My random vent: You know what drives me out of my mind?

Mrs.JDD

When I see people driving around with an infant car seat in the car with the carry handle up.  There are directions on the seat that say to put it back when it's in the car.  I don't understand how people can be so careless...and I've seen this happen with lots of different kinds of cars, so people of all demographics do it. 

Okay, I'm done.  

kevschickee2

I am guilty of this because I hung toys on it for them to look at.  yup I was one of THOSE moms

luckyluvr

Maybe for some, it's accidental. DH did it just this morning. We drove DD to the dr. just 2 min. away, and he forgot to put it down....didn't even notice until we got there. Otherwise, it's always down.

Zenya

you know  - I did NOT know that and have definitely left it up on occasion.  Thanks for this post!!

 

eta:  I'm pretty sure it does not say it on my seat but I will check. 

aprilmomtobe

ditto Zenya - I really don't think mine says that either. I need to go check. I have mine up all the time.

kevschickee2

BTW I never really thought about it when the girls were tiny but when #3 is here I will def be better about it

Temp374386125003286

Well, I leave mine up all the time.  I will work on this!

co18co

I agree! We never left ours up ONCE with Benjamin, because DH read in the instruction manual that it was supposed to be down.  I love that he is so thorough with all those instructions, etc., because I am not good at reading manuals...but yeah, we were diligent about it.

Starr_Mom

I may not be remembering this right because it's been FOREVER, but I think my manual told me to leave it up.

 ETA: Yep, just looked it up. It says:

The carry handle must be up when the car seat is used in a vehicle.

lizlemon77

I know that mine doesn't say that anywhere on the seat but I can't speak for whether or not it's in the manual.  I alway left it up because I had this whole accident scenario worked out in my head.  I figured if she was ejected from the car and landed upside down it would help protect her front side. 

I don't know if that makes any sense or not but somehow I got that into my head. 

It's a good thing I don't have to be responsible for an infant anymore.

ali-1411

I've never heard that before.

capemom

We use a Graco Safeseat; the handle can be left up in the car. The handle actually can be in any position except the one immediately after straight up. ?

melissa816

My infant seat directions said to either have the handle all the way up or all the way down, but not in the middle position (even though it could 'click' into the middle).  

mauceddie

Dude, different car seats = different rules.

My Graco carseat manual said to have the handle all the way up OR all the way down, but not in between.

kevschickee2

I have a Graco so maybe I wasnt wrong after all

Mrs.LB705

No, it either has to be completely UP (carrying position) or completely DOWN.  It just can't be in the middle, around the actual seat part of the seat.  At least, for the Graco and a few others.

Believe me, I checked and double checked and triple checked when Brendan was little!

AZ_Erica

I was just saying this to my mom the other day.  I have several friends who do this.  I know I should say something, but I don't know how:(

Sulla

I think you've got this one a little wrong.

https://www.thecarseatlady.com/car_seats/rear-facing_seats_10.html

Infant Carrier Handle Positioning

Where should the handle be?

A lot of parents think the handle has to be down when the safety seat is in the car. This is not true! Many infant carriers allow--and some even require--that the handle be up when the safety seat is in the car.