How to Detach Back Part of Baby Trends Child Car Seat and Use the Booster

(Last Updated On: September 18, 2021)

Baby Trend Hybrid high back booster mode

The Baby Tendency Hybrid 3-in-one forrard facing car but combination seat has been around for some time now. Our late admin and practiced friend Jennifer Penick reviewed the pink zebra print version of this seat several years ago. She did a wonderful task, simply since then, this seat has undergone a few changes so we're updating our review with the latest version of the seat.

The Hybrid has several updates that we noticed correct from the offset. The lower ballast weight limit is loftier – the lower anchors can be used for the entire life of the seat, there are plenty of fun colors, and the seat is relatively lightweight. Those are the best parts of this seat.

There are also a few quirks that tin can make the seat difficult to utilise properly. We'll explore those quirks in detail in this review.

CSFTL Quick Stats

• Forward facing weight range: 22-fifty pounds
• Forward facing height range: 29-48 inches
• High dorsum booster weight range: 40-100 pounds
• Loftier back booster height range: 38-50 inches
• Backless booster weight range: 40-100 pounds
• Backless booster height range: 42-57 inches
• Expiration: Harness and loftier dorsum portion expires vi years from the date of manufacturer – backless booster expires 10 years from the date of manufacture
• Lower anchor weight limit: fifty pounds
• LATCH permitted in booster manner
• FAA approval: approved in harness mode only
• Cupholders required

Measurements

• Highest harness position: 17.v inches
• Highest booster guide position: eighteen.five inches
• Width at the widest indicate: xix.5 inches at the cupholders
• Harness style seat weight: 15 pounds
• High dorsum booster mode weight: 14 pounds
• Backless booster way weight: v pounds
• Seat pan depth: 14 inches
• Seat pan width: 13 inches

Assembly Required

Baby Trend Hybrid associates

The Hybrid comes in 2 parts, the backless booster portion and the back of the seat. To gather the seat, set the booster portion on the flooring. Then lay the back of the seat on the floor with the "arms" of the back overlapping the bar on the back of the booster portion. Next, rotate the back to a xc caste angle and push the back down into the base of the booster portion.

Optional Inserts/Covers

• Caput insert (optional for both harness and high back booster modes)
• Torso pillow (harness mode only, cannot be used with the tertiary and fourth harness slots)
• Harness covers
• Crotch buckle encompass

Features

Head Insert

The head insert is optional in both harness mode and high back booster way. It can be removed by reaching under the head rest pad and undoing the hook and loop closure.

Body Pillow

The body pillow tin be used in harness mode only, only must exist removed when the child requires the harness in the tertiary from the bottom harness slot.

Harness Covers

The harness covers are optional. They are removable past removing the harness from the splitter plate at the back of the seat. Then pull the harness through the seat beat out to the front of the seat and slide the harness covers off. Replace the harness.

Crotch Buckle Cover

The crotch buckle cover is optional. The crotch buckle comprehend did make buckling and unbuckling the crotch buckle more than difficult. To remove the cover, turn the seat upside downwardly and detect the metallic servant clip for the crotch buckle. Plough the retainer prune sideways, pull up on the crotch buckle to remove it from the seat, and slide the encompass over the metal servant. Replace the crotch buckle past sliding the metal retainer through the buckle slot.

Cupholders

There are Ii cupholders, they are required for employ. This made our models pretty excited!

Multiple Harness Adjustment Slots

Baby Trend Hybrid high seat back

The Hybrid has 4 harness slots. The top one is a bit difficult to see. It hides just nether the bottom edge of the headrest embrace. One unfortunate discovery we made is that the headrest slides down hands when any small amount of pressure is put on the acme of it.

LATCH Permitted in Booster Mode

The lower anchors and top tether can be used in high back booster way. Since the lower anchors are attached to the seat dorsum, if using the seat in backless booster way the seat would need to exist buckled in if unoccupied.

Adaptable Crotch Buckle Length

Baby Trend Hybrid crotch buckle shortening clip

The Hybrid has two buckle lengths. The seat comes with the buckle installed at the shorter length. This length is to be used until the child is 35 pounds or the buckle tongue touches the kid'due south thigh, whichever comes first.

To lengthen the crotch buckle, turn the automobile seat over to expose the underside of the base of operations. Locate the metal buckle shortening prune and remove it from the crotch buckle webbing. Store it on the designated storage spot nether the cover of the seat.

Intendance and Cleaning

Baby Trend Hybrid removing the cover

The cleaning instructions were difficult to find. The transmission says to follow the care instructions on the tag on the cover of the seat. I searched the main cover of the seat and did not see any intendance tags. I turned my search to the trunk pillow and caput insert. The care tag is located on the bottom of the body pillow. This is disappointing because the body pillow is required to exist removed when the child is using the third harness slot from the bottom. This leaves the potential for the insert, and the instructions, to exist lost.

Removing the cover can be difficult. Some of the elastics are tied into place and must be untied to remove the cover. Other parts were just difficult to access.

