I agree. To me, this is clearly a medically related topic. In addition, just about every kid sees a doctor, whereas few see techs, so this is a great opportunity. I'm not saying they should be out there installing the seats, only that they should, at the least, pass along their own medical associations recommendations about best practice, the way they do on many medically related topics (e.g. nutrition, screen time). A good pediatrician isn't just a doctor, but a parenting resource. They help with sleep and other behavioral issues, so why not the leading cause of childhood deaths? :twocents:
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Not too happy with the advice from my drs office
- Thread starter my2kidsSafe
- Start date
I agree. To me, this is clearly a medically related topic. In addition, just about every kid sees a doctor, whereas few see techs, so this is a great opportunity. I'm not saying they should be out there installing the seats, only that they should, at the least, pass along their own medical associations recommendations about best practice, the way they do on many medically related topics (e.g. nutrition, screen time). A good pediatrician isn't just a doctor, but a parenting resource. They help with sleep and other behavioral issues, so why not the leading cause of childhood deaths? :twocents:
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wvmommy007
New member
My bff is studying to be a PA. She intends to practice women's health. I have already brainwashed her about ERF. 
I told her she would be in great position to get the word out to pregnant women. I hope she does, and they actually listen.
I think medical professionals should at least know, and preach, the AAP recs. My ped. has asked if my DD is rear facing once at her 6 month check. She just had her 1 year and she didn't say anything. My DD is only about 17.5 lbs. though. And I may have given her a copy of the USAA car seat booklet and reorder form at her 9 month check. I think she already knows I'm "one of those crazies".
I told her she would be in great position to get the word out to pregnant women. I hope she does, and they actually listen.I think medical professionals should at least know, and preach, the AAP recs. My ped. has asked if my DD is rear facing once at her 6 month check. She just had her 1 year and she didn't say anything. My DD is only about 17.5 lbs. though. And I may have given her a copy of the USAA car seat booklet and reorder form at her 9 month check.
I think she already knows I'm "one of those crazies". 
Qarin
New member
I am not seeing why anyone is up in arms about this.
Everything the Physicians Assistant said was true.
Most seats being used harness to 40lbs. When someone comes to me with a 4'4" tall, 52lb 4 year old and says, "oh, no, don't worry, his seat goes to 80lbs!" I'm going to think, "uh oh, someone has misread or misremembered about their AOE or combination set... it boosters to 80lbs." That you're one of the 1% of folks who know otherwise, that there is a seat which can harness your very large 4 year old, is unexpected. Even the older 65lb seats, the ones which have been around a while, could not have been expected to harness a 4'4" tall child.
A 4'4" tall 52lb 4 year old more than meets the basic requirements for boostering, and it doesn't sound like the PA was especially uniformed or argumentative at all, just concerned that you were stuffing your child (who is the size of a 50th percentile 8.5 year old boy) into an Graco Comfortsport or something. She was concerned for your child's vehicle safety in the car.
I'm glad you explained that you were not endangering your son's life, and told her about car seats she might not have known about.
Everything the Physicians Assistant said was true.
Most seats being used harness to 40lbs. When someone comes to me with a 4'4" tall, 52lb 4 year old and says, "oh, no, don't worry, his seat goes to 80lbs!" I'm going to think, "uh oh, someone has misread or misremembered about their AOE or combination set... it boosters to 80lbs." That you're one of the 1% of folks who know otherwise, that there is a seat which can harness your very large 4 year old, is unexpected. Even the older 65lb seats, the ones which have been around a while, could not have been expected to harness a 4'4" tall child.
A 4'4" tall 52lb 4 year old more than meets the basic requirements for boostering, and it doesn't sound like the PA was especially uniformed or argumentative at all, just concerned that you were stuffing your child (who is the size of a 50th percentile 8.5 year old boy) into an Graco Comfortsport or something. She was concerned for your child's vehicle safety in the car.
I'm glad you explained that you were not endangering your son's life, and told her about car seats she might not have known about.
Morganthe
New member
I don't think the PA necessarily had little experience with carseats. The vast majority of seats Americans use HAVE traditionally had a 40lb weight limit. Plus many parents have wrongly believed that the 3-in-1 harnessed/booster seats, meant that the 80lb limit WAS the limit of the harnessed seat.
I honestly believe the conversation would have taken a different step and tone, if you had mentioned your Brand/Style name and the specific weight it went to as a harnessed seat. Instead of generalities, be specific.
I think your PA was very informed with the general habitual practice of likely the majority of the parents in the region & state & nation. It was a missed lesson in the "new" seats that have really only emerged in the past 2-3 years.
jmho.
ETA: Your 4 year old child is larger than the average 6 year old by far. Mine is 7 years, 51-51" and is tall for her age. You're in a highly unusual situation. Be very happy you have alternatives these days that weren't happening a few years ago. DD had only the option of a Regent. Limited market until recently.
Qarin
New member
Just an addendum. I went looking, because I was so shocked by the 52" number for him that I wondered if it was a typo- I found that you mentioned he was 45" in November:
http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=1509064&postcount=5
Which is a lot more like "the size of a 6yo". In any case, the rest of my post still stands (with the possible exception that he might still fit in a Marathon); he meets the minimum requirements for boostering and has far surpassed the weight limits of most car seat harnesses in use today, and it is not shocking or irresponsible for a medical professional to mention this at a checkup.
Remember that most 4 year olds are boostered if they're lucky. The current fight is still to get kids into seats at all.
http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=1509064&postcount=5
Which is a lot more like "the size of a 6yo". In any case, the rest of my post still stands (with the possible exception that he might still fit in a Marathon); he meets the minimum requirements for boostering and has far surpassed the weight limits of most car seat harnesses in use today, and it is not shocking or irresponsible for a medical professional to mention this at a checkup.
Remember that most 4 year olds are boostered if they're lucky. The current fight is still to get kids into seats at all.
But you'd ask them what seat they have and not just assume they must be ignorant, right? Sounded like the PA just assumed. Plus, I've read here about what a problem it is to booster too early, yet the PA was pushing to booster a child who was not ready instead of discussing options. I think I would have felt similarly had I been in the OP's situation. That's why I was, "up in arms."
Kobain's Mommy
Well-known member
The only thing my Dr has said "He stil rear facing?" When I told him "Till he's 30." I thought the Dr was going to wet himself from laughing so hard, then replied "Good! Keep him safe."
April
Well-known member
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