What happens at a check?

Valentine

New member
When you go to see a tech, what do they do exactly? Do they uninstall and reinstall your seats even if you have them in correctly? Will they go over the ways to install even though it's all in the manual? I want to make an appointment, and I heard it's better to bring your child so they can see him strapped in, but the temp's in the single digits here. Will we have to stand around outside with the baby for a long time? We'd be bringing two vehicles with two seats (one in each).
 
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CDNTech

Senior Community Member
When it's cold out, we use the fire hall and do the checks inside.

The seats are taken out of the vehicle because it is easy to have mistakes/errors that you can not spot with the seat installed in the vehicle.

Then we show you how to install the seat properly in the vehicle. It comes out once more and you get a chance to practice installing it.

Finally we show you how to correctly buckle your little one into his/her seat.

Along the way, we answer any questions you have, and discuss best practice and the why's behind it.

I typically show a parent how to install the seat using the easiest method available (this depends on vehicle/seat) and discuss other options. If I teach a LATCH install and they also need to know a seatbelt install for another vehicle, then I will also teach them how to do a seatbelt install as well.

Disclaimer... not all techs are created equal and clinics vary greatly from area to area. I would suggest that you call the organization holding the particular check you want to attend and ask them these questions.

At the very least they should be *teaching* you how to install the seat, NOT doing it for you. :)
 

Valentine

New member
Thanks!

There aren't clinics held around here (very small town) but the Health Dept. has a tech that you can make an appointment with.
 

flipper68

Senior Community Member
I do checks using the Safe Kids form (anyone have a scanned copy? I'm rather tech poor in that department, not to mention I can't find it) and am almost always at a check up event.

Because of this, I want to see the child in the seat in the vehicle when you arrive. . .document how seat is installed, location of seat, type of seat used.

THEN I will take it out, record the model #/serial #, check for recalls.

If your seat is okay (no recalls, still appropriate for your child) I will install it (I learned the old fashioned way - I do it, then I will teach you. Which makes sense to me because I'm discovering/problem solving any installation issues along the way). Once I'm confident of a good install, I will take it out and have you to install it.

Along the way, I talk about: when a seat is outgrown, what the next seat will do (rear face then turn - look for high weight limits on both), when/how to adjust the harness, how to use LATCH & seat belts ('cause you may use different vehicles).

At a check up event, we have instructors/senior checkers review the install and do some quizzing of the parents (asking parent to state what I told them).

There is also liberal flirting with/drooling over the little people, congrats for "soon to be parents" (Several of the instructors have OB nursing background and most techs are parents and/or work with young children) and praise / encouragement / thanks to parents coming in (our check events are by appointment).
 
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