Why don't pediatricians encourage/instruct ERF

grouprn

New member
This probably isn't the most approp place to discuss this but I am a little surprised MDs don't talk about this at well baby checks. I was talking to friend at work the other day, her son is 13 months. Since I have been doing a lot of research on car seats asked her what seat she had. She had just gotten a safety first vantage. When she pulled it up on line to show me, I told her I thought he was too young to be in a seat like that. I told about ERF and emailed her some links. She was quite upset he wasn't in the safest seat. Another friend has a very large 9 month old. Her doc told her she could be FFing since she was the size of a 2 year old. My step-daughter's pediatrician told her at her 12 month appt that she could turn her DD around FF and she didn't even weigh 20#s. My doc asked me at my son's 12 mon. appt if he was still RF when I said yes that was the end of it. He was small enough that I hadn't even thought about taking him out of his infant seat at that time. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I started researching car seats that I heard about ERF.

As a nurse this troubles me. Parents are instructed about benifits of breast feeding, when/how to start solid food, choking hazards, immunizations, and other safety concerns. If the AAP recommends ERF this should be a standard of care and part of parent teaching. Sorry, didn't have anyone else to talk to about this, husband just gives me the blank stare.
 
ADS

kathysr98

Active member
Welcome to our world! All this great info, great research, etc., and we can't get the message out through some of the most basic channels. Though I must say we are hearing of a few pedis who DO mention it. We can only hope that increases while the bad advice decreases.
 

mommyof3tx

New member
I am/was very lucky, our pediatrician in Colorado encouraged us to keep our kids rear facing as long as possible, she was also very up to date on other info. Sadly it seems like she's one of very few
 

Kyras_Mama

New member
Just as in the ase of things like breastfeeding and how/when to start solid foods, there are a lot of dr.s that DO give carseat info, just outdated info which, especially with carseats is probably worse than no info at all...

Our dr. didn't even mention carseats until the last time we saw her (was actually my appt. :) ) She's pg with her 1st and asked what infant seat my dd was in! *lol* I take her in the ss1 for dr's appts when I go so she's contained. She asked which Graco it was (SS1, Snugride 32, etc) and I told her and told her that we'd liked it but went with a convertible for the main carseat this time around, etc. Next time we're in I'm going to ask what they picked and mention this website (wish I'd thought to ask last time if she'd been here!) and ERF.
 

autumnlily

New member
Our peds office has a questionnaire that specifically asks if the child is in a FF car seat.. I first saw this question at my twins 1 year check up. And, again at the (early) 2 year check up. At my 4 year old DD's check up it asked if she was in a booster seat.

I was appalled. I answered NO and wrote "ask me why". He was not amused in the least.

I know, he is in the position to desperately keep a child in any sort of seat recommendation - but, I feel he falls short in promoting or even understanding the benefits of ERF or HWH. :thumbsdown:

If only that damn questionnaire would ask, after the "is your child in a car seat FF", "are you aware of the safety benefits of ERF and/or HWH"... then simply hand them a brochure.

Sorry, hit a nerve, we were at the peds last Thursday and again today. Just irks me.
 

TheNimpsGirl

New member
My son sees a family doctor, not a ped, but he has never asked what he rides in or what direction. He also doesn't ask how we parent, how or where he sleeps or anything else besides what he eats and of course medical questions.

However, he did post in every single room and the waiting room the AAP's statement about RFing to the limits and at least two when it came out. He also had for a while a flyer for the local safe kids chapter posted right where you check in (it came down I noticed when the chapter lost funding and was merged with another). This leads me to believe, which I have never asked him, that he feels he isn't a specialist in car seats so instead just posts resources for parents who need one. The hospital I delivered in also never even asked about a car seat or checked but handed us pamphlets and flyers about car seats which promoted ERFing and the number to local techs. They probably feel the same.
 

grouprn

New member
Thanks everyone for sharing. Guess I was a little shocked, after reading up on the internet, that I hadn't heard about ERF before. Nor has any of the new parents that I personally know. I will say that the hospital I delivered in had my husband bring the car seat up to the room, showed me how to use it, and a nurse came down to the car with us to be sure we had him buckled in approp. I was impressed with that.

