A Car Head Rest And A Baby Seat??

Delilah

Can anybody tell me please is you should remove car headrests on the individual seat when you have a car seat fitted? I have heard that you should to ensure a better fit but can anyone tell me if they have heard this too or where i can find out anything else on the subject. It may just be for my car seat but wanted to check

Thanks

Loopy_Lobes

I've got three children and have never removed the head rests or heard/read anything about removing them

Loopy x

skylight

I have never heard that - but read your specific instructions with the car seat as each can be a little different.

I know that you cannot use any car seat with an airbag and some car seats you cannot use with 3x3point belts that are in the centre belt (something to do with pre-tensioners I think), but never head rests. I guess that if its a high backed car seat and the head rest sticks out a bit, then the car seat would be skewed slightly.

Keleva

I am now at the stage where I use high back boosters for my kids and I find that if I don't remove the head rests then the seats don't fit as well. I recall when using the proper baby seats, because it was big, that I had to move the head rest up slightly so that the baby seat fit snugly against the back of the seat.

I am sure that I have read something about it somewhere but I can't remember where. Maybe it's dependant on your particular car or car seat? I think that for the sake of removing the head rest, if it gives you a more secure fit, then do it. I leave mine in the boot so that as and when I move the child seats around, there is always a head rest for use by an adult.

ChasingButterflies

Hi op,

I read the same too and they are all removed on the seats the car seats are in (they are the full back - not the booster cushion) I think the line they use in the handbooks is to remove headrests if they hinder the fitting of the seat. I think you notice it more in the 9kg+ seats when you pull the harness once fitted. If the headrest is there the car seat moves a little - with the headrest gone the car seat doesn't budge... just in my experience anyway!

Just had a google but can't find anything concrete (but my connection is so slow atm!) I am sure I have seen it in the fitting guides for Britax or graco...

Below is info from http://www.sciuridae.co.uk/child_car_seats/seat_fitting_guide.htm
Next is the head rest. Most child or baby seats require these to be removed for correct fitting, and store it in a plastic bag in the boot, not in the passenger foot-well.

hayleyc_2

I think it depends on the make of car and the model of car seat. Check the manufacturer's website or your instruction book. I know the Britax website has a tool where you put in the model of car and it will say where the car seat should be fitted and tell you any special considerations like this. My car seat has to have the headrest removed to be installed correctly otherwise it doesn't recline properly and feels slightly wobbly.

Hayley

onlyroz

I wouldn't worry about taking them off unless the seat doesn't fit properly with them on.