pool noodle under it. DO NOT do this!!! That is ONLY for rear facing seats and NOT front facing.

If you are still unsure if it is in right, call your local police department. They should have someone on staff who is certified or if they don't, they can direct you to someone who is.

stephen eblue eyes

no get it fitted wright

D42D

tighten the seat belt a little more if should stay rather still when properly installed

sewgirl

I'm not sure what the laws are in the USA, but here in Canada the entire seat should be stable and secure. We have to have a special bolt installed if your car or van doesn't already have one. This bolt is part of the security system that stabilizes the top part of any car seat. Behind the top back (head area) of the seat, there should be a strap of some kind with a metal part at the end that would be used for being held down by this bolt. The only ones I know of that wouldn't have this would be a full size Booster seat, for older kids who are still under the weight and height guidelines for car seats. Call your local police department, they often have seat clinics where you can take the car and seat and have it checked. If it's not installed correctly, they will do it for you. Hope this helps.

Tha Most Shady

My young brother had a seat that moved side to side and looked unsafe?

togs

it shouldnt move at all. make sure the seat balt at the back is really tight. avoid taking it out of the car too if you can. mine is set so that it has made imprints on my chair/.

Catherine E: VT

No, they should be in there tightly, and hardly move at all. Call your local police department, and ask if there's anyone there that is certified to install car seats. They might have someone there who can help you put it in properly.

gvih2g2

There should be virtually no "play" in any direction - and it's not worth risking your child's life by bodging some solution.

Go back to where you bought it and ask them to show you how to fit it properly. If they can't tighten it, give it back.

If your car is equipped for it, get an ISOFIX seat - they're a bit pricey, but they're much more secure, and that's what matters.

Joanna Marie

Hello. I don't think it should move sideways at all, as it says in this article http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/westmidlands/series7/car_seat_choosing_fitting.shtml
Try looking at this link for detailed instructions on common problems and how to solve them when fitting http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/fitting.htm
Failing that, some branches of Halfords or Mothercare will check that your seat is fitted correctly. Or if it's a Britax one, visit http://www.britax.co.uk/ and click on their Fit Finder section for advice.

jonah

You really should let a certified installer like a fire dept. or law enforcement agency install your car seat...They will do it for free...

CHRYSTAL I

sometimes rolling up a towel, or small piece of pool noodle, an putting it under/behind (in the crook of the auto's seat) will help with the wiggles

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