How to talk to someone about bad car seat use

TyAndCheyMommy

TyAndCheyMommy

New member
We started babysitting for a friend (not long time or real close friend) three days a week.
I ended up meeting her to pick up the little boy today.
He is almost 2 years old.

She has him forward facing, straps under his arm pits, so loose he can be pulled right out, very bulky coat on.

I want to know how I should approach it.
 
ADS
W

Wreckgoddess

New member
I am terrible about saying things nicely. So I am going to hang back on this one... And let a "pro" answer a real answer. Do you think she just doesn't know how bad this is??? You might say "oh my! Did he do that when you weren't looking? We need to fix that!!" and say to the child... "sweetie you have to wear the straps like this or you could get really hurt!" But then I am often told I am passive agressive : )
 
C

Cookie Pants

New member
Hmm personally I would be really blunt with her and approach it in a way like "I just wanted to tell you because I care about you and your son that...." I think not lecturing but giving her the cold hard facts and the whys behind proper seating for a child would make her feel empowered rather than belittled/lectured. I just thought of how I would want to be approached and what way would make me feel really grateful towards that person for potentially saving my child's life.
 
creideamh

creideamh

Well-known member
I wouldn't bother with the RF vs FF (personally), but I'd just tell her why the straps should be at/above his shoulders (the physics behind it), how tight straps keep a child contained, and how a bulky coat can mask loose straps and that fleece is better because it compresses. Say you learnt all that recently (lie) and wanted to pass on the knowledge since car accidents are the #1 killer of kids. Then explain how to properly install the seat, since it probably isn't right. (I'd say to direct her to a local tech, but I know how rare they are to find where you live!)
 
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