How do you....

approach parents when you see an OBVIOUSLY unsafe baby???

Just asking because I was at Target while on my lunch break to go buy Peter Pan DVD for dd. As I was walking into the store, I spotted a man, woman, and brand spankin' new baby in the parking lot. The woman was using one of those motorized carts, the hubby had the baby in the infant carrier - swaddled up in a big thick blanket and the 3 point harness of the carseat very loosely buckled.

I couldn't help myself...the words just spewed out of my mouth - I had no time to really think it over because they were about to get in their car and drive away like that.

I said, "What a beautiful new baby you have there, but you know that you're not supposed to bundle your baby up like that in the carseat....the straps need to be snug against her, otherwise she could be ejected if you have an accident."

They said "Oh, thank you" but didn't really seem to care. If I had more time I would have hung around and made sure that she was restrained properly in the car and call the non-emergent police # if she wasn't...but I didn't have much time. Now that I am back at the office, I'm trying to come up with better ways to say things for "next time" I run into something like that.

So, I was just wondering - how does everyone else do it? This is the first time I've ever encountered somebody that I felt that I HAD to say something, do something - the newborn baby was so innocent...there was NO way I could keep walking and keep my mouth shut on that one.

Your post was kind of humerous, because you sound like me!

I never know how to...exactly...um...say....You IDIOTS, don't you know those straps should be tight!!! Well, needless to say I use to be *one* of those parents that didn't have DD in her infant seat correctly. So I always try to think, how would I like to be approached by someone if they saw my baby incorrectly installed...

Also, I have learned not to be judgmental meaning...some people have their babies straps lose until they ready to leave. I use to do that with my DD in stores, restaurant, and out in public so the straps wouldn't hurt her neck. It sounds like in your situation though they had no intentions of correcting the problem...

I also try try to assume that the parents are just not educated enough on carseats and the consequences that could happen. So I try to say it eloquently or I say something like "Yeah, I did the same exact thing when my DD was little, and I wish someone would have told me". Or something to that effect. I always try to make it sound like *I* did the same thing, so it doesn't make them feel bad....

You handled it the same way I would have. You can't lecture to strangers, or give too much info, so a sentence or two about what you notice is enough. If they care, they'll show it and ask more questions. If they don't care, well, at least you tried.

That's along the lines of what I would have done also. It's so hard b/c you don't know how receptive they're going to be. I decided that if I say nothing, then nothing will change. But if I do say something, they may tell me to mind my own business (and nothing will change) or they may think about it and something may change. I don't like to be told off in person by a stranger, but I can take it if my intention is to perhaps save a child's life...