DH and I went to childbirth class at our hospital last night (went on the hospital tour - which was so cool! It's making this all even more real!!). The instructor said that you should install your car seat at around 34 weeks, and have it checked. I feel really weird about driving around for maybe 6 weeks with an empty car seat in the back.
When are you installing yours?
Re: 3rd triers - When are you installing the car seat?
once it's installed & checked, can't u take the carseat out & just have the base in if u feel weird about it for 6 weeks??
i totally agree. i told dh I want it in by the end of this month, but not really any sooner.
i also don't want to drive around w/ an empty carseat for 6 weeks.
on a similar note, i want to get the dog used to walking w/ the stroller, but don't want to go walking around the neighborhood w/ an empty one.
I plan to have ours installed around 35 wks. However once it's installed I won't leave the car seat in it. It'll just be the base in the car.
I had a friend recommend to install it once the internal shows that your dilating. She never really dilated and was induced so she installed hers the few days before she was induced.
This is prefaced with the fact that I am a total slacker mom. DH just installed the base in his car yesterday and will install mine on Thursday or Friday. The police officer that does safety checks for our area books up months in advance, so we aren't going to be able to get the inspection before baby is born. I would suggest scheduling your inspection for 35-37 weeks and then installing your seat sometime before then.
Baby #2 MC June 2008
Baby #3 Born April 2009
Baby #4 due date February 2015
My DH couldn't wait to install it so we installed ours around 34 wks and we had it inspected about a week later. We have the Chicco Key Fit and it was pretty much dummy proof to install. We could remove the seat and just leave the base if we wanted to. I thought I would feel weird driving around with it but I have tinted windows so I don't think it's so obvious. It hasn't bothered me. I love being able to check things off my to do list so it all depends on what type of person you are.