To soon to purchase/install carseat??

mtrhomegirl

Has anyone purchased/installed the car seat yet??  My shower isn't until May 4th and c-section is scheduled for June 3rd so do i wait to see if i get it at my shower or just get it now and install it and be done with it??

curlylocks3

I don't think it's too soon to purchase but I wouldn't install it just yet.

chickpea912

If you think there is a chance someone might purchase it for you, you can always wait until May 5.  I'd probably get it installed a week or two later - I don't think you need to do both just yet.

mtrhomegirl

Good thought on the whole accident thing...never thought about that...guess i will wait and keep my fingers crossed we get it at the shower or else i will get it that week and install just the base!!  Thanks Ladies:)

elsa1688

I purchased mine because it gave me some peace of mind- it was the last thing I needed to be "ready" for baby. I am having a shower but didn't put my car seat on the registery.

*as in the last big thing- crib, car seat, a few clothing items really helped me feel more prepared.

BabyCurtiss2014

We got our travel system that is a stroller and car seat back in January..it was our first baby gift and my mom got it for us when it was on sale! Not yet installed but it is all put together. You can wait to see if u will get it at the shower I think and if not just go out and buy the next day

BabyCurtiss2014

kaysa2 said:

I've had mine purchased and installed for about two weeks now.  But I've also had the nursery done for about a month, the baby clothes washed and folded, the freezer filled, etc.  I like to do things early.  And I also don't drive a lot, so concerns about an accident hurting the car seat are that pressing for me.  I can count on one hand the number of times I've driven my car in the past six months.

I got the nursery done (although I won't use it at first it's wayyyyy upstairs and our master is downstairs)
We also got the pack n play ready which will go in our room! Yesterday I got baby detergent and will be washing/folding the few items I already got as gifts, my shower is next month. I like to get it all ready so when it hurts to move later I can just sit back and relax and wait for lil man

gregsgurl81304

We have purchased ours, but like others have said I think it is too early to install it. With DS we had installed his carseat at the hospital.  I wanted to have the car squeaky clean before putting the seat in, and the day I cleaned my car out, my water broke that night. 38 weeks. I still think 2 weeks before due date is early enough for me. 

jc51206

krptcmschfmkr128 said:

curlylocks3 said:

I don't think it's too soon to purchase but I wouldn't install it just yet.

This. I mean, if you're using an infant seat, I guess you could install the base and just drive around with that, but, God forbid, you get into an accident prior to LO's arrival, then you need to replace the seat and/or base, even though there was no baby in it.

I completely agree with this.  We are using the same bases/seat we did with our son and have them all washed and cleaned up, but not installing ahead of time at all.  Hubby can go get the car seat/base after baby is born.  I'd really hate to have an accident with either piece in the car.

Pepper6

We bought our travel system a few months ago because it was on sale, but it's sitting in the closet in the nursery for a while.  It's too hot here already for me to want to put it in the car when it's not in use.

Also, our fire department does bi-monthly car seat safety checks down at the local hospital, so we'll probably go to the last one in May to have them help us install it correctly.

If you haven't purchased yours already, I'd say wait until after your shower anyways because then you can use your completion discount to save a little money if no one gifts it for you.  It shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to get it in your car, so there's no hurry. 

wtfisup

So when will you guys install the car seat? 36 weeks? 

coffee89

Ours is loaned to us so I've had it for about a week. The bases and seat are sitting in the corner, waiting to be washed (I'll probably deal with that in May) and the stroller is in the car mainly because I don't want to drag it up three flights of steps.

I think we will install around 36 weeks.

I'd wait on buying one because you never know if someone will offer to buy it, or you'll get a completion coupon or even gift cards to use towards it.

curlylocks3

wtfisup said:

So when will you guys install the car seat? 36 weeks? 

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Around here if you deliver before 37 weeks or your baby weighs less than 5#8oz then you'd likely need a car seat test in the hospital....which uses the base, so installing would be a moot point. We might install one base @ 35 weeks because we can use the same base for both car seat tests. If I were having a singleton I'd make sure I had read the manual/knew how to set it up but install it around 38 weeks. 

Like someone else said, installation won't take very long, and if you end up doing it after baby arrives its NBD. 

supgabs

We have the car seat already but won't be installing it until we bring baby home. 

RaeJ004

I'm the girl that packed her bag an hour after her water broke. I waited an hour because I was giving moral support to DH who was out in the pissing rain installing our car seat..... I swear I plan ahead on some things.

Dharmatron

I got the car seat/travel system in January because it was on sale. I won't install it until after 36 weeks.

wtfisup

Everyone talks about the base. Our car seat is a convertible, so it's just one big piece, right? My husband isn't good with those things, so I definitely want to install it before baby so that I can do it myself.

lola4411

regarding installation, the highway patrol and some local stores (kohls for one) offer safety checks on the car seat once they are installed.  i am going to have mine checked in may when i put mine in our cars.  you all should look into it just to be sure its installed correctly!  

fsumom

curlylocks3 said:

I don't think it's too soon to purchase but I wouldn't install it just yet.

This!  I actually purchased mine in December as I got a good deal on last years model with the matching stroller and used a gift card and AMEX credit that was expiring.  I'll probably install the base around 36 weeks but not put the seat in the base until on our way to the hospital.

irenewslee

Like many others, I also got the travel system awhile back when it was on sale. My baby registry contains mostly toys and other smaller items. I don't think my friends will go all out on my baby so I only have a couple expensive things like baby monitor and play pen on there. If you think someone may gift you one, then I say wait. If not, start looking and get one when you see a sale.

kittenslove

I will install when they (the hospital) tell me to be ready.  I do plan on washing and vacuuming the car this weekend, so it will be ready just in case we end up going in early. I have 10 weeks left, so don't think its too early to have the car cleaned, but think its a little too early to install when I drive everyday (re:accident worries).

MorganW24

We have to have ours installed at 36 weeks, it's our midwife's request. We are planning a home birth so we won't need it coming home from the hospital but in case we had an emergency and did have to go its one less thing to worry about. I've been a nanny for the last 7 years and all car seats are different so definitely make sure you are comfortable with it before little one arrives. Also, the shoulder straps don't always come adjusted to the newborn size so make sure the harness is sized appropriately before hand and it will save you a lot of stress when you go to use it for the first time!