My pediatrician still isn't recommending extended RF

chloespurple

Senior Community Member
We went for Karli's 15 month check up on Mon. The Dr. & I were going over all the normal stuff & when she asked about Karli's seat I told her she is still RF-ing.

(Background)
At Karli's 12 month check up, the Dr. looked at me like I had 2 heads when I told her I planned on keeping Karli RF. She questioned the safety of her legs, etc. I told her about this site but forgot it was ".org" instead of ".com", so I am thinking she never found it.

This time when I told her still RF-ing, she smiled and didn't give me such a hard time & said that was fine. But she then went on to tell me she asked all of the Dr.s at the practice & NONE of them have heard/nor recommend extender RF.

I told her that even the AAP (her fellow colleagues) recommends it & it is on the web page. So maybe she will do some more research and spread the word:shrug-shoulders:.

Don't get me wrong she is an AWESOME Dr., I just wish they were better informed on car seat safety since most parents aren't totally obsessed with it like I am:eek: .

By the way, I have been thinking alot about it & I would love :love: to take the class and learn more & become certified. But there weren't any classes offered near me.
 
ADS

Victorious4

Senior Community Member
In the carseats section of my website is a link to the actual AAP Policy Statement for Peds advizing parents -- if I were you, I'd print it, highlight the relevant section & mail to the facility: CC'ing a copy to each & every doctor there :whistle: :cool:
 

mamisan

New member
I don't know if it is because my dd is small and has hypotonia or what but at her 12 month appointment our ped looked at me like I might get offended and said he thought I really should keep her rear facing. I told him that we already planned to do that and he looked relieved.
 

mamato2

New member
Mine said, 'It's a parental choice. Most parents can't wait to turn their kids around.' :mad: I only brought it up with her because the well check info sheet I was given seemed to say that after 12 m and 20 lbs babies must/should be turned around. I was suggesting that the info could be better presented and include the fact that longer is better (i.e. limit of seat).
Grrrr,
C.
 

rlsadc

Senior Community Member
Most of the older doctors have a hard time keeping up with the AAP and some of the changes they make. Not all of them agree with all of the AAP's recomendations...and some of them choose to not ignore, but not actively educate themselves on all of the AAP's reccomendations...

i really wish that extended RFing was one that all of them would push (not to mention extended harnessing)
 

Knittingfor4

New member
Okay, please forgive my ignorance cause I haven't been to a ped in years. But why do they ask about carseats? And why would parents ask the ped about carseats? I'm just confused. Medical drs are trained in artificial methods of curing disease and injury. I would never have asked my ped about BFing or carseats or alot of other things. If I wanted help with carseats I went to the local expensive baby boutique where the employees catch you at the door to direct you and they have alot of info about their products. Now I just go ask the techs. If I want to know about other stuff I call the appropriate person, IBCLC, Chiro, consult a book, whatever. I would never ask a ped anything that didn't have to do with sickness. Am I just rare? I thought that was normal, my friends do the same thing. Does mainstream America just think the pedi is a one stop for everything one needs to know from birth-18?
 

Ahzryn

Active member
Does mainstream America just think the pedi is a one stop for everything one needs to know from birth-18?

Yup. Even worse, they consider peds the authority on the subject. You have no idea how many parents say "well my ped said turn them so I have to turn them" and leave with their kids that way. I, as a certified technician, have way less authority/credibility in their minds than a pediatrician, so me saying that it is best practice to extended rf, or downright DANGEROUS for them to ff their big 9 mo old means jack squat.
 

Paperdragon

New member
:twocents: Peds also advise on other safety issues. Like infants sleeping on their backs to decrease risk of SIDS, etc. Car seats are a matter of safety and the AAP is their governing body. So if the AAP makes a recemmendation, I think they should be prepared advise patens accordingly. At the very least direct them to a website like this one or give them the number of the local car seat techs. No, peds can't be experts in car seats, but as it is a matter of safety, they should know the reccomendations of the AAP and be prepared with who they can refer families to if they have questions.:twocents:
 

mommyoftwoboys

New member
Okay, please forgive my ignorance cause I haven't been to a ped in years. But why do they ask about carseats? And why would parents ask the ped about carseats? I'm just confused. Medical drs are trained in artificial methods of curing disease and injury. I would never have asked my ped about BFing or carseats or alot of other things. If I wanted help with carseats I went to the local expensive baby boutique where the employees catch you at the door to direct you and they have alot of info about their products. Now I just go ask the techs. If I want to know about other stuff I call the appropriate person, IBCLC, Chiro, consult a book, whatever. I would never ask a ped anything that didn't have to do with sickness. Am I just rare? I thought that was normal, my friends do the same thing. Does mainstream America just think the pedi is a one stop for everything one needs to know from birth-18?


