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If you saw someone buying a turbo booster for a ...
- Thread starter emandbri
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Evolily
New member
I might. Say something like "Oh- you know, that seats meant for older children? Maybe you should look at this one (gesturing towards evenflo chase)". OTOH, in some circumstances where I felt the parent just didn't care, and probably would not use the seat correctly ANYWAY, I might keep my mouth shut (because, at least a child restrained with a seatbelt is restrained vs. a child restrained in a grossly improperly used harness seat).
LISmama810
Admin - CPS Technician
What I would do (and have done) is this:
"Hi. I don't work here or anything, but I'm a car seat technician, so if you have any questions about the seats, let me know."
Doing that is totally non-confrontational and puts the ball in their court.
Sometimes they just smile and nod. Other times they say, "Oh, is this seat a good choice for him?" and it opens up a dialogue.
It's my job to provide information to people who want it. It's not my job to save the world.
"Hi. I don't work here or anything, but I'm a car seat technician, so if you have any questions about the seats, let me know."
Doing that is totally non-confrontational and puts the ball in their court.
Sometimes they just smile and nod. Other times they say, "Oh, is this seat a good choice for him?" and it opens up a dialogue.
It's my job to provide information to people who want it. It's not my job to save the world.
TXAggieTech
Active member
I comment something along the lines of "you're getting such a cute seat for your BIG brother/sister!".
NannyMom
Well-known member
That's what I do.
I work with someone that would absolutely say something, and insist the child be rear facing. She will nearly go off on them too. She's been around a long time, and um... doesn't care about offending people. She knows she's helped save lives (she's had parents come back to her with the crash stores), so she doesn't care. Apparently she used to wait in parking lots, but doesn't have time for that anymore.
Um. Well. That's a little scary.
To answer the original question, no I would not say a danged thing unless they were chatting with me to begin with. It is not my job to save people. It's my job to help people who want it.
I HAVE had some positive car seat encounters in retail stores, but they were incidental within a larger, "Oh HAI! Kidz, you haz dem!" conversations that you sometimes get into with other moms.
AtTheSouthDam
New member
I clicked say something but it usually directed to my kids. I would (and have) pointed a similar booster and asked Ciara if that was safe for little kids like her or something along those lines so they can hear her enthused no 
We are usually putting her in the five points at the time anyway since if I'm around the car seats I am usualy playing with them.
We are usually putting her in the five points at the time anyway since if I'm around the car seats I am usualy playing with them.
JerseyGirl'sMama
New member
What language do you speak? :ROTFLMAO:
That is exactly what I do. Or "I'm a car seat tech. Can I offer a bit of advice?" and see what they say. Most people I've talked to have been pretty receptive.
carseatcoach
Carseat Crankypants
This, this, and this.
hsjwmom
New member
I have approached a mom before and it turned out that her daughter was older than she looked, just very petite. The mom was super sweet about it and said that she knows her daughter would sit properly, too. I think it went ok because I talked about my girls and how wiggly my older one was, etc. For me, though, it was an eye opener. I realized that it really isn't any of my business and that as the parent, that mom had every right to put her dd in a booster. Even if she WASN'T old enough/mature enough.
Now for the reason I chose "no" on the poll. I saw a woman with her mom and two kids buy a booster for a little boy who looked to be 2-3. I'm fairly certain it was for him, as she had him trying it out in the isle. I didn't say anything. I'm not a tech and as much as it horrified me, I wasn't asked my opinion. I've gotten to the point where I'm tired of sticking my nose in other people's business. Do I notice? Yes! And fume about it and talk to my kids about it. Do I say anything to the people? No. Not anymore.
Now for the reason I chose "no" on the poll. I saw a woman with her mom and two kids buy a booster for a little boy who looked to be 2-3. I'm fairly certain it was for him, as she had him trying it out in the isle. I didn't say anything. I'm not a tech and as much as it horrified me, I wasn't asked my opinion. I've gotten to the point where I'm tired of sticking my nose in other people's business. Do I notice? Yes! And fume about it and talk to my kids about it. Do I say anything to the people? No. Not anymore.
