Getting nervous about fitting a baby into our little car!
December 27, 2009 10:17 AM Subscribe
Rear-facing carseats in a 2009 Pontiac G3 Wave sedan?
So, time is closing in on us, and it's time to buy a carseat!
Some things I'm worried about:
-infants [apparently] often grow out of their infant seats before the 1-year mark, which is considered the minimum age here in Canada for switching them to a forward facing seat.
-lots of people complain that their small cars can't accommodate any of the convertible seats, which we might end up needing before that 1year mark.
-I'm not even sure we'll be able to fit an infant-sized seat in there behind the passenger/driver's seat, and I'd rather avoid settling for putting one in the middle, as we have a large dog we'd like to travel/go camping with as well.
I'm hoping she comes out short, just like her parents (we're both 5'4"), but one can never predict!
So, does anyone have any experience with putting an infant or even convertible carseat in a compact car? Specifically the Pontiac G3 Wave sedan? My googlefu is really failing me on this, and I'd be pretty upset if we were SOL, since the only reason we got a car was because we found out the baby was coming!
So, time is closing in on us, and it's time to buy a carseat!
Some things I'm worried about:
-infants [apparently] often grow out of their infant seats before the 1-year mark, which is considered the minimum age here in Canada for switching them to a forward facing seat.
-lots of people complain that their small cars can't accommodate any of the convertible seats, which we might end up needing before that 1year mark.
-I'm not even sure we'll be able to fit an infant-sized seat in there behind the passenger/driver's seat, and I'd rather avoid settling for putting one in the middle, as we have a large dog we'd like to travel/go camping with as well.
I'm hoping she comes out short, just like her parents (we're both 5'4"), but one can never predict!
So, does anyone have any experience with putting an infant or even convertible carseat in a compact car? Specifically the Pontiac G3 Wave sedan? My googlefu is really failing me on this, and I'd be pretty upset if we were SOL, since the only reason we got a car was because we found out the baby was coming!
PS - sorry for typos. Typing while kid has a bath and avoiding moisture droplets took priority over editing!
posted by peagood at 11:07 AM on December 27, 2009
posted by peagood at 11:07 AM on December 27, 2009
We rented (and continued to rent) via Plunket, a New Zealand childcare organisation. They provide fitting, show you how to use the chair, and the cost is very low - we've probably paid in rent, in the first three years, what one decent seat would have cost, and in that time we've gone from a capsule to two different chairs as our daughter has grown. I don't know if you have a similar program in your part of Canada, but I'd highly recommend it if there's a reputable organisation doing it.
Incidentally, the capusle style was got when our daughter was a baby: we kept a collapsable set of wheels in the boot of the car, and could simply take the capsule out and have an instant baby carriage when needed.
posted by rodgerd at 12:48 PM on December 27, 2009
Incidentally, the capusle style was got when our daughter was a baby: we kept a collapsable set of wheels in the boot of the car, and could simply take the capsule out and have an instant baby carriage when needed.
posted by rodgerd at 12:48 PM on December 27, 2009
Here's what I'd do:
1. If cost is an issue, buy a convertible seat, cuz you'll need it anyway (our kid, huge, had to move into his at 5 months. I don't know anyone that can use 'em past 10-11 months.) They'll last til kiddo is 3-4, depending on his or her size. Get one for every car that kiddo will be in regularly.
If you're lucky, you'll have an easy-going baby who transfers easily from car to house. And if this is the case, you don't need an infant bucket seat. (The convertibles, once in place, don't really pop in and out very well.) You'll need to make sure that your stroller works with a little baby and doesn't require you to lock in the carseat in order to stroll with an infant. My stroller was only okay after 3 months.
If kiddo is not good about transferring from the car to the house or has reflux and wants to sleep in that position, sure - get a bucket seat. But be aware that you'll only use it for a short while.
2. To figure out what car seat will work, check out car-seat.org - this is the mecca of car seat - car fitting information.
My recommendation for a convertible seat? The Britax Marathon or Roundabout. They are awesome. They fit in my VW Bug (well, the Roundabout does). I have a Recaro Como too and while it is a comfy and safe seat, it is a PITA to hook in or change the straps.
