Help me w/a FB debate

Chex

New member

• Aug 30, 2011

• #1

This guy is bringing up this study: http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_levitt_on_child_carseats.html

So he thinks that Steven Leavitt is totally reputable and therefore he doesn't need to have any of his children over the age of 2 in a carseat at all.

I told him there were many studies to contradict this guy. He responded that he'd love to look at anything other than things from carseat companies and NHTSA because, after all, they have an obvious agenda.

Here's what he'd like: "Any research performed by third parties and published in academic journals with blind review."

Got anything for me? I know I used to have a bunch of bookmarks, but they all got deleted during a computer crash.

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Aug 30, 2011

• #2

I know that CHOP has some. Need a link?

 

Chex

New member

• Aug 30, 2011

• #3

ketchupqueen said:

I know that CHOP has some. Need a link?

Click to expand...

Links would be WONDERFUL!!!

 

S

SusanMae

Senior Community Member

• Aug 30, 2011

• #4

I do believe that even Steven Leavitt puts his kids in seats. So this "researcher" isn't willing to bet his own kids lives on his research.

Susan

 

An Aurora

Senior Community Member

• Aug 30, 2011

• #5

There is a study published in I believe the Injury Prevention Journal that refutes Levitt's 'study'.

Posted by a robot and susceptible to unrelated and potentially inappropriate AutoCorrects.

 

Chex

New member

• Aug 31, 2011

• #6

Alright, I sent him some links. He was actually fairly responsive. Here's to hoping (for his children's sake) that he can be open-minded enough.

 

D

DaniannieB

Ambassador - CPS Technician

• Aug 31, 2011

• #7

I'm pretty sure the Freakonomics stuff was also based on crashes involving death... so in a super severe crash, car seats make or may not make a significant difference in the risk of death, but in most crashes they could make a difference in the risk and severity of injuries.

If you can find access to the articles, there are ton of peer reviewed articles that you could probably check out that are referenced in the AAP articles about their guidelines.

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Aug 31, 2011

• #8

I like to say that the findings are absolutely correct.

If you have a 2-year-old who sits perfectly still for minutes or hours on end, and who also has no internal organs, car seats are totally unnecessary.

 

An Aurora

Senior Community Member

• Aug 31, 2011

• #9

LISmama810 said:

I like to say that the findings are absolutely correct.

If you have a 2-year-old who sits perfectly still for minutes or hours on end, and who also has no internal organs, car seats are totally unnecessary.

Click to expand...

...and is the size of a ten year old, so they actually fit the belt!

Posted by a robot and susceptible to unrelated and potentially inappropriate AutoCorrects.

 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician

• Aug 31, 2011

• #10

An Aurora said:

...and is the size of a ten year old, so they actually fit the belt!

Click to expand...

Nah, if the kid has no internal organs, size won't matter as much. Just position the seatbelt and you're good. Since the kid doesn't move.

 

tam_shops

New member

• Aug 31, 2011

• #11

Sigh, I want to cybersmack that guy every time someone quotes him...

Bumped into a friend of a friend that was waiting to take her very small 8YO out of her booster and I told her that being small she is so much safer in a booster. She replied, "Oh no, research shows that car seats do not do anything after the age of 2YO and the hype is being created by the car seat companies to sell their product".

I just about choked on my lunch. She's a teacher w/ 3 kids. :thumbsdown:

Of course, I knew which research she was talking about, and like I said, friend of a friend, not a friend! LOL So, I had to gently correct the information and know full well (know through the friend) that she isn't going to listen anyway.

But made sure to throw in the AAP, BCAA (our safekids program here), TC, and IIHS, not making any money off the sale of car seats. Then, suggested she phone the BCAA program and confirm the 5 step test before removing her dd's booster b/c it takes the impact in a crash instead of her hips.

I find it *extra* annoying when it's someone that was in a car crash b/c she should know better. Though, she didn't replace her car seats after a crash serious enough to write off the car so...

tam

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Aug 31, 2011

• #12

Sorry, went away and didn't come back.

 

E

elydell

Guest

• Sep 1, 2011

• #13

What I got out of watching the video was even more determination to rear-face my kids as long as they are physically able- instead of hearing his message as "why bother with a car seat at all", try to see it as "why WOULDN'T you rear-face your toddler, when forward-facing them is as good as skipping the seat and just using a safety-belt?"