scatterbunny
New member
AndieW and I went to a carseat clinic today at a hospital about 2 hours away. Yes, we spent 4 hours in the car to attend a 4 hour event. :thumbsup: It was totally worth it, of course. 
Judi and Judi's DH were there, as well as one of Judi's Baby Depot employees, and two other techs, plus Andie and two other greeters. It was probably the busiest checks I've worked so far, and it was awesome.
Some highlights I can remember now:
I'm sure Andrea and Judi will be on soon to add their two cents. Judi had to leave the clinic and go to work until 10PM (Pacific time).
Judi and Judi's DH were there, as well as one of Judi's Baby Depot employees, and two other techs, plus Andie and two other greeters. It was probably the busiest checks I've worked so far, and it was awesome.
Some highlights I can remember now:
- Dad in a 1991 Nissan pickup with 10mo, 16# baby (not with him), in an Evenflo On My Way infant seat from 1998 that he bought at a garage sale. I tried to convince him that he needed to replace that seat ASAP, and since his family is on state-sponsored insurance, he qualified to get one of our distribution seats, but he balked at it. He called mom, who was supposed to be arriving shortly with her car, and seat, and baby, but he couldn't get through. He pondered for about 45 minutes before deciding to just go ahead and get one of our Sceneras. Thank goodness! Mom arrived in a really old Mercedes with a 3yo Evenflo bucket and decided to get a Scenera for her car, too. Both were receptive to ERF, loved the front adjuster, but seemed confused by the five point harness.
- Family in older Pontiac Bonneville, older child only 55 inches, but 110 pounds, in a seatbelt, younger child (7yo), 65 pounds, also in just a seatbelt (illegal in my state). The 7yo arrived in just the lapbelt, but both were out of the car by the time I got to them. When I had the get back in and buckle up, both chose outboard spots with shoulderbelts, but buckled them very loosely. I explained the need for the belts to be tight. The darn shoulderbelt was SO high on their necks, and the boy was too heavy for all but the Monterey (price prohibitive for this family) and Britax boosters (price prohibitive and way too narrow). Mom said 7yo had a booster at home (ugh, why not use it, then?), and that she would use it from now on. I stressed the importance of not placing the shoulderbelt behind their backs, even if it felt uncomfortable, and dad made it clear to the kids, after I explained the risks and "whys", that they better listen. This family also got one of our Sceneras for baby-to-be, and dad installed it GREAT in the middle lapbelt spot.
- This is probably the most interesting part of the check: a Jeep Patriot with North Carolina plates came in, with three kids. The 6yo was in a Fisher Price Safe Voyage booster, 4yo in an Alpha Omega, 18mo in a Safe Seat 1. I commented to mom that I had the same booster, and that it was uncommon to see them. She said she had a "carseat tech friend" back east. I said "cool" and we moved on. Later she mentioned that her friend was from Massachusetts and had three kids, and she told me her name. Small world, her friend is ThreeBeans.
I'm sure Andrea and Judi will be on soon to add their two cents.
Judi had to leave the clinic and go to work until 10PM (Pacific time).
