Spokane, WA - where to buy/try carseats?

[dot1]

We live in Canada, near border.  I was thinking of buying an infant seat in Spokane as I'm guessing there's a decent selection (all we have here is Wal Mart and a Sears catalogue store), and I doubt there's really a difference between Cdn/American safety standards.  Plus they're cheaper there and dollar pretty close to par....:)

Any mamas in Spokane are who could suggest stores where I could try them out in the car to ensure they fit?  I'd like to try a compact seat with a narrow base such as Chicco Key Fit or something similar (we have 06 Ford Focus wagon that has very little room in back seat).  (Also have 4 yr old dd in Britax Marathon).

Thanks!

[mama2soren]

Sorry, mama... it's illegal to use an American seat in Canada.    They have different testing standards, and a Canadian car seat will have the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard label prominently on the seat.  An American seat of course will not have the label, which will get you in trouble if you got pulled over or got in an accident.  Maybe you could still try some out in Spokane, then order the Canadian equivalent online?

[Momsteader]

What happens to people who travel to Canada? Do they need to use a different seat!?

[Marissamom]

I think Americans driving a car with a US license plate and a US driver's license don't get ticketed for using a US carseat, but Canadians can. if you do want to do the try it in the car and then order the Canadian equivalent, BabiesRUs will let you try the seat in the car and has the biggest selection. 

[dot1]

Thanks for the tip.  Oh well.  :shrug

I really doubt there's any problem coming to Canada in a car with US plates and US made carseat.  

[Naturallove]

I am not sure if you are still considering doing this. Maybe if you are research what seats are available to you in Canada check out the ones you are interested in in Spokane and then order the one that is the best fit/you like the best online? Anyway to the best of my knowledge the place with the largest selection of infant seats in spokane is Babies R US. 

[Naturallove]

BTW - if you do decide to order a seat online you will probably get a better price than you would purchasing it in store anyway. Amazon always has carseats discounted and I recently did a google shopping search and got a Britax Chaperon from an online store for $158 which is about $70 less than I could have gotten it anywhere else.