How To Install Britax Car Seat Forward Facing

(Last Updated On: September 23, 2022)

Britax Advocate ClickTight

We first met ClickTight applied science from Britax in our very first review, the Frontier combination motorcar seat. You could say CSFTL is as old as ClickTight! Since those early days, the ClickTight family has grown and changed, all the while remaining a remarkably simple and effective way to install a car seat. The Advocate ClickTight is a proven fan favorite seat and nosotros're thrilled to update our older review to highlight the lovely new fabrics featured on today's product line.

CSFTL Quick Stats

• Rear facing weight range: 5-40 pounds
• Rear facing height range: can be used until the child's head is ane inch from the top of the fully extended head restraint
• Frontward facing weight range: 20-65 pounds
• Forward facing height range: upwards to 49 inches tall
• Beat height: 29 inches tall
• Lowest harness position: 7.v inches with newborn insert
• Highest harness position: eighteen.65 inches per Britax (we measured slightly higher because nosotros measure from the outer border of the harness position)
• Expiration: x years
• Lower anchor weight limit: thirty pounds rear facing, 35 pounds forward facing

Features

• ClickTight Installation
• Two position adjustable crotch strap
• 7 recline settings for rear and forward facing
• No re-thread harness

Advocate, Boulevard, Marathon

This serial of seats includes three models: the Advocate (pictured here), the Boulevard, and the Marathon.  These boosted seats have the same height/weight limits and installation instructions as the Advocate seen here, they just have fewer additional features such as SafeCell Complete Side Impact Protection MAX.  The Boulevard and Advocate take a more robust head back up.  All are available with the SafeWash fabrics.

Unique Features

Click & Safe Snug Harness Indicator
The Click & Safe is designed to requite an audible "click" when the harness is snug plenty on the child'due south body. It definitely clicks, only not e'er when the harness is tight enough. The clicking mechanism is located nether the a-lock at the front of the seat, so it's very like shooting fish in a barrel for information technology to think in that location is enough tension if the caregiver hasn't made sure to remove all the slack from the hip & torso area prior to pulling the tightening strap. Pulling the tightening strap too fast tin also cause it to click prematurely. Information technology's a bully helper, simply it'southward nevertheless important to make sure all slack is removed from all areas of the harness before travel, don't just rely on the click.

Britax Advocate ClickTight no rethread harness

No Rethread Harness
To adjust the harness, simply squeeze the red handle and pull the head restraint up or downward to the desired position. Position the harness straps at or below the child's shoulders for rear facing; at or in a higher place for forward facing.

Britax Advocate ClickTight comfort pillow

Condolement Pillow
The condolement pillow goes underneath the kid's bottom and helps provide a secure fit for newborns and small infants. Britax directs the caregiver to remove the comfort pillow later on the kid tin can sit comfortably in the child seat without additional support.

Britax Advocate ClickTight HUGS

Impact Absorbing Chest Pads
The affect absorbing chest pads are highly recommended for forward facing, only can be removed when rear facing to ensure a snug fit on infants and smaller children. To remove the bear on absorbing chest pads, the harness must be detached from the splitter plate on the back of the seat. Most of the back of the seat is enclosed, and I constitute it rather difficult to thread and rethread the harness.

Britax Advocate ClickTight buckle positions

Adjustable EZ Buckle
The EZ Buckle pad keeps the buckle in the forward position when unbuckled, making it easy to load the child without having to dig the buckle out from underneath them. The buckle has two positions, measuring 5″ and seven″ deep, with the strap measuring 3″ in length. Whichever slot is closest to, merely not under the child, may be used for rear facing. Forward facing, Britax requires use of the outer slot. To switch between positions, open the ClickTight, rotate the buckle strap and slide it into the next position.

Britax Abet ClickTight

SafeCell Complete Side Impact Protection MAX
If you're familiar with previous generation Britax motorcar seats, you lot are probably familiar with this characteristic nether the proper noun SICT, or Side Touch on Cushion Engineering science. Britax has inverse the proper name, and also slightly changed the blueprint of the external cushions, designed to divert energy away from the child in a crash. They are sleeker and less obtrusive than previous models, while nevertheless providing the aforementioned crash protection to the child.  This choice is only available on the Advocate, it's not bachelor on the Boulevard.

Cover Removal and Cleaning
The cover has four separate pieces. Removal of the cover is a lilliputian bit time-consuming but not overly difficult. You do non accept to disconnect the harness in order to remove it. Some Britax covers crave hand washing and drip drying. Others, similar the greenish ombre SafeWash embrace featured here, are safe to machine wash and dry. Refer to the product care label on your specific cover for detailed washing instructions.

Installation

Offset, Open the ClickTight Console

Britax Advocate ClickTight open panel

Important note: the ClickTight convertible motorcar seats install best with the vehicle seat belt.
That's why the lower anchors are stored in a place that'due south kind of difficult to find.

Britax Advocate ClickTight open up console

The most prominent feature of the Advocate ClickTight is the ClickTight installation.

