Did you install your own car seat?

Annya26 · December 2011

I want to get my car seat set up and ready to go, but is this something most people do themselves, or did you/will you pay to have it installed?

Also is this something that you would be able to do 36 weeks pregnant, or should I be enlisting the help of someone slightly less "round"?

Sascha3 · December 2011

I need to install mine but I don't know where to put it! Behind my seat, behind the passenger seat, in the middle? I really want to put it in there...it will make it seem more real that I only have a few weeks left!

Kristine Schilling · December 2011

Have DH install it, and check around at the fire stations/police stations, they often have someone available to check it over and ensure its installed correctly.

Thats what we did.

MrsAMB07 · December 2011

DH installed it himself. He's very handy, but I'm still tempted to take it to a carseat inspection at our local fire department, just in case. If you have trouble by yourself, I'd try to call around and see where those offer the inspections before I'd pay for it.

MrsAMB07 · December 2011

Sascha3:
I need to install mine but I don't know where to put it! Behind my seat, behind the passenger seat, in the middle? I really want to put it in there...it will make it seem more real that I only have a few weeks left!

I've loved having DS in the middle because I know it's safest and from either front seat he's equally accessible. This time around I'm not sure where is best to place one vs. the other.

julesjarvais65 · December 2011

In my 'Baby Boot Camp' class, a car seat chick came in, and she said that its usually best to put it in the middle if it fits in the middle (some middle seats are too narrow), but if it doesn't fit, neither side is safer than the other.

We are planning on installing it ourselves and probably taking it to the fire dept to get it checked.

BostonGayGal · December 2011

I did it myself and now need to stop by the fire station to have it checked. I will have to move it at some point to carry something large or such in the car so I figured I should know how to do it. It isn't rocket science.

AnnieTater · December 2011

You probably could do it safely - I haven't put in this one yet, but we have borrowed car seats for friends in town before and installed them ourselves (husband free). BGG is right - it takes some figuring out, but isn't too physically demanding. That was just for a weekend, since this is for perhaps a year, get it checked at a fire station (call first and make sure they have been certified this year!).

This site has tips for doing it yourself and inspection stations:

https://www.seatcheck.org/

shotzie · December 2011

You and your DH need to know how to install it yourselves. You can install it and have it inspected to make sure it's in properly. The inspector will show you how to do it properly if needed, they won't do it for you and they are free of charge. The hospital I delivered DD1 at had a certified car seat safety inspector who would check your car seat before you went home with baby. Check out the link from pp to find a local inspector.

SoonToBeMsP · December 2011

DH and I will install it "together" and then have it checked at the fire station. We both want to do it and be there for the check so we both know how to do it!

BabyLuvBug4 · December 2011

We haven't installed ours yet but my DH plans to right after Christmas. The hospital has rules that they HAVE to check the carseat installation before you can take baby home so that made me feel better.

Huahine · December 2011

Sascha3:
I need to install mine but I don't know where to put it! Behind my seat, behind the passenger seat, in the middle? I really want to put it in there...it will make it seem more real that I only have a few weeks left!

Check your car manual. It should have a designated "safest spot."

shortstuff15 · December 2011

I'll install mine myself next week. I would do it together with my husband, but he usually takes the car and by the time he gets home it's dark and cold, and next week he is on call so he'll have his work vehicle and I can install the seat during the day!

Ashley&Scott · December 2011

We're installing ourselves this weekend then having it checked by the police department.

I think you can probably do it yourself at 36w, but if you're uncomfortable you can always ask for some help.

Annya26 · December 2011

Glad to hear that other's are installing them too! A friend told me I should take it in and pay someone to put it in, but I am concerned as I know at points I will need to take it out to fit large items in the car. Our fire stations don't do inspections anymore, but maybe I can take it to an installation place to have it checked.

(No DH, so I won't be having him install it.)

Torinos · December 2011

We installed ours a few weeks ago, but I still had it checked at the child safety center at the hospital I work at. It was installed right, but it was too loose and she got it much tighter. (Which I didn't think was possible - we had it pretty tight!)

She said the middle was best, because it's the farthest point away from any crash impact, but I don't like that I won't be able to see LO.

jason&robin · December 2011

I am not sure when I plan to put it in the car. Honestly, it doesn't take very long and I can use that extra space for a while. I have used the seat twice and the infant base is very easy to install. I will probably have DH help so he can get it much tighter than I can. It's going behind the driver's seat because it's the only open seat I have left.

rach2100 · December 2011

SoonToBeMsP:
DH and I will install it "together" and then have it checked at the fire station. We both want to do it and be there for the check so we both know how to do it!

This is exactly us...this coming Saturday as a matter of fact. I wouldn't pay someone to do this for me.

jineau · December 2011

we've gotten it down by now, so will be installing it ourselves. My only thing now is put it behind my seat or behind passenger seat. In my van the middle row is only two seats and an aisle. behind my seat means easy loading and unloading, where DS sits now in his car-seat. Behind passenger seat means extra work loading but I can see the baby. DD still has the back to herself, she's in a booster until next spring. DS is getting more independent and likes buckling himself in, i still check it though, I'm over thinking this aren't I?

RNmommyof2 · December 2011

I installed my car seat base by myself on Tuesday. I put it behind the driver's seat because I have a 9 year old who sits behind the passenger seat. She gets in and out on that side when I pick her up and drop her off at school and I feel safer having her enter and exit the car on the sidewalk side. I would have preferred to put baby in the center, but my car (2005 Subaru Impreza wagon) says to not do that.

emnoahmom · December 2011

DH installs it at the hospital and our hospital has always had a car seat tech that checks it before we leave to make sure it's installed properly.

rebelina1 · December 2011

Sascha3:
I need to install mine but I don't know where to put it! Behind my seat, behind the passenger seat, in the middle? I really want to put it in there...it will make it seem more real that I only have a few weeks left!

The middle is the safest and this is where we placed our DD. Our SUV did not have the latch system for the middle seat so we had to use the seatbelt to install it.

If you can't/don't want to use the middle seat they say it is then safest for the baby to be behind the driver seat since in an accident your gut instinct is to protect yourself. I will admit that once my DD was out of the baby seat and into a convertible car seat we put her on the passenger side because it was easier for me to look over my shoulder and check on her while driving.

KitKat83 · December 2011

I'm going to install it myself, then just get it checked later. Probably on the passenger's side so that I can take baby in and out on the sidewalk/curb side, rather than in the line of traffic.

luckylindy · December 2011

We're cheap, so we did it ourselves. I say we but really DH did it while I looked over the instructions. I did take it to get it looked at and verified though.

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