Anonymous wrote:The police officer who installed our carseat in 2004 told us that he responded to an accident where a child had been decapitated by the handle in the up position. We couldn't get that image out of our head and always put it down. Maybe times have changed but I still cringe when I see someone driving with theirs in the up position. I keep my mouth shut though.

Having worked with carseats for over 12 years now, I seriously doubt this was the only problem that led to the decapitation of the child.

The only CORRECT position is the one dictated by the carseat owners manual. If you do not have the manual, go online to the manufacturers website. They often have manuals online (although usually only the most recent models). If the manual is not online, call the manufacturer of the carseat and ask. You will need the model number and the date of manufacture. The toll free number of the manufacturer should be on a label on the seat. If you cannot find the phone number, please ask here and I will be happy to look it up for you.

Also please remember that your Graco (or whatever) manufactured in 2009 may have entirely new instructions in the 2013 version.

Please do not make generalizations that aren't true.

tech/instructor

The manual for our carseat (SnugRide 30) says to keep the handle down in the car. So we do.

Anonymous wrote:The manual of the Chicco Keyfit 30 says not to use it with the handle up in the car.

It depends on the model.

Either way, those two Target ladies were out of line.

Apparently it depends on the year, too, because online, the current Chicco Keyfit 30 manual says:
"Handle has 3 LOCKED positions. [Carry, Store, Stand]....ALWAYS place handle in one of the LOCKED positions when using Child Restraint in vehicle." That means any position that's locked is okay, whether up, down or in the middle.

A tech also told me to put it down, and then another tech on another day (different car, same seat) told me to check the manual.

FWIW, we always put ours down, because it's too tempting to hang toys on the bar since DS hates being in his car seat (another no-no).

But yes, why can't people just MTOFB? Although, I admit when I see people with their carseats in the grocery carts, I want to tell them not to do that.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2040559/Baby-James-Anderson-Berg-dies-falling-shopping-cart-Macon.html

The police officer who installed our carseat in 2004 told us that he responded to an accident where a child had been decapitated by the handle in the up position. We couldn't get that image out of our head and always put it down. Maybe times have changed but I still cringe when I see someone driving with theirs in the up position. I keep my mouth shut though.

The manual of the Chicco Keyfit 30 says not to use it with the handle up in the car.

It depends on the model.

Either way, those two Target ladies were out of line.