South Windsor Police Car Seat Check-up

Now that’s a lot more than a “check,” don’t you think?! To give you an even better idea of what to expect at the South Windsor Car Seat Check-up, and why you can’t afford to skip this FREE event, I documented my third and latest visit there to turn Boo’s convertible car seat around from rear-facing to front-facing just after his second birthday. Fortunately, Boo’s Grandy was in town for a visit that day, so she was able to keep an eye on Boo while I focused on the business of car seat installation. Are you ready to learn a few things about car seat safety?

For starters, here’s a picture of Boo’s convertible car seat while it was still rear-facing. See that little strap there that runs from the seat to the floor? That’s the tether. Our car seat is one that can be tethered in BOTH the rear- and front-facing positions. Now, I know that if I had tried to do the installation myself, I would not have known what to do with or where to put that tether, which provides an extra measure of safety in the event of a car accident.

I am telling you this not to make you feel like an inferior parent if your car seat isn’t tethered, but to illustrate the kind of extraordinary safety information and assistance you will receive at this Car Seat Check-up.

Alright, back to the story. The South Windsor Car Seat Check-up takes place every Wednesday morning from 8:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. at South Windsor Fire Headquarters, 1175 Ellington Road. No appointment is necessary. In fact, I don’t even think you can make an appointment.

Look for the orange sign at the entrance to the side of the building.

You need to drive around to the back of the fire station. Follow the signs.

If there’s a line, you will see the cars idling in a line at the edge of the parking lot, waiting to enter one of the open bays.

Two out of the three times I have been to this event, the wait time has been fairly short. The only time we found a long line was when we went on the Wednesday during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. In retrospect, I probably should have realized that a lot of folks would use that popular vacation week to take care of an errand like this.

The event is very well organized, so someone will direct you where to pull up your car.

The first thing you’ll do is fill out an information sheet with your name, address, etc. Then, the trained Safety Specialist will take a look at your car seat–usually outside of your car.

Here’s where you’ll go over the features of your car seat, learn how to secure your child into the seat and adjust the straps, and determine the best way to install the car seat (i.e. forward- or rear- facing, latch or seat belt) based on your answers to questions about your child’s age, weight, and height. It’s a good idea to bring your car seat manual with you so that if your model is one that the Safety Specialist is not familiar with, he or she can consult it for additional information.

Here we are determining the right height for the shoulder straps now that Boo will be front-facing in a convertible car seat.

If you don’t have your child with you, the Safety Specialists are happy to provide a substitute for the purposes of demonstration. Of course, without all the squirming and screaming, it won’t give you the full effect 🙂

Boo was super interested in the doll. Here he is trying to give it a kiss, which I would have thought was very sweet had I been able to ignore the voice in my head recounting all the unwashed hands that have probably touched that thing. Oh well. He’ll have a good immune system, right?

Oh, I almost forgot. Technically, the first thing that happened is I got chastised for having those roll-down window shades on my back windows to keep the glare off Boo. Apparently they can snap off in the force of a car accident and act as flying projectiles. Yikes. I’m not taking any chances. Fortunately, I can replace them with a cling-on option like this one.

I also got a little talking-to about my messy trunk (oops) and a reminder to keep my stroller and other items secured with bungee cords.

Back on track, it was time to install the car seat. The first time I came to the Check-up, they gave me a non-slip pad to put under the infant car seat. It’s still going strong, so we just shook out all the Goldfish crumbs and put it right back. I kind of wish I had brought a little hand vac with me to clean out the mess while the car seat was removed. Oh well. Not like the clean seat would have lasted long anyway, right?!

Then it was time to tighten. When I was 8 months pregnant and installing the infant car seat, the Safety Specialist took pity on me and took over the highly physical task of securing the car seat in the car. This time I had no excuse. I don’t have any pictures of me wrestling the car seat into position, but suffice it to say it required me to use all my limbs in different ways at the same time. It was probably not a very photogenic moment anyway 🙂

After the car seat was in good and tight, we refastened the tether to its new position.

Here’s a better picture I took later so you can really see how it attaches in my car (every car will be different).

Before heading out, we got the latest copy of this helpful booklet. Here are a few page samples to illustrate the kind of information you’ll find there (notice the section on “tethers”). It’s very comprehensive. And it’s FREE.

And then it was off to nearby Evergreen Walk for some shopping and lunch.

So what do you think– does Boo look like he’s enjoying his new forward-facing ride? 🙂

Even if you’ve been driving around for years with your self-installed car seat, it’s never too late to take advantage of this FREE Car Seat Check-up to make sure your little ones are safe on the road. After all, is there any more precious cargo?

South Windsor Car Seat Check-up (Open to the general public; you DO NOT need to be a South Windsor resident)

South Windsor Fire Department Co. #1

1175 Ellington Road (Route 30), South Windsor, Connecticut

Website: http://police.southwindsor.org/community_outreach.htm

Phone: (860) 648-6224

Contact: Sgt. Tom Field (Thomas.Field@southwindsor.org)

EVERY Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

• You can expect your visit with the Safety Specialist to last between 15 and 20 minutes.
• If you are bringing your little one with you, make sure you have another adult accompany you too so that someone can monitor your child while you work with the Safety Specialists. It will be very difficult–perhaps impossible–to supervise your toddler and effectively install your new car seat.
• If you’re having an infant car seat installed, you should take your new car seat out of the packaging, but it’s not necessary to “try” to install it (or the base unit) yourself prior to going to the Check-up. The Safety Specialists are just going to take everything out of the car anyway 🙂
• If you are having a convertible or later stage car seat installed, you should also remove the new car seat from its packaging, but it’s okay to have the previous car seat still installed in your car when you arrive at the Check-up. Especially if you need to bring your little one with you! The Safety Specialists will help you remove the old car seat prior to installing the new one.
• BE SURE TO BRING THE MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTION BOOKLET FOR YOUR CAR SEAT. The Safety Specialist may need to to consult it to help you fully understand your car seat’s functionality.
• It is also a good idea to have your car user manual with you as well. The Safety Specialists may need to check on things like where to find the tether points or any weight restrictions on the latches.
• Come prepared to tell the Safety Specialists your child’s current height & weight. It’s important that you have accurate numbers for these stats as it will determine things like whether or not you can use the latches to install your car seat or whether your child is big enough to be front-facing. If possible, plan your visit to the Car Seat Check-up shortly after your child’s latest pediatrician appointment. Then you know you’ll have the most accurate measurements.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions! The Safety Specialists are extremely knowledgeable about car seat safety.
• Make it an outing! Nearby destinations for family fun include the indoor play area at the Shoppes at Buckland Hills, Ted’s Montana Grill at Evergreen Walk, Buffalo Wild Wings, and My Friend’s Place Boundless Playground.
• For additional car seat check events in our state, click here.
• Also check out our fellow CT blogger, Julie’s post at A Year with Mom and Dad for more great safety tips!

COMING UP:

Tomorrow, we’ve got a great GIVEAWAY for any new parent or parent-to-be.

Then next week, Mandy’s crossing the border for a “wild” adventure. Plus, where did the month go?! It’s time for the September Round-up.

 

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