Stuff for cars?

SweetLaura286 · October 2013

I am nearly 35 weeks pregnant, so DH and I just cleaned out both of our cars top to bottom. Emptied everything out, vacuumed, wiped down the interior and ran them through the car wash. In a bit we are installing bases and car seat/ stroller.

What of the car accessories are you getting/planning on getting?

Ex: window shades, car seat protectors, baby on board signs, mirrors to see LO etc etc etc... Whatever else I am missing!

MannaPants · October 2013

Hah, I am a car fanatic (this includes working on them, buying them, driving them, gawking at them. Everything but changing oil. Blech.) I saw this post and got irrationally excited about a thread about cars. I'm dumb.

Anyhow, I got a window shade, but that's it.

JaysonandKristin · October 2013

Car seat. The end.

We already have seat protectors. You should see the damage our first did to our back seat with his sippy cups while RF'ing. Ewwww...

DH HATES stuff in his car, and his hatred was infectious. I also hate stuff in my car now.

JamieCallow · October 2013

I just got the mirror that attaches to the head rest on the backseat. I got it because I have flashbacks about how terrible of a car rider my nephew was, especially in the dark. If you would turn on a light he would quit crying so the mirror I got has a light I can control from the front on it. I agree with PP the baby on board signs drive me kind of crazy...they serve no purpose except to annoy me;)

jennifertewart · October 2013

We got the mirror to see LO.... my SIL had one with our nephew and it was so convenient!!!!

MsCrispy · October 2013

We have a mirror and that's it. We've thought about a window shade, but it is usually sun coming in the back and not the side that bother DD.

MrsCCParra · October 2013

I have the mirror that attaches to the headrest, and the cling window shades. I will not be buying car seat protectors or toys to attach to the car seat. I have heard these items void the warranty on the car seat in the event of an accident.

MannaPants · October 2013

MrsCCParra said:

I have the mirror that attaches to the headrest, and the cling window shades. I will not be buying car seat protectors or toys to attach to the car seat. I have heard these items void the warranty on the car seat in the event of an accident.

Oh, I didn't think of that! Good point.

SittingOnAMtnTop · October 2013

Besides the car seat we will use a mirror that attaches to the headrest. It came in handy with DS1. The one we have is a Baby Einstein and it plays music and has soft lights that illuminate. It really helped calm him down when he was younger.

Our windows came fairly tinted so we will skip the shade, but if my windows weren't tinted I would get a shade.

rbtrumpet · October 2013

carseat. Window shades.

Anything else can either void the warranty of your carseat, or turn into a projectile in case of an accident. Nothing goes in the car that I wouldn't throw at baby (so, pretty much nothing).

Oh, and few things bring out the road rage in me like those "baby on board" signs! (maybe because like PPs said, people seem to use them as a reason to drive like a moron)

SoSweetTea1124 · October 2013

Seat protector and trunk organizer... I drive an SUV so we will put the trunk organizer in the back, but it will come in handy to store all of the odds and ends you seem to acquire with babies. Also makes for easier road side changes to be able to have wipes and diapers handy.

dobrydney · October 2013

We are getting sunshades and I want to get a seat protector because my car is only a year old.

karenh773 · October 2013

Just a car seat.

mskatiep · October 2013

JamieCallow said:

I just got the mirror that attaches to the head rest on the backseat. I got it because I have flashbacks about how terrible of a car rider my nephew was, especially in the dark. If you would turn on a light he would quit crying so the mirror I got has a light I can control from the front on it. I agree with PP the baby on board signs drive me kind of crazy...they serve no purpose except to annoy me;)

Do you know the name brand of this mirror with the light? I like the idea of not turning the over head light on to check on baby at night. Thanks!

1sloqwen · October 2013

I have shades, need mirror and to buy metal divider to keep dogs out of back seat with LO.

CAileen · October 2013

I was given a baby on board sign and will actually be using it. I used to be in the same boat where they annoyed the crap outta me, but then i found out they actually do serve a purpose. If you're in a wreck of any kind, the BoB sign will alert emergency responders to check for a child immediately. I don't see any harm in it.