BabyCheapskate has carseat deals all of the time, although YCanadianMMV.
posted by k8t at 1:47 PM on December 27, 2009
1. If cost is an issue, buy a convertible seat, cuz you'll need it anyway (our kid, huge, had to move into his at 5 months. I don't know anyone that can use 'em past 10-11 months.) They'll last til kiddo is 3-4, depending on his or her size. Get one for every car that kiddo will be in regularly.
If you're lucky, you'll have an easy-going baby who transfers easily from car to house. And if this is the case, you don't need an infant bucket seat. (The convertibles, once in place, don't really pop in and out very well.) You'll need to make sure that your stroller works with a little baby and doesn't require you to lock in the carseat in order to stroll with an infant. My stroller was only okay after 3 months.
If kiddo is not good about transferring from the car to the house or has reflux and wants to sleep in that position, sure - get a bucket seat. But be aware that you'll only use it for a short while.
2. To figure out what car seat will work, check out car-seat.org - this is the mecca of car seat - car fitting information.
My recommendation for a convertible seat? The Britax Marathon or Roundabout. They are awesome. They fit in my VW Bug (well, the Roundabout does). I have a Recaro Como too and while it is a comfy and safe seat, it is a PITA to hook in or change the straps.
BabyCheapskate has carseat deals all of the time, although YCanadianMMV.
posted by k8t at 1:47 PM on December 27, 2009
PS, in my Bug, I had to push the passenger seat way forward when the car was back facing. It sucked for anyone in my car. It is better now that he's forward facing.
PPS, dog in the small car with an infant in the back? I'd only do it if absolutely required to go to emergency vet or something. I think that I did it once with our 90 lb. lab and it was horrible.
PPPS, if you really want to take your dog with you AND you're also planning on toting a stroller, you may want to consider a station wagon.
posted by k8t at 1:49 PM on December 27, 2009
PPS, dog in the small car with an infant in the back? I'd only do it if absolutely required to go to emergency vet or something. I think that I did it once with our 90 lb. lab and it was horrible.
PPPS, if you really want to take your dog with you AND you're also planning on toting a stroller, you may want to consider a station wagon.
posted by k8t at 1:49 PM on December 27, 2009
And finally, if you can do the middle, it is considered the safest place for a carseat.
posted by k8t at 2:08 PM on December 27, 2009
posted by k8t at 2:08 PM on December 27, 2009
Best answer: Hi,
I don't have any experience with your car so I can't answer that part of your question. I am however, a mom of 3 little ones, and a car seat tech in Ottawa.
The Grace Safeseat is what we used for our last child and what I would reccomend to anyone. The Safeseat is great because it goes up to 30lbs which gives you a lot of leaway and probably will allow you to use this seat right up to and even past one year (of course you have no idea how fast your child will grow, so leaway is nice). An infant/bucket style car seat is easier to install safely than a rear-facing 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 and takes up less space than those as well. And since the car seat absolutely must not touch the passenger seat in front, you'll be glad it's a little smaller.
Looking at a picture of the interior of your car, it looks like you're not going to be putting him/her in the middle, most reccomended, spot. S/he'll go behind the passenger seat with the seat pushed all the way forward. This sucks but it won't be forever. You're lucky in that you have 4 doors. When our first was rear facing we had a 1996 Mazda MX6, which has 2 doors and was HORRIBLE but if we could do it so can you :) We now have one of those dreaded minivans that I love almost as much as any of my kids ;)
Kiddytown (esp. the one on St.Laurent) will let you try out car seats in the car. They can be pushy and downright wrong when talking about car seats but if you do your research it's a great place to actually try it in your car.
The fire stations, police stations, etc. in Ottawa don't hold clinics any more. The only place to have a certified car seat tech install your car seat is at a S.E.A.T.S for kids clinic. They hold them monthly around Ottawa and you can book a spot online. The bonus for these clinics is that the techs teach you how to do the install properly yourself (which you absolutely should learn; you don't want to have to rely on someone else for your child's safety).
