Car seat clinics (or other resources) in Ottawa, ON, Canada

[Unregistered]

We just installed our new Britax Marathon this afternoon and I'm not pleased with how it fits in the car at present. I've done a lot of reading online this evening so I'm going to give it another go tomorrow but I'd really like to get it checked out by someone who knows what they are doing. As far as I can tell the only resources we have here in Ottawa are monthly (if that) clinics put on by a local TV station and they fill up as soon as registration opens. I'll have to wait over a month to even try to register for the next one.

Does anyone know anywhere else I can go? I'd even drive to a nearby city/town to get it done quickly.

Thanks.

[Airforcemomma]

We have that same problem and we're in Trenton. No one here does seat clinics that I have been able to find. We live on the military base so I called the military police and asked if they did them. No, they don't . However the local police dept in Belleville does with no appt. You just show up and they'll check your seats.

So, that may be an option for you. Call your local police dept and see if they can help you out. I also found out that the local health units do them as well and some of the early years centers do them as well.

Few places for you to check.


Hope that helps, good luck.

[tcottawa]

Where are you located in Ottawa? There is a clinic this weekend in Kanata that I can try to get you into, if you could be there at 9am...also there are a few ottawa techs on this board who might be willing to do it. I am a tech, but don't have a ton of experience yet - I'd prefer to be a last resort! Are you installing RF or FF, with Latch or seatbelt?

[Unregistered]

Now I wish I had registered last night so you'll get this right away! I'm very close to Kanata so that would be amazing if I could get into that one - is it the one on the 29th at Turpin? I can be there whenever you tell me to be there!

I'm installing rear-facing with LATCH on the passenger side. There is no LATCH in the middle so I never considered putting it there until I read on this board that it would be just as good with the seatbelt. If I hadn't been able to get it more secure this morning with the tether I was going to try with the seatbelt in the middle. But now I'm worried I haven't used a good tether point. I just posted my whole story in the technical questions section hoping to get some advice while I find in-person technical help.

Thanks!

[QuassEE]

I approved the post right away, but we're a great bunch so you might still want to register :)

-Nicole.

[tcottawa]

I emailed the clinic coordinator to see what we can do...but in the meantime:

Do not attach the tether before you get it as tight as you can with LATCH (or the seatbelt + lockoff, if you decide to move it to the middle). There is a debate on this on this board ;), but if you come to the clinic we will not tether your Marathon rear-facing for you, so it should install well without it (actually the RF tether will only help with the angle anyway, it won't help with making the seat any more "secure").

I hope this helps a little...Does the seat move more than 1" at the belt path (where the Latch straps are)?

[keri1292]

A curious tech-to-be here...why wouldn't you tether it if she came to the clinic? :confused:

[snowbird25ca]

A curious tech-to-be here...why wouldn't you tether it if she came to the clinic? :confused:

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?p=375970#post375970

Long discussion, but the above link about sums it up. :thumbsup:

[tcottawa]

To the OP: If you register, or PM me your email address, I can send you the address of the coordinator - only she knows how many techs are going to be around that day and whether she can fit you in. Again, though, if the only question you have is where to anchor the RF tether, that question is better answered on this board (thanks Trudy, for the link to the RF tether discussion), since we won't be able to do it at the clinic. If, however, you feel like you aren't able to get the seat in tight enough, then it would definitely be worthwhile to come to the clinic.

[sparkyd]

I am registered!

I would really like to come to the clinic because clearly I am not doing things right. I posted some pictures in the technical section (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=40322) and I now know that I need to start over. I'm reading up on the whole tether thing and mulling it over!

Thanks.

[tiggercat]

I wish I wasn't on bedrest, I'm a tech in Ottawa since 2005 and often do informal checks at my home for people. I've also had a fair bit of experience with the MA since my daughter has been in them since birth, and I'm a big fan of the RF tether (which you will find most techs in the area are not, mostly due to the influence of our instructor who is very anti-Britax). I read the thread where you posted pictures, and I think you will have a lot more luck once you move the LATCh straps to the correct position.

[keri1292]

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?p=375970#post375970

Long discussion, but the above link about sums it up. :thumbsup:

Thanks!

[tcottawa]

I will PM you with the coordinator's address ASAP. If there's no room at the clinic, I have enough experience with a Marathon (since I have one ;)) that I can tell if it's installed right (RF Tether or not), if you'd like to stop by (not sure where you're located) .... for some reason I can't see your pics.

[sparkyd]

Thanks for your help - I got the email address and have sent an email to see if they can fit me in. There was a problem earlier with the flickr site (unusual) but it seems to be working fine now. I've posted two new pictures with my second installation attempt.

