How to tactfully approach neighbour?

B

Boot

New member
My neighbours have an 18 month old little girl. She's forward facing. Yesterday I glanced at her in her car seat and noticed the straps were WAY below her shoulders and almost slipping off. I'm wondering if I should say something and if so, how to phrase it.

For background, they bought her seat (a 3-in-1) when she was 10 months and put it forward facing. I noticed and told the mum it was supposed to be rear facing. I helped her install it rear facing but she phoned her husband and told him off for doing it wrong. She latched on to the legal aspect but not the safety aspect. I did tell her my dd was still rear facing (9 months older than hers). Of course, they turned her round again at 12 months and the dad was cool with me for a while. The point is, I really don't want to piss them off. They are good neighbours and we live in townhouses so we are physically very close. They probably already think I stuck my nose in where it wasn't wanted.

Does anyone have a suggestion?
 
ADS
monica-m

monica-m

CPST Instructor
If you're in a proper use state, they're breaking the law because the straps are improperly used and the child has to be 34" tall to forward facing in a Dorel seat.
 
Brigala

Brigala

CPST Instructor
I would suggest looking up a car seat check-up event in your area, plan to go and have YOUR car seat inspected, and invite her and her DH to come with you and bring their car & kid as well.
 
canadiangie

canadiangie

New member
I wouldn't say anything. You've already helped before, and if you can see them and their car seat use, you know they can see you. Translation: they know you're into seats, and they know your dd is still rf. If they were interested in knowing more about the subject they would ask, or google, or something. As for the straps, a lot of people with 3/1 seats don't realize the bar on the back (or red tabs along the front) actually move. Next time you're talking with her (maybe conveniently while she's buckling her dd ;)) you could really casually slip into the convo "oh she's getting so big, looks like its time to move her straps up". Go from there. But I wouldn't make a big deal out of things.


Oh and OP is in Canada IIRC so the 34" ff length min to ff does not apply.
 
B

Boot

New member
Brigala said:
I would suggest looking up a car seat check-up event in your area, plan to go and have YOUR car seat inspected, and invite her and her DH to come with you and bring their car & kid as well.
Click to expand...

Thats a good idea but unfortunately the only car seat checks I've found in my area are infrequent and pricey. The nearest tech from this board is about an hour away.

I was thinking I might ask her how she likes the seat and whether she found the strap height easy to adjust. Maybe say its a pain for me to rethread my straps every time I notice my forward facer's shoulders are getting over the slots. That might be a bit too subtle though.

Keep the ideas coming and then if the right opportunity presents itself I've got a chance of saying the right thing, lol.
 
Brigala

Brigala

CPST Instructor
You could ask her if you can see how the straps on her seat adjust, I guess; pretend you're thinking about getting a different seat and want to try a few things out.

It's too bad you don't have free seat check events available to you. :(

Here we can order free "how to" guides from USAA Educational Foundation... if you have any publications like that you can get your hands on, you could give one to your neighbor and gush about how someone gave it to you and you learned SO much so you figured you'd pass it on.

Beyond that, there's probably nothing you can do. Honestly some parents really don't give a care, for whatever reason.
 
K

krystin_21a

New member
I personally would take the attitude of "you can't save everyone". You have already mentioned it once and now you need to let it drop. You live close to these people and you really don't want to be at odds with people you share walls with.
 
tjham

tjham

New member
canadiangie said:
Next time you're talking with her (maybe conveniently while she's buckling her dd ;)) you could really casually slip into the convo "oh she's getting so big, looks like its time to move her straps up". Go from there. But I wouldn't make a big deal out of things.
Click to expand...

This. ;)
 
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