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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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PSA: Car Seat Checks
Our local legislator had free car seat checks at his offices today, so I went just to make sure they were in right. Well, we had one of the straps on Sarah's wrong (it was in the rear facing position) and we should have put the seats in opposite (Andy behind the passenger & Sarah behind the driver).
Just wanted to mention that you might want to have yours rechecked. We had the infant seat checked before Sarah was born, but figured we knew what we were doing with the convertible seat.
The guy was from the Nassau County Traffic Safety Board, they do these free of charge all day long in Mineola. The number is 571-5032. He said that if we get a new car or seats and want them checked again just to call. I'm sure Suffolk has something similar.
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Posted 6/20/07 11:40 AM  |
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paulandles912
My children are a blessing!
Member since 5/05 2598 total posts
Name:
Leslie
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Thanks for posting.
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| Posted 6/20/07 11:57 AM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Posted by CathyB
Our local legislator had free car seat checks at his offices today, so I went just to make sure they were in right. Well, we had one of the straps on Sarah's wrong (it was in the rear facing position) and we should have put the seats in opposite (Andy behind the passenger & Sarah behind the driver).
Just wanted to mention that you might want to have yours rechecked. We had the infant seat checked before Sarah was born, but figured we knew what we were doing with the convertible seat.
The guy was from the Nassau County Traffic Safety Board, they do these free of charge all day long in Mineola. The number is 571-5032. He said that if we get a new car or seats and want them checked again just to call. I'm sure Suffolk has something similar.
It's always free at the place in Mineola. Not just today!
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| Posted 6/20/07 12:29 PM |
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CunningOne
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Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Thanks for posting. I just turned Lauren's around (she is behind passenger already) and I should have it checked again.
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| Posted 6/20/07 12:31 PM |
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My2Boys
Love.
Member since 10/05 4796 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Posted by CathyB
The guy was from the Nassau County Traffic Safety Board, they do these free of charge all day long in Mineola. The number is 571-5032. He said that if we get a new car or seats and want them checked again just to call. I'm sure Suffolk has something similar.
Great post!!
Was his name Chris Mistron? We see him every time we make a change and bring him some butter cookies from the bakery.  He's such a nice guy!! It sounds like Chris b/c he moved K's seat to the passenger side and Sean's to the driver's side when K was 1st born.
Sean's Britax Regent just came today  , so I'll be making an appointment with him for next week.
ETA: link to places in NY that do inspections...
http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/seat-per.htm
Message edited 6/20/2007 12:34:54 PM.
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| Posted 6/20/07 12:33 PM |
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dawnygirl25
Growing up soo fast..
Member since 1/06 14917 total posts
Name:
Dawn
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
thanks for posting this!
We just turned Aly around - we have her in the middle, is that ok?
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| Posted 6/20/07 12:40 PM |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
His name was Chris. So nice, didn't make me feel bad for having the strap in the wrong way when we turned the seat around.
Posted by dawnygirl25
thanks for posting this!
We just turned Aly around - we have her in the middle, is that ok?
I think middle is the safest, I wish I had a car with 3 rows so that I could put each one in the middle.
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| Posted 6/20/07 12:53 PM |
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nbc188
Best friends!
Member since 12/06 23090 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Glad you had a great experience!! I just had ours checked at our local Fire Department in Suffolk, and it ended up needed the foam piece below it since the seats are deep bucket seats. So I got the piece I needed and he re-checked it for me and it's perfect, thankfully.
We have a mini-van, so the second row is 2 captain's seats. I debated and read where I should put the seat, behind driver or passenger, and decided to do passenger after reading up a lot. He said he didn't have any recommendations, he'd seen both and didn't learn that either was better. Anyone have a mini-van w/only 1 child? If so, where did you put your DC?
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| Posted 6/20/07 12:55 PM |
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KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Can I just ask why the kids should be in different spots? Is it just because of the straps?
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| Posted 6/20/07 1:09 PM |
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GraciesMom
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 1636 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Posted by KPtoys
Can I just ask why the kids should be in different spots? Is it just because of the straps?
Thats what I was wondering too. I have my 2 year old behind the passenger and my 5 month old behind the driver. Whats the difference?
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| Posted 6/20/07 1:24 PM |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Posted by GraciesMom
Posted by KPtoys
Can I just ask why the kids should be in different spots? Is it just because of the straps?