I can't imagine having my dog in the backseat with a newborn or young baby. First the dog is a projectile in case of a collision, second the dog is unpredictable and could do something that would hurt the baby or cause you to lose focus on the road while you're trying to control a dog/baby situation. None of these are good things.
Peagood mentioned upthread about having a mirror in the car to see baby while you're driving. This is also not reccomended because every time you're looking at the baby you are not watching the road. If something is going on with the baby, you're best bet is to pull over and check. There is nothing you can do, safely, while driving. Also, in the event of a collision, I don't care how strong the velcro holding that mirror is, it's a projectile and could hurt your baby (this also holds true for sun visors, mobiles, fiddly toys and really any item that did not come in the box with the car seat).
Please feel free to mefimail me if you have any other car seat/Ottawa/new parent/other questions.
Oh, also, Congratulations :)
posted by Abbril at 7:43 PM on December 27, 2009 [2 favorites]
I don't have any experience with your car so I can't answer that part of your question. I am however, a mom of 3 little ones, and a car seat tech in Ottawa.
The Grace Safeseat is what we used for our last child and what I would reccomend to anyone. The Safeseat is great because it goes up to 30lbs which gives you a lot of leaway and probably will allow you to use this seat right up to and even past one year (of course you have no idea how fast your child will grow, so leaway is nice). An infant/bucket style car seat is easier to install safely than a rear-facing 2 in 1 or 3 in 1 and takes up less space than those as well. And since the car seat absolutely must not touch the passenger seat in front, you'll be glad it's a little smaller.
Looking at a picture of the interior of your car, it looks like you're not going to be putting him/her in the middle, most reccomended, spot. S/he'll go behind the passenger seat with the seat pushed all the way forward. This sucks but it won't be forever. You're lucky in that you have 4 doors. When our first was rear facing we had a 1996 Mazda MX6, which has 2 doors and was HORRIBLE but if we could do it so can you :) We now have one of those dreaded minivans that I love almost as much as any of my kids ;)
Kiddytown (esp. the one on St.Laurent) will let you try out car seats in the car. They can be pushy and downright wrong when talking about car seats but if you do your research it's a great place to actually try it in your car.
The fire stations, police stations, etc. in Ottawa don't hold clinics any more. The only place to have a certified car seat tech install your car seat is at a S.E.A.T.S for kids clinic. They hold them monthly around Ottawa and you can book a spot online. The bonus for these clinics is that the techs teach you how to do the install properly yourself (which you absolutely should learn; you don't want to have to rely on someone else for your child's safety).
I can't imagine having my dog in the backseat with a newborn or young baby. First the dog is a projectile in case of a collision, second the dog is unpredictable and could do something that would hurt the baby or cause you to lose focus on the road while you're trying to control a dog/baby situation. None of these are good things.
Peagood mentioned upthread about having a mirror in the car to see baby while you're driving. This is also not reccomended because every time you're looking at the baby you are not watching the road. If something is going on with the baby, you're best bet is to pull over and check. There is nothing you can do, safely, while driving. Also, in the event of a collision, I don't care how strong the velcro holding that mirror is, it's a projectile and could hurt your baby (this also holds true for sun visors, mobiles, fiddly toys and really any item that did not come in the box with the car seat).
Please feel free to mefimail me if you have any other car seat/Ottawa/new parent/other questions.
Oh, also, Congratulations :)
posted by Abbril at 7:43 PM on December 27, 2009 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
We're in Canada too, Toronto specifically. I researched things like crazy, as I work as a technical reviewer for parenting books (and now sometimes write for a mom-centric frivolous shopping site), and here is what we did for our now almost six year old daughter:
We figured that we'd just use two different seats for rear-facing and forward-facing, and a then a separate booster and wouldn't worry about finding one seat that would make it through all stages. What we didn't save on money we saved on stress and figuring it on a cost-per-use basis, it worked out fine. One seat went to a shelter that took car seats in good condition after, the other Freecycled. Infant seats are always on sale somewhere, the forward-facing lasted over three and a half years and now the booster cost less than many other things we wasted money on throughout her babyhood.