Installation Quirks

Before we delve into installation and fit, information technology should exist noted that there are MANY install methods for the Hybrid. Nosotros know that the manufacturer developed these many methods with the well-intentioned intent of offer caregivers the chance to observe the method that works the best for them. Unfortunately, nosotros have plant over these many years that these many methods lead to confusion and misuse in many cases.

These methods are based on a few different factors such as the child's weight and the use of the top tether — some of the methods practise non crave or explicitly prohibit the apply of the height tether. This gives usa a chip of suspension because nosotros always recommend the use of the top tether considering it reduces head excursion by quite a scrap.

One potential workaround is to install the Hybrid using the lower anchors — the seat can be installed with lower anchors for the total weight range, so it's possible to install it with lower anchors and utilise the elevation tether anytime the lower anchors are used.

Baby Tendency Hybrid installation chart

This nautical chart establish in the manual tin can help a caregiver make up one's mind the proper install method based on the kid's weight.

There is besides a graphic on the side of the seat trounce with the installation methods. We're still not convinced that this makes using the seat properly any easier.

Infant Trend Hybrid installation methods

Pro tip: always use the manual that came with your specific seat. There have been several versions of the Hybrid over the years and the rules and install methods vary between them.

At that place are two unlike chugalug entry methods for both the lower anchors and the vehicle seat belt – front and rear entry. The forepart entry method is how most forward facing harnessed motorcar seats are installed, with the belt routed straight through the forwards facing belt path. The rear entry method (sometimes chosen the long chugalug path) is entirely different and tin can be hard to chief.

Installation

Forward Facing Harness Manner

Lower Anchors

Rear Entry Method

Rear entry method with lower anchors

Remove the lower anchors from their storage location on the seat shell. Place the Hybrid on the vehicle seat with the harness facing the front of the vehicle seat. Route the lower anchors through the chugalug path. Attach the lower anchor connectors to the lower anchor bars in the vehicle seat. Press downwards on the seat pan while removing the slack from the lower ballast webbing.

Check Your Piece of work

Infant Tendency Hybrid belt path

After the seat is installed, requite it a business firm handshake at the belt path, make sure the seat moves less than an inch at the chugalug path.

Front Entry Method

Babe Trend Hybrid belt path

First by removing the lower anchor connectors from their storage spots on the seat trounce. Set up the car seat on the vehicle seat with the harness facing the forepart of the vehicle. Starting on one side of the seat, connect one lower anchor hook to the lower ballast bar in the vehicle seat. Route the lower ballast chugalug in front of the arm rest on the car seat, through the slot in the seat shell on that side (from the front end side), behind the seat shell, through the slot in the other side of the seat shell (from the back side), and around the other arm rest, connecting the loose lower anchor to the anchor bar in the vehicle seat.

Baby Trend Hybrid installed with lower anchors

Slack likes to hide in the lower anchor webbing when installing with the front entry method. To remove it, piece of work the slack toward the side with the lower anchor adjuster. Then push downward in the seat pan while removing the slack from the lower anchors. Remove the slack from the superlative tether anchor webbing.

Check Your Work

Once the seat is installed, give information technology a firm handshake at the chugalug path, make sure the seat moves less than an inch at the chugalug path.

Vehicle Seat Chugalug

Rear Entry Method

Baby Trend Hybrid belt path

Place the Hybrid on the vehicle seat with the harness facing the front end of the vehicle. Road the vehicle seat belt through the forward facing belt path and buckle the vehicle seat belt. Consult the vehicle manual on how to lock the vehicle seat belt. Lock the vehicle seat belt and remove the slack while pressing down in the seat pan of the motorcar seat.

Check Your Work

Once the seat is installed, give it a firm handshake at the chugalug path, make certain the seat moves less than an inch at the chugalug path.

Front Entry Method

Baby Trend Hybrid front entry

Disclaimer: This method is incredibly hard to remove from the vehicle once it is installed. This install method uses up virtually the entire length of the vehicle seat belt webbing, leaving very little slack to remove the seat.

Baby Trend Hybrid forepart entry

Here'southward how to install the Hybrid via this method: prepare the motorcar seat on the vehicle seat with the harness facing the front of the vehicle. Route the vehicle seat chugalug route the lap and shoulder belt in front of the arm remainder, through the slot in the seat shell on the same side (from the front), behind the seat shell, through the vanquish on the opposite side (from the back), and around the front of the arm rest.

Baby Trend Hybrid front entry

The shoulder portion of the vehicle seat belt goes over the armrest, while the lap portion goes nether the armrest. Buckle the seat belt. Consult the vehicle manual on how to lock the vehicle seat belt. Lock the vehicle seat chugalug (if it hasn't locked itself already) and remove the slack while pushing down on the seat pan.

Check Your Work

In one case the seat is installed, give it a business firm handshake at the belt path, make certain the seat moves less than an inch at the chugalug path.

Baby Trend Hybrid front entry

Fit to Child

Forward Facing

5 Years Old

Babe Trend Hybrid five years old

Our newly 5 year old model weighs 49 pounds and is 44 inches alpine. He wasn't keen on getting out of his jammies, but he was ready to model! He is only 1 pound away from the weight limit on the harness for this seat. He is not mature plenty to ride in abooster seat just yet and so a different combination seat would be in his immediate future.

