We're thinking about not getting a car seat. Is this crazy? - Page 3

[Maedze]

While it is true that a seat must be installed correctly to be effective, it is not logical or correct to conclude there is no point to owning one if the seat will be used rarely. 

The most sensible, cost-effective, and reasonable thing the OP can do is purchase a Cosco Scenera 40RF, to keep in her OWN home, not someone else's, familiarize herself with the seat, and the two different methods of installing it, and to practice both those methods of installation in a vehicle when she gets the opportunity.  Then, as with every parent who has a child, she is charged with keeping her head about her and using the seat correctly should the situation arise. 

Originally Posted by seraf 

I was thinking about it more last night.  A car seat is only as safe as its installation, right?  If someone had a carseat for emergencies only, what is to say they will have any skill at installing it?  I know I would have trouble installing an unfamiliar carseat in an emergency situation.

[KaliShanti]

I would get a Costco Scenera. It is $40 or under if on sale. JUST IN CASE.

[EviesMom]

I don't think it's a matter of cost here. I think it's NYC and it's a matter of storage, literally. 500 square foot apartment is fairly common. Car seats take up a TON of space, truly.

So, with your inlaws having one, I would say just go with that, personally. How far away are they? If they're walking distance, then it's definitely fine. If you find you need another because you're doing more trips, you can stop by a babies r us or a target or a kmart pretty easily from any of the five boroughs or online. 

You will likely just take cabs less when the child is in tow, in my experience. Pedatricians here can't be just shown up at, honestly. Even very responsive ones, if it's not ER-worthy, you're going to have 2-8 hours before even a same day appointment. You can plan to subway, walk, or get in-laws to drive you by then. 

I live in NYC, two kids, and I now have 2 carseats--radian 65 and ride safer travel vest. The radian is $$$ and god-awful heavy, but I don't have in-laws with carseats and we use zipcars somewhat often. It works from very little (not ideal for newborns, but apparently it can be done) to 65 pounds. It folds up, meaning that it fits under the crib/toddler bed, which was a big plus for us. You're not going to carry it around "in case" of cabs though. As I said, it's HEAVY. When the kid is bigger, the travel vest rocks. It's for 30 lbs and up I think, basically a vest version of a booster seat. I have carried it around for just in case. 

The only times we had to go to an ER or urgent care, we walked. So do consider that as well. How far are you from a hospital? And it's not especially likely that you'll have to go there, from home, and need a carseat. They are used to parents not having them in NYC I have to assume. Actually, the one family I know who went in an ambulance, they had something for the small child to ride in. 

I would say no, you don't need a car seat. I would not go buy a big seat like the Scenara, personally. I'd buy something that folds (the two radians are the only ones I know that do) if you feel you need one personally and I'm correct that the $ is not the issue, the storing of a big, weirdly shaped object is. And they work to 65 or 80 pounds depending on the model, so I imagine it's pretty much for the entire carseat/booster seat age. 

Edited by EviesMom - 7/13/11 at 11:35pm

[Maedze]

Oh dear, NO the RADIAN will NOT get you through booster age. I hope you see this, pp, because it's really important. That 80 lb rating is inflated. Seats are also outgrown by height and the Radian is usually outgrown around 6 or so. Boosters are needed until a child is 4 foot 9 inches, which is the size of a 50th percentile 11 year old.

I like the Radian but I would not recommend it for the OP. To many installation works to trust it for a wide range of potential vehicles. The Cosco Scenera is fairly compact, and can't fir under or behind things.

[Adaline'sMama]

Do you have a friend, sister, co worker, neighbor, or anyone that might call you and ask if you want to go somewhere with them? Lunch, shopping, errands, movies, ect? I wouldn't want to not be able to go somewhere with someone because I didnt have a careseat. There have been times when a friend was over and we wanted to go do something but DH had the carseat in his car and I couldnt go. Now I have two.

[BennyPai]

I completely agree with EviesMom.  Unless the OP is personally being kept awake at night with far-fetched what-ifs, it is not necessary to purchase a carseat in OP's situation. 

I have three children, and have never had a pediatrician work us in within a half hour!  I imagine that is even less likely in a city. 

OP's parents have a carseat in their car, and it seems that they are reasonably accessible. 

And I also agree that carseats are bulky - they take up a lot of space!  Unless you have a surplus of space, or perhaps an oversized walk-in type of closet, storing a carseat in an apartment would be a hassle.

