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Carseat Install FAIL.......Graco snugride question/vent

koalabear1987koalabear1987 member
in 3rd Trimester
We have a graco snugride and attempted to install it ourselves this evening.  It seems way too lose and apparently the seatbelt in the middle seat does not lock in our car so we tried it on the passenger side. The hospital gave us a list of places and fire departments that install them but they are all about 45 minutes away. Do any of you ladies know if any fire department or police station will do it? Dh and I are really bummed out that we failed at this and although we got it "in", I do not think it is tight enough and we cant seem to get it any tighter so I am not risking putting my newborn in a carseat that is wobbly. Has anyone had issues with the snugride carseat bases seeming loose or is it the product of our failed attempt to install it. We had neighbors who have a similar carseat come help at first and one installed it front facing instead of rear facing so we took it out and then the other told us that her base never seemed tight enough. This is really frustrating.
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Re: Carseat Install FAIL.......Graco snugride question/vent

  • 2xSurvivor2xSurvivor

    A couple of thoughts...check your car's manual about car seat installation. It should tell you the best place to put it. And there should be a little metal clip/plate that came with your car seat for non-locking seat belts. The carseat installation manual will tell you how to install it.

    Just call your local area PD of FD to see if they will install it for you too!

    Good luck!

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  • designermusingsdesignermusings
    Around where I live, I have to drive at least 25 minutes to the nearest certified car seat installer place and I have to make an appointment. But I think it's the best 50 minutes I will ever drive if I can be 100% sure the car seat is installed properly. There are a bazillion variations depending on the car seat and car combination. This is your kid's life...it should be worth an hour and a half of your time to drive there and back, dont you think?
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  • wife1014wife1014 member

    You need to go somewhere who has certified inspectors to install/inspect your seat.  No, not every police/fire station has inspectors.  There is an actual course that one takes to become certified.  Here are two sites you can search on to find someone in your area.  Even if you got it in tightly, you should still have it inspected!!!

    https://www.seatcheck.org/

    https://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm

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  • gracelord121809gracelord121809 member

    We had problems with ours too. One of our friends who is already a daddy came and gave hubby a hand. I don't know what they did really, I do know they had to use a towel to make it level? All I know is that after trying 5times it finally doesnt shake. That base is never comeing out of my car again! lol. O and my hubby/fireman believes its every fire department if that helps.... just dont ask him to do it lol.

    image

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  • princessjay01_2000princessjay01_2000

    Your local police and fire stations should always have someone on staff who is certified in carseat safety and installation. Does your car have the metal hooks in the crease of the seat? If so, hook each side acordingly. Then apply downward pressure to the middle of the base while you pull the strap tightly towards you. The base should not move more than 1 inch side to side when tightened properly. If its still wobbly keep pulling.

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  • koalabear1987koalabear1987 member
    Thanks Wife for the sites. I found a place a little closer than the ones on the list the hospital gave me. Princessj, Yes my car has the hooks. We will try that. We are still going to go and have it inspected this weekend even if we get it in secure. Thank you ladies so much.
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  • Soap1Soap1 member
    imagegracelord121809:

    We had problems with ours too. One of our friends who is already a daddy came and gave hubby a hand. I don't know what they did really, I do know they had to use a towel to make it level? All I know is that after trying 5times it finally doesnt shake. That base is never comeing out of my car again! lol. O and my hubby/fireman believes its every fire department if that helps.... just dont ask him to do it lol.


    You should probably have the seat checked; I don't think a towel is approved for use in car seats.  They do use the floaty noodles (like the ones you use in the pool) to make car seats fit properly, but I don't think a towel is safe!

    Agree w/  pps - go to www.seatcheck.org and find a certified place to get it inspected!

    image

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  • wife1014wife1014 member
    imagegracelord121809:

    We had problems with ours too. One of our friends who is already a daddy came and gave hubby a hand. I don't know what they did really, I do know they had to use a towel to make it level? All I know is that after trying 5times it finally doesnt shake. That base is never comeing out of my car again! lol. O and my hubby/fireman believes its every fire department if that helps.... just dont ask him to do it lol.

    image

    This is not true (at least not around here). 

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  • wife1014wife1014 member
    imageSoap1:
    imagegracelord121809:

    We had problems with ours too. One of our friends who is already a daddy came and gave hubby a hand. I don't know what they did really, I do know they had to use a towel to make it level? All I know is that after trying 5times it finally doesnt shake. That base is never comeing out of my car again! lol. O and my hubby/fireman believes its every fire department if that helps.... just dont ask him to do it lol.


    You should probably have the seat checked; I don't think a towel is approved for use in car seats.  They do use the floaty noodles (like the ones you use in the pool) to make car seats fit properly, but I don't think a towel is safe!

    Agree w/  pps - go to www.seatcheck.org and find a certified place to get it inspected!

