Last week Cameron and I went to the hospital we hope to deliver at to take a tour! (If I make it until Tuesday, we will deliver there - so things are looking good!) While we were there we looked at a list of classes we could take and things. I actually wouldn't mind taking the breastfeeding class or even the newborn care class, but at $20-25 a piece... I think I will just rely on my friends and family! Anyway, we signed up to get our car seat checked out and installed by the Chandler Fire Department this morning. I think we have everything figured out although I did leave there a little frustrated. We have a brand new Chicco Keyfit (really popular right now because of its safety ratings) car seat and an '07 SUV. You would think the installation process would be simple, right? Not so.
Apparently, Toyota has a latch system for car seats, but only for the side seats, not for the middle. Now, you can use one of the interior latches from each of the sides to put the seat in the middle, but because the latches are located further than 11 inches apart - this isn't recommended. The other option you have is to use the seat belt. However, our middle seat belt also has a chest harness and it comes down from the roof in the cargo area of our car. When you us this system, it causes the car seat to be pulled so far over that it is almost directly behind the driver. Okay, fine... until Daddy wants to drive and has to move the driver's seat back! May I remind you that I drive an SUV! How do you mom's with cars do this!?
Putting the seat in the middle and using the belt is ultimately what the two Fire Captains decided was best for us and is how the seat is currently installed. However, as I was driving away from the car seat check, I could see the seat bouncing up and down in my rear view mirror... grrr. I have actually been told now that the up and down movement is okay. I should just be concerned if the car seat slides more than an inch to either side.
I guess my only other option is to put the kid in one of the side positions and use the latch system or to decide that putting him in the middle and using the latches incorrectly is okay... I haven't decided yet.
As we were chatting with the fire fighters and did I mention two Captains, they did say that putting a child seat on the side is fine these days. They aren't seeing accidents with newer cars with more than a foot of impact. In fact, even some of their equipment is having a hard time with construction of the new cars. Plus, I also have curtain airbags. So, unless I get hit by semi (which, lets face it, I have bigger issues then.) I would be okay to put my kid on the side.
Now, which side? The passenger side where I have to walk around the entire car every time I get him in or out or the driver's side? Then, when Cameron drives he will just have to move the kid to the other side! Or, do I say, forget the rules of engineering and put the kid in the middle with the latch system? What would you do?
Sorry this got so long. If you hung in there and are still reading - give me your opinions!
5 comments:
Hi Corynn,
I'm Megan's aunt, the one who is sending you some clothes from my kids (which I plan to get in the mail on Monday). My advice with the carseat is to put him on the passenger side. When you are driving it will be easier for you to reach back if you need to calm him down (give a pacifier, for example). The middle is the safest, I suppose, but that also means you probably have to climb in yourself everytime to buckle/unbuckle him... that gets old quick. Just my advice, since you asked! Good luck with the baby! I wish all the best to you!
I am paranoid so I always have Allston in the middle. Geoff sits in the car seat while he is buckeling it in so that it is so tight and secure it doesn't move at all. good luck deciding, this is just the first worries of MANY!
Hey Corynn! I'm sorry about your carseat problem.. I can sense the frustration. I just put Stetson's carseat on the passenger side. Why I did that? Not sure, but I think I figured it out when he came along. Phil wouldn't be able to put his seat back if it was on the driver's side. Even though you have to walk around to get him it's better in the long run. Basically, do what you want, but consider the passenger side. Good Luck!
How frustrating! We always thought the middle to be the safest place! But if that doesn't work and you need to choose a side spot, I like having Indi on the passenger side, because it's way easier to see them and reach back from the drivers side, however you do have to walk around when putting the baby in and out! You may just have to try it one way for a while and switch if it's not working. You'll find yourself doing the whole "trial-and-error" mehtod from day one when baby is born!
This post makes me chuckle because we had some of the same exact problems with Hudson's seat. I also drive an SUV (smaller, though it may be).... we also have the latches but not in the middle. We ended up putting Hudson in the middle (with the seat belt w/shoulder harness), because I had heard so much that it was really the safest. Abe worked hard to get the base in good and tight, and then we never moved it! We bought a second base to go in the other car and to give to grandmas/grandpas when they took care of him. I have heard that if you do choose a side the driver's side is the safest because the drivers usually protect their side in the event of a crash. That is where we have Hudson right now. He is in a big boy carseat, and it was a pain to do in the middle.... I figured he is getting big enough that I am not so worried. And it is nice not to have to walk around the car.....
Post a Comment