Baby proof car (keeping it clean)?

I used the same item as jab. I have installed/uninstalled the seat several times in 16 months and the seats still look brand new. I have a no food/drink rule in our vehicles which helps. The wife hates it but I am the one that cleans the cars. It's a trade off.
 
Just be a good, responsible parent and feed your child at home, at the kitchen table. What is it with giving a baby some milk and Cheerios on a 15 minute drive? Aside from SIDS, choking is the largest cause of death in infants. Don't put yourself in a position where you can't slow down, get out of your car, unbuckle your baby and remove the Cheerios in time to save their life because you're too busy/self involved to feed them in a proper setting. We just drove 5.5 hours and then 5.5 hours back with our 18 month old and never was he starving for a backseat snack or meal. Doing it on a 15 minute drive to the babysitter is just lazy.
 
I have 2 kids 6,2, and one more on the way in a couple of weeks. I did what you did...Protect the leather and carpet w/ protectants. However, to prevent spill from hit the leather, i place a large towel on top of the backseat, and then put the baby car sit and whatever on top. That way if there is a spill, you can pull out the towel and replace w/ a fresh one. Of course it's mandatory to clean your interior weekly :) Good luck and enjoy the baby. They'll change (ruin) your life forever :)
 
Not have kids.. Lol

It's going to get messy no matter what. Just use some fabric and leather protectant and you should be good.
 
lol.. wow, thanks for all the responses, suggestions and the congrats!! I really appreciate it!!!

I told my wife I was putting the baby seat in the cargo area, lol.. that didn't go over so well.

:iagree: I'm going to attempt to implement the no food rule :):hungry: I can imagine when he is 2 and older, is when the real mess begins :) :buffing:


I learned a lot from this thread.I would have never known they had car seat protectors/savors. I'm buying one today, ordering some of the leather protectant previously mentioned and looking into implementing a few of the other tips as well.

Time to go :bolt:apply one more layer of protectant prior to setting up the base and car seat protector before my hours of sleep are numbered. :cry:

Thanks again everyone!
 
Don't let the kid in the car until he's housebroke, lol.

Seriously, you have protected the carpets and seats, and if you put towels or pads under the car seat, that's about all you can do. Accidents will probably happen, so be prepared with wipes or towels to clean them before they can set, and don't obsess over it. You'll be fine, Daddy.
 
vet said:
Don't let the kid in the car until he's housebroke, lol.

Seriously, you have protected the carpets and seats, and if you put towels or pads under the car seat, that's about all you can do. Accidents will probably happen, so be prepared with wipes or towels to clean them before they can set, and don't obsess over it. You'll be fine, Daddy.
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lol, thanks. I'm getting nervous about these car pads. Seems like a lot of them stick to the leather and potentially ruin it. I'm going to have to continue my research or simply use a drop cloth. Either way.. I'm sure it will all work out:)
 
:props: Congrats!! As a Dad with a 23 month old, i thought i'd chime in and eco some of the sage advice given above...

Step one -

Tinwhiskers said:
What you have to do Is get a large burlap sack with some breather holes
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Just kidding.

Tinwhiskers said:
Babies are not too hard on seats. I think it's when you have 2-4 year olds the problems begin. Also, don't let you kids eat or drink in the car unless you are on a long ride. Good luck and God bless.
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:xyxthumbs:

yakky said:
Cheerios and water are it for snacks. And mostly relax. Once baby comes your focus will shift. Who cares if the car is spotless at resale? Is all that agony worth an extra $500? Your car will probably still look cleaner than 99.9999% of the cars out there.
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:xyxthumbs: Your focus will shift indeed. As my youngest is approaching 2, the family hauler has seen its share of food, drink, and 'other'... Take the time now, be proactive, throw protection on your surfaces, and don't sweat the spills - they will happen. Schedule in periodic interior overhauls to stay on top of things. Keep a mini interior detail kit in your vehicle to take care of immediate cleaning. Bulk terry towels from Sams, etc, will do wonders and will save your good microfibers for proper detailing.

Audios S6 said:
A towel or seatguard is a must. My sister has a large cover in the back seat for a dog, google "kurgo wander hammock". I imagine that there is something similar out there that could be used with a carseat.

If you're putting the carseat in the rear-center and you have a center armrest, be sure that it is secured, don't want that falling on baby durring a sudden stop.
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First and foremost make sure the baby seat is secure, regardless of the 'damage' the seat may do to your seat surfaces - two years into it with the Escape, which has leather, and there's no 'damage' from the seat bases. I've even gone without the seatguard when my son switched into a toddler seat. I've since reverted back to it to capture spills (remember what i mentioned about being proactive?). Keeping the baby as safe as possible is paramount above all detailing.

snellvilleauto said:
I have 2 kids 6,2, and one more on the way in a couple of weeks. I did what you did...Protect the leather and carpet w/ protectants. However, to prevent spill from hit the leather, i place a large towel on top of the backseat, and then put the baby car sit and whatever on top. That way if there is a spill, you can pull out the towel and replace w/ a fresh one. Of course it's mandatory to clean your interior weekly :) Good luck and enjoy the baby. :)
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Excellent tactics!

