BAD advice on Canadian show!!!

[anjii]

I found this forum a couple days ago, when I was researching my new Radian carseats. (We were in a major accident last week, and of course had to replace our old seats). I've just been reading a lot of info here, and it's great to find so many people who are just as "nuts" about carseat safety as I am, lol. Everyone IRL thinks I'm a freak because my 3 year old is still RFing.

Anyways, for those of you who haven't seen it, there's a show called "Doctor in the House", with Laurie Gelman and Dr. Dave from "The Mom Show". (Both shows are on Slice). Although I really like "The Mom Show", I don't often watch "Doctor in the House", as it's skewed very mainstream/outdated info. Definitely more Big Pharma than Natural living. (I'm somewhere in the middle, but lean more to the natural).

I just happened to be watching today, and they had an ER doctor answering questions about various emergency topics. As an afterthought at the end of the segment, Dr. Dave asked him about carseats, and he gave the standard "20lbs/1year RF, 20-40lbs FF, 40+ booster" answer. Then Dr. Dave asked him, "What about a 20lb 9 month old?", and the ER doc said "Definitely forward facing"!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it!!!! Even by the outdated mainstream minimum safety standards, that is so clearly wrong.... I have NEVER read anything saying LESS than the 20lbs AND 1 year... I know that's not his area of expertise, but that's absolutely ridiculous! I hope no one who doesn't know better was watching the show this morning :mad:

[anjii]

I just sent Slice an email saying:

"This morning on Doctor in the House (Episode 1011), the ER doctor was talking about carseat weights, and for starters, he was saying the minimum weights as if they were the maximum, which is dangerous and misleading. Each step up (rearfacing-forwardfacing-booster) is a step down in protection, and children are much safer rearfacing, and then in a harness, as long as they fit the manufacturer guidelines. But even worse, when Dr. Dave asked him, "What about a 20lb 9month old?" the ER doc said he should be FORWARD FACING!!!! That is ABSOLUTELY wrong, and extremely dangerous! PLEASE correct this info on air please, as many infants lives are at risk if their parents trust this info!"

Hopefully they do something about it...

[snowbird25ca]

I think I may have seen that many moons ago. I only watched the mom show once and it made me frothing at the mouth on a number of topics and I never watched it again. :thumbsdown:

Hopefully they take your email to heart. Unfortunately a lot of these shows are well known for their incorrect carseat info. The info that was given on that episode is actually illegal most places because almost all ff'ing seats in Canada have a minimum 1yr old age requirement.

Very outdated and very dangerous info. :mad:

[Loves2sing]

I think the Mom show sucks, and Dr. dave is probably one of the most annoying people on the planet. I have only watched each show once, and I have never tuned in again. Maybe I should email them telling them WHY I won't watch their shows even though I am forced to dispute their ignorant advice. With as many qualified techs as there are in Ontario, it's about time that a show like that gave the makeovers a break, and had a good segment on car seat advice!!:mad:

[Neatfreak]

I am not sure why doctors have decided that their medical training permits them to speak with authority on the topic of child safety restraints other than a "please use them!" message.

I honestly don't expect my daughter's pediatrician (and flight attendants neither, but that's another post) to be up-to-date on the latest research on car safety as I hope that he's reading up on things like childhood asthma and vaccination effectiveness that are more in his area of specialty.

I guess I kind of blame Dr. Dave more than the show. I've heard too many doctors give incorrect car seat advice to my friends.

[krickison]

Bahhh I saw this too and just about croked...I told DH tonight and he couldnt belive it either...Do you think we can spam him? He really should know better, and I think Dr. Dave was getting at keeping them RFing and the other Dr. had no clue. I hope that not to many uninformed parents saw that.:(

[TechnoGranola]

I only watched the mom show once and it made me frothing at the mouth on a number of topics and I never watched it again. :thumbsdown:Ditto to that.

[tiger926]

I am not sure why doctors have decided that their medical training permits them to speak with authority on the topic of child safety restraints other than a "please use them!" message.

I honestly don't expect my daughter's pediatrician (and flight attendants neither, but that's another post) to be up-to-date on the latest research on car safety as I hope that he's reading up on things like childhood asthma and vaccination effectiveness that are more in his area of specialty.

I guess I kind of blame Dr. Dave more than the show. I've heard too many doctors give incorrect car seat advice to my friends.


ITA! I have friends who ask their docs for all kinds of advice on topics that they aren't experienced in, car seats being one of them. It's the old belief that doctors are perfect - ummm...definitely not! Most peds in my city aren't up to date on the new research with food & nutrition, least of all car seats. I know more than my ped in this respect, and he's a good doc. I'll say it again: each city should have a car seat depot, that is staffed by certified car seat techs only, and they are the only ones who can sell, fit/check seats or dispense advice, period!

Tiger :(

[Loves2sing]

each city should have a car seat depot, that is staffed by certified car seat techs only, and they are the only ones who can sell, fit/check seats or dispense advice, period!

Tiger :(

Oh my goodness wouldn't that be fantastic!! Except for the part that if you could only buy from a tech then the price would probably skyrocket. but think of the kids who would be so much safer!

[lil96]

Here[EU] they say 9 months or 9 kilos ffing, I hate that! but it's the law.