Car Seat Safety Stuff

[MrsGhandi]

http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.9f8c7d6359e0e9bbbf30811060008a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=4427b997caacf504a8bdba101891ef 9a_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_4427b997caacf504a8bdba101891ef9a _viewID=detail_view&itemID=c57b24b3b0d55110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD&viewType=standard&detailViewURL=/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.9f8c7d6359e0e9bbbf30811060008a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=4427b997caacf504a8

[Conrad]

Says mine is shitty but we like it... dont see the problems that they say...

[MrsGhandi]

The one we're getting looks pretty good...the Chicco

[stu]

The car seat with the base that stays in the car, and the seat that is removable is pretty convenient. I've grown to liking the one that just stays in the car though, now that the baby is older and heavier.

We always had a problem installing the rear facing ones, because it just seems too loose all the time. The seat belt doesn't really tighten and it feels like the seat would just fly all over the car in an accident. I feel that some give is probably desirable, but sometimes it was like the seat was just sitting there. What I eventually did is go to an auto parts store and just bought some 8 ft tie down straps. I ran the strap through the actual seat belts loops (because the hooks wouldn't fit onto the mounting points and the car doesn't have any anchors) then went under the rear seat on both sides, and finally anchored the hooks to each of the front belt mounts on the out side of the car. This way I can securely anchor the car seat, have all belts available for passengers, and it is just a cleaner install. I've got the straps running across the rear foot wells in the back, but my car is so small that it isn't be comfortable back there for an adult anyway.

[stu]

Also, the car seats that detach from a base in the car, and can snap right into a stroller are pretty damn cool and convenient.

[Kwando]

I found out a few years ago that you need to dispose of a car seat in any accident. Can someone confirm this?

[stu]

Car seats can be treated like a motorcycle helmet. If they are in a car accident, you should seriously consider getting them replaced. Now if it is just a fender bender in a parking lot or something, I personally would just check the seat for stress marks (white places in the plastic) and probably not have to replace it.

Part of the reason people make it out to be a big deal is because if your car seat is in the car during an accident, and an insurance company is paying for it, they will never deny you a new car seat. I once had a lady who was bumped from behind, and she said that she didn't have any damage to her car at all, but she was worried about the car seat. I wanted to tell her that she was just being silly, because if there wasn't even damage to the car, there was no WAY that there was any damage to the car seat (it's strapped to a giant pad!). I couldn't tell her that though. If an insurance company does not replace a car seat after an accident, they leave themselves open to HUGE lawsuits if anything were to happen to the child in a following accident.

You can take your car seat to a fire station and have one of the firemen take a look at it. In our experience, they just tell you not to trust anything that you didn't purchase brand new yourself. Hospitals and fire departments used to show you how to install the car seat as well, but that left them open for lawsuits as well, so they won't do it any more. They'll show you how to install the car seat, then uninstall it and make you do it yourself.

[Mario]

The car seat with the base that stays in the car, and the seat that is removable is pretty convenient. I've grown to liking the one that just stays in the car though, now that the baby is older and heavier.

We always had a problem installing the rear facing ones, because it just seems too loose all the time. The seat belt doesn't really tighten and it feels like the seat would just fly all over the car in an accident. I feel that some give is probably desirable, but sometimes it was like the seat was just sitting there. What I eventually did is go to an auto parts store and just bought some 8 ft tie down straps. I ran the strap through the actual seat belts loops (because the hooks wouldn't fit onto the mounting points and the car doesn't have any anchors) then went under the rear seat on both sides, and finally anchored the hooks to each of the front belt mounts on the out side of the car. This way I can securely anchor the car seat, have all belts available for passengers, and it is just a cleaner install. I've got the straps running across the rear foot wells in the back, but my car is so small that it isn't be comfortable back there for an adult anyway.

We use the one that detaches from the car ,and can also attach to the stroller. I found that with the colder weather, it's hard to strap the kid in with a bunch of jackets in, so she has this sheepskin zipup thing that goes in the seat, and works really well versus trying to put on and take off jackets for every trip. Stu, does your daughter get really wiggly sometimes? If so how is carrying her like that?


I found out a few years ago that you need to dispose of a car seat in any accident. Can someone confirm this?

Yeah, among other things, I will never buy a motorcycle helmet or a car seat used.

[stu]

She has been getting more active lately, but only during diaper changes, and when I'm sitting down. Usually if I'm walking around, that's good enough for her. She can't walk or crawl anyway, so as long as one of us is moving, she's good.

[Mario]

She has been getting more active lately, but only during diaper changes, and when I'm sitting down. Usually if I'm walking around, that's good enough for her. She can't walk or crawl anyway, so as long as one of us is moving, she's good.

Ooooh okay that probably helps. The little one here is crawling like crazy, and she'll stand along the couches and shuffle across. You can't hold her for long before she just starts going nuts and swinging her arms and legs everywhere. :spit:

[Brandon]

We always had a problem installing the rear facing ones, because it just seems too loose all the time. The seat belt doesn't really tighten and it feels like the seat would just fly all over the car in an accident. I feel that some give is probably desirable, but sometimes it was like the seat was just sitting there. What I eventually did is go to an auto parts store and just bought some 8 ft tie down straps. I ran the strap through the actual seat belts loops (because the hooks wouldn't fit onto the mounting points and the car doesn't have any anchors) then went under the rear seat on both sides, and finally anchored the hooks to each of the front belt mounts on the out side of the car. This way I can securely anchor the car seat, have all belts available for passengers, and it is just a cleaner install. I've got the straps running across the rear foot wells in the back, but my car is so small that it isn't be comfortable back there for an adult anyway.


I'm picturing rope running all over the place....

[BlueFang08]

Hmm, kinda sad how bad the Recaro baby seat did...

[BlueFang08]

If anyone has an Evenflo car seat it may be recalled (million)

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/07/psa-evenflo-recalls-1-000-000-discovery-car-seats/

[justin]

Wait..stu has a baby? Pang has a baby...Barb/Tobi have baby incoming?

Damn I've been gone a while...

Oh yea I have a 1.5 yr old too :P