[EviesMom]

Originally Posted by Maedze 

Oh dear, NO the RADIAN will NOT get you through booster age. I hope you see this, pp, because it's really important. That 80 lb rating is inflated. Seats are also outgrown by height and the Radian is usually outgrown around 6 or so. Boosters are needed until a child is 4 foot 9 inches, which is the size of a 50th percentile 11 year old.

I like the Radian but I would not recommend it for the OP. To many installation works to trust it for a wide range of potential vehicles. The Cosco Scenera is fairly compact, and can't fir under or behind things.

Apparently you love the scenera. I've never seen one other than in the store, so I don't really know anything about it except that it's cheap.

Radian works in taxis and all rental cars or relatives cars I've used. Also works on planes. Don't worry about me with "it won't get you to booster age" because I switch to a vest as soon as the kid hits the minimums for it, as do about 20% of the people I know without our own cars in NYC. The rest do backless boosters, which I imagine you hate more. I might point out that I paid for a radian BECAUSE it folds to store. And because it fits into a stroller (without a child in it) to be rolled to the zipcar garage. The issues and the values are really different here than in suburbia. 

Edited by EviesMom - 7/14/11 at 1:38pm

[Maedze]

As a technician I 'love' the Scenera because it's inexpensive (great for giveaway programs and families on a budget), relatively easy to use, fits newborns, has a 40 lb rear facing limit, installs well in almost all cars.   I also own multiple Radians and I have seen many instances of complete vehicle incompatibility, including those with parents who thought the seat was installed perfectly.  Also, with a few rare exceptions, it is incompatible rear facing on airplanes (Great for forward facing though!)

I also own a vest.  I can't imagine why you would say I hate backless boosters, because I don't, but it sounds like you really aren't familiar with what technicians actually recommend?  

I cannot in good conscience recommend a Radian for the OPs purposes.  

Since you stated that you believed the Radian works for all of carseat/ booster age it was not unreasonable of me to believe that you thought the Radian, well, works for all of carseat/booster age.   If that's not what you meant, all you needed to do was clarify :)

(PSA, since even the size large vest has an 80 lb weight maximum, it may not get you through to seatbelt age either.)

Originally Posted by EviesMom 

Apparently you love the scenera. I've never seen one other than in the store, so I don't really know anything about it except that it's cheap.

Radian works in taxis and all rental cars or relatives cars I've used. Also works on planes. Don't worry about me with "it won't get you to booster age" because I switch to a vest as soon as the kid hits the minimums for it, as do about 20% of the people I know without our own cars in NYC. The rest do backless boosters, which I imagine you hate more. I might point out that I paid for a radian BECAUSE it folds to store. And because it fits into a stroller (without a child in it) to be rolled to the zipcar garage. The issues and the values are really different here than in suburbia. 

[chickabiddy]

Sceneras are cheap and light, and install without major incompatibilities in most vehicles.  None of those apply to Radians.  If the OP doesn't think he will ever need a carseat, it's far more cost-effective to spend $40 than $250 on a just-in-case item.

[EviesMom]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy 

Sceneras are cheap and light, and install without major incompatibilities in most vehicles.  None of those apply to Radians.  If the OP doesn't think he will ever need a carseat, it's far more cost-effective to spend $40 than $250 on a just-in-case item.

Cost-effective, yes. NYC size-apartment-effective, not so. I did say my first vote would be not to get a carseat since their relatives a few blocks away have one, and the OP don't own a car. 

[EviesMom]

Originally Posted by Maedze 

As a technician I 'love' the Scenera because it's inexpensive (great for giveaway programs and families on a budget), relatively easy to use, fits newborns, has a 40 lb rear facing limit, installs well in almost all cars.   I also own multiple Radians and I have seen many instances of complete vehicle incompatibility, including those with parents who thought the seat was installed perfectly.  Also, with a few rare exceptions, it is incompatible rear facing on airplanes (Great for forward facing though!)

I also own a vest.  I can't imagine why you would say I hate backless boosters, because I don't, but it sounds like you really aren't familiar with what technicians actually recommend?  

I cannot in good conscience recommend a Radian for the OPs purposes.  