Britax Abet ClickTight open panel

But open the ClickTight console, thread the vehicle seat belt through the appropriate belt path (rear facing is on the seat pan, under the area where the kid's legs would become, forwards facing is backside the child'south back), buckle the seat belt, remove most of the slack from the chugalug, and so close the panel. There are a few other steps, just it's basically as simple every bit that.

Vehicle Seat Belt

To open up the ClickTight, push with one finger on the dimple of the ClickTight dial. The dial volition flip up and tin be rotated 90 degrees, which will open the ClickTight. The belt paths are clearly marked with blue for rear facing and green for forward facing.

Thread the vehicle seat belt through the appropriate belt path and buckle information technology; and this is the part where you lot demand to forget everything you know about installing a car seat. Don't pull the vehicle seat chugalug tight similar you would with most car seats, because the ClickTight is going to do the tightening for you. Remove the excess slack in the belt, close the ClickTight, and in nigh cases you lot'll have a secure installation with less than ane inch of motion at the chugalug path.

The ClickTight functions every bit a lockoff, and then there is no need to engage the seat chugalug's locking retractor with a lap/shoulder belt with a sliding latchplate and switchable retractor.

Britax Advocate ClickTight rear facing belt path

If y'all are installing in a vehicle with a lap-only belt or a lap/shoulder belt with sewn on latchplates, it is important to make sure the seat belt is locked according to the vehicle manufacturer'south instructions.

Non sure how your vehicle'due south seat belts lock? Lock Information technology Upward takes a closer look.

Lower Anchors

Britax Advocate ClickTight rear facing lower anchors

The Abet ClickTight is equipped with lower anchors, which store in a compartment at the back of the seat'southward base. Note: the manufacturer recommends installing this seat with the vehicle seat belt and so we do, as well!

Because the seat belt installation is so unproblematic, Britax has chosen to use standard j-claw fashion connectors rather than the premium push push connectors yous may be used to with other Britax seats. They really actually want yous to install this seat with the vehicle seat chugalug.

Britax recommends that the ClickTight convertible machine seats be installed with the vehicle seat chugalug.

Nosotros will provide curt instructions on installing the seat with the lower anchors just have absolutely found that Britax is correct — installing this seat with the vehicle seat belt is the mode to go!

To apply the lower anchors, remove the webbing from the rather subconscious (because the vehicle seat belt is preferred on this seat!!) storage compartment and thread through the appropriate belt path (rear facing is on the seat pan, under the surface area where the kid'southward legs would go, forward facing is behind the kid's back) after opening the ClickTight.

Attach the lower anchors to the lower ballast connectors in the vehicle, remove backlog slack from the webbing, and close the ClickTight. It is important to notation that the Advocate ClickTight merely allows for lower anchor installation in seating positions with standard 11 inch lower anchor spacing, and that the child must weigh less than 30 pounds rear facing or 35 pounds forrard facing to install using lower anchors.

Summit Tether

Advocate CT forward facing tether.

Forward facing, the superlative tether should exist used at all times and must exist attached to a tether anchor in the vehicle. If your vehicle has tether anchors located on the ceiling or floor of your vehicle, you may find the Abet ClickTight tether strap to exist also short to reach your vehicle's tether anchor. If that is the example, contact Britax and they can provide an extension and then that you lot may apply the tether anchor.

Recline Bending

Britax Advocate ClickTight Recline Level Indicator

The Abet ClickTight has seven recline positions. To adjust the recline, squeeze the handle located at the bottom front portion of the seat. The Abet ClickTight can be in whatsoever of the recline positions provided the indicator reflects the advisable position for the age and direction of the kid.

The rear facing zone is conspicuously labeled in blue, this is consistent with the blue labels for the rear facing components of the seat. There are three zones:

• Lite blue — this is the required recline bending for infants without sufficient head and cervix command.
• Darker blue — this is for older infants and toddlers who can safely sit down more upright.
• Greenish zone — this shows the allowable recline settings for forward facing, whatsoever of these settings can be used if the indicator rests in the dark-green and the Advocate ClickTight does not overhang the vehicle seat more than 3 inches.

Britax Abet ClickTight forward facing reclined

Nosotros installed the Advocate ClickTight forward facing in 3 of the more upright recline settings without exceeding the overhang requirements and while keeping the indicator in the green zone. This provided a noticable recline bending, which may be particularly useful for children with special needs that crave them to sit at a more reclined angle.

We did find that it'south a bit difficult to tell which of the seven recline positions the seat is in, information technology's a bit hard to tell whether the seat had reclined one click or several clicks when adjusting the recline angle.

Fit to Child

Rear Facing

Britax Advocate ClickTight rear facing

The Advocate ClickTight is rated for children from 5-40 pounds, and does not state a standing top limit for rear facing. Unlike previous Britax convertible machine seats that but allowed rear facing until the height of the child's head is ane inch from the top of the beat of the car seat, the Advocate ClickTight has a reinforced caput restraint that allows for rear facing until the child'due south head is 1 inch from the top of the fully extended caput restraint.