    I was also going to say something about the towels, but I just don't think she gets things like most people...

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  • MnM7608MnM7608 member
    We have a snugride and haven't had any problems with it.  Just make sure that you are using the LATCH system, and sometimes you have to put your weight on top of it to pull the strap tight enough.  I think my husband had to put his knee on the base to tighten it up.

    photo cec1e248-7430-4475-9668-04578f2fd00a.jpg 
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  • erbearerbear member

    Our FD and PD won't do it.

    To install it tightly, I had to get in the car, put my knee and all my body weight on it, and pull like hell, but I could get it very tight.

    "Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies. God damn it, you've got to be kind." - Kurt Vonnegut
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  • jamiemsmithjamiemsmith member
    I asked my brother to check mine, he's a fire captain... He says not many stations keep up with their license because there's a lot of ongoing training involved. He directed me to the EMS station who is certified. Please go with them, it's important. Also the latch system is made for this!! Check it out.
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  • koalabear1987koalabear1987 member

    imageMnM7608:
    We have a snugride and haven't had any problems with it.  Just make sure that you are using the LATCH system, and sometimes you have to put your weight on top of it to pull the strap tight enough.  I think my husband had to put his knee on the base to tighten it up.

    That makes sense. I will have DH try that tomorrow and I am calling in the morning to make an appt to have someone inspect it if we get it installed and if not to inspect and install it. A good friend of DH's told him about using the pool noodles but I don't feel comfortable messing with it. If thats the problem I want the inspector/installation guy to do it for us. I appreciate all of the responses ladies.

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  • wife1014wife1014 member
    imagekoalabear1987:

    imageMnM7608:
    We have a snugride and haven't had any problems with it.  Just make sure that you are using the LATCH system, and sometimes you have to put your weight on top of it to pull the strap tight enough.  I think my husband had to put his knee on the base to tighten it up.

    That makes sense. I will have DH try that tomorrow and I am calling in the morning to make an appt to have someone inspect it if we get it installed and if not to inspect and install it. A good friend of DH's told him about using the pool noodles but I don't feel comfortable messing with it. If thats the problem I want the inspector/installation guy to do it for us. I appreciate all of the responses ladies.

    Good call!  Good luck!

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  • Abby'sMommyAbby'sMommy
    The Snug Rides come with a seat belt lock (the little metal thing) and you can use that to lock the seat belt. We had to use it in our old car for DD, but our new cars middle seat has a full size seat belt and locks now. HTH.
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  • mom2haymom2hay
    imagewife1014:
    imagegracelord121809:

    We had problems with ours too. One of our friends who is already a daddy came and gave hubby a hand. I don't know what they did really, I do know they had to use a towel to make it level? All I know is that after trying 5times it finally doesnt shake. That base is never comeing out of my car again! lol. O and my hubby/fireman believes its every fire department if that helps.... just dont ask him to do it lol.

    image

    This is not true (at least not around here). 

    Not true around here either. 

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  • darlene'smommydarlene'smommy member

    Im not 3rd tri yet but I had nothing to do so started looking at other areas.  I am a car seat tech so I thought I would give you some advice until you can get to a tech to help you.

    1. If you are using the middle seat you may not have latch for that seat.  Most cars dont allow a middle seat latch install only side seat installs.

    2. Are you sure your seat belt does not look?  Did you pull it all the way out and let it go back in?  Also some seats lock at the latch plate not in the shoulder part of the seat belt so you may hav that type of lock.  Look in your manual for your car it should tell you.

    3. here is a great video on how to install with a locking clip.  You will find the locking clip on the car seat its self should under the seat near the bottom.

    https://www.youtube.com/user/CarSeatSite#p/u/16/nc5CLIok3eU

     

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  • New_MrsPNew_MrsP member
    imagezeadfly:

    Ok so not to really stir the pot BUT.. lol this is from the Graco Snugride owner's manual:

    When using the base:

     

    To lower the foot; pull down on the bottom of

    the foot to the desired setting to adjust the recline?.

    To raise the foot; set the base on a flat
    surface, push in on the fingers on the base
    and push down on the base to adjust the recline?.

    If there is still orange in the level indicator
    when the foot is completely extended then
    place a rolled towel under the foot until
    ONLY blue shows?


    I was about to post this, thanks for saving me the trouble.

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  • 1CINCYGIRL1CINCYGIRL
    Most parents install the carseat incorrectly.  Check with your local Childrens Hospital.  I worked in an emergency room and they actually had a safety booth in the emergency room waiting area.  The person who worked the booth was certified to install car seats properly for families.  I had her check my carseat after I placed it- then she corrected it.  She said she personally has not EVER had a parent have the carseat installed correct the first time. 
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  • themissizzthemissizz
    Not every fire or police station around here inspects car seats either.
    image

    11-15-08
    12-1-10
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