I have seen a lot of posts suggesting that people who notice poorly installed or used car seats (of their friends, family members, strangers etc.) should keep it to themselves. I agree with this on some level, but also find myself wondering, what if I say nothing and something bad happens? For example: The other day I was chatting with a friend waiting in the car line at school. (She was waiting for her 6 year old.) Her 4 year old DD is in a 5-point harness FF seat with headwings - maybe a Britax Blvd? She was buckled in but so loosely that she was practically hanging out the window talking to my DS. This wasn't just slack - it was as if the strap was pulled all the way loose.
My instinct is to say something to help this little girl, but my logic tells me to just zip it. Nobody wants to hear it, it's none of my business, maybe Mom was going to tighten her up when big brother got in the car, etc. But - what if I found out the next day she had been in an accident and thrown from the car? How would I live with myself?
How do you know when to speak up and when to shut up? With good friends, if I see a really loose harness, I'll just tighten the kid up myself and say something like, "oops, looks like she's trying to escape!" or something. But those kind of friends (who won't be defensive or insulted) are few.
If you always just keep it to yourself (unless asked), how do you justify it to yourself if something happens to the child?
My instinct is to say something to help this little girl, but my logic tells me to just zip it. Nobody wants to hear it, it's none of my business, maybe Mom was going to tighten her up when big brother got in the car, etc. But - what if I found out the next day she had been in an accident and thrown from the car? How would I live with myself?
How do you know when to speak up and when to shut up? With good friends, if I see a really loose harness, I'll just tighten the kid up myself and say something like, "oops, looks like she's trying to escape!" or something. But those kind of friends (who won't be defensive or insulted) are few.
If you always just keep it to yourself (unless asked), how do you justify it to yourself if something happens to the child?