Chargersgrl33 · October 2013

CAileen said:
I was given a baby on board sign and will actually be using it. I used to be in the same boat where they annoyed the crap outta me, but then i found out they actually do serve a purpose. If you're in a wreck of any kind, the BoB sign will alert emergency responders to check for a child immediately. I don't see any harm in it.

Why wouldn't the big car seat be a dead giveaway?

Just a car seat for us.

SweetLaura286 · October 2013

We finished the project

Of course the only car stuff we got as a gift was the baby on board signs from MIL! Ahahah. We put car seat protectors under the bases to prevent mess & mega indentations.. And I got the same mirror with the music & light (at Walmart)

DH is so excited though, he practically begged to keep the carseat itself in his car

So it's in his car.. Guess I know what car we are taking to the hospital!

mm&es · October 2013

Just a warning--I've talked to two professional car seat installers, and neither recommended a seat protector. If they go between the car seat and the seat, they don't know how much slippage there will be. I definitely recommend window shades if you don't have tinted windows. DD1would scream every time the sun was in her face.

mm&es · October 2013

Just a warning--I've talked to two professional car seat installers, and neither recommended a seat protector. If they go between the car seat and the seat, they don't know how much slippage there will be. I definitely recommend window shades if you don't have tinted windows. DD1would scream every time the sun was in her face.
If the LATCH system is being used, does it really matter?

I don't know. They both just said that they haven't been properly tested, so they can't recommend them. We just got a new car, though, so I am interterested in finding a protector that works. If anyone knows of something that protects just the seat back, and doesn't go between the car seat and the seat, I'd love to hear about it.

[Deleted User] · October 2013

so far all we have is the car seat...we're going to the inspection station tonight and I plan to ask them if a mirror to see LO is something they recommend or if it would be more of a distraction than anything...we have tinted back windows and the LO will be in the middle, so I don't think we will need the sunshades, but we'll see how that goes down the line...I feel like everything besides the car seat is stuff we can get when we see how the LO is in the car

MrsCCParra · October 2013

mskatiep said:

JamieCallow said:

I just got the mirror that attaches to the head rest on the backseat. I got it because I have flashbacks about how terrible of a car rider my nephew was, especially in the dark. If you would turn on a light he would quit crying so the mirror I got has a light I can control from the front on it. I agree with PP the baby on board signs drive me kind of crazy...they serve no purpose except to annoy me;)

Do you know the name brand of this mirror with the light? I like the idea of not turning the over head light on to check on baby at night. Thanks!

@mskaitep I believe the name of the mirrors that I saw at Target with the light is Brica.

IforShort · October 2013

Just a mirror on the headrest which is clipped to our car's tethers to keep it from moving during an accident.

And as a PSA the infant car seat handle should always be in the fully reclined position when riding in a car. It acts as extra reinforcement in an accident. Our car seat inspector was very adamant about this point. So any toys that hang from the handle wouldn't be of use during driving but could be good at the grocery when the handle can stay upright.

MrsCCParra · October 2013

IforShort said:

Just a mirror on the headrest which is clipped to our car's tethers to keep it from moving during an accident.

And as a PSA the infant car seat handle should always be in the fully reclined position when riding in a car. It acts as extra reinforcement in an accident. Our car seat inspector was very adamant about this point. So any toys that hang from the handle wouldn't be of use during driving but could be good at the grocery when the handle can stay upright.

But is this for every seat? I thought some seats required different positions of the handle.

rbtrumpet · October 2013

MrsCCParra said:

IforShort said:

Just a mirror on the headrest which is clipped to our car's tethers to keep it from moving during an accident.

And as a PSA the infant car seat handle should always be in the fully reclined position when riding in a car. It acts as extra reinforcement in an accident. Our car seat inspector was very adamant about this point. So any toys that hang from the handle wouldn't be of use during driving but could be good at the grocery when the handle can stay upright.

