Can I Really Install Correctly Myself?

[Unregistered]

I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 1 year old, and we have always had a CPS tech come to our house to install our seats. I became uncomortable with the information that she was giving to me (for one thing, she kept insisting that my then-18-month old should not be rear-facing any longer, even though she was well below the RF weight/ height limits), and have recently heard the same from someone else, and so we will not be calling her again.

My 2 1/2 year came in a 34.8 pounds when I weighed her this weekend, and so I think it is time to turn her from RF to FF! I know that that there are highly competent and knowledgeable techs in our area, but I don't know who they are, and I am wondering whether I should just try to install them myself. We have a Britax Boulevard and a Radian - if I take the time to read the manuals and watch an installation video (or two) [and of course come here with any questions!), is it likely that I will be able to get a good, safe install? Or should we just try and track down a tech? I know that most people install seats incorrectly - is that largely just because they don't take the time to learn how to do it right?

Thanks so much in advance.

[joolsplus3]

Yup, you can do it! Forward facing is also considerably easier than rearfacing, so it should be a breeze. And a GOOD tech will *always* teach you how to install your seats... they are educators, not installers...(bad techs? I guess they are installers :whistle:)

[Unregistered]

I am not a tech, but maybe I still can help. In my opinion, doing a forward facing install is easier then a rear facing install. I have installed many seats and always worry about getting the right recline on a rear facing install. You are right about reading the manuals and watching the movies. Another good option is to come to this message board with anymore questions that you might have.

[An Aurora]

Yes, you absolutely can do it correctly! I hate hearing stories about techs who act as an installation service--they really are not helping anything.

Read through the manual, and try it out. If you have any questions, we are more than happy to help ;)

[Ahzryn]

Absolutely, and with practice, reading your vehicle and car seat manual, and perserverance, you can install it BETTER than a tech. Think of it this way...you only have to get to know one or two vehicle and seats. As a tech we need to know LOTS of seats and vehicle combinations. We can offer tips and guidance, but in the end you are going to get better, and faster, than a tech because you know your seat and car.

It's an awful misconception that it take 4 burly firefighters to properly install a seat :( I'll take an install from a well educated parent over that one any day of the week!

[kelharris79]

Let me just say- I LOVE YOUR QUESTION!!! I've wondered this myself for years! After spending hours trying to install my infant daughter's first car seat 5 years ago, and then finally taking it to be inspected/installed, just to have the installer take one quick look at it and say it was wrong and pull it out and redo it, I've never felt confident installing my own seats. I know the statistics say so many are put in incorrectly, and like others have said (great answers, by the way!), rear-facing seems SO much harder to get the right angle. When I get a new seat (or need to install a seat in a car I've never had the seat in before), I like to get it professionally installed, watch them do it (like everyone said, they should be teaching you!), make sure I understand it all, and take a really good look at how it looks and how much it moves when you know it's put in correctly. Then, if you have to take it out and re-install, you know better if it's right. Plus, you can always read the manuals and watch videos and do it yourself, but take it to a tech just to have them check it. (more for peace of mind!). Your question, and the answers that followed, have really help reassure me that I can do it myself too!

[Mom to a few]

Then, if you have to take it out and re-install, you know better if it's right.

It's great that you are watching them do it, and listening to what they have to say about your install. It can really help to see a seat installed correctly so that you know what to look for. Ideally, the tech should talk to you about the way your seat is installed originally--You need to know what you did right, and what areas need improvement. Then we uninstall the seat, get any necessary info off of it (like the model #'s to check for recalls), and then we reinstall the seat while explaining step by step what we are doing. But here's the most important part!! After we finish, we take the seat back out!! The parent puts the seat back in the car, and walks us through the installation process, thinking through and explaining to us what they are doing and WHY. We are there to answer any questions that arise while the parent is trying to install the seat by themselves, but we don't usually actually help unless there is a health/mobility problem (or extreme pregnancy) involved. The parent is the last one to install the seat, and the last one to buckle the child in before they leave.

It's great to watch someone else do an installation, but it's a completely different ballgame to be able to do it yourself. You need to be the one with your hands on the seat at the end! If you are in an emergency, or have to move your seat quickly for some other reason, your chances of doing it correctly are going to be much higher if you've actually done it right before. A good tech won't leave you dependent on them!! A good tech will not only give you the knowledge and skills, but also make you confident in your own ability to install and use your own seat correctly.

So find a good tech, and insist that they watch you install at the end!! Good luck!:)

[Mom2One]

You can absolutley do it right!! I could have written your post word for word (minus the number of kids, lol) about 2.5 years ago. I couldn't get my infant seat in correctly and the tech I finally saw didn't really TEACH me how to do it.

I found another tech, learned the proper technique and now I am 100% confident in my install. I am not a tech, so I try not to install for other people for liability reasons, but I do know that MINE are done right!

