What do you all do about car seats when LO isn't riding in your car? Obviously DH and I both have separate seats for our cars, but what about other family members, babysitters, etc?
I will 100% admit that I'm kind of a car seat snob, and it is the one piece of baby equipment that I refuse to skimp on. I just got a Diono Radian R120 for my car, and DD is still in her Chicco infant carrier in DH's car (until we decide to buy a second Radian). I had a clinical rotation in graduate school with someone who had their child passenger safety certification (basically a car seat expert), and her OCD kind of rubbed off on me. There could be worse things to be obsessive about, right??
Anyways, my MIL has said in passing that she intends on getting a convertible car seat for her car. I want DD to be rear-facing for as long as possible, which is part of the reason I decided on the Radian... DH and I are both tall, so we need a seat that will rear face for a tall child for a long time. MIL isn't exactly "cheap," but I don't know that she would be willing to purchase a Radian, and I'm not enough of a jerk to make her buy what I want. But I also don't want DD in a cheap-o car seat.
Do I "suggest" a few good seats that I would be comfortable with her sitting in and try to push her in the right direction? Leave it alone? Make DH talk to her (haha)? Anyone else feel like they're OCD about car seats and can't seem to get over it?!
Re: Car seats for grandparents cars?
My mom and FIL have Rosie's old Graco MyRide 65's in their cars. MIL bought her own seat and got the Radian RXT based off of my suggestion.
I would talk to her and see how much she is willing to spend. Then suggest a seat from there.
We bought a car seat (Britax something or other) that rated as highly when using the click in and out base as it did without the base specifically so we could pass the seat along with DH's parents whenever they may need it. They've not driven any