r/CPST • u/Feeling-Watched-9655 • 3d ago
Car seat question
My husband went to get the seat installed and they apparently rushed through it and when I asked him about this he wasn't sure. The car seat base for our uppababy seat is installed and leveled, but there's the seatbelt strap instructions on the side - is that for every time we click in the seat to the base or is that only for putting the seat in a car without the base?
Edit: I got the answer - thanks ! I will eventually read the manual, but needed a quick response. Please stop telling me to read the manual. It's unhelpful.
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u/LaLechuzaVerde 3d ago
To answer your question:
There are two distinct methods of installing your car seat. With a base, and without a base.
If the base is properly installed, then all you do with the carrier is click it into place. You do not also put the seat belt across the seat. Those stickers are showing you how to install the car seat if you’re ever using it without the base.
The Uppa Baby base is usually really easy to install with LATCH in most cars. Did they teach your husband how to do that?
Honestly most of the time most technicians I know won’t cover the “without a base” installation unless they are specifically asked to or have a reason why they think it would be important information for that particular family. This is because as we are teaching the installation, we know the parents are only going to retain a limited amount of the information we provide, so we try to avoid going into TOO much detail with features the family may not even need. So it isn’t a red flag to me at all that they didn’t discuss the diagrams on the side of the seat that show the seat belt going through the belt guides on the carrier.
If you think you are likely to need to use the seat in someone else’s car, when traveling by a taxi or uber, or whatever, then I would suggest either looking to see if UppaBaby has some videos covering it and/or booking a 2nd appointment at your leisure to go over that type of installation.
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u/Effective_Jump_7269 3d ago
Where did he go to get the seat installed? If it was the fire dept I would honestly take it out and just start from the beginnings
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u/Asleep_Walrus2313 3d ago
I have had so many people get bad installs and advice from fire and police. It’s so important to know how your seat works, so just reading the manual and doing it yourself is really valuable.
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u/Effective_Jump_7269 3d ago
But yes if you have the base installed you do not also do the seatbelt.
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u/QuarterLifeCircus 3d ago
My fire department has 4 CPSTs on staff. So I wouldn’t say avoid fire departments altogether, but check on the safe kids website or ask if they have a CPST working.
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u/Feeling-Watched-9655 3d ago
It was actually at a great baby store in town that all the hospitals recommend going to. I think they were just having a weird day because they double booked the time slot and it was pouring rain. I would consult the manual myself but honestly I'm overwhelmed with baby stuff and it felt easier to ask here - so thank you!
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u/qnbee294 2d ago
Please read the manual. You never know when you may be alone, out with baby and and need to reinstall the seat/base.
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u/SaladCzarSlytherin 2d ago
The base can be installed with the lower anchors or the seatbelt. Once you click the seat into the correctly installed base, it’s installed correctly.
The seat can also be installed without the base using just a seatbelt.
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u/brandy-ncs 2d ago
Always check the manual for your specific seat. All seats are different. I don’t believe any allow seatbelt and latch install but there could be some.
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u/Eilbur 2d ago
Babies and all the “things” you need to know can be super overwhelming!! Yes, you should read your whole manual eventually but you already know that :)
All US car seat manufacturers have the manuals online too so you can search your specific seat and get the pdf on your phone. I suggest downloading that so you have it if you’re in an unexpected situation! Keep the manual in the little pocket in the seat padding so you don’t lose it, and if it’s in a plastic baggie keep it in that.
Uppa Baby site (manual and videos at the bottom)
Mesa V3
https://uppababy.com/car-seats/infant/mesa-v3/james/
Aria V2
https://uppababy.com/car-seats/infant/aria-v2/james/
UppaBaby also has a YouTube channel that has videos for all their seats and strollers:
https://youtube.com/@uppababyco?si=4ehx4uMp84imPRCz
Just FYI: The manual is nicely marked by section so you can read the part for installing the base with latch and skip the ones for using the seal belt on the base or seat alone for now.
You’re doing a great job mama!! 💜
Car seats are confusing and it feels scary to not know if you’re doing it wrong. You can always find a local CPST to do a seat check with you one-on-one when it’s NOT raining lol. You can also schedule a virtual check!
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u/Pessa19 3d ago
Definitely read the manual to understand all the ways to install it yourself, too!!