Thursday, May 21, 2009

Carseats?

I've thought about this for a bit.  I don't want this to be a carseat blog but I do get lots of questions about carseats.  I'm always happy to help and it is part of who I am.  

If there is something you'd like me to look into for you let me know.  I've put in hundreds of hours now helping people and it feels really good to help.  It's something I can do from my little corner of the world.   I also know that not everyone is going to take advice and I think that's the hardest thing. 

I know what's safest, I know more than the average bear, and yet sometimes I have people look at me like I have three heads.  I mean if my kids knees are bent they won't spontaniously combust?!  That's crazy talk!  What they are so uncomfortable that way?!  Suuure they are, wanna see how uncomfortable they are there are tons of pictures floating around of those "uncomfortable" children sound asleep.  Now I don't know about you but when my son is uncomfortable the LAST thing he's going to do is fall asleep because he's not going to let me forget he's not comfortable.

Gabe is one of the tallest kids I know for his age and he has a really long torso too.  He outgrew the Britax Marathon rear facing by height 3 weeks shy of his 2nd birthday.  Something that if you didn't see many people wouldn't believe.  He'll be 2 1/2 next month (June 23rd) and he's already 40 inches tall.  At least he was when I measured him about 2 weeks ago, the kid grows like a weed.  

So he's forward facing in a Britax Regent that was VERY generously donated to me (brand new) from a mom that I have never met in person.  She wishes to remain anonymous but if she's reading know that I am FOREVER grateful.  Gabe's Marathon is in my mom's car forward facing now since honestly I hated the Cosco Scenera.  It drove me nuts.  He's THIS CLOSE to outgrowing it forward facing by height anyhow.

Many of our kids are getting older, taller, heavier and as they transition to forward facing if they aren't already there is a whole new set of rules and things to consider. 

So anyhow I got side tracked.  If anyone ever has any questions email me, comment, poke me with a stick if you have one long enough and tell me what you NEED and I will do the Googling for you.  I can help and it makes me feel useful.   

9 comments:

  1. ...and I want to thank you for sharing all you know. We got rear ended today (everyone is FINE), but knowing my kids were in rock solid seats installed exactly right gave me enormous comfort- instantly. Thanks for EVERYTHING. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  2. OMG Katy! I'm glad you guys are okay.

    If you need help replacing them let me know. The at fault person's insurance should. If they aren't Britax seats they need to be replaced no matter how minor. Britax uses the NHTSA's guidelines for minor accident.

    ReplyDelete
  3. They are Britax, and it was a MONOR accident. I can't imagine they need to be replaced...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Minor crashes are those that meet ALL of the following criteria:

    The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;

    The vehicle door nearest the safety seat was undamaged;

    There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;

    The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND

    There is no visible damage to the safety seat

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, absolutely minor. Just damage to the gate and rear bumper (Thank God!) Thanks so much for helping me figure it out!

    ReplyDelete
  6. No problem. I'm just glad you're all okay!

    ReplyDelete
  7. mEL~
    Someone hit my car it was parked ouside in my driveway.(No one was inside) Long story... drunk neighbor. He plowed into the whole passenger side of my car. I needed a new door passenger, fender.etc.the frame was bent on that side. It was towed to shop. The britax was on that side. Should I replace it? Id rather be safe than sorry if the seat is comprimised, Thanks a bunch!!! Nico is still only 22 lbs at best and I forgot how tall is the Marathon stillthe best seat? xo Nikki

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yup definitely needs to be replaced because the door on that side was damaged. Their insurance should pay for it if they had insurance.

    I still love the Marathon but there are two seats now that rear face longer than the marathon. The True Fit (35lbs with a taller shell) and the Graco My Ride 65 (rear faces to 40lbs with a shell about the same height as the Marathon) it's new and getting good reviews.

    If you love you MA replace it with another one if you like :D

    ReplyDelete