Once you learn how, you will be so proud of yourself and will have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you CAN do it yourself, whenever and whereever you need to.

Oh and BTW, have you checked out the installation vids here:
http://www.carseatsite.com/videos.htm
They were a big help to me in the beginning!

[Defrost]

Absolutely you can do it! :thumbsup:

I just wanted to remind you that the first thing you'll need to do is switch the carseats from "RF mode" to "FF mode." What you need to do varies from one carseat to another, but with the Blvd, you'll need to swap the LATCH connectors by pulling back the cover and re-threading them through the front (instructions are in the manual), and also change the recline mechanism to upright.

With the Radian, you'll need to remove the RF "boot," and be sure to use the FF beltpath.

With both seats, you'll need to check the harness slots - the harness should be "at or above" the shoulders for FF.

Grab yourself a cup of coffee (or tea!) and haul the carseats into the house. Sit down on the living room floor with them and read the manuals, and get to know your carseats! :thumbsup:

[papooses]

haul the carseats into the house. Sit down on the living room floor with them and read the manuals, and get to know your carseats!

Ditto :) I'm only 100# with a chronic illness & rarely have I encountered a situation where I couldn't get a seat installed correctly -- it's not always as easy as I'd like, but it is usually very possible even if I have to resort to taking off my shoes & getting all bunched up inside the car with my butt hanging out the window :p (it's usually a lot easier than that ;)) Just get comfy with the manuals & seats, then give yourself time.... It's all about following the instructions: including the vehicle manual.

[Misty-Bug]

Read through the manual, and try it out. If you have any questions, we are more than happy to help ;)

:yeahthat:

you can totally do it! It is good that you came here to ask. I have gotten tons of help. I have a Radian as well. It can be tricky but you can do it. Work on one seat at a time would be my suggestion (but I am not a tech) I wouldn't want to see you get the two seats confussed. The radian can be difficult to install.
Take pictures. Ask questions, no matter if you think they are dumb or not. Also give the year, make and model of the vehicle cause that helps the techs a lot.

with my radian I took the boot off then lowered the base. You will read that in your manual. Good luck and YOU CAN DO IT!
Like others have said, techs should be SHOWING you how to do it. NOt doing it FOR you. I always show whoever I help then direct them to someone who is qualified and can check.
Happy reading! :)

[Defrost]

even if I have to resort to taking off my shoes & getting all bunched up inside the car with my butt hanging out the window :p

LOL! We should add that to our list of "last-resort tricks" for installing difficult carseats. "If none of the above helps, try: 1. Swearing; and 2. Hanging your butt out the window." ;)

OP, please don't let us scare you - most carseats are NOT that difficult to install!

[Misty-Bug]

LOL! We should add that to our list of "last-resort tricks" for installing difficult carseats. "If none of the above helps, try: 1. Swearing; and 2. Hanging your butt out the window." ;)

OP, please don't let us scare you - most carseats are NOT that difficult to install!

hahaha!!!!
I always take my shoes off when I do it. You can get a better handle on everything. LOL

[niccig]

You can do it yourself, and as others explained you should know how in case you ever need to move the seat. I didn't install our infant seat, DH did it. And I only learned how to put DS in the seat. Then I found out from being on another board, that DH had done it wrong - used LATCH in center and our car didn't allow that. After that, I learned how - I asked questions on boards like this, I read the manual, and most importantly I PRACTICED. I have a friend that relies on her DH like I did, he doesn't do it correctly and she thinks it's too difficult to do herself as she's not strong enough. I can get a car seat in tighter than her husband can, it's all about technique and tricks, not brute strength.

[amie815]

You can definietly do it yourself. I was terrified about installing my own correctly, until I decided that I didn't care for my car seat "installer". He said things were okay and I can to find out I should have changed a few things. Anywho. I installed 2 MAs myself and they are solid. I posted pics for techs to check and asked questions and I feel very confidient that they are nice and safe. BTW I LOVE my Marathons!

[mommy_quigg]

Make sure you put the SafeStop on the Radian when FF if it's tethered.

[sunnymw]

Make sure you put the SafeStop on the Radian when FF if it's tethered.

nak... & child is under 40lbs

[amyd]

Of course you can! I install our seats myself. I don't even know anyone who's had a tech check a seat...I don't think we have one around here.

[bobbysgirl7103]

You can definitely install the seats correct yourself. I'm just a normal everyday mom. I never knew to get the seats checked by a tech until this year and he was impressed with how well I had them all in.

Just read the manuals and check on this board for other info. I never knew not to use aftermarket products before reading it on here. Everyone here is really helpful if you come across any problems also. :)

[Kat_Momof3]

a good tech doesn't just install it FOR you (unless you are very pg... then it's just being nice to let the preggo mommy opt out... but if the hubby is there, they should teach him, then), they are supposed to TEACH you how to install and use your seat.

You CAN do it yourself.