So sunday we went to shopping dom pedro, the biggest mall in south america to buy the next stage car seat and to ask about our infanti. I have to say that I love my infanti stroller, it has what I wanted and how I wanted it. Plus, it turned out to be a great stroller for Luca's reflux.
But the infant car seat that came with the stroller pretty much sucks. All the travel sets in Brazil were like this, the stroller wouldn't fit in the car or something wrong with the car seat. Now, I would recommend buying my stroller, but it's not sold without the good for nothing car seat. If I could do it again, I would have bought a burigotto stroller and peg-perego infant car seat. The car seat is most expensive around but would have latest 9 months and is the safest thing on the market. There is a burigotto infant seat, but it's only good for about 2-3 months depending on the baby. It's pretty small, my son wouldn't fit in it anymore.
So my infant seat, was crazy to install. The whole thinking of how the seat belt would go, reading the instructions and even my husband who is native born couldn't figure out what was going on with this seat. I cried and screamed that infanti screwed me. Finally, after reading through a lot of fire station and police department websites, I was able to roll up towels to secure the seat enough to be used.
I bought an extra head support as the car seat had practically none. It doesn't work the best either, the head part is tiny.
So finally, after I felt prisoned in my own apartment I threw my hands in the air and declared enough. Time to buy something else and ask why this seat is hell. Yes, it was installed wrong and the store we bought it from has a professional who installs your seat and shows you everything. Hmm, slightly pissed why wasn't I told this three months ago?
But one problem was, I tried to install it like I thought it should be. As an infant seat with a 45 degree angle. Nope, this puppy is 90 degrees. My sons head flops down when he sleeps, yikes. He is about to turn three months he doesn't have the head control for this seat. I use the support I bought, because now I have zero choice but it's kinda tight with baby big head. I guess, the culture is one problem. everyone uses an infant seat as a chair for taking the baby out in, not as a infant seat to protect them in a car. I asked the guy, why haven't people complained, how did this pass inspection for 0 months and who thought this angle would be ok?
So we decided to buy this:
But the infant car seat that came with the stroller pretty much sucks. All the travel sets in Brazil were like this, the stroller wouldn't fit in the car or something wrong with the car seat. Now, I would recommend buying my stroller, but it's not sold without the good for nothing car seat. If I could do it again, I would have bought a burigotto stroller and peg-perego infant car seat. The car seat is most expensive around but would have latest 9 months and is the safest thing on the market. There is a burigotto infant seat, but it's only good for about 2-3 months depending on the baby. It's pretty small, my son wouldn't fit in it anymore.
So my infant seat, was crazy to install. The whole thinking of how the seat belt would go, reading the instructions and even my husband who is native born couldn't figure out what was going on with this seat. I cried and screamed that infanti screwed me. Finally, after reading through a lot of fire station and police department websites, I was able to roll up towels to secure the seat enough to be used.
I bought an extra head support as the car seat had practically none. It doesn't work the best either, the head part is tiny.
So finally, after I felt prisoned in my own apartment I threw my hands in the air and declared enough. Time to buy something else and ask why this seat is hell. Yes, it was installed wrong and the store we bought it from has a professional who installs your seat and shows you everything. Hmm, slightly pissed why wasn't I told this three months ago?
But one problem was, I tried to install it like I thought it should be. As an infant seat with a 45 degree angle. Nope, this puppy is 90 degrees. My sons head flops down when he sleeps, yikes. He is about to turn three months he doesn't have the head control for this seat. I use the support I bought, because now I have zero choice but it's kinda tight with baby big head. I guess, the culture is one problem. everyone uses an infant seat as a chair for taking the baby out in, not as a infant seat to protect them in a car. I asked the guy, why haven't people complained, how did this pass inspection for 0 months and who thought this angle would be ok?
So we decided to buy this:
Well not this color.
We bought and drove around back to install, after we finished doing some shopping. Well, it didn't fit. The seat belt in our car is too small. Our seat beat isn't small, but all the 0-? kilos car seats really out does themselves with the length they need. So there is nothing we can do, accept buy a peg-perego that he will outgrow soon. I am annoyed and mad. First all of all it started raining when we were installing this, the guy scratched up our tinted window and I was dealing with a major baby blow out. Ricardo never noticed the window, I saw it the next day. Now, I am sure they won't do anything that we left. And all of that would have been avoided, when I asked the saleswoman, "are there any cars that have issues with installation". if she had know what she was talking about or had not lied-- don't know which it was. I am not sure, but the guy knew. And yet he didn't say anything either. The Ford Ka of 2012, has this problem fixed already so maybe he thought our car was newer, but why not ask?
