Email to friends about RF

[chloespurple]

Hi,
Sorry to rant but......I am sooooo sick of all the cracks and comments people make when they hear I have my 14 month old rear-facing and plan on her staying that way until she no longer can. Even my pediatrician told me to turn her around because of her legs. I informed her of this site & hopefully when we go back this month for Karli's 15 mth check up, she will have started recommending that all parents practice extended rear facing

I have decided to send an email to everyone I know with children to try and educate them on the subject.

Do you think this sounds okay, or is it too wordy. They are friends so it is very informal, but I still want to get the point across & most of all I want them to read it.

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to send this email to those of you with children and to those who may know someone with a small child. Since having Karli I have became a little obsessed with car seat safety & in all my research I have learned that extended rear-facing is the safest position for a child to be in.

Whenever I mention this, I mostly get blank stares because the normal thing to do is turn your baby forward facing as soon as that first birthday comes. Then I get the question "what about her legs?", well a leg can be fixed, but sadly a neck or spinal injury is a different story. I would have never known, had I not been so neurotic trying to find Karli a new seat to replace her infant carrier. And I just want to share this information with you all.

Some of your children may be past the point to be concerned with this now, but if you know someone with an infant or toddler then please take a few minutes to look at some of the material I have sent you. And if you have a child that is still under the maximum weight limit for their car seat then please turn them back rear-facing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7QrC8

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9916868/

http://www.freewebs.com/sacredjourneys/carseatsboosters.htm

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx

Sincerely,
Michelle

Thanks

[scatterbunny]

I think it sounds great, not too wordy at all (I am guilty of being too wordy), just the right amount of information to not be overwhelming, and the right tone to not seem threatening or judgmental. :)

[JaRylan]

I think it sounds good. You will probably get a few quiet responses (sort of like, "Psst, I want to know, but I don't want anyone to know I want to know more, because I don't want them to think I am nuts" and hopefully some good questions from people.

[broken4u05]

I think it sounds good.

[AdventureMom]

I think it sounds fine... I would take out or re-word the part about "I have become a little obsessed". It sounds like you're apologizing or that it's abnormal to be concerned about the safety of your child. I wouldn't put it in a negative light at all. Just say that you researched it or whatever, but leave out "obsessed." :twocents:

I may include the still photos of the RF and FF crashtests from the last link. That may get their attention - !

[chloespurple]

Thanks for the input! Maria, I took your advice and made that one change & added a pic. I am getting ready to send it now:)
Have a wonderful day!
I love this site!!!!!!!!!!

[chloespurple]

FYI, One of my friends I sent the email to is a teacher & she forwarded it to her whole school.

[skaterbabscpst]

YAY :thumbsup:

[scatterbunny]

Wow, that's great--a ton of people will see it, now! :D

[broken4u05]

YAY for more people seeing it

[JaRylan]

FYI, One of my friends I sent the email to is a teacher & she forwarded it to her whole school.

Awesome. Have you had any feedback yet?

[chloespurple]

Awesome. Have you had any feedback yet?

Hi Jacqui,
I have only heard from two people, the teacher and another friend. My other friend who is not a parent yet, said she thought it was a law that they had to ff once they turned 1 & 20#.
I sent the email to nearly 20 people, plus all the people my friend forwarded it to, so we'll see.
At least we are getting the word out :)