DEXTERITY said:
lol.. wow, thanks for all the responses, suggestions and the congrats!! I really appreciate it!!!

I told my wife I was putting the baby seat in the cargo area, lol.. that didn't go over so well.
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Mine didnt' like that idea either.. *sigh*

:iagree: I'm going to attempt to implement the no food rule :):hungry: I can imagine when he is 2 and older, is when the real mess begins :) :buffing:
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Good luck with that. Some can stick to it. Me, it really was a loosing battle from the get-go, because i eat in my car. I also clean my car, so I'm fine with it. It also gives me an excuse to get out of the house for a few hours every so often.. "gonna clean the cars out!"

I learned a lot from this thread.I would have never known they had car seat protectors/savors. I'm buying one today, ordering some of the leather protectant previously mentioned and looking into implementing a few of the other tips as well.

Time to go :bolt:apply one more layer of protectant prior to setting up the base and car seat protector before my hours of sleep are numbered. :cry:

Thanks again everyone!
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Congrats again. Folex helps :)
 
DEXTERITY said:
lol, thanks. I'm getting nervous about these car pads. Seems like a lot of them stick to the leather and potentially ruin it. I'm going to have to continue my research or simply use a drop cloth. Either way.. I'm sure it will all work out:)
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I believe the one we use is from 'Summer'. It does not stick to the seats, but it has a vinyl under coating to prevent slippage. It has not left any marks on the tan leather in our car.

I'll 2x check when i get home and pm you information.

The towel ideas mentioned above will work as well.
 
Becciasm said:
I believe the one we use is from 'Summer'. It does not stick to the seats, but it has a vinyl under coating to prevent slippage. It has not left any marks on the tan leather in our car.

I'll 2x check when i get home and pm you information.

The towel ideas mentioned above will work as well.
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Thank you. Appreciate the congrats and thanks for looking into the seat cover. I will hold off on ordering until I hear back. I was going to order a few different covers and see which one looked like it would inflict the least damage on leather then put the other in my wife's car. She has cloth seats. :dblthumb2:

I'm definitely going to buy some terry cloth towels. I automatically keep carpet cleaner and protector in my car, just in case. :xyxthumbs:
 
I was a car seat technician instructor for a few years and have put in 100's of car seats myself. You can put a towel under the child restraint (I did it for my own daughters), just make damned sure it is in there tight. The vast majority of the cases, they're not and it's dangerous. I suggest that you take it somewhere to have someone trained check it. You've got lots of advice for leather products, etc, so I just wanted to chime in on the child restraint issue.
 
richy said:
I was a car seat technician instructor for a few years and have put in 100's of car seats myself. You can put a towel under the child restraint (I did it for my own daughters), just make damned sure it is in there tight. The vast majority of the cases, they're not and it's dangerous. I suggest that you take it somewhere to have someone trained check it. You've got lots of advice for leather products, etc, so I just wanted to chime in on the child restraint issue.
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Thanks Richy. I definitely want to make sure my son is safe as well. I assume you can go to a local police station or firehouse to have them make sure the seat is secure? I did read in some of the reviews for seat protectors that some people said they weren't safe. Most said they were. I will have double checked whatever I do. It is good to get a safety point of view as well :props:
 
First, congrats on the growing family!!

+1,000,000 for the seat guard. My daughter turns one on the 28th and I had all the same fears for my Audi interior. I have some small indentations from the car seat, but they come out over time. The seatguard helps for the little stuff and the spills when they are young. The important thing is when they hit toddler age, a guard that protects the back of your seats from kicks is a must. You dont want scuffs.

I had visions of being super strict about no food and all that jazz, but I honestly dont care that much. she is so damn cute and loveable that I forgive any spills and clean up as necessary. Plus on long trips, I want her to be happy while stuck in the seat and snacks make the trip bearable for all. Just protect the material as best you can and deal with the rest.

I am a safety guy and the seatsaver I have has non slick material on the bottom so that when the seat is tight the base will not slide around at all. Safety first! Especially for the little ones that cannot do it themselves.
 
Really glad to see all the information since the wife and I are expecting our first in less than 3 weeks :props:. It looks like I've got some work to do with Fabric Guard (the headliner, never would have thought of that). As of right now, all of my cars have cloth, so I'm not so worried about cracking leather, but I will keep the towel tip in mind for future vehicles.

To the OP, most local police stations will show you how to properly secure it, I plan on taking my bases and the 2 vehicles there this weekend to get that done so we're ready in case the rugrat decides to come early.

Congrats to you and your family!
 
Honda offers this for the Pilot:



Covers entire 2nd-row and headrests
Designed to protect your seats
Made with durable wetsuit-like material
Water resistant
Easy to install and uninstall
Machine washable
Available in Black

Could be another avenue to take if you're looking for extra protection. A large towel or bedsheet would also serve the same purpose.

We're looking to upsize my SUV - we're expecting our third in March! Just found out this past Friday! :dancebannana:
 
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