We went to ford and got treated like dog crap by the world's worst manager. Luckily the receptionist who makes zero money, is better at his job than he is. She walked us through the very annoying and long process to file at ford to get them to change our belt.
However, after the paperwork mess ford got back to us in two days and cleared changing our belt for free. The dealership has yet to make contact which they were suppose two days ago, tomorrow my husband is calling. So hopefully, in a week or so my son will have a new car seat.
We tried the seat out with him in it, it works great. Also this seat is good up until 4/5 years. I don't know if I would put a newborn in it, my son seems to fit well now. He is 12 pounds. But I am sure it's better than my choice of the infanti for a newborn. One problem was, Luca was a month old when he first used this seat and I installed it three months after buys it. Luca rarely used it and left the house, due both choking issues and the seat itself. Ricardo is always working and I am usually alone with luca. I can't drive somewhere and have him choke on me, in the back seat alone. First time mothers, really do live and learn.
Plus, there are things we assume when we buy something in the US. It shouldn't be assumed here. At least now, I know to be more assertive and I don't care if I sound too direct. Coming to Brazil, I feel me being direct has been picked apart because I am a woman and American. From now on, I don't care. It's a good thing that I value. In Brazil I think passive direct can be a dangerous thing, I would reserve it for personal conflicts here. Not purchases about safety.
I have been wondering about child safety in Brazil for a while thanks for posting. My daughter is 6.5 months and I'm pretty good with car seats now. The police and fire department in Mass have be certified to install car seats I went to them The installer who gave me a 1/2 lesson in infant safety and taught me how to install a car seat properly with latches and shoulder strap. The base of a car seat if you have one of those should not move side to side more than an inch either way. The car seat I am buying is a Britax Advocate 70 which has side impact protection its one of the most expensive car seats you can buy at Buy Buy Baby in America its $390.00 it has steel bars and goes to 75 pds. The reason why I am buying that one is because I don't trust drivers in Brazil from what I have heard and statistically Brazil is 3rd in the world for accident fatalities.
ReplyDeleteAnyway on ALL cars the fireman told me child safety is suppose to be universal and all cars sold after 2000 should have two latches for two straps in the actual steel frame of the car buried in the back seat. That makes it much easier to attach. That way you don't have to use the shoulder strap which is more difficult. Now he told me that its world wide but now I wonder if of course that includes Brazil I asked because everything about Brazil concerns me at this point. And everything makes sense in the US. The cars and car seats all work together they can't sell them otherwise.
Anyway so after reading your post now I'm wondering if the Britax would fit in a Brazilian purchased car. Its one thing after another! I want my daughter in the best especially if people are going to drive like ignorant a holes. Pardon my french buy I am sick of navigating the almost non existent child safety laws in Brazil.
Everything is so much easier in the US.
Here is a video about installing a Chicco Key fit I used for her as an infant, this seat is popular here. Although I am not sure if that goes with your car because you stated you had to get a seat-belt installed because it was too small. Who ever heard of such a thing. All cars should be outfitted for child safety to fit all car seats universal or not allowed to be sold. I hope I am reading you wrong.
Here is the video for the one I had which she is growing out of. I don't even like this one anymore although it is convenient the baby stays in it and you can put her in a stroller without taking her out its great when they are really small and their heads are always flopping. The car seats and the strollers all fit together who knew!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfEjp9iNRqc
I am just like you when it comes to child safety that is one thing I will not skimp on I dn't care what country I am in its a deal-breaker for me. It's good you are being your own advocate you have to on that issue its too dangerous not to.
well, the stores where you buy things don't tell you unless you ask the right questions. Like I was suppose to ask the saleswoman if they had a trained car seat tech on site. Not that she was suppose to inform me. But I know why, because I would have not purchased the seat. Well, I would have purchased something else, but many people decide to walk away with nothing. That was her fear
ReplyDeleteSo a huge problem in these stores, is that money is over the safety of clients. Which was saw again at the ford dealership.
But I have to say ford itself was really great they texted and called everyday and took about three days to fix our problem. That something here. Ford is not like Telefonica where if you hold your breathe for them to fix something you will die.
Now, the culture here with car seat is using a three point belt meaning the shoulder belts. My belt is super long, but what they have designed here is insane-- You need a lot of belt on these car seats.
