Install car seats?

sugarland726

Excuse the FTM question from a STM, but when are we supposed to install the car seat? Also, I searched, but got a whole slew of hits judging those who do car seats wrong and none that actually answered my question.

juliasmama2010

At the rate my husbands going, he'll have to run home after the baby is born, get the car seat and base out of the attic, install it and then come to the hospital to pick us up!  Sadly, as much as I would love the get the base in right now so I can experiment with placement and such, it is the absolute last thing on my list right now.

brideandbreve

First time around, we installed the car seat and base at 37 weeks. We'll probably do the same this time.

OSUWifey09

With JJ, we didn't install the seat until the day I was induced. This time, I'll probably install the seat after the new year, so around 36-37 weeks, just in case. I'll install it earlier if my MFM or OB tell me that baby is having problems and will come sooner rather than later, but I think they're just going to let me go until I hit 40 weeks.

SunflowersBride

I haven't really thought about this, but I won't be receiving my car seat until one of my showers later on this month (it's already been purchased, yay!) so probably sometime around Christmas.

cpm1223

Sorry to hijack, but are you all installing the entire thing or just the base? I'd kind of rather not drive around with the whole seat in the back (and no baby) so I was considering installing the base first.

brideandbreve

cpm1223 said:

Sorry to hijack, but are you all installing the entire thing or just the base? I'd kind of rather not drive around with the whole seat in the back (and no baby) so I was considering installing the base first.

Ooh! Side note, we installed just the base first and left the infant seat in the house, but the base on the Britax B-Safe rattled. It was annoying as hell. I ended up putting the seat in the car and calling it a day.

(Edited: Also, we had it looked at by a car seat installation station and they said the base was in correctly. Once there was some weight in the base with the infant carrier, it didn't rattle any more.)

Jackapatamus

I've got to get it from the basement and wash the cover. Maybe I'll have DH install the bases this weekend since it will be a nice weekend!

cnctf

Kaiser does a free car seat check to make sure its installed correctly. We will be doing this on Dec 20. 

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sugarland726

cpm1223 said:

Sorry to hijack, but are you all installing the entire thing or just the base? I'd kind of rather not drive around with the whole seat in the back (and no baby) so I was considering installing the base first.

I will install just the base first and then when it gets much closer to delivery, probably throw the actual car seat in there.

OSUWifey09

sugarland726 said:

cpm1223 said:

Sorry to hijack, but are you all installing the entire thing or just the base? I'd kind of rather not drive around with the whole seat in the back (and no baby) so I was considering installing the base first.

I will install just the base first and then when it gets much closer to delivery, probably throw the actual car seat in there.

Same here - should have clarified in my post. I'll just install the base. I don't want to leave the seat in the car in the middle of winter, and if something happens and the seat gets left at home, someone can go get it for me.

KimberlyTX

Last time, I installed the base around 30 weeks so I could take it to a car seat clinic to be checked out. This time, I'm waiting until 38 weeks or so because I'm going to have to move DD's convertible seat from the middle to install both car seats. I want to keep her in the middle for as long as I can. I'm not worried because I could install the infant seat (with no base) with no problem after doing it for 6 months with DD.

thegosiers

This sounds like a nice December project for us (35-36 weeks) after hospital classes, after moving, but before shit gets real.

MrsGraham06

I have to buy it first...waiting on my Target discount card and another week of overtime for DH. At least my van door is getting fixed tomorrow, so that's almost off the to-do list.

I'd like to get the base installed soon. DH could do it...but I do it way better (even he agrees with that). I just about can't get it done when I'm at 38 weeks, so I'm hoping we'll have the money for it soon.

ScarlettDahlia

We won't be installing for quite some time. In DH's truck, the back seat is a bench seat and there is stuff under there that DH uses frequently. I'll probably install the car seat base in my car around 36/37 weeks. 

cyndilouwho77

I am so glad you posted this....I know that our base is not with the car seat right now...I need to make sure I put them together so that even if I have her early he can just run home and grab them both.  With my older kids I dont want to make them give up all the room in the back seat until I have too...its going to be a tough squeeze once they are all in there!

shortstuff15

Yeah I won't do that until probably 39ish weeks.  If I have baby early, my husband can just bring the seat to the hospital and we can put it in without the base for the ride home.  Super easy to do with our seat.  I also don't want to take away all the room my girls have until I absolutely have too.

mrsjenni

We usually install it the day we leave the hospital  I may do it about a week before my induction, only because 2/3 of the kids have to change their current seats in order to make room for the baby.  DD will shift back to the 3rd row with DS1 and DS2 will move over to the bucket seat behind the drivers seat.  I'll then just put in the base and not the actual seat.

