Are you having your car seat checked...

JennyAnne022776

...or are you assuming the directions in the manual are enough to help you correctly install your seat?

DH installed our bases today.  They look great and I'm sure he probably did them correctly.  I thanked him and told him I would make an appointment with our fire department to have them double checked some time this week.  An argument ensued from there, as apparently only "morons" go to have the seats checked.

I don't know, I just thought it was something helpful for me to take care of when he's out of town, since I can't do much anymore.  I thought most first time parents went and had them checked, but apparently I insulted him.  I have now banished myself to the bedroom because I'm not in the mood for an argument.

Misty001

Our hospital checks the car seat before you can sign out with the baby. So if you can show it's been pre-inspected it'll save you a few min at the hospital.

Cobra11

Aw, guys can be so sensitive. I believe my FI installed ours just fine but I still want to have the fire department check it out. If it's that big of a deal though, you could just not tell him you went to have them checked 

S-Tuna

I think we will have them checked. I never thought about making an appointment with the fire department. I guess I will call on Tuesday and ask about making one.

For the record, I would rather be the moron who has them checked than the one who installed them improperly and had much worse of an outcome. 

CactusGirl

I installed ours and I am pretty sure it is correct (how else can the base go?), but I am still going to have it inspected. I mean, it is free so why not? I would rather have someone else check it as well since I have never done it before.

I have my appointment scheduled for the 13th, after that the baby is welcome to come at any time .

MrsGo4Hockeychick

I had ours checked with DD. But I'm a tech now, so having it checked wouldn't be necessary this time seeing as I'm one of the people who would be checking them

JennyAnne022776

Thank you ladies!  I didn't think I was crazy.

Between DH, mom, and MIL, nobody lets me do anything anymore.  Anytime I try to do laundry, iron curtains, organize, etc. I get yelled at for lifting, doing too many stairs, over-exerting, standing on my feet too long...you get the point.  I thought I found something I could take care of and got yelled at in the process.  I guess this is just not one of my better days.  I think this is my second or third round of tears.  I should probably just head to bed.

michellecoge

We're not even installing it. I have an appointment with the fire department next Monday and they will install it for me. My husband is totally fine with this because neither of us know what we're doing and it may as well be done right the first time!

Mrs.Greg

Yes, I will be taking our minivan to the children's hospital for them to check the installation.  They do it every Tuesday for like 3 hours and it's free.  We had DD's checked before she was born too.  I'm more worried about the twin's carseats because they will be side-by-side on the seat.  I think it's a good idea for new parents to have their carseat bases checked. 

MrsCase1

we are having ours inspected though the macho side of my husband is convinced he will do it perfectly. my dh is an engineer so naturally the inclination is to think he's inclined regardless of the specificity. 

missjilly1025

I would have it checked - you can never be too safe when it comes to your children. 

mairanellis

Yes, we'll have it checked by our local police dept in about 2 weeks.  When we went on our hospital tour, the nurse told us 95% of people install their carseats incorrectly.  I'm not sure where she got that figure from, but I think she was just trying to drive the point home that most people think they did it right when it wasn't done right.

The nurse also told us that they (the hospital/employees) cannot install the carseat for you when you are leaving the hospital.  They can't even place the carseat into an installed base, for liability reasons.

BobbiJanay07

My Daddy checks mine but he is a police officer who does inspections.

ShandaLea

I have read some where that 9 out of 10 carseat and bases and installed incorrectly.  Yes, it may seem simple but apparently not!  We always have our installed at the highway patrol, we don't even try to do it ourselves....they are trained and certified to do the job and I'd rather have them do it than do it wrong myself

mrslandon

I had mine checked after we installed it with my son and it was technically "in right" but the tech was able to get it in waaay tighter than I had it.  Just because it looks right or is at the right angle doesn't mean it's tight enough.  Of course, we didn't have latch in that car and it's definitely easier to tighten with latch.

Then like two weeks after we had the baby my husband took the base out so he could fit some other stuff in the back seat and I threw a fit.  I dont' know why I thought it would never, ever get moved once we it was put in the first time.  We moved it a lot actually, so I think it's a good thing to get it inspected at first not so you know it's perfect and will never move, but so you can be sure you know all the little tricks to getting it to fit as tightly as possible.  

We won't get it inspected this time, but we have a different car and it has latch so we will just install it before we are released from the hospital. 

UnicornBee

We had out carseat checked. DH was sure he installed it correctly, even said we didn't need it inspected. I was insistent for peace of mind. Turns out, it wasn't in tight enough or at the right level! DH was glad we got it inspected then. 

SoxFan777

My DH put it into his car already (the base) and has NO PROBLEM with having it checked.  In fact, he asked if I knew where he could go.  Love him! 

Orchard27

Yeah, we're definitely having the bases checked in both cars after we install them.  My husband is the one who looked up where we can go and whether or not we need appointments.  He's so excited to get started, but I keep asking him to hold off until we get a little closer.  Maybe I'll be able to deal at 37 weeks.  :0)

+diana82+

No. Oddly enough around here it's a huge nuisance to have it checked.  We didn't with DS either.  Honestly, I don't think the bases are that difficult to install - convertible seats, however, are a PITA.

Since I'm the one who usually does the installing, pg or not, I wouldn't be insulted if DH wanted them checked though.

JennyAnne022776

Thank you for all of your opinions ladies!  You have made me feel not quite as insane as I felt last night.  I don't really care what DH says at this point.  I'm taking both cars up to be checked.  It's no sweat off his brow, since I'm doing it on my time and I'm not leaving him without a vehicle.

Let me tell you though, if they find anything wrong with the installation in my vehicle, he's coming with me for the second one so he can see how to get them in there more securely.  

Jen&Peter

We never had the carseat checked with any of our babies/kids. DH is a pro now - he is a very handy guy though. That being said, there are a lot of people out there who don't put it in as snug as it should be. If you feel like you want to get it checked, go ahead. Just take into account your DH's feelings - he is a guy and wants to do it right for you and baby

kjgilhoo

I'm taking my car to the car seat clinic next Tuesday.  We are going to install the base before then so both of us know the gist of how to do it (SO can't come to the clinic).  He wants to make sure it's done properly and so do I.

StefandTodd

It doesn't feel totally necessary to me, I'll be honest.  It's funny the engineer reference above b/c both my H and I are engineers...I feel like we can follow the directions pretty well.  But I asked my H just yesterday if he thought we should go ahead and have them checked and he said, "yeah, we gotta do it...it's free, why not?"...so we probably will.  The store we bought our car seat and extra base from will do it for free, so I figure one of these days when we're over there for some other baby necessity, we'll just ask if someone can take a look at it.  But, if we don't get around to it?  I won't be panicked about it, I don't think.

danilynnS

I installed the carseat myself and then got it inspected at the firehall. Gave me some good peace of mind. Also showed me I didn't have it installed tight enough. LOL we then bought a new vehicle so had to install it in the new truck. I won't take it in this time because I have it in this vehicle even tighter then the fireman did in the previous vehicle!