get your car seat inspected!

melszum

I highly recommended getting your car seat inspected by a professional. DH installed it and took it to be inspected and it was completely wrong. I told him I bet if I had been the one to install it then it would be ok...haha.  Anyways, the guy that did the inspection said like every 1 out of 16 are installed wrong. Just hoping to spread the word to everyone:-) I have been paranoid lately because I was in a car accident a few weeks ago.

Linds1224

My DH is a police officer so I'm lucky he knows how to install them properly Most police departments or some detachment (traffic) often run car seat clinics that you can take them to to be inspected or installed. At least here in Canada/Ontario anyway.

NiniJ55

Linds1224:

My DH is a police officer so I'm lucky he knows how to install them properly Most police departments or some detachment (traffic) often run car seat clinics that you can take them to to be inspected or installed. At least here in Canada/Ontario anyway.

Or your local fire station.

pregnantchica

There really should be a mandatory car seat check, before you have a baby...most people (including myself) really have no clue until you go to one of those checkpoints how to properly install or properly place a child into their car seat.

Cleo29

I was watching a Baby Story once and I could see the car seat base moving all over the place which just made me cringe.  We too our first one to get inspected and the guy showed us the best way to install them. I also love having a rubber mat under the seat.  It protects your car and gives the seat more grip. 

dino24saur

I haven't gotten mine yet but I plan on getting it inspected from the fire department before we get it. I have a fear that I will go into labor before I get the car seat.My parents laugh at me because they didn't even have a car seat when they brought my sibling and I home from the hospital. (a different time). They keep assuring me they can just run to the store and get one if I go into labor early.

mrsp+3

That's great advice!  Our local hospital does car seat checks one Saturday a month, too, I think.

Linnea503

Just out of curiosity, what was wrong about the way he installed it?

PhysChic7685

marisol&alan:

There really should be a mandatory car seat check, before you have a baby...most people (including myself) really have no clue until you go to one of those checkpoints how to properly install or properly place a child into their car seat.

The hospital where I delivered my DD had a nurse come out with you on the day you were headed home to inspect the car seat before they'd let you leave.  Ours was pretty good, but she had us make the seat belt tighter.

HopingForOne

The last time they did a car seat check in our area. 70% of people failed it.

I don't believe that 70% of people are idiots, so those seats must be darned easy to install incorrectly.

Ours was wrong.  We didn't realize that with our vehicle, we weren't supposed to be using the middle seat.

tahitiandreamin

HopingForOne:

The last time they did a car seat check in our area. 70% of people failed it.

I don't believe that 70% of people are idiots, so those seats must be darned easy to install incorrectly.

Ours was wrong.  We didn't realize that with our vehicle, we weren't supposed to be using the middle seat.

 

Why weren't you supposed to be using the middle seat?  This is a question for our car that I have been trying to have answered for quite a while.  We have a drop down arm rest in the middle and some say that unless there's something in your car manual that says not to install it in the middle in the presence of a drop down arm rest then it's ok while others say it's not.  Some say that this is out-dated and is only a result of one car seat manufacturer saying this many year ago.  I'm curious about what you heard. 

harrison1127

In our county last yr 90% were installed incorrectly.

AfterAll

NiniJ55:

Linds1224:

My DH is a police officer so I'm lucky he knows how to install them properly Most police departments or some detachment (traffic) often run car seat clinics that you can take them to to be inspected or installed. At least here in Canada/Ontario anyway.

Or your local fire station.

You can't just go to any police department or fire department... they need to have certified techs there.  Call before you go.