TheNimpsGirl
New member
It depends on the situation. I see it every week at my work and I decide to say or not say anything based on my instinct of how I think the parent will react. Most of the time I just ask if I can answer any questions they may have about any of the seats or if I can help them with the fit of a seat for their child (if the child is with them). Most parents don't have any questions and are actually very defensive about help.
I've had some parents who were very receptive (one mom two years ago was told by her DD's ped to pick up a HBB for her 18 month old because she weighed 38lbs but mom said that made her nervous and sounded unsafe; she bought an EFTA that day w/ my help) and some parents who basically tell me off and tell me to mind my own business (one guy told me he didn't care if RFing his 12 month old was safer than FFing, it was the law so clearly it is safe and I just am making ERFing up). In the end, I have to accept sometimes that people will buy what they want to buy.
I've had some parents who were very receptive (one mom two years ago was told by her DD's ped to pick up a HBB for her 18 month old because she weighed 38lbs but mom said that made her nervous and sounded unsafe; she bought an EFTA that day w/ my help) and some parents who basically tell me off and tell me to mind my own business (one guy told me he didn't care if RFing his 12 month old was safer than FFing, it was the law so clearly it is safe and I just am making ERFing up). In the end, I have to accept sometimes that people will buy what they want to buy.
Mom2FiveGirls
Active member
I wouldn't, but if my older girls were with me, they might...
When I was buying turbo boosters for my older girls (7 and 8), I had my younger girls (4 and 2) with me (the 3 big girls were in school). The whole time we were shopping and checking out, I was talking to the little girls about how awesome their new seats were going to be, etc. (We hadn't gotten their seats yet, but were planning to in the near future and they were excited about them). You just never know the whole situation. Of course if someone had thought I was buying the boosters for my younger girls and said something to me (in a tactful way), I wouldn't have been offended or anything like that. I wish someone had seen me buying a backless booster for my small 5 year old (well, she was actually 4 at the time) and told me how much safer she would be to stay in a harnessed seat... I honestly just didn't have a clue until recently.
When I was buying turbo boosters for my older girls (7 and 8), I had my younger girls (4 and 2) with me (the 3 big girls were in school). The whole time we were shopping and checking out, I was talking to the little girls about how awesome their new seats were going to be, etc. (We hadn't gotten their seats yet, but were planning to in the near future and they were excited about them). You just never know the whole situation. Of course if someone had thought I was buying the boosters for my younger girls and said something to me (in a tactful way), I wouldn't have been offended or anything like that. I wish someone had seen me buying a backless booster for my small 5 year old (well, she was actually 4 at the time) and told me how much safer she would be to stay in a harnessed seat... I honestly just didn't have a clue until recently.
That.
Not that I am a tech, but I do know enough not to put a 26 month old in a booster. However, giving unsolicited advice is not my cup of tea. I think when a message is too aggressively delivered, the person naturally fights it. And waiting in parking lots.. really? I can see leaving a brochure on a windshield wiper, but I sure wouldn't put my name on it.
babygirlsmom1005
New member
I would have to say I would have to think about it. The last time I said something, it was a dad that was looking to buy a turbo booster for his 3 year old, he looked extremly confused and I offered my help....he ended up leaving with a GN for her :thumbsup:. My husband, daughter, son and neice were all with me, the look on his face when I started talking to him was sort of a relief that someone was there to help.
I think it depends on a case by case bases......
I think it depends on a case by case bases......
Anne
New member
This. I actually say this almost any time I see someone on the car seat aisle looking even just the tiniest bit lost or confused lol. I go out of my way to peek down the car seat aisle in hopes of finding someone to say this to, actually. I've only had one person who didn't want my help. Of course, that's where the 'almost' comes in, if they don't look too nice, look rushed, or seem to know exactly what they're looking for, I keep my mouth shut.
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