We have a 1996 Chevy Cavalier. All carseats have to meet minimum safety standards - so don't agonize too much over that, and we had a Chevy dealership install the anchor for us (it was required by law/insurance/safety standards to be in the centre and they didn't charge a thing). Also have them check your seat belt latches, as that's as much a reason for carseats failing as anything. You kind of do want to use the middle for side-impact purposes, especially if you're doing mainly city-driving without the dog. Ottawa is snowier than Toronto, but you'll have similar issues with they types of collisions. It's also easier as a driver to reach back to adjust something (and for my husband, as passenger, to reach back and rub her cheek or hold her hand to soothe her) and we used a small mirror mounted on the seat that let us see her face.
Have your local police precinct check your carseat. There's no cost, and you can make an appointment or find out when they're holding a clinic. We, as with many people, didn't have our seatbelt tight enough to keep the seat base from moving - there should be a fraction of an inch in give at most. It meant putting my husband's weight in the seat while I worked the buckle every time we uninstalled it to wash it.
We had a Rottweiler at the time, and now have a Basset Hound - big dogs, small car, seat in middle (finally we're putting the booster behind the driver seat). Using a dog's seat belt kept the dog from slobbering on the baby, and kept the dog on her part of the seat. When packing the car, you want things and pets anchored as suddens stops send them flying, and that's a greater cause of injury (or waking up or a baby screaming in surprise) (Also, there's nothing like a great big dog kiss to wake a finally sleeping baby up.)
The Graco Snugride (or whatever it was called six years ago) worked for us because we had a biggish baby and the most important thing for us was to be able to carry baby plus carseat, and it was the lightest with the easiest handle for me to manage with baby in it - repeat - with an 8 to *teen pound baby in it. It easily snapped in and out of the car so we could move her in the seat easily without waking her. On a cost-per-use basis, it worked wonderfully and lasted us just over a year. We have a tall girl, though we're not particularly tall. But mostly, a lot of the smaller seats are too narrow, and are uncomfortable for some babies. What you want to think about are the issues that are more likely to come up daily with errand running more than a statistically unlikely collision. And it's for such a short time, that if you have to put the front seat forward a bit, it's only for a year. You'll have the car longer than the carseat.
Lots of stores will let you practice using the products. In fact it was Mother's Choice on Kennedy Rd. in Scarborough that had the most helpful salespeople and a heavy baby doll for use with their products, though we bought only the stroller there. They encouraged us to push strollers around the store and racks to check manoeuverability, like stroller width issues and turning radius, and collapsibility; sometimes with one hand and loaded bags - and dissuaded us from using certain carseat/stroller combos. They were right - our daughter would have been out of the carseat that matched our stroller before she was eight months! And we realized with a stroller that having the one with good wheels for snow, and the narrowest wheel base for tight stores and restos, and one-hand collapsibility was more important than anything for us. In fact, our first choice didn't fit in our trunk - so there's a consideration too.
Then, when it was time, we chose the Britax (Marathon? Don't remember now.) as she was quite tall, and it had four shoulder slots rather than three; an easily washable slipcover in a material that didn't make her sweaty (something we learned was an issue from the Graco, and after multiple carsickness issues) and what we discovered was hugely important for us with our low tolerance for mulitiple-times-daily-frustrations: Straps that didn't twist all the time (I thank Epinions for that save) - and now she's in a regular booster and life is much sweeter.
My suggestion is to go to a store and try out the actual items, figure out your own lifestyle and dealbreakers (in our case - washability and twisty strap hell), and check out Amazon reviews or Epinions for real-life issues that might affect you.
My friend Andrea lives in Ottaw, writes for Savvy Mom and blogs at A Peek Inside the Fishbowl. If you contact her, she might know the best stores for your purposes in your town. Or, Dani at Postcards from the Mothership might also be a help if you need any referral, as she has a new-enough baby that she's been shopping recently.
posted by peagood at 11:05 AM on December 27, 2009