I was going to buy my first car seat in the US and then this next one.... but I was afraid of the first one getting stolen. Now, with the second I see, that most infant seats would be ok if your car is big. Keep that in mind that a big car is super expensive here. We're talking 80,000 and high taxes, older ones are still expensive with high upkeep and gasoline suckers.
My car wouldn't fit many car seats in the US. period.
Anyways, a car seat is important but being a good defensive driver I think is more. Get your license at AAA for Brazil it's cheap and good for a year. Then get on your visa stuff in the US and as soon as you get here. You need your RNE to get a driver's license here. Your probably be a saver driver for your baby than everyone else.
Things happen here, some engineers may have a crappy degree and got the job because of mommy and daddy. It's important to know how and who to the ask the right questions. And learn from what mistakes us other Americans already made.
As far as Brazil, if you this upset before you leave-- then how will you live and stay here? I think things don't get hard until the honey phase is gone. And I would be taking Portuguese right now. The language barrier is the worst part in my opinion.
I had a Britax and it fit in my Toyota Corolla here in Brazil. The Britax would probably be a tight fit in a hatchback and possibily not fit in a Ford Ka (at least not until the kid was old enough to use it front-facing). I remember having a tough time using my Britax on the airplane and a lot of Brazilian cars have about as much space as an airplane seat.
ReplyDeleteI think almost all rear facing seats from the US are a problem with the ka. I can't even believe the ones in Brazil fit. It was one of my first questions before we bought this, was a car seat going to fit in the back? They told me, legally ford had to make it fit a standardize car seat.
DeleteThanks for all the info I love reading your experiences. I am wondering the same thing about me living there. I do have some anxiety issues (high strung). I just think that I need to take the chance for better business opportunities. I am really looking for financial gain at this point. Otherwise I probably wouldn't move there. I would just stay in the US and find a way I have a degree so I am sure over some time I could get something. BUT we are planning on opening two businesses in Brazil. In the US its harder because there is too much competition its been over done already. Their are too many businesses. In Brazil its still developing so their is more room to build, expand, and make money.
ReplyDeleteYou are right on about the language barrier that is going to screw me up big time. Not to mention the fact that I am extremely direct, even some Americans are put off by it never mind a softer culture like Brazil. But I need to learn the language now I have been putting it off for too long.
Its going to be challenge. I think I might have skipped over the honeymoon phase already :) I did too much research here and learned too much. But thoughts of being creative and making money in a new business are keeping me focused.
Thanks for sharing keep up the good work you are doing great.
hey no problem, but better business opportunities? This is general that's only the rich. I told myself that too and I have a degree. I have spent my whole three years teaching English or translating or unemployed. The pay is awful. I worked in social work in the US and SO much more money. Anyone making a lot of money here is lives in a big city and teaches English. But even in Campinas it can be hard at school you have to do everything private. Most Americans making good money here are expats. Not business owners.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard here, it's way easier to lose money than make it. In the cities there is a lot of competition. I would say there is an element that things are not as they seem..... Brazil has so troubling areas. So be very weary of any money you stick into a business here and try tabs on everything. However, it will be difficult since you don't speak the language. I would wait to do anything until the culture shock passes and you can at least understand Portuguese at an ok level. Which would take about two years. Otherwise you will probably make rash choice and mistakes that cost money. At least I did in all areas of Brazil before I got the hang of things. At least one of Portuguese. Study now, you will probably find better Portuguese teachers in the US than here!
Hi I hear ya but my husband who is Brazilian has some brothers down there who are building condos we are going to go in with them and build more. My husband is really good at carpentry and construction. We are going to do that at first then open another business in the city center after a couple of years something that I am going to do. I'm not going to work for a while when I first get down there. With all that free time (well and the baby) hopefully I can learn the language :). Its all risk but one area that is booming in Brazil is building and real estate.
ReplyDeleteI hope at some point we can meet up :) we expats have to stick together.
you will acquire the language naturally. But In the beginning formal class make it a lot faster. And it's hard to find a good school or teacher unless your close to a federal college and you have a bachelors. Then you can study there for free, but that even can be hard. Family of Brazilians are the last priority.
DeleteLook on craigslist in MA!!! You will find a teacher, there are so many Brazilians in the area. They may be baby friendly enough that you can take your baby to class. At least buy a good Portuguese book in the US. You won't find any affordable or even that great actually here.
yes, I am always up for meeting people!!!