[Unregistered]

Hi Everyone,
(name edited) offers Car Seat Seminars where you can learn how to properly install your Car Seats. The main benefit of taking a seminar is that if you ever need to take the car seat out and then reinstall it YOU will know how to do it. After the seminar you should be able to help others install their car seats.
For more details see: (link removed)

[QuassEE]

Hi Everyone,
(name edited) offers Car Seat Seminars where you can learn how to properly install your Car Seats. The main benefit of taking a seminar is that if you ever need to take the car seat out and then reinstall it YOU will know how to do it. After the seminar you should be able to help others install their car seats.
For more details see: (link removed)

Who is teaching these seminars? Are they approved instructors for the curriculum? Since you're stating here that "after the seminar you should be able to help others install their car seats".. I would not be comfortable making that statement unless you're using an approved curriculum and individuals completing the program are certified as Children's Restraint Systems Technicians. Your average person who takes a quick class is by no means qualified to assist others with their installations, and suggesting that they are is a huge liability both for your organization as well as for those individuals.

-Nicole.

[Unregistered]

I'm not sure why the webmaster has removed the actual name and link, since all the info is there, but if you do a search on Google for Car Seat Seminar Ottawa you should be able to find all the details. We are a gymnastics facility in Ottawa and all the info can be found on our website. We also have a Baby Show coming up on May 4th, 2008 where we will be running an actual Car Seat Clinic...again if you do a search for Baby Show Ottawa you should be able to get all our info.
The courses and the Car Seat clinics are ran by the SEATS for Kids Coalition. They are the same organizations helping with the Achannels Car Seat Clinics. They are pretty much the only ones running Car Seat Clinics in Ottawa, and the Clinic book very fast.
All their instructors are certified and sponsored by ST. John AMbulance.

[Unregistered]

Good point about the company's liability!
I guess the point I'm trying to get across was that a Car Seat Seminar is so much more beneficial for parents as supposed to just a Car Seat Clinic. I'm speaking from my personal experience: I attended a Car Seat Clinic, but with my baby in my arms it was hard to pay attention to all details. I also had to take my Car Seat in and out a few times, and was never sure that once I put it back in, it was just as secure and tight as the inspector had done it for me.

While attending a Seminar you can get all the main points and security features, and taking the car seat in and out was no problem. I was confident that my car seat was properly installed every time.

[QuassEE]

But were you confident that you could go around assisting others with their seats? Unlikely. I would not advocate that a couple of hours of classroom instruction qualifies anyone to do this. It's also a huge liability to suggest such a thing. You should register for an account and then post the full details of your class in a new thread, without suggesting people can assist others after such a course. There's nothing wrong with advertising a clinic, as long as it's advertised accurately.

-Nicole.

[tcottawa]

The poster is talking about seminars offered by CRST instructors, where parents can learn (in general) how to pick and install a seat. I don't think they teach that you are then to go out and install all sorts of people's seats ;) , but instead that you would know the basics of car seat installation no matter which seat you pick (like how to read your manual).

[snowbird25ca]

The poster is talking about seminars offered by CRST instructors, where parents can learn (in general) how to pick and install a seat. I don't think they teach that you are then to go out and install all sorts of people's seats ;) , but instead that you would know the basics of car seat installation no matter which seat you pick (like how to read your manual).

The original post did suggest parents could then go on to install other parents seats:

After the seminar you should be able to help others install their car seats.

This is really the statement that is concerning to me (and I think I can safely say Nicole as well.)

2hrs is long enough for you to learn how to properly install and use your own seat. It's not long enough for you to be able to help other parents. Especially not portray yourself as being able to help other parents.

The statement that I quoted, implies that by taking a 2hr course you'll be able to install your own seats, and other parents seats too. And that simply isn't the case. 2 hrs is long enough to learn the difference between an acceptable install and one that's not acceptable. It's long enough to learn how to use a locking clip, learn what stage of seat to use, and to read instruction manuals, and have a parent install their own seat. But there is no way in the world that 2hrs can possibly cover all of the different scenarios that may be encountered if a parent branched out to helping other parents. And that idea shouldn't be encouraged at all.

I also just want to take a moment and say that ideally parents are being taught how to install their own seats. I know at local clinics here parents don't get the opportunity to re-do the install for themselves after the instruction, but when I do private checks parents absolutely leave fully able to install their own seats, use it properly, and knowing when to move to the next stage. (The parent is the last one to install the seat and buckle the child in when they leave a private check I've done.)

A 2hr course is fantastic for caregivers and sounds similar to the course parents in AB can take to have their ticket dismissed if they're ticketed for improper carseat use. I can tell you though, that at the end of those classes parents/caregivers are not told that they can help others install their seats.

There's a reason why the tech course is 16hrs - 2hrs should be enough for most parents to understand how to properly use and install their own seats, it's not enough to encompass the full safety issues, laws and special circumstances that exist - nor does it give opportunity to provide enough information to properly offer advice to other parents. I would argue that a parent who spends many many hours here would be better equipped to help others install seats than someone who has taken a 2hr course - and we absolutely don't encourage anyone who isn't a tech to assist others with their seats in the role of an expert - even if they're well versed and informed from being around here for months or longer.

