Adventures In Installing A Carseat

Alternately titled: Um, that was easy. Or: Help. I can't get out of my car.

I was sent a really nice (reaaaally nice) car seat for Ivy. Britax let me know they had a brand new style out with super side impact safety features (the safest of all their car seats) called the Advocate™ CS [$369], and, perfect timing- Ivy is ready to move out of her infant car seat.

Did they have something girly, maybe? Oh yes.

So, the car seat came and Safety is its middle name. We call it Ivy's throne.

It's been sitting in the living room for a week now, as I've put off installing it. Dreading it actually. Car seats are so confusing and fumbly and what if I can't do it right and despite all its awesome safety features I still put my child in danger because I don't know how to hook it up properly?

It just felt like a big mountain ahead of me.

But, alas, a nicely coordinated naptime took place (Ivy sacked out on Daddy's chest) and I snuck out to get it over with. I even had the car in the driveway so I could see better in the sun. (And so that the neighbors could see my big fanny sticking out as I wrestled the lovely beast.)

I had already watched the video online and did exactly as it was instructed. Those LATCH things are pretty nifty I must say. And then I was done.

Just like that.

I adjusted the LATCH straps and then I grabbed the manual again and triple checked that I did it right because how can it be that easy?

As I was leaning in to the car I stepped on my keys and heard the automatic lock click. I made a mental note to remember that, so that I didn't lock my keys inside. Then Gray climbed in and wanted to see what was going on. And he got a hold of my keys and went to pretend drive up front.

But in Gray-style he dropped my keys somewhere. And in my car there are many places for them to hide. So I am still in the backseat now leaning up front to see if I can find the keys in the cracks and see no sign of them. I try to open the door to go up front and I can't get out of the backseat. Child safety locks.

Grrr. I wonder who is watching and laughing. It's a sunny day. People are about.

I climb into the driver's side and find my keys under a pile of clothes. Of course. And go grab the Ivy girl for a test drive.

I love the side knob to make the head rest go up or down. Soooo easy. It also has the Click & Safe harness adjuster that gives an audible click to insure proper snugness. This car seat has extra side impact cushions and bells and whistles that keep Ivy safe as well as the other passengers. And the fabric is not only cute, it's like the softest thing you'll ever touch. And ok yes I'm still excited to have a car seat that has pink flowers. She is seriously now always riding in style.

Rear-facing, the Advocate CS accommodates up to 35 lbs which is quite nice as the AAP is now recommending children remain rear facing until age two. (Only until age 1 is required but if it's safer, we might be keeping her rear facing longer.) Forward facing, it can be used until the child is 65 lbs. This thing and I are in it for the long haul!



Please note that I took this picture before adjusting her chest straps (I started to second guess myself at where they should be positioned so we came inside and looked it up.) The black chest clip should be higher.

And then we filled out the warranty/recall card and actually stuck it in the mailbox (that's important.)

And now we're going for a ride. To Starbucks, of course. After I find my keys.


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