Headrests & CarSeats-HELP!

[MomOfTwoBoys]

Hello - I just purchased a 2006 Mercury Mountaneer. I have two forward facing carseats (for kids ages 3 and 1). The car-seats have been installed by an AAA certified police sergeant in my town. They seats are quite snug but not completely flush against the seat itelf due to the headrests that can NOT be removed! What, if any, are the dangers of this? I am very concerned...Thanks!

[CPSDarren]

It shouldn't be a problem if the seats are otherwise correctly installed. Unless you think there are other installation issues or have noted a warning in either owner's manual, I would not be concerned. Even so, it wouldn't be a bad idea to contact the manufacturer of the child restraints to get their input or to see a different technician for a second opinion on the installations.

[Unregistered]

Both of your children should still be rear facing is possible, but definitely your one year old. I would find a different person (AAA does not certify for car seats, only safekids does, and police don't normally know what they're doing) to install them with the one year old rear facing until he outgrows his seat's rear facing limits.

[skaterbabscpst]

AAA *used* to certifiy techncians, they do not any more, and it is possible that a technician maintained certification once Safe Kids took over.

[Sharlene]

Both of your children should still be rear facing is possible, but definitely your one year old. I would find a different person (AAA does not certify for car seats, only safekids does, and police don't normally know what they're doing) to install them with the one year old rear facing until he outgrows his seat's rear facing limits.

In addition, there are some very knowledgeable police officers who are techs and instructors certified through Safe Kids. Not all officers are certified and some have given poor advice as they are not trained, but it's not fair to characterize all officers as not knowing what they are doing.

Sharlene
CPST Tech thanks to several great instructors who are officers!

[ShyGecko]

I agree with the PP. Two of my instructors were police officers, and they were great and VERY knowledgable. There were a few officers in my class also that were very good, although a couple I have to say were just there b/c they were told to be and didn't really seem to care much about what they learned (one didn't say anything at all to a couple that brought their 13 month old in an 11 year old T-shield carseat, he was about to reinstall it for her until I pointed it out and he just non-chalantly said something about it and continued with the install).