When are you installing car seats?

starskristen79 · April 2011

I want to take it out of LO's closet and put it in!! Am I crazy?

SarahPLiz · April 2011

Probably right after I get mine at my shower in July. I need to get used to it being there.

An old coworker of mine installed hers at the start of her 3rd tri, and then kept a stuffed monkey with her. She had to remember to put it in the car every morning and take it out every time she got out of the car. She was scared to death of forgetting her baby in her car (which is rightfully a scary thing), so she practiced all of 3rd tri. I think it was a little excessive, but nonetheless a good idea for us 1st timers.

jaredandjenny · April 2011

I am planning to have DH put it in as soon as we get ours, probably some time next month (hopefully by 30 weeks). Just want to have one less thing to think about, plus at least have one thing ready if baby decides to come early.

animalcrckers · April 2011

before DD#1 was born DH & I made sure we knew how to put it in after i had my shower (at 35 wks). but we didnt put it in the car permanently until i was in the hospital delivering. my mom said i was crazy for not having it in there already but honestly, you are in the hospital for 2 days so its not like baby is going anywhere yet. for DD#2 it will probably be the same thing - when i'm in the hospital, DH will install.

JenWhite123 · April 2011

36 weeks unless there is an indication from OB that I may go earlier

sarahleigh23 · April 2011

With DS I had a scheduled c/s and we put it in the night before. We will be doing the same for DD.

TigerLily084 · April 2011

I didn't put the carseat in until the very end (around 37-38 weeks) with my 1st two, will do the same this time around. I don't see the need to take up the space in the car any sooner than that.

LaComtesse · April 2011

SarahPLiz:
Probably right after I get mine at my shower in July. I need to get used to it being there.
An old coworker of mine installed hers at the start of her 3rd tri, and then kept a stuffed monkey with her. She had to remember to put it in the car every morning and take it out every time she got out of the car. She was scared to death of forgetting her baby in her car (which is rightfully a scary thing), so she practiced all of 3rd tri. I think it was a little excessive, but nonetheless a good idea for us 1st timers.

Not to be snarky, but is this something that actually happens? I can't imagine forgetting your baby for more than, like, three seconds.

TigerLily084 · April 2011

LaComtesse:
SarahPLiz:
Probably right after I get mine at my shower in July. I need to get used to it being there.
An old coworker of mine installed hers at the start of her 3rd tri, and then kept a stuffed monkey with her. She had to remember to put it in the car every morning and take it out every time she got out of the car. She was scared to death of forgetting her baby in her car (which is rightfully a scary thing), so she practiced all of 3rd tri. I think it was a little excessive, but nonetheless a good idea for us 1st timers.
Not to be snarky, but is this something that actually happens? I can't imagine forgetting your baby for more than, like, three seconds.

I was kind of smiling at this, too. I forget things all the time - keys, cell phone, etc, drives DH nuts. But trust me, you won't somehow forget that your baby is in the car.

newmommytobe2011 · April 2011

I want to put mine in my car the day I get mine. This is my first pregnancy and I am very excited with all the new baby things. I think having the baby car seat in there will help me with making this pregnancy seem more real. Also it will always put a smile on my face to let me know my baby is going to be in there soon!!

Cindilouwho24 · April 2011

I waited till the very end. with DS. I wouldn't put it in too soon because if for some reason you have a car accident you would have to junk a new carseat. If you just leave the base in then at least you would only need a new base.

amyegunnip · April 2011

As soon as I get my infant seat (31 weeks) at my shower. I was told to call car seat inspection a few weeks ahead of time to schedule an appointment so I wanted to be ready ASAP just in case our LO comes early!

tink7227 · April 2011

This is baby #3 and H is a certified car seat tech, so he'll put it in just before he leaves the house to pick me up at the hospital. With DD1 he was a car seat tech also and I think we put it in at about 36 weeks.

kellie7 · April 2011

SarahPLiz:

An old coworker of mine installed hers at the start of her 3rd tri, and then kept a stuffed monkey with her. She had to remember to put it in the car every morning and take it out every time she got out of the car. She was scared to death of forgetting her baby in her car (which is rightfully a scary thing), so she practiced all of 3rd tri. I think it was a little excessive, but nonetheless a good idea for us 1st timers.

your old coworker is an idiot. you might accidentally lock your kid in your car, but i don't think you'll forget he/she is there. i'm sorry, i just can't stand the paranoia some women have. most of my coworkers are trying to make me paranoid about random crap (like that i have 3 cats, which will apparently maul my child the second i bring her home). i think they're ridiculous and they in turn think i don't care about my baby. which is even more proof that they are ridiculous.

i'm probably putting my seat in when i'm mid to end of 3rd tri. i'll test fit it first and practice taking it in and out...just to make sure i'm comfortable with doing so.