But is this for every seat? I thought some seats required different positions of the handle.

Check your manual! Some seats (I believe the Chicco) require the handle to be in the fully reclined position. My Graco specifically says in the manual that the handle can be in any position.

MrsCCParra · October 2013

rbtrumpet said:

MrsCCParra said:

IforShort said:

Just a mirror on the headrest which is clipped to our car's tethers to keep it from moving during an accident.

And as a PSA the infant car seat handle should always be in the fully reclined position when riding in a car. It acts as extra reinforcement in an accident. Our car seat inspector was very adamant about this point. So any toys that hang from the handle wouldn't be of use during driving but could be good at the grocery when the handle can stay upright.

But is this for every seat? I thought some seats required different positions of the handle.

Check your manual! Some seats (I believe the Chicco) require the handle to be in the fully reclined position. My Graco specifically says in the manual that the handle can be in any position.

That's what I was thinking. My Graco said any position as well. But I looked at a manual for my Bro this weekend and his is supposed to be in the recline position.(Evenflo)

bmqcmg · October 2013

I was given a window shade and never used it. I was also given a seat protector, and never used it. I have the car seat base and the car seat in my car. I have no mirror to see LO, and no toys hanging around to entertain LO. This is what I did with DD and we have never had any problems with car rides.

bmqcmg · October 2013

MrsCCParra said:

IforShort said:

Just a mirror on the headrest which is clipped to our car's tethers to keep it from moving during an accident.

And as a PSA the infant car seat handle should always be in the fully reclined position when riding in a car. It acts as extra reinforcement in an accident. Our car seat inspector was very adamant about this point. So any toys that hang from the handle wouldn't be of use during driving but could be good at the grocery when the handle can stay upright.

But is this for every seat? I thought some seats required different positions of the handle.

I am under the impression that this is with every infant car seat. The handle should always be placed down since it will react as a catcher bar and hit the floor board to stop the car seat from going full down if you were in an accident and hit from behind. This is what I was told by a police officer who installed my car seat when I was pg with DD and was told again when installing LOs car seat.

Karadee1 · October 2013

Re: car seat protectors

Unless the car seat protectors have been safety tested with your specific seat, you'll have a hard time finding one that is "recommended" or "ok" to use. Now wether or not something will actually interfere with the car seat is another story...ao really it's a personal decision.

We won't be using anything additional in the car besides the infant seat, possibly some of those stick-on window shades, but everything else can become a projectile in an accident, so we'll avoid it if we can.

MsCrispy · October 2013

Re: Handle position

I agree with others - check your manual. This site gives an overview: https://www.thecarseatlady.com/car_seats/rear-facing_seats_10.html

But still check read your manual. We use a Graco Snugride 32 and the it doesn't recommend the middle position, but up or down are fine (see page 16): https://download.gracobaby.com/ProductInstructionManuals/PD100628A.pdf

Hollywogg · October 2013

What about the seat protectors that are made by the company that makes the car seat? Surely it is made to work with the car seat?

[Deleted User] · October 2013

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Ashleyfurillo · October 2013

We got the seat protector cause I have leather seats and than a mirror that's collision approved and his a light on it and plays music with a remote .... Still have to get the sun shades got the side window, my car has one built in for the rear window. Oh ya I have to stop at the dealership to to get a special part to be able to use the car seat latch, good thing I went to install the base early because I never would have though some cars needs adapters for that!!

Ashleyfurillo · October 2013

mskatiep said:

JamieCallow said:

I just got the mirror that attaches to the head rest on the backseat. I got it because I have flashbacks about how terrible of a car rider my nephew was, especially in the dark. If you would turn on a light he would quit crying so the mirror I got has a light I can control from the front on it. I agree with PP the baby on board signs drive me kind of crazy...they serve no purpose except to annoy me;)

Do you know the name brand of this mirror with the light? I like the idea of not turning the over head light on to check on baby at night. Thanks!

The one I got was from babies r us, has a remote that turns the light on and plays music

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