My kids drs office now, (which we have switched several times recently) asks about car seats. They have a car seat program where you can get your seat installed or an inspection done there. The first visit I had there, she asked me do I have a car seat. I proudly said yes, I have a Regent for Jordan and Marathon for Konnor, she replied you have done research havent you. LoL I of course replied proudly, yes I found a great website with LOTS of information on car seats.
She seemed impressed. But I think its awesome when Drs say something because most parents dont consult other areas for information, in fact in most cases, other than school many parents only consult a dr for information period. A doctor would also have more influence because they are a medical health professional.
 

Laurenc0101

New member
Mine said, 'It's a parental choice. Most parents can't wait to turn their kids around.' :mad: I only brought it up with her because the well check info sheet I was given seemed to say that after 12 m and 20 lbs babies must/should be turned around. I was suggesting that the info could be better presented and include the fact that longer is better (i.e. limit of seat).
Grrrr,
C.

I got one of those papers too at Brayden's 12 month visit. His ped told me it was okay to turn him and I just politely said, "We are going to continue rear-facing to the limits of his seat." She just smiled and moved on. I really do wish that they would give better information. At least let parents know that there are other recommendations out there and that children don't have to FF at one year and 20lbs.
 

Knittingfor4

New member
A doctor would also have more influence because they are a medical health professional.

Well I guess I'm just crazy cause I view anything said by someone with MD behind their name with great concern! I'm no hippie or anything, but I think the western med profession is nuts and just hasn't got a clue on most things. I hate that drs advise on sleeping positions, car seats, breastfeeding. They do not recieve any education about those subjects whatsoever! My pedi actually told me I was putting ds at rist by co-sleeping then wanted to inject him w/vaccines :confused: I'm thinking, whoa buddy, who's the risk taker here! Yikes! I don't remember being asked about carseats other than to check the box on the questionaire saying I have one installed in the car. That's it. Crazy! It makes no sense. You wouldn't see a cardiologist about migranes? Why do parents think peds know about carseats and other stuff? I didn't even make it 1yr so I never got a paper telling me to turn him around.
 

catfeet

Member
One of the moms over on Babycenter had this problem with her ped too. She made up a beautiful 3 page handout for him and is giving it out freely to folks who ask for it to give to their ped's. It's got all the basic good advice, ERF pics, website addys etc.

HTH,
Ann
 

Simplysomething

New member
Am I just rare? I thought that was normal, my friends do the same thing. Does mainstream America just think the pedi is a one stop for everything one needs to know from birth-18?

Not exactly. But for many people who else do they know to ask? Not everyone knows that there are people who are devoted to child passenger safety, breastfeeding or anything else.

I assume you've been online for a good long while. Even if you don't have people in your offline life who do such things, surely you've been exposed to them online. I find this whole "I must be crazy/weird/different" line a bit disingenious. Good for you for being more educated about alternative things, but I don't buy the "oh my, people really think that" line.
 

littleangelfire

Well-known member
From what I gather, lots of places actually have policies in place now that pediatricians are supposed to advise patients on car seats. I realize lots of us here do our own research and work hard to do what's best for our kids, but remember that there's lots and LOTS of people who don't. And I see a lot of it at the ped's office. It just so happens that my son's ped's office is in a not so hot urban area. He's an awesome doc (goes to our church and he was my ped when I was a baby!) and wants to be in an area where he's really needed. He stays pretty on top of things, but he's on the board of directors for our children's hospital, so that may be why. Safety and health are completely entertwined subjects, which is why peds and adult docs and hospitals tackle subjects like car seats and breastfeeding. I mean - it's the law in manyplaces (all?) that newborns must be walked down to the car and checked that they have appropriate seats before they're allowed to leave the hospital or the hospital will give them one.