ETA: Given your search efforts/results, I'll put this thread in the FAQ post.

nbbride06

36-37 weeks.

salsamommy

I installed the base with DS probably a month or so before my due date.

This time I've been lazy

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1017Shannon

I am getting mine installed at 30 weeks with the health inspector. I have to get my two year olds reinstalled and the base for the car seat. I had rondo it this month BC I have to take my husbands car next month.

I believe I was told by the health inspector not to drive around with the actual car seat in (just the base) because if you are in an accident it isn't considered safe anymore.

valigrl21

I probably will around 36 weeks. Maybe even a little later because we know how to do it, so if LO decided to make an early appearance, DH could run home to install it pretty quickly/easily.

Shannahbee

I'm sure we'll probably do it in the new year... So around 37 or 38 weeks?

Deblondie1

If baby comes early, when we do the car seat test. If I make it to 36 weeks, then that'll be when. So basically around Christmas. If we don't, we don't. Our Jeep ands eat use the LATCH system so it only takes 5 min to get in there and with H coming home to stay with E while I'm hospitalized I'm actually not freaking out about this one lol

ChuggingWater

My sister will do it for me when I have him.

nbbride06

Amylou333 said:

The babies and I will have to stay in the hospital for at least one night after delivery. 

DH isnt allowed to sleep at the hospital, so he will install the car seats when he goes home- before collecting us. 

I don't know if I'm missing something...but I don't see any need to install car seats early in my case.

Because you may want to have the checked to make sure they are installed correctly.  They aren't always so simple to install.

mommygrams0730

Amylou333 said:

The babies and I will have to stay in the hospital for at least one night after delivery. 

DH isnt allowed to sleep at the hospital, so he will install the car seats when he goes home- before collecting us. 

I don't know if I'm missing something...but I don't see any need to install car seats early in my case.

This will be us too. Although my husband could stay at the hospital, he'll go home and sleep, which I'm totally ok with. Gives me some alone time with the new baby bc when we go home attention will be spread between the 3 kids.

Also we have a latch system for the base of the newborn seat as well as the other 2 car seats which have been installed, moved snd reinstalled a few times. I feel pretty comfortable not getting them inspected, but I can see how some will want to get them checked and will put their seats in early.

KatelynEA90

I'll either do it when we leave for the hospital or have DH go get it when we get discharged since we live close.

If you get in an accident, it has to be replaced. Most seats require replacement after fender benders.

rowanthefrog

Before you leave the hospital with the baby. We'll probably install ours around week 38/39 just so we have it. You cna usually bring your car to a local fire station and they will test it for you.

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SvedkaStoli

I put mine in around 25 weeks after a screaming match with Mr.S. He called me a nut job for putting it in this early.

KristaBelieve

Well, my DH installed the bases and tested it with the car seat the day we got them at our shower!  We will then get it checked out by the Highway Patrol to ensure it is installed correctly. 

LimeDrops

A few days after Christmas. Right now we have no one in the third row and we'll need that stowed to make room for the gifts from ILs.

Kristinfm

We have a car seat safety check scheduled for 11/25, so we will install it before that. Afterwards, I will probably leave the base installed, but take the car seat out.

megngregk

I have no idea when you should. All I know is that I was so excited when mine came that I put the base in that same day, just to test it in the vehicle and make sure I knew how to install it (though I still need to have it checked -- there's a clinic coming up in Dec). I never took it out. I like seeing it

ETA: It's been in there since late September. Yeah, I'm that person.

JaneW2

Can't install the carseat yet, husband needs to deliver a drywall press next week.  (Ah, he's a treasure.)

nancyvi

We'll wait until after we get our Christmas tree since we have to fold down the back seats to bring it home. So sometime after thanksgiving. I still need to make the inspection appointment. We'll be leaving just the base in the car after we install/inspect.

fredtheredhead2

We'll install the base after our Thanksgiving road trip and probably put the car seat in around Christmas.