We are told we will not be allowed to leave the hospital without a car seat and one that is properly installed in the vehicle. So our first order of business has been to install car seat bases in both our vehicles, test out the car seat transfers from home to car and back, and get used to the different harnesses and latches in this equipment. I believe I have not read equipment manuals as much as I did for this task.
While we were at it, we also assembled the jogging stroller, which can fit either of our car seats in rear-facing position. This coming week, we'll test the stroller (fully loaded) outdoors when we do our walks. But from now on, each of our vehicles will have a car seat, with practice taking it out when we go to work and bringing it in when we return home.
On left, Subaru installation of a BabyTrends Fixed car seat. Subarus don't do middle rear-seat installations, so the passenger-side rear seat will do. This car seat comes LATCH-ready though I wish there was another anchor on the front of the seat to control vertal bounce. The Nissan allows a middle rear-seat installation (statistically the safest spot in the car), and the Safety 1st car seat can only do belt installation. Perfect match. On right, our very fancy Expedition ELX jogging stroller. Luckily, it can fit either of our car seats.
In hindsight, we should have attended the safety class first, then inspected our vehicles before acquiring the car seats; we did it in reverse order instead. Car safety classes can seem pointless but they are good for laying out what you should consider in your particular situation. Then you must follow them with vehicle manuals and YouTube videos from the car seat manufacturer to get fully immersed.