Some of the parents I see come into the peds office are just completely ignorant of what's safe and what's not. Most of them think that formula is actually better for their babies! If they breastfeed, they think you're only supposed to do it for a few months! Many have babies in carriers they're too big for, or have likely already turned around their babies ff before 12 months/20lbs., so, in an effort to prevent these kinds of things, peds talk to parents about them. Also, just a side: breastfeeding is really very much a pediatrician/health issue. I'm a fierce advocate of nursing until baby decides to wean (usually at 16-24 months) but there can be issues, like anything else. When my son was having constant diahrrhea (sp?) I spoke to his pediatrician and that's how we figured out I needed to cut dairy from my diet for a while. Also, in preemies, like my son, it's crucial to make sure they're being fed on demand and gaining enough weight. So that's why it is a doc issue, at least in part, and most docs do seem to keep up on bf facts. And car seats are the ultimate safety/health topic bc use or misuse of them can cause the worse 'disease' imaginable - death!

Anyways, just thought I'd share from the docs side. And when I recently realized my 2.5 year old was 38lbs. 39", I asked him about car seats, and he is up on information. I asked him if I should buy a booster or get him one of the few seats on the market that will harness longer, and he said to get one that will harness longer. He actually said something about some places even considering changing laws to require harnessing longer, so I'd be safer to get a seat that would do that. So the knowledge really depends upon the doc.

Most docs don't push extended rf b/c either they're not up on info or I would guess b/c they realize many parents (especially the ones I see at our office) wouldn't go for it. I've heard other members of the board say something similar, like, it's for the parents' benefit that babies get turned ff, we want to see them. It's not the babies that are complaining about it! So docs push the bare minimum knowing many people will respect what an actual law. When you use the word 'extended' rf, it sounds so optional to many, like, it's just not that big a deal and since they don't know better, they wont'. Education would be better, but they can only do so much.
 

Melizerd

New member
My pedi always asks about Gabe's car seat as well and if we are using it properly. She's a GP though and not just a pedi. She is informed about extended RFing. I love her to death. I know she's the exeption though.

She changed all her hand outs to include information on extended RFing a year or two ago she said.
 

Victorious4

Senior Community Member
IMO -- they should simply ask what kind of seat the child is using & refer parents to local CPSTs ... or employ us!
 

Erika Ruth

New member
IMO -- they should simply ask what kind of seat the child is using & refer parents to local CPSTs ... or employ us!

My Doctor just asks at every well child visit what type of carseat the child is in. I guess I have always answered "correctly" as I haven't gone further than that.

Erika
 

Knittingfor4

New member
Littleanglefire: I totally get your points. They are intertwined issues. However, pedis do not have the education to provide proper info. IMO all pedis should be CPSTs and CLCs and more. But they are not. Statistically speaking too many are recommending formula at 6m, crying it out, seperate rooms, forward facing at 1yr. These have all been proven to be harmful/dangerous but they don't know or keep up. That's why, based on the current system, I think you see a "specialist" in whatever area you need help in. Just like you'd go to a neurologist not a cardiologist for migranes, parents should see appropriate pros with education in that field for issues/questions about all those things you mentioned. It's great when parents find an awesome pedi who's up to date and knows what he's talking about, but the majority do not. And my exposure to info is irrelevant. Again, you would go to college or vocational training for a career right. But being a mom is far more important and complex, there's no official training so one should read everything they can get their hands on. And internet has nothing to do with it, most of my knowledge came pre-internet, through books and personal contact with moms, doulas, lactation consultants and midwives. It's about personal accountablilty, not means.
 

rlsadc

Senior Community Member
See its funny. I have never been asked about my seat at the Dr's office. They do have an inforation page..but thats the extent of carseats.
 

ThreeBeans

New member
Okay, please forgive my ignorance cause I haven't been to a ped in years. But why do they ask about carseats? And why would parents ask the ped about carseats? I'm just confused. Medical drs are trained in artificial methods of curing disease and injury. I would never have asked my ped about BFing or carseats or alot of other things. If I wanted help with carseats I went to the local expensive baby boutique where the employees catch you at the door to direct you and they have alot of info about their products. Now I just go ask the techs. If I want to know about other stuff I call the appropriate person, IBCLC, Chiro, consult a book, whatever. I would never ask a ped anything that didn't have to do with sickness. Am I just rare? I thought that was normal, my friends do the same thing. Does mainstream America just think the pedi is a one stop for everything one needs to know from birth-18?



It's completely good and RIGHT for peds to ask about things like carseats. Peds DO care about kids. THey don't want kids dying from preventable injuries. Covering things like, "do you wear a helmet, do you ride in a carseat" is part of the ped's job.
 

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