The Imperfect Community

Petulant Pixie · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 5:22 pm Post subject: well damn!

It's nobody's fault but ours, they say to try out the car seat before you buy it, but we ASSSUMED it would be all right.

Mike put the Ellipsa together last weekend or weekend before and we didn't get around to cleaning out the van to install the seat until today, and the motherfucking "Embrace" car seat wouldn't fit! Evil or Very Mad

The middle row of the Dodge Caravan seats does not move back. So, when you put the infant seat in the base and try to click the handle back into the "car" position, it hits against the back of the driver's seat (or passenger's seat). You can move the front seats UP, but then I can't fit Evil or Very Mad

We tried a bunch of different ways to make it fit, and we could if we removed the bar on the back of the driver's seat and then reclined the second row seat back (so the back was almost laying on the seat behind it) and scrunch the infant seat up more, but it looked ridiculous and it made worthless that seat behind it.

So....we went to the store and found that the Graco "Snugride" fits in the minivan fine. Oddly, it has the same dimensions as the "Embrace", but the handle has a different locking angle for in the car and it isn't a problem. So, Mike had to take apart the Ellipsa (the Target folks said just disassemble it enough to get it in the box) and take it back. The local Target carries the Snugride, so we can get that right there, but they're out of the Quattro (which the Snugride is compatable with), so he's going to have to go to another Target to get that. I just can't believe it! My beautiful Ellipsa! I am so pissed!

The Target people were very nice about our situation. It's just unbelievable, who would have thought? They said they never heard of such a thing and asked what kind of car we have, clearly expecting some off-the-wall mini model, and when we told them it was a Dodge Caravan, they couldn't believe it either!

honeybee · Queen of Imperfection Joined: 20 Dec 2002 Posts: 3163

Oh, I'm sorry! I know how much you liked that Ellipsa.

That does seem odd that it wouldn't fit in a minivan! I would have never guessed! Maybe it could have worked without the base? But then you lose a lot of the convienence of having an infant seat.

On the bright side, Snugrides get excellent ratings, whereas Evenflo infant seats (the Portabout) has had some downright scary things (entire seat disengaging from base in impact!).

Eek! Three more days!!

Petulant Pixie · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 6:32 am Post subject: well damn!

Yeah, you have to use the Evenflo with the base. The Snugride, you don't, which is more convenient for us with two cars anyway. I'm just glad I didn't run out and buy a second base and all the Evenflo crap that goes with this system!

We put the Quattro together last night and really Mike likes it better. It is a LOT lighter than the Ellipsa, and since the Ellipsa apparently ripped off the design of the Quattro, it has a lot of the same features. But, it snaps the car seat into the stroller a LOT nicer.

And, I hadn't updated my countdown--take a look--- Wink

ThreeWashburns · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:35 pm Post subject: well damn!

I'm so glad you mentioned having trouble fitting the seat in your minivan. I immediately went out to see if mine fit and fortunately it does. But if I hadn't checked it now I can't imagine what would have happened if my husband had to be responsible for taking it back or whatever. It would have been a nightmare. I drive a Chrysler Voyager which is slightly smaller than the Towne & Country but I have the bench seat in the middle which puts the car seat slightly to the left of the passenger seat so it fits just fine. Thanks for the heads up.
The poor Ellipsa is getting a lot of complaints - too bad. I've decided to keep mine despite what some others have complained about. There is a stabilizer piece that hooks onto the car seat when using it in the stroller - I think some people have missed this by reading some complaints or just thought the piece was too much trouble. Either way I'm going to keep it because I like the heavy duty construction for neighborhood walks. Hopefully I won't regret it.

honeybee · Queen of Imperfection Joined: 20 Dec 2002 Posts: 3163

Holy Moly! One day!! What time is your cs tomorrow? You must be feeling a gazillion different emotions today!

I loooooved the Quatro Tour. I'm glad you guys like it better. It's a cool SUV type of stroller. Wink

Petulant Pixie · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 4:15 pm Post subject: well damn!

The c/s was actually moved up an hour! The nurse called today to confirm my time and said I was scheduled for 7:15 and I need to be there at 5:30, and I had down that it was at 8. She double-checked and her time is right, so 7:15 it is! Which is exactly 14 hours from now! Shocked

Mostly, I am just tired right now, I didn't sleep hardly at all last night. I doubt I'll sleep tonight either. I have laundry plans for myself all through the night, lol.

Jessica · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 4:36 pm Post subject: well damn!

Congratulations on have the foresight to check the car seat. Better now than on the way home!

It's all so exciting! I can't believe it's happening tomorrow!! Wow, is your life ever gonna change in a few hours. Having a baby is so much fun!!

Scout · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:18 am Post subject: well damn!

Wow, so as I'm typing this you are probably all done and little Lizzie is in the world!

That sucks about the ellipsa, but I'm glad you found something else you like. Btw, I never have understood why you can't leave the handle up in the car. Anyone?

DietCokeHead · Queen of Imperfection Joined: 29 Apr 2002 Posts: 3805

I think the handle can break in a serious crash and having the hard plastic pointed at baby's face would be a no-no.

I can't wait for some news! Eileen better update us if she hears something!!

Scout · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:35 am Post subject: well damn!

Ah, that makes sense. My last infant seat had a padded luggage strap running from head to toe instead of a handle anyway. Very Happy

kathyjm · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:52 am Post subject: well damn!

Scout, was it by fisher price? I had a seat like that for kiersten is was AWESOME!!! I could jsut carry her accross my body like a bag or a purse and still use my hands for something else. Plus the base had a mirror on it so I could see the baby.

BEST car seat I ever had...here it is!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=66696&item=4375654361&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Scout · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 11:33 am Post subject: well damn!

Yep, that was it. I loved it! It was perfect that the base was so narrow because I had 3 seats in the back seat of an old Volvo wagon. I loved how stable the base was too. The one I used with the boys sucked. I ended up not even using the base.

kathyjm · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 11:45 am Post subject: well damn!

kind of a bummer FP doesn't make seats anymore! Maybe you can create something like this and add it to your store! I bet you'd make a fortune! Hands down this was the best seat I ever used (and I've used a lot LOL). like you it fint nicely and was compact....

Scout · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:50 pm Post subject: well damn!

I know, FP made great seats! I don't know why they stopped. They were very innovative, I thought. Lol about me making a seat like this. I'm not that resourceful, but I wish I were!

honeybee · Queen of Imperfection Joined: 20 Dec 2002 Posts: 3163

I think it's really odd that FP stopped making carseats. They were always very popular, good sellers and had great safety ratings.

Most of the baby products I liked best were FP things. For instance, we have the FP Healthy Care highcare that I just love love love. If something happened to it I would go buy the same exact one over again without question. And the FP cradle swing -- best damn baby thing on the market, bar none! I'll be holding onto that thing until the grandkids show up. Wink