Vent Never new a mutual friend was a CST

onegirly · Apr 14, 2012

I met a lady, Beth at a ladies group and have spent quite a few months with her in the group. I recently learned she was a CST when another lady, Ann and I decided we wanted to carpool with our children. I ERF my 2yr old and my friend Ann has a 3yr old and uses a high backer booster. I have never carpooled another child who is in a car seat or booster in my car. Now Beth has already dissed both of our seats ..mine a Lamaze TFP and Ann's an Eddie Bauer. She says both are not up to her standards and feels there are safer seats IE. Radian and Britax we could be using. I was shocked to hear this from her. I did let her now I did very extensive research, bought two seat I returned and was on the carseat.org boards for weeks deciding on my seat for my child. I will be seeing her soon and we even discussed her looking at my install. I'm not sure I want to go there. I do support anyone who puts the time and heart into becoming a CST so I'm not knocking it. I was just offended at her quick to judge comment or that I had no clue on car seat safety and selection of car seat use. Honestly I will do or buy whatever is necessary to keep my as safe as possible in my car.

Jessica61624 · Apr 14, 2012

That's too bad she's so close minded. The true fit is a great seat. Is you're actually using a hbb for the 3 year old or is she still in the harness?

onegirly · Apr 14, 2012

Re: Never knew a mutual friend was a CST

I love my TFP !! I actually have been thinking of getting another one my bac up seat for Grandparents.

Ann uses the harness on the EB seat.

mommycat · Apr 15, 2012

Re: Never knew a mutual friend was a CST

Yes, unfortunately some people have their preferred brand and do not have an open mind to other seats. They may not be up to "her standards" but they have passed the Federal standards so that is all that matters. While I have the seats I prefer and the seats I dislike, I try very hard not be a carseat snob. If the seat fits and has the features needed and the parent is happy, then there is no reason to tell them they could ("should") have done "better". Too bad - maybe you can open her mind to the TFP.

Is the EB your friend uses a 3in1? Those tend to make pretty bad boosters for most kids (don't fit well). If she is using the harness though, it is fine. Just let her know about the booster issue. And also some models had an unusable/unsafe (for the harness) top headrest position that was just for booster mode, so she should check for that.

jeminijad · Apr 15, 2012

I think I'd tell her that being a brand snob does not keep kids safe.

And then ask if she is an engineer who runs crash testing for NHTSA and has seen how the seats perform. Because surely, she wouldn't just spout off unsubstantiated nonsense that could actually prevent some parents from using a safe seat that fits their child, their vehicle and their budget.

An elitist snob is an elitist snob, no matter what acronyms come after their name.

onegirly · Apr 15, 2012

I will definitely share my love for the TFP with her, maybe she doesn't know much about it ???
As for my friend I am carpooling with is there anything I should check before driving, as it is my first time with another car seat riding child in my car.

Judi · Apr 15, 2012

Well, he shouldn't be using it as a booster. He is far too young.

ketchupqueen · Apr 15, 2012

That and those seats can be hard to install properly- make sure you can get 1” or less movement at the path where the belt goes through when you tug back to front and side to side there, before tightening the top tether.

embassykh · Apr 15, 2012

I would tell her how much your Premier retails for, then maybe she would think it was safe.

I wouldn't feel comfortable driving around a child that young in a HBB.

Phineasmama · Apr 15, 2012

She's already said the 3yo is in an Eddie bauer convertible with the harness, but it's one that converts to a booster.

kam1011 · Apr 15, 2012

If you're going to be carpooling regularly, I'd consider picking up an extra, inexpensive seat so that you can leave it installed. Seats that are moved around frequently have a higher chance of being installed incorrectly (mistakenly). Not that you HAVE to, by any means.

And about the TFP: I'd guess she just doesn't really know what it is, but doesn't like the name "Lamaze" because it's not Britax. (or Diono, that's kind of random...)

mominabigtruck · Apr 15, 2012

I wouldn't drive with a 3yo in a booster in my car so I would tell her she either needs to pony up a harnessed seat or it's a no go on the carpooling. Just because people get to be stupid in their own cars does mean that you should be liable when they're with you.

I'd tell your friend that she's being a j****** and by saying stuff like that it just shows how UNeducated she is about passenger safety. Maybe she should spend a little more time checking out the boards and actually learning something so she could help parents and not just judge them.
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Phineasmama · Apr 15, 2012

I wouldn't drive with a 3yo in a booster in my car so I would tell her she either needs to pony up a harnessed seat or it's a no go on the carpooling. Just because people get to be stupid in their own cars does mean that you should be liable when they're with you.

The 3yo is harnessed, but the CPST friend is being all judgy about the brand of seat he's in.

cowgirlsmommy · Apr 15, 2012

That stinks. I have brands I prefer for my own kids but I would never tell a parent only certain brands are safe.

Athena · Apr 16, 2012

Phineasmama said:
She's already said the 3yo is in an Eddie bauer convertible with the harness, but it's one that converts to a booster.

But she started out saying the kid is in a high back booster and that's where the confusion is happening.

I know I had the EEk reaction reading that too. I'm glad to see he's actually harnessed.

I haven't read anything good about those Eddie Bauer seats, but the TFP is a great seat and instead she should have been praising you for doing a great job keeping your 2 yo ERF ... and for your friend keeping her 3 yo harnessed. You both deserve praise!

onegirly · Apr 16, 2012

I have a Safety 1st onside air we used before in my husbands car for my son rf ..could I use that seat for the 3yr old ff instead of her EB seat.

Phineasmama · Apr 16, 2012

Athena said:
But she started out saying the kid is in a high back booster and that's where the confusion is happening. I know I had the EEk reaction reading that too. I'm glad to see he's actually harnessed.

I haven't read anything good about those Eddie Bauer seats, but the TFP is a great seat and instead she should have been praising you for doing a great job keeping your 2 yo ERF ... and for your friend keeping her 3 yo harnessed. You both deserve praise!

I know, that's why I was trying to clear that up so people wouldn't worry so much

Now, I would definitely tell the mom of the 3yo boy that the Eddie Bauer seat does NOT make a good booster. But as far as a harnessed seat he's perfectly safe right now!

onegirly · Apr 16, 2012

3yr old riding in his EB harnessed vs installing my Safety 1st onside air ..which would be better?

Phineasmama · Apr 16, 2012

They are both perfectly safe as long as he fits in the seat with the harness slots at or above his shoulders.

The PP was just trying to say that it might be safer if you have an extra seat that you can install in your car for him and leave it installed in there, as opposed to reinstalling his seat every single time he rides with you.

Brianna · Apr 16, 2012

Sorry if I missed it somewhere, but a concern with the Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 seats is that for some models, the top headrest position is not usable in harness mode. I would just have your friend double check on that if he's on the top setting, or before she moves him to it.

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