Since you stated that you believed the Radian works for all of carseat/ booster age it was not unreasonable of me to believe that you thought the Radian, well, works for all of carseat/booster age.   If that's not what you meant, all you needed to do was clarify :)

(PSA, since even the size large vest has an 80 lb weight maximum, it may not get you through to seatbelt age either.)

Well, lucky for me I have small-model kids too. They aren't going to even hit the 65 pound limit on the radian before they hit 8 years old anyway, which is the age in all the surrounding states and it does not appear to be tied to height nor weight (unless your child hits 80 pounds before age 8). Yes, safest if they're still in seats until they're taller and heavier, I know, but that's not the legal requirement.

I only commented at all bc they're asking about a NYC-and--carseats question and it seems that most answers just don't get what that means at all, as it's not the land of 80-pound 6 year olds, needs for super frugal seats, nor friends popping by with cars unexpectedly. 

Edited by EviesMom - 7/15/11 at 12:21pm

[Toposlonoshlep]

Sounds like you're in NYC. As someone that had to call an ambulance for my LO while living here, I can attest that they can care less if your kid is in a car seat or not. They will have you sit in the ambulance with him/her in your arms and rush you off to the ER. I don't know where this is that they try to install car seats in an ambulance. It seems insane to me in a true emergency.

Also, I wanted to point out that although many MDC mamas and papas mean well, a large majority live in rural, suburban, or small cities. Living in NYC is its own beast and comes with its own challenges that only someone  living here understands. There is absolutely no reason you need to buy a car seat, especially considering that you are still waiting for your LO to come and people are already talking about 6 year olds and 80 lbs.? 

Edited by Toposlonoshlep - 7/19/11 at 3:35pm

[SeattleRain]

In an ambulance, the child may not be the one that has the emergency. YOU might have the emergency and be alone with your child. In that case, your child has to be restrained in the ambulance because you might not be able to hold them.

I actually once lived in a 500 square foot apartment with my husband and I know how small that is. I still think you should have a carseat. We buy so much crap for babies, I bet the OP has plenty of other stuff that is not directly related to a baby's safety. Carseats aren't all bulky at all. A Cosco Scenera especially is not bulky. It would fit in a baby's closet, or even in a regular person's closet. Also, many apartment buildings have some kind of storage room where you can store things like carseats or bigger items like bikes. A carseat is an essential item wherever you live. Sure, you could not get one, but you have no way of knowing if a situation may come up where you want to take one. I don't see any reason not to spend the $40 on getting an item that could potentially save your child's life.

[Caneel]

Originally Posted by SeattleRain 

In an ambulance, the child may not be the one that has the emergency. YOU might have the emergency and be alone with your child. In that case, your child has to be restrained in the ambulance because you might not be able to hold them.

 but then who would be the person to install it if the parent was unable to do so?  Further, the ambulances I see have only front seat seating for two with no other seat belt seating suitable for carseats.    In a situation that warrents ambulance transportation, an ambulance crew isn't going to fuss around with directions and installation in the front seat of the rig.  They will leave the child with a police office and go.

[chickabiddy]

Convertible carseats can be installed on ambulance gurneys with one set of straps through the forward-facing beltpath and one set through the rear-facing beltpath.

[turalis]

You are getting a car seat, you're just not keeping it in you house.  We've done this exact thing for the past three years.  My mum lives just a 10 minute walk away (less if we run) and both of our kids' seats are in her car.  For our hospital birth (DS1) they needed to see the car seat before they would let us go, but they didn't ask who's car it would be going into.  For our homebirth we just made sure the baby's seat was installed incase we had to transfer.  

We had one emergency where the nurse on the info line suggested we go to the hospital, when she heard 'our car' and the car seats were 10 mins away she said to call an ambulance - which we did, and it also meant we got seen right as we walked in the door.  The tricky part was getting home the next day, but in that case I was so sleep deprived my mum just came to get me.  In the case of our emergency it was around 11:00 pm and we didn't want to wake or worry my mum until everything was under control (turned out to be nothing but a really bad cough - but it happened during the N1H1 craziness), but she told me after that the safety and well being of her grandchild meant she wouldn't mind being woken up.  And not that we tested it out, but I'm pretty sure my husband would have been back with the car in less time than it took the guys to strap DS1 onto the stretcher with their kid adaptors (lack of a better word).

We just make sure that when she's getting the car serviced the seats stay at our place or hers so they're not stuck in the garage with the car.