I watched a KID install her car seat!

Splash

New member

• Mar 7, 2007

• #1

When I left work yesterday, there was a wreck right as I turned on to the road, so traffic was stopped. Across the street from work is a private elementary school for grades 3-8 (they have the younger kids on another campus). Since it was pick up time, I was watching all the kids get into their cars to see how horribly some of them would be restrained.
Then this one girl, probably 9 or so (remember, school starts at 3rd grade, so she has to be at least 8), opened the back door of her grandma's car (I guess it was her grandma) and installed her own seat! I am almost positive it was a Safeguard GO (unless there is another seat like that, it's the only thing it could be). She put the base on the seat, hooked up and tightened the anchors (and really gave them a good pull), and then hooked up the tether and gave it a good yank. Then she got in, buckled herself up, and they drove off! It only took her about 5 minutes to do the whole thing! The pick up line is right by the street, so I could see pretty clearly what she was doing. I was impressed! I didn't go check her seat or anything, but it looked like she got it in there pretty good! And after she buckled herself, she pulled on the hip straps to tighten it. I was so shocked to watch a KID put her own car seat in, and looked like she did a better job than most adults!

So there's the answer, folks! If you don't trust the grandparents to put the seat in right, teach the kid!

 

S

southpawboston

New member

• Mar 7, 2007

• #2

that's cool, and she's learning good habits early, but my only concern is that a 9 year old wouldn't be able to tighten it well enough, and might not have enough weight to push the seat in enough during tightening to get a TRULY snug fit... even with my 6'1" frame i give my seats a good push into the vehicle seat (all 170 lbs being exerted on the seat) and i pull on those straps with all my might...

 

skaterbabs

Well-known member

• Mar 7, 2007

• #3

That's great! I've been thinking it's about time to teach CJ how to install Joyjoy's seats.... I've just been afraid he'd drop them. LOL Especially the MA.

 

T

twokidstwodogs

New member

• Mar 7, 2007

• #4

I can imagine a kid getting a good install on a Go better than on other seats, mostly because it's so light. If the lower anchors were easy to access and she could get a good grip on the straps to tighten them, I think it could be done by a well-trained child. (Perhaps her parents taught her to do it because they knew she'd do a better job than Grandma?)

 

mominabigtruck

New member

• Mar 7, 2007

• #5

Well my oldest will tell me if papa lets him ride in the truck without his booster so its similair. It's sad that some kids have a better idea of safety then alot of parents.

 

Victorious4

Senior Community Member

• Mar 7, 2007

• #6

Cool -- I bet she did better than my mom Leila will definitely be learning to install her own seats (& that of her uture sibling/s) now that her attention span as well as general cognitive + physical capabilies are taking off.... By 8 or 9 she may be as skilled as your average tech

 

A

Alicia-N-2SafeBugs

Senior Community Member

• Mar 7, 2007

• #7

LOL, That's awesome!! Sounds like she got it in there better than most parents do! Someone needs to give that kid a "future CPST" shirt!

 

B

beebear23

Senior Community Member

• Mar 7, 2007

• #8

Wow.. I hope she got it in tight...

I'm teaching DS to install his own seats. I don't see any reason why not..

 

skaterbabs

Well-known member

• Mar 7, 2007

• #9

Yep, it absolutely doesn't take force to get them in tightly - finesse is better. There's one FD guy I work with who weight 300 lbs if he's an ounce. Only once in two years have we needed his bulk to install a seat, and it was a really tough installation.

My 130 lbs is more than sufficient, and a kid can absolutely learn to do it properly.

 

F

flipper68

Senior Community Member

• Mar 7, 2007

• #10

southpawboston said:

that's cool, and she's learning good habits early, but my only concern is that a 9 year old wouldn't be able to tighten it well enough, and might not have enough weight to push the seat in enough during tightening to get a TRULY snug fit... even with my 6'1" frame i give my seats a good push into the vehicle seat (all 170 lbs being exerted on the seat) and i pull on those straps with all my might...

Click to expand...

Naw, I think she'd be okay - 'cause a 1/2 to 1 inch is acceptable. The tightest installs I've ever seen are the ones done by an instructor. She's a wisp of a thing, maybe 120 lbs. soaking wet.

I wonder if the driver has arthritis (sp?) or some other difficulty with hand strength.

 

bobandjess99

Senior Community Member

• Mar 7, 2007

• #11

flipper68 said:

I wonder if the driver has arthritis (sp?) or some other difficulty with hand strength.

Click to expand...

That was my thinking as well...not that I dispute there are a lot of people who just don't give a crap, but this was my first thought...arthritis runs so bad in my family, everyone has it, and noone over about 45 has any type of manual strength/dexterity left.....just typing this, it sounds like I'm having a bowl of rice krispies!
lol!

 

BudgieStew

New member

• Mar 8, 2007

• #12

I think as long as you are taught properly and of normal strenght, a child would be able to do it.
I'm 4 11 and 110 lbs and am certainly able to install our seats.
In fact I am a much better choice then say my DH who although is much stronger then me at 290 lbs is unable to get in with the seat and install it.

Now my 3 year old is not going to be installing seats anytime soon but its a good idea to show the basics so when he is older and in the worst case scenario that he is with someone who has no idea what they are doing. He is a little boss so I can see him saying NO Its like this!!!!

But I would have been freaking to see that.

 

S

southpawboston

New member

• Mar 8, 2007

• #13

well i guess for a safeguard go, it shouldn't require much effort, because the seat is light and IMMI makes those wonderufl LATCH straps that are easy to cinch up tight. but there's no way a 9 year old could install the APEX securely in my car. i just installed it yesterday and it was a PITA... i had to pull so hard on the LATCH strap just to get the seat within the 1" movement limit at the belt path. it's just the design of the seat and the belt. the belt is a very poor design, there is so much friction to overcome at the cincher, that it very hard to get that belt tight.

 

K

Kellyr2

New member

• Mar 8, 2007

• #14

I'm around 105 and can get rock solid installs. And I have super scrawny little arms with no muscles. Cuz I use slings instead of actually carrying babies LOL.

 

broken4u05

New member

• Mar 8, 2007

• #15

You should go find her mom. LOL she has to love car seats if she tought her child how to put in her own seat and still has her harnessed at age 9 or so. Be someone great to talk to.