Newborn Doll

Our Huggable Images doll

Britax Advocate ClickTight rear facing 8 months onetime

This ambrosial model is 15 months one-time, weighs 22 pounds and is 30 inches alpine. He'southward got plenty of room to abound in this seat. The depression sides make getting him in and out of the seat pretty piece of cake, that kind of accessibility can be a big bonus for many families!

21 Months Old

Britax Advocate ClickTight Toddler Fit

This model is 21 months one-time, weighs 23 pounds and is 31 inches tall She fits great in the Abet ClickTight, at that place is plenty of leg room and she will be able to ride rear facing for years to come up.

I observe information technology very like shooting fish in a barrel to get her in and out of the seat, and I love the multiple recline options that allow her to be comfy enough to doze off in the automobile, notwithstanding upright enough to meet out the window and fit hands behind the driver's seat. I have moved the crotch buckle to the outer position for her, because the inner position was digging into her thighs.

iii Years Old

Britax Advocate ClickTight 3 years old rear facing

This 3 twelvemonth old model is already quite experienced at testing car seats for the states! She'southward iii years old, weighs 26 pounds, and is 37 inches tall. She'southward getting a chip short on leg room but more importantly, she has enough of room to grow in torso top. Since auto seats are designed to protect the head, neck, and spine, she's got some room to grow left in this seat in this mode.

Forrard Facing

Britax ClickTight Convertible car seat

Forward facing, the Advocate ClickTight is rated from twenty-65 pounds and for heights upward to 49 inches tall. We commend Britax for recommending several times in the manual that children ride rear facing until a minimum of two years quondam, ideally until they have reached the maximum rear facing weight or acme capacity of the seat before riding forward facing.

Installation of the Advocate ClickTight forrad facing is nearly the aforementioned as it is rear facing. Loosely attach the top tether, then open the ClickTight. Thread the vehicle seat chugalug through the forward facing slots, close the ClickTight, and then tighten the tether.

3 Years Old

Britax Advocate ClickTight iii years quondam forwards facing

This 3 year old model weighs 26 pounds, and is 37 inches tall. She's got plenty of room in the seat and it offers a consistent harness fit. She institute the seat quite comfy and is happy to ride in this seat on a regular basis.

6 Years Erstwhile

Britax Advocate ClickTight vi years former rear facing

Here we have a 6 year old model. She's approaching the pinnacle height for the harness (though she hasn't outgrown the seat's maximum height limit of 49 inches alpine, her seated shoulder elevation is approaching the 18.v inch maximum harness pinnacle for this seat) but nosotros'd expect that since she's 6.

6 Years Old

Britax Advocate ClickTight Big Child Fit

This model is six years old. He weighs 43 pounds and is 47 inches tall. He'due south got lots of room to abound in the Advocate ClickTight. Initially, I had him sit in the seat and was concerned because the harness barely had enough slack to get around his body. I was able to buckle him in simply there was no growing room to be had.

The Britax Abet CT has lots of growing room for this 6-twelvemonth-old model

Upon farther investigation into the manual, I found information that the harness can be diffuse several inches to accommodate older children. Once I fabricated that adjustment, in that location was enough of room for him, and he has several inches of growing room before he will have outgrown the Advocate ClickTight.

Adjusting the harness length on the Britax Advocate ClickTight

To adjust the harness strap length, open the ClickTight and you volition discover that the hip portion of the harness is wrapped effectually the ballast. To lengthen the harness, detach the strap, and slip the sewn on end over the anchor.

Of import Information: Where to Find

Britax Advocate ClickTight appointment of manufacture characterization

Engagement of Manufacture Label
You won't find the label containing the date of manufacture and serial number in its usual spot by the left shoulder, a place yous might await if you're familiar with Britax motorcar seats. The Advocate ClickTight has hidden this important label underneath the cover near where the child'southward knees would be bent if in the seat, a bit of a throwback for those of us who take been car seating for a petty while now and shall remain nameless. The groovy thing about this characterization though? Add ten years to the date, and that is the Advocate ClickTight expiration.

FAA Approval
The FAA Approval information is written in cherry-red messages in the label at the base of the seat. Information technology's right below the recline indicator.
Note: if you're flying with the Britax Advocate ClickTight, Boulevard ClickTight, or the Marathon ClickTight and using the Gogo Kidz Travelmate, you may need to order a longer strap for the Travelmate.

Manual Storage

Britax Advocate ClickTight manual storage

The manual stores in a pocket on the cover, this pocket is behind the child'south back.

Overall Thoughts

The Britax Advocate ClickTight is simple to install, long-lasting, and easy to utilize. The few pocket-size drawbacks we found were the high toll, heavy seat weight, and trend for the parent to try to over tighten the seat chugalug unnecessarily with the ClickTight. The ClickTight family will be a great add-on to many dorsum seats, and we hope it keeps kids rear facing longer, and helps more caregivers install their seats correctly with ease.

CSFTL Celebration Giveaway!

Equally part of our ongoing CSFTL Celebration, Britax is partnering with usa to give abroad one Boulevard ClickTight. Delight read our terms and conditions, and so enter below for your adventure to win.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Source: https://csftl.org/britax-clicktight-convertible-car-seat-review/

Share this post