Calling out to Julie (JoolsPlus2) re: CPS Tech advice

[aguinn]

Julie,

I was going to PM you, but thought others might benefit from your comments on this.

My parents live in northern VA and have run into major issues getting a CPS Tech to check the installation of their Graco ComfortSport. They called the police department in Fairfax, the closest tech location to where they live, and were told that carseats are only checked twice a month and then you have to have an appointment. She called other police stations and got the same response. What gives? Is it like this in most places? Where I live, north of Boston, the fire department in the next town over (Danvers) is amazing at getting you in for an almost immediate check, sometimes even the same day you call.

Anyhow, my mom happened to be by a TRU and thought that since she bought the chair there that she'd ask them who to go to. As it turned out, there was a manager there who "appeared" to be trained in carseat installation and he came out and helped my mom get the chair in right. HOWEVER, I am unexcited since he installed it FF and I had asked her to put it RF. She has an Acura MDX and supposedly when the chair is RF it is only secured by the two LATCH clips and noting else in her car (which didn't sound right to me, either).

I have two issues with this that I'm hoping you can help with: do you know if some/most TRU managers/workers are certified to install carseats? It's not something they seem to publicize, so I question their certification. Also, we have MA's for our cars up here and they are RF with LATCH and a strap that attaches to the bottom of our passenger seat to stabilize them. Am I right in assuming that all seats should have this, or is it just that Britax is such an amazing company that they are smart enough to include this strap with their seats? The only strap included with the Graco was for FF LATCH.

We are flying down there today and will be doing a lot of highway driving this weekend, so I'm especially sensitive to this right now. I know this is super long, so thanks for reading.

thanks,
;)amy
proud momma to DS

ET clarify some stuff

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030729/1/5/1/-5/.png[/img][/url]

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif One Year & counting...

[Joolsplus2]

I'm a little short on time right this minute, but as soon as I get the chance I'll snag a few more CPS Techs to chime in on this one, so you get the full range of "how long for an appointment" responses. Also, I can get more info on the TRU situation.
As for installing RF, yup, Britax is the only company where you use the third connection (top tether) to get a super tight install when RF (see the link in my sig, then go to "front facing too soon?" then scroll down to "bracing and tethering" and there's a good half a page on that info. Also, www.carseat.org under "technical" has some good RF tether info.
Anyway, hang on, and I'll make sure you get some more answers....

:)

Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[kijip]

Edited to delete since answer was posted at same time!

[aguinn]

thanks, looking forward to your response. don't kill yourself, though - it's really at the last minute for me since i'll be leaving to catch my plane around 12:30 EDT. if you can get to this by then, then kudos to you - if not then i'll log in when we get to VA and see what you said then.

thanks again,
;)amy
proud momma to DS

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030729/1/5/1/-5/.png[/img][/url]

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif One Year & counting...

[Joyce6830]

Hi there! Julie sent me this way to answer this thread. I've heard of a lot of people having trouble getting someone to check their seats in N. VA. I live in Southern MD which is just right across the Wilson Bridge from N. VA. IF they want to drive out to WALDORF, MD, we do seat checks every Tuesday night at the Babies R' Us in Waldorf.

It concerns me that this manager actually installed a seat since the TRU/BRU policy is that they DO NOT employ CPS Technicians to install seats. In fact, the checks we do, we can not have anyone participate in installation that is employeed at the store. I was also looking for a part time job and asked about working there and was told that IF they hired me I could NOT tell anyone I was a Technician AND would have to STOP the weekly seat checks because of liability.

My guess is that the manager of the store IS NOT a Technician but just trying to be helpful. If your parents are not happy with the installation, OR need the seat in RF'ing and need help then have them come out Tuesday evening to Waldorf. It would be about a 45 minute drive from Fairfax. They need to call me and make an appointment too. E-mail me at joyceferrell @ comcast.net and I'll give you my phone number to make the appointment.

Joyce, CPST

edited to add: I just re-read your post and realized you are coming today and need that seat in before Tuesday. E-mail for my phone number and call me and we'll see what we can do sooner.

[aguinn]

Joyce,

Thanks for responding! I just PM'ed you.

;)amy
proud momma to DS

http://lilypie.com/baby2/030729/1/5/1/-5/.png[/img][/url]

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif One Year & counting...