Labor Day Weekend Nesting & Dog Seatbelt Fiasco!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Many of you know that Peri and Taquito are expecting their first human sibling...due in 4 weeks! 

 

So this Labor Day weekend DH and I had a looong list of things planned to accomplish around the house, which included cleaning the house, hanging drapes in the den, washing baby clothes, packing the hospital bags, etc....etc...

 

At the top of that list was getting the darn carseat base installed in our new Volvo station wagon.  So Saturday, I am down in the basement, about to install the seat protector, when I go to remove Peri and Taquito's seatbelt harnesses (which actually hook into the seatbelt in the car) and they won't come out!  I mean, they were both stuck....in both rear side seatbelt holders!  I used them frequently in my other car and never had an issue. I had even removed them from the Volvo recently no problem!  DH comes down and he can't figure it out. I decide it must be a child safety lock or something...nope - nothing in the manual about that. 

 

After I break down in tears (yes, I am totally hormonal right now), we decide to wait and take it to the dealership Tuesday morning since seatbelts are quite a safety issue and we don't want to mess anything up!  This morning DH switched cars with me and gives me a call around 10, laughing. He said the dog seatbelts were the laughing stock of the dealership!  The guys were cracking up that we used them and that they were stuck!  Well, they just don't fit "right" into the Volvo seatbelts....the opening is too wide. And since it was our fault, we had to pay $70 to get them removed!  It took them 1.5 hours to undo the system, get them removed, and re-test everything for safety again! 

 

I actually got a good laugh out of it, but I am now wondering what another alternative might be for them?  Maybe just loop them around a seatbelt instead?  Any ideas? 

 

So in conclusion, I will get that carseat installed tonight, which relieves some of my stress. I woke up this morning barely able to walk because little girl must have dropped and I am getting some pressure that is quite uncomfortable for me!  I told DH "get those seatbelts outta there or I am gonna lose it - we have to get the seat installed asap!!!".  Of course she'll probably come late.......

 

The best thing that happened this weekend is that both dogs totally recognize Charlotte's name!  They cock their heads now and if I say "let's go back to Charlotte's room", they run back there and wait by me to see what we are going to do.  I have been letting them smell the gear, her clothes, toys, etc...even lick it. Peri's tongue will be all over her anyway....

 

 

[Camilla and Darwin]

No idea about the seatbelts, that is just strange. How cute that they recognize the baby's name!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sorry for the kerfuddle  Allyson. Jane you have company.

[Christy and Yoda]

We had the same thing happen in my husband's Pontiac Vibe!  Two of his seatbelts in the backseat are now unusable due to Doodle harnesses.  Of course the first time it happened, we were out somewhere and Yoda was attached to it so we had to cut the buckle off of the harness.  DH keeps telling me he is going to work on getting them dislodged but they have been there for awhile :)

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

@Lucy & Sophies Mom that is a great idea...I forgot about the Latch system and we could utilize that for sure. Thx.

@Karen:  LOL yes, does no one else use dog seatbelt harness systems???

@Jane, G&M: thanks...the dogs are super excited but will be in for a shock LOL.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Your poor DH....he was the one stuck there while the "Volvo guys" were having a good laugh.  I drive a Volvo, but I have been a negligent Doodle Mom and haven't used seat belts for the Doods.  Big Murph stretches out in the back seat while Guinness curls up in a corner and that just doesn't work if they're strapped in.  I know I need to rethink this.  I love hearing about Peri and Taquito as they get ready for Charlotte's arrival.  This is such a special and exciting time for you all.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh dear, what a fiasco! I'm very surprised that the Volvo service people were not familiar with car harnesses for dogs...I thought Volvo drivers were safety conscious, lol! (My first post-baby car was a Volvo station wagon, BTW...traded in my Mustang for it.)

Try to relax and stay off your feet as much as possible, Allyson.

 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Allyson -- Here is a link to the system that we use for the girls.  This one clips into the cargo hold bars that are down in the seats or in the back of SUV's.  (If you just run your hand down between the bottom and the back of the seat near the seat belt fastener you will feel it).  That way you don't use the seat belts at all.   We took it one step further as we didn't like the fastener on the end of this one (as it is a little hard to push) that hooks onto their harness, we bought what looks like a really short leash and hooked this one to the really short leash with the clip on the end of it (like on the end of a leash) and that is what we hook to their collar.  It is much easier that the clip that comes on the end of this one.

http://www.amazon.com/PetBuckle-Kwik-Connect-Universal-Harness-20-I...