He did notice the seat comfy but wasn't a fan of the crotch buckle comprehend. The harness sits just above his shoulder and the crotch buckle has been diffuse. The harness was easy to tighten and loosen. One perk nosotros constitute is that in that location is a embrace over the cam lock that makes it more difficult to access for niggling hands.

Splitter Plates

Baby Trend Hybrid splitter plate

Another thing that makes the Hybrid unique is the splitter plate — information technology's two plates that are sewn together. To catechumen the seat to and from booster manner, remove the harness from both sets of splitter plates. When the harness is put back on, the harness loops must exist attached to both of the plates.

Converting to High Back Booster Fashion

Baby Trend Hybrid converting to booster mode

Converting this seat to booster way basically entails removing the harness and storing it in a location you lot'll recall.

To convert the seat to loftier back booster mode, unhook the harness from the splitter plate and pull the harness through the front of the seat. Turn the seat over to betrayal the crotch buckle servant clip. Turn the servant clip sideways and elevator the crotch buckle off the seat base of operations. While the seat is turned over, locate the metal harness servant clips on the bottom of the seat base. Turn each one sideways and pull the harness up out of the seat base of operations.

Store all the components in a prophylactic place for futurity use. Nosotros recommend a resealable bag, labeled with the seat name.

Booster Mode Setup

Baby Trend Hybrid shoulder belt guide

In one case the seat is converted to booster fashion, set the Hybrid on the vehicle seat with the loving cup holders facing the front of the vehicle. Thread the vehicle seat belt through the belt guide. This was no easy job. The belt guide consists of two plastic slots. The vehicle seat belt must balance inside the inner slot. This took practice and our models were unable to practice this themselves, dissimilar many other high back boosters in our collection.

High Dorsum Booster Way

vii Years Sometime

Babe Trend Hybrid booster mode 7 years old

This model is 7 years erstwhile and weighs 57 pounds and is 49 inches tall. He said "I actually like this seat" when I outset pulled it out of the box. His stance didn't change much when he was finally able to put his bum in information technology. The seat's wide base meant that he wasn't able to reach the buckle to secure himself in the seat — nosotros had to help him each time. One time he was in the seat, we were pleased by the fit — the shoulder belt sits center over his collarbone and the lap belt is low on the hips, touching the tops of the thighs.

Converting to Backless Booster Style

This procedure has a few steps to it and involves a bit of transmission labor. Start. identify the Hybrid on the floor and lightly identify a knee into the base of operations of the seat. Grab the seat back on either side of the shoulder area. Gently jerk the seat back side to side while lifting upwardly. In one case the seat dorsum is all the way out of the seat base, rotate the seat back toward the footing and separate it from the seat base.

Fit to Child

Backless Booster Mode

10 Years Old

Babe Trend Hybrid 10 years old booster mode

Our 10 year quondam model weighs 63 pounds and is 53 inches tall. The lap belt is overnice and low on the hips, touching the tops of the thighs. His shoulder chugalug is centered nicely over his collarbone. This model was able to buckle his seat belt on his own.

Of import Information: Where to Find

Date of Manufacture

Babe Trend Hybrid date of manufacture label

The appointment of manufacture is located on the underside of the bottom of the seat base of operations. The manual states the harness and seat back elapse 6 years after the date of industry, the seat base expires x years after the appointment of industry.

Lower Anchor Storage

Baby Trend Hybrid lower anchor and top tether storage

The lower anchors shop on the back, lesser of the seat base. They are a bit hard to go on in place.

Summit Tether Anchor Storage

The elevation tether ballast stores on the back, bottom of the seat base forth with the lower anchors. It's a pretty crowded little storage area!

Manual Storage

Babe Trend Hybrid transmission storage

The manual storage pocket is located under the embrace of the seat base, near the child'south hip. A large portion of the cover needs to exist removed to access it. The belt shortening clip also stores here, on a small elastic band.

FAA Approving

Baby Trend Hybrid FAA approval characterization

The FAA approval label is located on the lesser of the seat base.

*The Hybrid is FAA approved in harness mode ONLY.

Overall Thoughts

The Hybrid is a mix of pros and cons. Information technology's very budget-friendly, which we ever applaud. However, the front entry installation method can confuse even the most seasoned CPSTs and the harness weight limit of 50 pounds means some kids won't be booster ready before they outgrow the harness. While the Hybrid is well-priced and comes in a variety of interesting colors, nosotros worry that the challenges that the install presents mean that this seat is pretty tough to install and utilise correctly on every ride.

The skilful news is that booster mode fits a variety of kids well and the models loved the fun color. It is lightweight and the wider seat interior is nice for wider built children.

We'd primarily suggest this seat for budget-conscious families who are willing to invest the time required to install and utilize the seat properly.

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Source: https://csftl.org/baby-trend-hybrid-combination-car-seat-review/

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