Father's and Mothers I need your help

Its been years but I remember how stressful it was getting the first car seat because it had to be done before taking our newborn home. At the time the local fire stations had a program where they advised parents whether they had the correct seat then helped with installation. Im a pretty handy dude but it really made me feel better on that first trip home knowing things were done right. May have been the most conservatively driven ten miles of my life. After the first install the rest were a piece of cake. Maybe your local FD has a similar program?

 

One other thing that I don't think was mentioned - from what I recall, it is illegal to buy or sell used car seats or booster seats, at least up here in the hipster states... You'll want to doublecheck of you plan on doing anything like that.

I also think that there's a law that states kids can't be in the front until they are big enough to be in the seat unassisted

 

When my daughter was born I had an access cab. Graco rear-facing with a detachable base fit the best behind the passenger side with the seat cushion up for me. But nobody could sit in front of it. We had a 4Runner at the time too so we took that everywhere as a family. But the setup in the truck worked for around-town stuff where it was just the two of us just fine. After she got to be about 3 and was forward-facing she started to complain about staring at the back of a seat. So I bought a double cab. And quite honestly I should have just done that from the beginning.

 

That's what the plan is right now. The wife's car is going to be the primary vehicle until I upgrade the truck. But the rear seat with the front seat as a brace is solid.

 

I removed the back section of the rear seat while my boys were rear facing. Then when they moved to a forward facing seat, I simply replaced it. This gave us the most room. I'm almost 6'8" and have had no space issues. Now that my youngest is two, we're getting ready to switch him to a larger seat, but my oldest is ready for a booster.

I think when they're around 6 and 8, I might be in the market for a full size. But that river crossing is still a few years off.

 

Rear facing is a pain in the butt. Even in my wifes SUV its tight with it rear facing.

In my DCSB the rear facing seat my son is in now it's tight up against the passenger seat and the seat has to be about half way forward

Personally I'd try to avoid it as much as possible and use your wife's vehicle until the baby is big enough to sit in a forward facing seat.

When my daughter was born I only had a regular cab truck. I had her rear facing seat in the front seat as it was the only place for it. Never had an issue, was even pulled over once with her in there and the cop said nothing about it. And only gave me a warning for 40 in a 35.

 

I'll second the Britax Marathon, Great seat. Then moved into "First years" seats.

 

The Diono Rainer is the cure to your problems my friend!

 

Absolutely, positively, rear facing and in the backseat only.

Watch this video to see why.

This video shows it better.

Use the vehicle's built in "Latch" system and snug it down as tight as you can.

You might also consider placing the carseat in the center rear seat. This may provide more room so it's not up against the back of a driver or passenger seat. It takes more effort to climb in and buckle the child up. But, if you're ever in a side impact collision the child will be slightly further away from the bumper of the incoming vehicle.

EDIT: Does your vehicle allow you to manually shut off the passenger airbag? Most newer cars don't seem to allow that anymore.

 

Congrats!

Like already stated, always rear facing until 2/state laws/reached seat restrictions (which he won't be forward facing in a turtle shell like that). Make sure to read your seat user manual and talk to local PD/FD they will show you how to install properly.

I'm having my second in a few weeks, one rear facing and one forward. The back seat is definitely tight but it is doable.

Congrats, again!

 

I didn't read all of the replies so forgive me if this has already been said...

You need a bigger truck.

 

Report on European Road Safety and Sweden say backwards until four... Best advice is as long as possible..at least two.

I don't think "he doesn't like it, he's uncomfortable, I want to see him" trump the fact kids are far safer backwards.

 

So that's how you carry kids? I always wondered since my dog takes up most of the room in a truck cab. LOL

 

I told my mother I didn't want to continue the line of insanity in our family.

 

Yes it does. That's why the passenger seat has the built in hooks as well. And the passenger side is the only option in the Access cabs. So he's going to be in the back.

 

Well said. If you watch your kids and how they bend like gymnast... Sitting in a car seat rear facing with their legs bent isn't going to hurt.

 

+1, no amount of fiddling with access cab is worth when it comes to children. There is no piller between two doors. The law might allow you to put the seat in front if there is no provision elsewhere but is that what you really want to do? My kid was in a rear facing seat until she turned 2.5(a month ago).

 

I did this too. Gained 6" of clearance this way.

 

Question. If they're rear facing and you are violently rear ended what stops the car seat, with a face first baby, from slamming into the metal?

 

The whole reason for not putting them in the front seat was the airbag. If you turn the airbag off with the switch, then there is no reason you can't put the child in the front seat. What would you do if you had a standard cab truck?