Any advice for a techie to be?

Katina128 · Mar 20, 2009

I'm taking the course in April in Knoxville, TN and wondered if you gals had any advice for me.

Judi · Mar 20, 2009

get enough sleep. the week of your class.

wendytthomas · Mar 20, 2009

Make sure your car is clean.

Wendy

Katina128 · Mar 20, 2009

Really? my car? why is that? My car is NEVER clean. LOL I have 2 boys. That's asking for a miracle. I have a bad back, too, so cleaning it really hurts me. I guess DH will have to do it for me.

sixmaybemore · Mar 20, 2009

wendytthomas said:
Make sure your car is clean.

Wendy

Ditto that.

Katina128 · Mar 20, 2009

Do they teach you how to install in your own car then?

sixmaybemore · Mar 20, 2009

Yes, they ask what kinds of seat belts you have in your car, if you have LATCH, etc, and then they use the cars for teaching the installs.

Katina128 · Mar 20, 2009

well shoot. I don't want them seeing my kids' crumbs, so I'll pray DH is home to clean it for me. LOL If he's out of town, though, they'll have to use someone else's car cuz I can't hurt my back doing it before the class.

snowbird25ca · Mar 20, 2009

Go in to the class with an open mind knowing that there is going to be a lot of information and you might have a lot of initial "yeah, but" to what you're taught, but that doesn't make the information you're being given wrong. Be willing to ask questions if you're unsure, and just generally prepare to be exhausted and wiped out at the end of it all, as well as hopefully having a sense of accomplishment. :thumbsup:

LISmama810 · Mar 20, 2009

Cut your fingernails and leave hand/wrist jewelry at home.

Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and maybe a hat.

Bring something to pull your hair back with.

Wear shoes that won't slip off (i.e., no clogs, flip-flops, etc.)

Wear pants and shirts that, uh, cover everything from any angle.

Have fun.

Mom to a few · Mar 20, 2009

Congrats on signing up for the class! I agree with all the other advice given--especially about making the right clothing choices!

I'm not trying to be rude at all, but I was wondering how you will be able to install seats if your back is so bad that you can't clean out your car? We have to carry carseats around, bend in and out of cars, and installing lots of seats can make you sore even if you don't have any specific back problems. My back always aches for a couple of days after really busy seat checks. Have you talked to your instructor about your back problems?

jess71903 · Mar 20, 2009

I'm going to be doing the class in May- Would it be of any benefit for me to have my seat there with me?

pastrygirl · Mar 20, 2009

jess71903 said:
I'm going to be doing the class in May- Would it be of any benefit for me to have my seat there with me?

For me, it was, because during one of the tasks (or test, I can't remember), there weren't enough high-weight seats around. I was able to use my own Marathon, but thankfully no one else needed it so I didn't have to worry about it being mistreated.

LISmama810 · Mar 20, 2009

jess71903 said:
I'm going to be doing the class in May- Would it be of any benefit for me to have my seat there with me?

A lot of people take their seats, but I didn't. Most people in the class will be completely clueless about car seats and could very easily mess something up (inadvertently, of course--I'm thinking misrouting straps, etc.) Probably nothing that can't be undone, but still. Also, over the course of the week, seats are installed/uninstalled tons of times, and people drag them, drop them, etc. It just wasn't a risk I wanted to take with my own seat.

Mama! · Mar 20, 2009

I really wish I could do it, but I have no kid care for a whole week.

NVMBR02 · Mar 20, 2009

I had my class a few weeks ago. I did bring my seats since I needed them to pick up my kids. We didn't use them a ton but they did use them. They weren't brought in the classroom so people didn't mess with them a lot but the did practice installing the Radian in a few cars and learned about using the rear facing tether.

We used all the cars so I would recommend a somewhat clean car and comfortable clothing. I have shortish nails and still managed to break one anyway.

Overall I had a great time and I hope you do too!

Katina128 · Mar 20, 2009

I could do the cleaning, but then I'd be sore and miserable for the class. So, better to be sore and miserable after the class than before I ever even start it. KWIM? Ironically, I herniated my disc installing my son's Marathon in my van in 2005. So, I'm now extra extra careful about how I install my seats so that I don't blow that disc again.

Defrost · Mar 20, 2009

I have/had a bad back (exercising the past few months has improved it) and I can still do installs. You can still do it, you just need to be aware of your limits. When doing seat checks you're mostly just teaching the parents anyway - they do all the hard work!

Katina128 · Mar 20, 2009

That's exactly what I've been told Debbie, that the parents need to do the installs themselves, otherwise, they don't learn how to do it right.

Jeanum · Mar 20, 2009

Check with your lead instructor about whether he/she would want to have you bring along your own carseats for use during the course, and also factor in whether you would be willing to have others handle or mishandle them during the class. :twocents: My course instructors didn't want to use anyone's personal carseats and requested we allow our vehicles to be used, and preferably have our vehicle owner's manuals along, too. The course instructors provided a Safe Kids vanload of carseats and dolls for us to utilize for practice and assessment installations.

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