And for my adventures into ERF, just got a radian XTSL delivered this week and can't for the life of me get it installed tightly. Tried again today to no avail. Nothing like the 5 min install of my EFTA. In my state capital I can only find 1 safe kids tech that works 1 day a week for 2 hours. Go figure. I work an 1&1/2 from home and there are a couple of techs there. Will try and make an appt and see how it goes. So far not impressed after seeing it in my car. Hopefully if it's a no go I won't have problems sending it back to diapers.com. Thanks, everyone on this site has been to nice and helpful. I'm sure I'll be back for more advice.
 

BookMama

Senior Community Member
However, he did post in every single room and the waiting room the AAP's statement about RFing to the limits and at least two when it came out. He also had for a while a flyer for the local safe kids chapter posted right where you check in (it came down I noticed when the chapter lost funding and was merged with another). This leads me to believe, which I have never asked him, that he feels he isn't a specialist in car seats so instead just posts resources for parents who need one. The hospital I delivered in also never even asked about a car seat or checked but handed us pamphlets and flyers about car seats which promoted ERFing and the number to local techs. They probably feel the same.

Same thing here - do you go to my doctor/hospital? :p (Actually, now that I see you're in Michigan, I'm not entirely joking.) We're fairly new to our current ped, and I'm so happy with her attitude toward car seats - she didn't blink an eye when DD was still RF at not quite 4. Our former ped was fine to, but didn't have good car seat info posted. (It probably makes a difference that the current hospital/health system has a very active Safe Kids chapter and fitting station, while I don't think the other hospital/health system has anything.)
 
Last edited:

carseatcoach

Carseat Crankypants
For the same reason CPSTs don't do rapid strep tests. They are (as a group) experts in medicine, not carseats (or parenting, or good common sense).
 

apsupermom

New member
For the same reason CPSTs don't do rapid strep tests. They are (as a group) experts in medicine, not carseats (or parenting, or good common sense).

Yeah...I'm a early childhood interventionist and we get kids who peds have referred them for assessment at 12 months becasue they have a speech "issue"
Um we don't even screen for speech until after 18 months and more likely after 24 months! And we sometimes get children who have been referred for not walking at 14 months...um also don't screen for that until after 17 months!

I see a ped who thinks I'm nuts about everything but does listen to me. I kept my older ds rf until almost 4 and she asked me the leg question...you know broken legs from being squished, better a broken leg than a broken neck is what I told her...at my younger ds well baby check last week, she did mention that I was ahead of the curve because of the new AAP recs. I was thrilled!
 

kimogilvie

New member
My peds office has car seat info up all around the office, posters, etc - and it's all outdated. Emphasizes RF-ing to 1 and 20 lbs, and FF-ing in a car seat between 1 and 4. AT DS's 2.5 year check up then asked if he was in a car seat or booster. I told the doctor he was still RF-ing. She was pretty shocked. She asked a bunch of questions about his legs, his comfort, etc and then just shrugged and said "well they are saying that's the best way now", and didn't seem like she would be further researching or recommending, just thought I was nuts. ;-)
 

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Forum statistics

Threads
219,655
Messages
2,196,895
Members
13,530
Latest member
onehitko860

You must read your carseat and vehicle owner’s manual and understand any relevant state laws. These are the rules you must follow to restrain your children safely. All opinions at Car-Seat.Org are those of the individual author for informational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect any policy or position of Carseat Media LLC. Car-Seat.Org makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. If you are unsure about information provided to you, please visit a local certified technician. Before posting or using our website you must read and agree to our TERMS.

Graco is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Britax is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Nuna Baby is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org!

Please  Support Car-Seat.Org  with your purchases of infant, convertible, combination and boosters seats from our premier sponsors above.
Shop travel systems, strollers and baby gear from Britax, Chicco, Clek, Combi, Evenflo, First Years, Graco, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Safety 1st, Diono & more! ©2001-2022 Carseat Media LLC

Top