SarahPLiz · April 2011

TigerLily084:
LaComtesse:
SarahPLiz:
Probably right after I get mine at my shower in July. I need to get used to it being there.
An old coworker of mine installed hers at the start of her 3rd tri, and then kept a stuffed monkey with her. She had to remember to put it in the car every morning and take it out every time she got out of the car. She was scared to death of forgetting her baby in her car (which is rightfully a scary thing), so she practiced all of 3rd tri. I think it was a little excessive, but nonetheless a good idea for us 1st timers.
Not to be snarky, but is this something that actually happens? I can't imagine forgetting your baby for more than, like, three seconds.
I was kind of smiling at this, too. I forget things all the time - keys, cell phone, etc, drives DH nuts. But trust me, you won't somehow forget that your baby is in the car.

It happens more often than you think. I can think of at least 3 infant deaths each summer the past few years here because kids were left int he car by forgetful parents and they roasted to death. Google it.

https://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/carbaby.asp

These are often accidents by parents who are overtired or distracted. They are not malicious at all. It happens ALL. THE. TIME. I would never say it wouldn't happen to me, and I think my coworker went a little overboard, but given the number of news stories we hear about every year, she had a right to be concerned. I don't think she is an idiot at all.

Trishes · April 2011

I'm due in late September - we'll probably install ours at the beginning of September so we can practice putting it in/taking it out, etc. I'd also like to go to an inspection station to make sure we've installed it right.

SarahPLiz · April 2011

Here is another article you can read on the subject. Just because you've never heard of it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen purely by accident:

https://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2990820/heatstroke_death_and_children_left.html

SPerry0376 · April 2011

LaComtesse:
SarahPLiz:
Probably right after I get mine at my shower in July. I need to get used to it being there.
An old coworker of mine installed hers at the start of her 3rd tri, and then kept a stuffed monkey with her. She had to remember to put it in the car every morning and take it out every time she got out of the car. She was scared to death of forgetting her baby in her car (which is rightfully a scary thing), so she practiced all of 3rd tri. I think it was a little excessive, but nonetheless a good idea for us 1st timers.
Not to be snarky, but is this something that actually happens? I can't imagine forgetting your baby for more than, like, three seconds.

Yes. It does happen. I'm surprised you have not heard the stories of mothers who forget their babies because they were asleep or because of other circumstances. Babies have died because of the heat and/or lack of oxygen. It's actually recommended to do the stuffed animal thing. They also make devices that remind you the baby is in his or her car seat. People are human and unfortunately, tragic mistakes have been made in the past.

mabma80 · April 2011

No not crazy. With DS#1, I had the carseat installed the day after my shower, which I was about 7 mths along. Same with DS#2.

I'm waiting a little longer this time cause of the two boys in the van. I'll probably put it in closer to the due date. DH is not real good at installing it, so I'd rather do it myself.

TigerLily084 · April 2011

Yes, I understand that it can happen. A few times a year, in very odd circumstances, people have forgotten their children in cars (or left them there purposefully to go run a "quick" errand), and it's tragic. My point is simply that in 5 years of strapping kids in and out of car seats, not for one nanosecond has it escaped me or DH that our kids are in the car. It's a fear that I had before having a kid - since then, it's simply not because I don't for one second forget where my kid is. I think if you are concerned enough to want to practice carrying a stuffed animal around, you're already in good shape towards not forgetting that your actual child is sitting in your backseat.

ShannonSky · April 2011

SarahPLiz:
TigerLily084:
LaComtesse:
SarahPLiz:

Probably right after I get mine at my shower in July. I need to get used to it being there.

An old coworker of mine installed hers at the start of her 3rd tri, and then kept a stuffed monkey with her. She had to remember to put it in the car every morning and take it out every time she got out of the car. She was scared to death of forgetting her baby in her car (which is rightfully a scary thing), so she practiced all of 3rd tri. I think it was a little excessive, but nonetheless a good idea for us 1st timers.

