Mighty Tite
Whether you're using seat belts in an older car or the LATCH system available in newer vehicles, properly securing a child car seat by tightening the straps adequately at each attachment can be really aggravating. Even with the best leverage and tools, you just can't pull them enough to keep the seat from sliding. After trying countless handyman alternatives, I settled on the Mighty Tite, a device with a ratcheted handle that lets you apply otherwise impossible leverage to secure the seat as snugly as possible. I first dismissed this one as a gimmick, but I've found it dead simple to use and incredibly effective. I've used mine in at least five different cars and car seats, all with the same excellent results: no car seat budged.
It's worth noting I've read conflicting reviews and opinions about this product, as well as differing philosophies on car seats. Some insist that if you follow a car seat manufacturer's instructions properly, you won't need any extra assistance to secure it. On more than one occasion, I've followed the instructions (even double checking the installation with the local police station or baby store as many suggest), and have been told my seat is "fine" -- but to me, it still seems, to be much too loose. Others say that if your seat gives more than an inch in any direction, it's too much; other say more slack is appropriate and still safe.
In terms of the Mighty Tite, some people worry about undue wear on belts caused by it and wonder how it (and child car seats secured with it) will react in an accident. After years on the market, I think it's useful -- though certainly not definitive -- to observe I've seen no reports of any problems caused by this product in an accident. It's worth also noting that this thing does crease the seatbelt a bit, but I can't fathom how it would cut the belt.
In the end, as it goes for many things with products related to children, there's a lot of information and emotions out there, but the only clear authority out there (the NHTSA) has not reviewed Mighty Tite to set the matter straight. This product has been offered by many reputable retailers, including child specialty stores, for years, and it's made by a company that makes reputable seats. Again, I've found it keeps my child car seat firmly in place. It might help you, too.
If you do go with the Mighty Tite, be sure to use a seat protector -- or any kind of mat with decent friction -- under the car seat in combination with one of these, as the child car seat is bound to crease your car's upholstery when it's pulled this snugly.
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Favorite (15)
Scott
I used my full body weight to pull the seat belt as tight as I could, and my 3-year-old still complained about how wobbly her car seat was - she felt she would tip over when reaching for a toy. I added a Mighty Tite, and she was happy as a clam.
greg
We used this..It does tighten. It can be sort of frustrating though.
Jeff from craziestgadgets.com
I've found that my son's Latch system seat does loosen slightly over time but it can easily be solved by just pulling the straps tighter once in a while. I suppose if we used the car more often a tightener like this might prevent that (we only drive places maybe once a week at most, usually we walk everywhere).
m@
I've been in an accident with one of my little ones strapped in with one of these, while I can't say for certain that it prevented anything her seat was as tight after the accident as it was before.
It's the same mechanical design used by the trucking industry, cargo planes and ships. While nothing is fail-proof, if it didn't work there would be something better on the market.
Mary Beth Renze
I am a car seat technician and instructor, and have removed many Mighty Tites from people's car seat installations. In every single case, I was able to get a proper fit without adding an untested, and potentially dangerous product. Take your car seat to a professional and avoid this product. When it comes to safety, you want the simplest solution possible, and that is a solution without add-on ratchets.
FYI if you grab your seat at the belt path and it wiggles more than 1" side to side, your seat is too lose. In each case mentioned above, I was unable to move the carseat AT ALL after my installations WITHOUT this product.
Derek A.
The problem with taking your car seat to a professional for proper fitting is that eventually (and usually sooner than you think) the car seat has to be moved to another vehicle. It's not practical to drive to the professional every time you swap the car seat between vehicles. And as for untested, what sort of credentials do these professionals have? I've used the Mighty Tite many times with no problem.
Chris
We used one of these for a while. While you can make it really tight, I found it just added to the frustration of installing a car seat. I also worried that you could make it too tight, putting too much strain on the belt.
I can install a car seat properly without one of these. The trick is to put your knee in the car seat, trying to get as much of your weight holding the car seat down as possible while you click the seat belt into place. Get the seat belt as tight as you can with your weight on the seat. When you remove your weight, the seat belt should be nice and snug. I'm a big guy, weighing just over 200 lbs, so your millage may vary.
- Chris
Greg
I worry some about the effect of placing most of my weight, on a small area of the car seat.
Aren't you supposed to replace a car seat after being in an accident because the foam / padding doesn't offer the same protection afterwards? If I put half my weight on my knee in order to attach the car seat more tightly I am potentially compressing the foam / padding under similar pressure to that which would be experienced in an accident.
Maybe the Mighty Tite is safer?
Julie
I have used the Mighty Tite with my son (who is now 10) but would not use it with my daughter (now 4).
Seatbelts are sewn with a small bit of slack built in. When you look at a seatlbelt, there is a label that says ,"If you can read this label, then this seatbelt should be replaced." (or something to that affect.)
The Mighty Tite's pressure on my vehicle's seatbelt made this label visible. It is possible to overtighten and damage your seatbelt's ability to do its job.
Mike
A lot of articles out there that do not like this product. I liked it and was able to tighten down the car seat but I thought twice after reading whats out there
Amazed
It is truly amazing how chincy and imprecise carseats are.
For something that is so life and death important, and subject to what has to be the highest liability risk in the world of consumer products, they sure are piles of crap.