My BIL's girlfriend has a 20 month old. She works with my BIL at a county prison. She works in administration and works really closely with Safe Kids. Safe Kids comes in on a regular basis to educate pregnant women on car seat safety, gives them seats, etc.
So BIL's GF and I were talking over the weekend and she mentioned how cute Teagan's seat is (gotta love that Aloha cover
). She asked if Teagan's legs touched the back of the seat yet. I said oh yeah, she just props her feet up, no big deal, more comfortable for them anyway, etc. This inspired a discussion between us. She said that she didn't turn her son until he was about 17 months old. I asked her what kind of seat she had and she said that her friend from Safe Kids gave her a seat, I can't remember what it was. She said they're always giving out different seats depending on who wins the contract for that period. She was naming a bunch of different seats and I can't remember which one she has. But I do know she said that he still hadn't reached the RF limit of his seat.
So anyway, BIL's GF is safety conscious. She refused to let her son ride with her ex becuase he wouldn't put the baby in the middle - he said it was too inconvenient to get him in and out. She won that battle. But she has him FF! So I asked why she was so concerned about him being in the middle of the back seat, but still FF'd him, knowing that RF was safer. She said that she really didn't want to. That she had read a lot about RF them as long as possible and had no intention of turning him. BUT, she had her friend from Safe Kids check her seat since it had been in her mom's car. She wanted to make sure she re-installed it right.
Well, her Safe Kids friend told her that she HAD to turn him FF as soon as his legs touch the seat. If not, he could break his legs. I told her that this was definitely wrong, that there is NO evidence that shows this, that even IF that was the case, I would prefer a broken leg over a broken neck, etc.
But here's the problem. She said that she didn't disagree with me. That everything she's read went along with everything I said. BUT, her friend told her that if she didn't turn the seat around and FF, she couldn't help her. She said that she couldn't even check the seat if she wasn't going to turn it around because it was unsafe for him in the RF position.
I told her that her friend was giving out wrong information and that she should report it. But she won't, because she doesn't want her friend to get in trouble, after she gave her a car seat and all. I suggested that she call anonymously, but she's not willing to do that, either. Honestly, although she said she agreed with me, I'm not sure if she was just being polite or what. I really think she does believe RF is safer, but she believes her friend, who's certified and is with Safe Kids knows best.
I don't know that there's anything I can do. I don't this girl's name or anything. But this girl is giving out wrong information, to people that generally know NOTHING about safety. DH says to mind my own business, I can't save the world, yada, yada, yada. His opinion is that I should be grateful that these people are being educated and given seats. That without Safe Kids, these children would be far worse off. But I still don't think that makes it right. What would you do? My plan right now is to have another conversation with BIL's GF and try to convince her to do something. I think I have a chance of making her come around.
Amy
So BIL's GF and I were talking over the weekend and she mentioned how cute Teagan's seat is (gotta love that Aloha cover
). She asked if Teagan's legs touched the back of the seat yet. I said oh yeah, she just props her feet up, no big deal, more comfortable for them anyway, etc. This inspired a discussion between us. She said that she didn't turn her son until he was about 17 months old. I asked her what kind of seat she had and she said that her friend from Safe Kids gave her a seat, I can't remember what it was. She said they're always giving out different seats depending on who wins the contract for that period. She was naming a bunch of different seats and I can't remember which one she has. But I do know she said that he still hadn't reached the RF limit of his seat.So anyway, BIL's GF is safety conscious. She refused to let her son ride with her ex becuase he wouldn't put the baby in the middle - he said it was too inconvenient to get him in and out. She won that battle. But she has him FF! So I asked why she was so concerned about him being in the middle of the back seat, but still FF'd him, knowing that RF was safer. She said that she really didn't want to. That she had read a lot about RF them as long as possible and had no intention of turning him. BUT, she had her friend from Safe Kids check her seat since it had been in her mom's car. She wanted to make sure she re-installed it right.
Well, her Safe Kids friend told her that she HAD to turn him FF as soon as his legs touch the seat. If not, he could break his legs. I told her that this was definitely wrong, that there is NO evidence that shows this, that even IF that was the case, I would prefer a broken leg over a broken neck, etc.
But here's the problem. She said that she didn't disagree with me. That everything she's read went along with everything I said. BUT, her friend told her that if she didn't turn the seat around and FF, she couldn't help her. She said that she couldn't even check the seat if she wasn't going to turn it around because it was unsafe for him in the RF position.
I told her that her friend was giving out wrong information and that she should report it. But she won't, because she doesn't want her friend to get in trouble, after she gave her a car seat and all. I suggested that she call anonymously, but she's not willing to do that, either. Honestly, although she said she agreed with me, I'm not sure if she was just being polite or what. I really think she does believe RF is safer, but she believes her friend, who's certified and is with Safe Kids knows best.
I don't know that there's anything I can do. I don't this girl's name or anything. But this girl is giving out wrong information, to people that generally know NOTHING about safety. DH says to mind my own business, I can't save the world, yada, yada, yada. His opinion is that I should be grateful that these people are being educated and given seats. That without Safe Kids, these children would be far worse off. But I still don't think that makes it right. What would you do? My plan right now is to have another conversation with BIL's GF and try to convince her to do something. I think I have a chance of making her come around.
Amy
