Didn't know you can't drive with handle up

MsAlyss

Ooops!  I didn't know you couldn't drive with the infant carseat handle in the carrying position.  Should have read the manual, huh?!

Lucky428

Huh? Not what I was told.  3 people inspected my car seat (a car seat safety specialist, a cop, and a nurse.)  They all said it can either be all the way back or in the carrying position.

reannegummer

I didn't know either.  They stressed this to us at our prenatal class though.  Apparently, very dangerous in a collision.

ladyjester

I have never heard this before

tabi_ja

I was told that the handle in the carrying position can prevent the car seat from being able to cocoon your child in an accident.

PrincessFiona9

me either, I'll have to remember that next time we go out!

rc1276

We had ours inspected and they said it was fine, not ideal, but okay given that we have a really small car. As long as there are no toys hanging from the handle, they said it's fine.

nmc29

Whoops.  I've been tooling around town with it up.

 

timmylulu

We were told that it should be up, maybe it depends on the type of carseat? ?It acts as a roll bar if something was to happen. ?Maybe different inspectors feel differently on how the handle should be placed.

Brooke208

I guess that isn't true.  It depends on the seat as well.  Check this out:

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

Lucky428

I need to find my manual and see what it says.  I called my sis who has the same car seat (Graco) but I'm not sure if that matters.  They told her that all the way back is the best, but if you have a super small car, having it in the carrying position is second best.

ivs112

Brooke208:

I guess that isn't true.  It depends on the seat as well.  Check this out:

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

Thanks for this. We've been using ours incorrectly.

Lucky428

Brooke208:

I guess that isn't true.  It depends on the seat as well.  Check this out:

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

THANK YOU!!!  I was having a mild panic attack.   I'd feel super guilty if I unknowingly put him in danger. 

madalynnsmommy09

Oh thanks for the link.

cerad5

I find out something I do wrong every day

TarheelsInNJ

rc1276:

We had ours inspected and they said it was fine, not ideal, but okay given that we have a really small car. As long as there are no toys hanging from the handle, they said it's fine.

Why no toys? I had no idea. I've only driven with him once, but I had toys hanging from the bar to keep him occupied.

bentlaj11

TarheelsInNJ:

toys hanging from the bar to keep him occupied.

I heard toys can become projectile in an accident and cause injury.

I have the Chicco Keyfit 30 and it says you can the handle in any position in the car, but the nurse at the hospital said to have it down... didn't say why, though... I guess I need to check out that website!

wheelenl

Wow. Thanks for that link. Apparently we're supposed to have our handle up, which we did sometimes anyway, but we'd been told by the inspector to have it down.

realisticdreams

Our inspector told us to keep it down, a friend came to visit and pulled the handle up and i was like WTH are you doing.  I told her they told us to put it down, etc.

I googled it and found out it's car specific, and got out the manual. 

The manual for our baby trend says it can be either, however that website says it has to be down.

Now i'm confused.

carimeli

The fire department told us to keep the handle down. They said if an accident were to happen with the handle up, then the insurance wouldn't cover or something because the product wasn't being used as it was supposed to be.

brainwashxx

Our car seat inspector told us to keep the handle down. And it also has a sticker on the handle that says it has to be down when the car is in motion.

mcgee

It depends on the infant seat. Our manual specifically states that you SHOULD leave it in the up position while driving.