Not to be snarky, but is this something that actually happens? I can't imagine forgetting your baby for more than, like, three seconds.

I was kind of smiling at this, too. I forget things all the time - keys, cell phone, etc, drives DH nuts. But trust me, you won't somehow forget that your baby is in the car.

It happens more often than you think. I can think of at least 3 infant deaths each summer the past few years here because kids were left int he car by forgetful parents and they roasted to death. Google it.

https://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/carbaby.asp

These are often accidents by parents who are overtired or distracted. They are not malicious at all. It happens ALL. THE. TIME. I would never say it wouldn't happen to me, and I think my coworker went a little overboard, but given the number of news stories we hear about every year, she had a right to be concerned. I don't think she is an idiot at all.

ITA. I think putting a stuffed animal in and out is a bit excessive, and those aren't usually the circumstances you'd forget a kid (it's usually more if you deviate from a normal routine - ie. DH usually does daycare drop-offs and one day you switch). It's super easy to be on auto-pilot, then your kid falls asleep and you just go about your day.

As for when to put in the car seat, we'll probably do it in June. The local police dept does installs for free once a month and I want to make sure we get it done by the pros. I honestly don't understand why anyone wouldn't make use of this service. Just because I've read the manual and CAN install my carseat, doesn't mean I can't get it as tight and secure as they could, plus I think any time you have the eyes of someone more experienced on something like that, the better. We probably would have waited until July/Aug, but DD1's carseat is starting to look a little loose, anyway. We'll move hers from the middle and get the new baby's installed at the same time.

bumpuser5468658 · April 2011

Here is one from my part of the world:

DE SMET -- The Kingsbury County sheriff's office says a young boy has died after being left in his car seat for several hours during hot weather.

Sheriff Kevin Scotting says the boy died about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, before paramedics arrived at the home in rural Kingsbury County. Outside temperatures on Wednesday reached 90 degrees.

Scotting says the boy's father put him in his car seat, but it wasn't clear why he was left unattended for so long.

Scotting hasn't released the names of the boy or his parents, citing the ongoing investigation. He says the child was less than a year old.

~~~~~~~~~~

I knew these people, the fact was that mom had to go to work early, so dad ended up taking the baby boy....who I believe was 4 mos old.....to daycare. However, with the lack of sleep, he mistakenly drove to work on his family farm, got out and got on the tractor and proceeded to farm. The baby was sleeping, the father was tired and just fllowinghis normal routine! It takes approx. 30 days to break a habit or routine....sometimes the mind just takes over. The daycare provider called the mother just before noon to ask if the LO was coming and the mother said the father should've dropped him off already. The baby sat in the hot car for 3 to 4 hours with the temps outside over 90 degrees...the temps inside the vehicle were way over 100! Don't be quick to judge someone who tries to prepare to prevent something like this....good for them! I forgot a lot of things in the vehicle before, but never my LO......but I will only send thoughts and prayers to the family, not judgement because it could happen to anyone!! I don't want to be caught saying "I would never...." and have it happen to me. It is a terrible thing, but happens a lot!

starskristen79 · April 2011

The stuffed monkey may be overkill, but if that is one of those overwhelming fears of hers, I say go for it. We all have our certain things we are more scared of during this process.

I think how much you see this depends on your area. I have even seen this happen at daycare centers around here. I am in Dallas and we see a few of these every year. It is so very sad.

marriedtoeric · April 2011

34 weeks. Our midwife checks to make sure it's installed properly (well, to their satisfaction) at our 36 week appointment. We'll probably drive one car to the 36 week appointment and the other to the 37 week appointment and have her check again.

mandyhall2882 · April 2011

I should get out the instuctions and take a look at 'em. I don't really put anything in the backseat, so I could try to mess around and put the base in place.

After I do get it installed, I'll go have it inspected. I found this site that provides information on where to get it done (state by state):

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

julier1111 · April 2011

I will put mine in when i am 37 wks that way i know if i go into labor bofore that they will stop the it but any he/ she could come any time after that....

water-fairy · April 2011

The day we head to the hospital? Or maybe not even then. The day DH comes to pick us up and go home. We already have one car seat (the one DS uses), we need the space in the back for other things now.

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