car seat installation frustration

[crsta33]

I'm planning on taking the kids to the library for story time tomorrow (my dd, the other toddler I keep, and the new baby I just started keeping) and I decided to go out and figure out the carseat arrangement.

First of all, 3 carseats will not fit in my back seat (I drive an Alero, not a huge car, but not tiny either). So I put my dd's seat in the front seat :o , the other toddler seat is in the back on the passenger side, and then the infant seat I put behind the driver's seat. I would rather have the infant seat in the middle, but a)It won't fit with the toddler seat next to it and b) the seat belt buckle hits the base in just the wrong place so it wouldn't be a good fit even if there was room for it.

I had to pad the seat bite with 3 rolled towels to get the angle on the infant seat right. And the fit is not as secure as I like...I'm a bit of a carseat nazi, I don't want the sucker to move an inch once it's installed. Infant seats just seem not to fit as securely as I can get the convertible seat to fit in. It doesn't move at the belt path, but there's some play in it especially at the front of the base.

All in all a frustrating (and sweaty) experience. :irked:

Christa

[birthjunkie27]

Just wanted to say, I know what you mean about being a carseat nazi. I'm the same way. I don't want those suckers to budge, and if it means spending an afternoon sweating to get them in place, then so be it. Better than not giving a hoot and just threading the belt through and buckling it like I've seen so many parents do. :irked:

[crsta33]

My dh went to put a friend's toddler into their car and the carseat actually fell over sideways it was belted in so loosely. Dh said, hey man, let me fix this for you and proceeded to tighten it.

It is really scary how many ppl don't get them in right (I've read like 80% are in wrong). Actually, I'm so controlling over the carseat issue that even if my mom or dh put the seat in, I go behind them and tighten it more. :innocent

Christa

[spiritmomma]

Did you guys know that many Fire Dept's will check your car seat install for you? Plus I think AAA does it too. If you get too stressed out, call them and let them help you out. HTH