I think the 2hr course is great for parents and caregivers, and should be plenty adequate for them to learn how to install and properly use their own seats, and how to keep their own children safe in the car. And I'm not discouraging parents from taking the course for themselves at all. But I truly think there should be an emphasis made to those who attend the course that taking the training does not make them able to install other's seats for them. 2hrs just doesn't make an expert. Heck, even at the end of the 16hr course there is still a steep learning curve for the first little bit and around here new techs are often paired with more experienced techs at seat checks so that they can get more hands on experience before going solo at checks. And I think that's a good thing.

(I just want to note that I make these comments as a tech, but also as a parent who was properly installing and properly using my seats prior to taking the tech course. I knew many trouble shooting skills and was familiar with best practice. I was 100% competent in installing and using my own seats prior to taking the tech course - and in all honesty probably could've helped friends with some basics. But I learned much much more over the course of the 2 day course than what I already knew. And it is information that has changed how I view some things, and what I would've communicated to parents before taking the tech course is definitely different than what I communicate now. So I think it's fair to compare the amount of knowledge I had prior to taking the tech course as being equal to (possibly even more considering the hours I'd spent here reading technical posts,) as what a parent taking a 2hr course would have. But it most definitely was not sufficient to be helping other parents in the role of somebody who is educated on the subject or had formal instruction.)

[hipmaman]

I truly think that parents learning how to install their own seats and understanding the fundamental of carseat safety is great. It is after all what we techs have been trained for - to help parents to help themselves.

But I agree with what Nicole and Trudy have questioned and said regarding whether it's wise for a parent after 2hrs of carseat info session should branch out and help other parents. I can see helping someone else with a similar situation/scenario (carseat, vehicle, position, etc.) but to help someone else in a different scenario or often challenging cases would not be prudent with the limited knowledge acquired in 2 hrs.

In addition to the classroom hours that techs took, there are the hours put into practical experience in actual installations and trouble shootings, the continuous development (either on a personal basis or through an organisation that a tech is affiliated with) to stay current and updated, the recertification after 3 yrs, etc.

Also to keep in mind that at a clinic, techs work in team and their installations are checked and signed off by senior tech(s) or instructors. Mistakes can happen or an inexperienced tech might need the guidance, therefore working in team of 2 and having someone else with more experience to check off their work is a good way to minimise or eliminate errors all together. For this reason, I'm even skeptical at some private services that has the lone tech working.

[tcottawa]

I totally agree with you guys, no one should feel like they can install everybody else's seats after that class. I think (not having attended one) the idea of the class is to show the parents a variety of different seats at different stages, and possibly encourage ones that RF past 22 lbs, and harness after 40 lbs. I know that the instructors of the class don't think of it as something that would replace CRST training, or make someone competent to install other people's seats. That is not how the seminar is presented to parents, at least not by the coalition.

I mean, after two clinics, I certainly don't feel confident installing everybody's seats correctly, and I am checked by at least one (and sometimes more!) instructor before the seat is signed off on. These are the same instructors teaching that class, and they're really anal (and I mean that in the best possible way) :)

[Unregistered]

Everyone,

I totally agree with your points and want to assure you that the instructors running the Car Seat SEMINARS are definitely NOT promoting parents go around and install other peoples' car seats. Because most parents want to just get their seats inspected rather than have to sit in a 2 hrs. seminar, the point was to encourage parents to attend the CAR SEAT SEMINARS. The information was suggested without realizing the implications and liability of it.

Our number 1 priority is children's safety which is why we're offering these courses in the first place.

Thanks for your feedback since it has helped us in making sure we promote the correct information.

Thanks for all your efforts in keeping everyone informed and most importantly: SAFE on the road!

[hipmaman]

Everyone,

I totally agree with your points and want to assure you that the instructors running the Car Seat SEMINARS are definitely NOT promoting parents go around and install other peoples' car seats. Because most parents want to just get their seats inspected rather than have to sit in a 2 hrs. seminar, the point was to encourage parents to attend the CAR SEAT SEMINARS. The information was suggested without realizing the implications and liability of it.

Our number 1 priority is children's safety which is why we're offering these courses in the first place.

Thanks for your feedback since it has helped us in making sure we promote the correct information.

Thanks for all your efforts in keeping everyone informed and most importantly: SAFE on the road!

We would love to have you around, so please register so we know who we are helping :) You get a lot of info on this site - Canadian, US and int'l.

[snowbird25ca]

We would love to have you around, so please register so we know who we are helping :) You get a lot of info on this site - Canadian, US and int'l.

:yeahthat:

And as a bonus, you wouldn't have to wait for your posts to be approved. ;)