Thats what I was wondering too. I have my 2 year old behind the passenger and my 5 month old behind the driver. Whats the difference?
He said statistically you are more likely to get hit on the rear driver side than the rear passenger, so you should put the older child behind the driver.
I had them the other way since it was easier to look at the older one when I was driving.
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| Posted 6/20/07 1:30 PM |
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GraciesMom
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 1636 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Posted by CathyB
Posted by GraciesMom
Posted by KPtoys
Can I just ask why the kids should be in different spots? Is it just because of the straps?
Thats what I was wondering too. I have my 2 year old behind the passenger and my 5 month old behind the driver. Whats the difference?
He said statistically you are more likely to get hit on the rear driver side than the rear passenger, so you should put the older child behind the driver.
I had them the other way since it was easier to look at the older one when I was driving.
Thank you.
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| Posted 6/20/07 1:37 PM |
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KPtoys
I'm getting old
Member since 5/05 8688 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Interesting... I hope he said it like an older child could sustain less injury than an infant in a crash. Putting one child over the other on a side where there are statisticly less crashes seems a little odd to me. My kids are, Jeremy behind me, Emma in middle, Lukie behind the passanger for no reason other than I like to be able to see Lukie and get a hand on him if need be.
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| Posted 6/20/07 1:40 PM |
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CunningOne
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Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
I made my appt. for Tuesday. thanks Cathy for reminding me to do this - I've been meaning to ever since I turned Lauren's seat around.
Dumb question - is it better to go with or without the kids in the seats? I would think better without, so I am hoping to have a sitter, but I can't be totally sure I won't have to take them.
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| Posted 6/20/07 2:12 PM |
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My2Boys
Love.
Member since 10/05 4796 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Posted by KPtoys
Interesting... I hope he said it like an older child could sustain less injury than an infant in a crash. Putting one child over the other on a side where there are statisticly less crashes seems a little odd to me. My kids are, Jeremy behind me, Emma in middle, Lukie behind the passanger for no reason other than I like to be able to see Lukie and get a hand on him if need be.
*Statistically*, a toddler is less likely to sustain the injuries that a newborn/infant could, which is why they recommend that the newborn be placed on the passenger side. Obviously, they're "safest" in the middle, but those of us with more than one child don't have that option.
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| Posted 6/20/07 2:42 PM |
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My2Boys
Love.
Member since 10/05 4796 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Posted by chmlengr
I made my appt. for Tuesday. thanks Cathy for reminding me to do this - I've been meaning to ever since I turned Lauren's seat around.
Dumb question - is it better to go with or without the kids in the seats? I would think better without, so I am hoping to have a sitter, but I can't be totally sure I won't have to take them.
Definitely easier to go without the kids, but I've gone with them when I had no other choice. I remember waiting almost 45 minutes on a hot day b/c he was a bit behind and the woman in front of me had 2 new seats, still in the boxes, so he had to unwrap them and install. Geez, at least bring them out of the boxes! 
I'm going to make my appt for next week on Steve's day off so I don't have to deal.
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| Posted 6/20/07 2:45 PM |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Posted by KPtoys
Interesting... I hope he said it like an older child could sustain less injury than an infant in a crash. Putting one child over the other on a side where there are statisticly less crashes seems a little odd to me. My kids are, Jeremy behind me, Emma in middle, Lukie behind the passanger for no reason other than I like to be able to see Lukie and get a hand on him if need be.
Yes, he said that in an impact the toddler's body would be able to absorb the energy of the impact better than younger one's.
But I agree, it is all a bit "Sophie's Choice".
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| Posted 6/20/07 2:56 PM |
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CathyB
Member since 5/05 19403 total posts
Name:
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Re: PSA: Car Seat Checks
Posted by chmlengr
I made my appt. for Tuesday. thanks Cathy for reminding me to do this - I've been meaning to ever since I turned Lauren's seat around.
Dumb question - is it better to go with or without the kids in the seats? I would think better without, so I am hoping to have a sitter, but I can't be totally sure I won't have to take them.
I had them with me, it wasn't bad. Less than 20 mins to check both seats and move them around. Since it was raining Sarah sat in the front passenger and I sat in the driver seat with Andy on my lap. Then I put them in the seats and he checked that they were tight enough in the chest.
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| Posted 6/20/07 2:57 PM |
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