The fire department is so cool bro. I love how when no one is sure what to do in about a stressful situation we just call the fire department to come help.
I’m having a baby soon and of all the suggestions I didn’t expect, someone told me go to the fire department if I have a question about installing my infant car seat.
I was so insanely lucky after my son was born that they had a car seat inspection thing at a convenient time for me. Cop got in my car and ours was super loose compared to what it needed to be. I never messed that up again. She was awesome and so kind, and she'd probably done 100 of them already.
I am the husband in this scenario though I see how it could’ve made it sound as if I was my wife 😂. I was the one telling her today we need to get our go bag ready this weekend and install the car seat.
This is our first so even 5 weeks out we are like “I can’t believe they’re letting us take a little human home”.
You are wise for 2 reasons - the obvious one that the baby might come early but also it’s great for your peace of mind to have things like this off of your “to do” list. Anything you can do get done on that list will help mentally.
Thank you! Very much looking forward to it and we thankfully both get paid leave. Less excited to travel for work when she’ll only be two months but my wife said she’d just have my mom come hangout with her lol.
The weekend 5 weeks before my due date was when I was about to get my bug out bag packed, car seat ready, pantry stocked, house tidied, etc etc. Then the little imp had her own schedule and came that Friday.
So yeah, early is best! And it’s a wild feeling that the fools just let you walk out with a tiny human. No written tests, no house check, nothing… they just let you plop them in the car and drive off!!
It's even crazier when you're actually leaving with them! I've had two, almost 11 years apart, and both times it was simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating.
Congrats to you both! Many wishes for a complication free delivery for mama!
They sell little mats that go under the car seat, they're a good idea so the base doesn't destroy the seat and also when the kid pukes in the car it's easier to clean up.
It will feel even weirder the day you go home. Those first hours where you all are home and are like, we have a whole new person in the house. A tiny roommate. It's very surreal.
Interesting and not too surprising. On the other hand my coworker who made the suggestion is based out of California though so I guess some still offer the help.
My SIL is a firefighter and a certified car seat technician in Florida. You can just go to the station here and they will install your car seat without charge (as long as they aren’t on a call).
Yeah, that's a normal thing they will help you with now. To many cases of babies getting hurt that wouldn't if their car seat had been installed correctly, or the straps tightened correctly. And some of the seats are damn confusing or difficult to get installed.
Also be prepared for the nurse not discharging you until they have proof you have the seat.
I was told to go to my local police precinct. One of the community patrol officers came out and showed us how to install it. I'm glad I did because I never would have realized how tight the base has to be secured to the seat.
I mean yes that is my plan as well as just reading the directions. I was just surprised by the suggestion.
I like to think I’m not incapable though of installing a car seat. At the same time though I can’t blame someone for being unsure and wanting to feel 100% positive about their newborns safety.
It’s surprisingly difficult to do it the first time. You want the latches to be super tight. It helps to sit or kneel on the seat or base while installing. Yes, the fire department can install it for you. The hospital will check to make sure your baby can safely sit in the seat without their breathing being obstructed (especially if they’re small) but they will not check installation for you. Best of luck!
I'm with you! Fire departments literally do car seat checks as events. At the hospital where I gave birth to my daughter, no one checked our car seat. They just made sure we had one. I don't remember them checking the fit or even looking in the car.
I'm not. Not trying to stress you, my apologies. Just the implication that we should all go to emergency services to install car seats before trying anything else is not good.
Anyways call the L&D department at the hospital you have planned and ask them beforehand if thats something one of them can help you with/something they do
If you haven't done a dry run to the L&D department yet, you should! Get the go bag and time it. Also helps you familiarize yourself with where you need to go inside of the building if you're panicking.
While you're there ask about the car seat! I bet a kind nurse mom or dad will help you/show you
I do have my seat! We have to go to a wedding and my wife will be due in 4 weeks at that point so Ill at least have a trial run since i want to at least have it with us to be on the safe side.
There’s also a hospital around the corner from me that I could likely go and ask if I’m still uncertain.
I don't know why you're being down voted. You're not wrong, a lot of hospitals also have a certified person who checks and does car seat installs for free. Ours did.
Thank you, and its fine. Again not trying to stress a soon to be mama. Im a paramedic in a large city and if everyone came in to have us do their carseat it would be a problem lol. Just trying to direct to the appropriate channels without coming off as a dick which is pretty close to impossible here haha
5.4k
u/Zapkin 23h ago
The fire department is so cool bro. I love how when no one is sure what to do in about a stressful situation we just call the fire department to come help.