When do you have the infant car seat installed?

[Anonymous]

Wondering when I should have the car seat installed? I'm due at the end of June.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't hurt to install it early. Try installing it once you buy it/get it and see how long it takes you. If you don't have LATCH, it might take you longer.

The other thing installing it early gives you a chance to do it get it inspected, so look into that too. Depending on where you live, the county has programs.

[Anonymous]

OP here- I am wondering when I should buy it / have it installed and inspected by when?.. looking for a time line

[Anonymous]

If you are due the end of June, I would have the Car Seat purchased in mid-May and have it installed inspected in early June.

Even more specific - we had ours installed / inspected 3 weeks prior to my due date so in case I went early it was done - as well it was something that I no longer needed to think about.

I would recommend that you look for places that inspect them now so that you havea plan for where / when it will be done.

Congratulations - and best of luck with the remainder of your pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Are parents required to get it installed by anywhere special? I have a car seat and know how to put it in. Do I need to get a certificate or something?

[Anonymous]

No, some people like to get it checked to make sure it is in correctly. I have to say while driving around lately, I have noticed several families just holding their babies in their arms in the back of the car!

[Anonymous]

On one of our pediatrician interviews they told us it DID have to be inspected? (We live in Virginia.) Has anyone else heard that??

[Anonymous]

Just as long as it is correctly installed by the time you and baby are discharged from the hospital. The nurses won't let you leave unless your car seat is installed.

Fire and police stations are more than happy to check your installation for you. You may have to make an appt. though depending on your county.

Given that obvious piece of information, I think you are savvy enough to budget and organize your time accordingly to your schedule to get that done. No need to really post.

[Anonymous]

If you are due the end of June, I'd have it installed by mid-May, just in case you deliver early. Most seats are simple enough to install yourself, but if you aren't comfortable, do a google search on the subject to find locations in VA that will install and inspect for you. I've never heard that you need an inspection certificate for the installation.

[juliek]

I found this useful website that will tell you where you can have your car seat inspected/installed: http://www.seatcheck.org/

[Anonymous]

With #1, my husband installed the seat and had it checked (at the Safe Kids station at Children's Hospital) after I delivered but before I was discharged from the hospital. Installing an infant seat with LATCH is a piece of cake, but it's helpful to have it checked if you're installing it in the middle where there's often no LATCH. Because it's hard to get it as tight as it needs to be. I have never heard that there is a requirement to get it inspected.

[Anonymous]

I am due in 4 weeks and my DH installed the seat a week ago. I called to have it inspected (which will happen in 2 weeks) and I was told that 92% of people install them wrong. So - I guess that is a good argument for the inspection. As far as when you install it, it is about personal comfort level. Some people do it 8 weeks ahead of time and some wait till the last second.

[Anonymous]

We had ours inspected and it was worth the effort. Even though we followed the directions and gave it our best effort, the seat was not nearly secure enough even with LATCH. It may just be the model of our car, but if you live in Arlington, I highly recommend making an appointment through the police department. They do inspections/fixes every other weekend -- not sure if it's always in the same place, but I took the car to a parking garage on Quincy near the Ballston Metro where the officers had set up shop for the day.

In terms of timing, I would do it about a month in advance. That way it's one less thing to worry about as you're heading to your delivery date, and it's not like you need to leave the bulky car seat in the car. Take it inside and just leave the base.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Another place that does car seat installations is babies first in Columbia. We had an excellent experience and they go through not only the installation of the car seat in the car, but show you how to use it when you are traveling and might have to be on a airplane or taxi. The experience is well worth the visit.

[Anonymous]

Children's Hospital in DC also does free installation