How to politely recommend to someone that their child shouldn't be forward facing?

hausofgerz · Jan 26, 2013

I have a friend who has a little girl who just turned 1 in December. She posted some pictures on Facebook today, one of them of her DD forward facing in her car seat. Any advice on how to tactfully tell her she should not be forward facing until at least two years old? I of course want to come from a place of concern rather than as a know it all. All of my friends with kids that live near me have heard the car seat spiel from me lots of times, but unfortunately she lives on the other side of the country and I haven't talked to her about it (and apparently she doesn't read my blog either!)

. Thanks!

megan.amarice · Jan 27, 2013

I I would private message her. Tell how cute her kid is, then tell her excitedly what you've learned about the benefits of rear facing. Then again something positive about her kid and how you know she wants to keep her safe. It may not lead to anything, but at least you've done your part. Unfortunately, only one person I've talked to about their kids' seating arrangements has changed the way they put them in the car (and was regarding boosters). I hope she listens!

Mom2Connor · Jan 27, 2013

She may read the blog and just not want to ERF...

Baylor · Jan 27, 2013

I just post erf positive things on my facebook and leave it at that. You can not make her do it, She is not breaking the law, most likely, so I just post things that are pro best practice and then leave it at that. You would be amazed how many people ask for info..

Phineasmama · Jan 27, 2013

Depending on the friend, I would send a nice PM about it, and spinning it as "I didn't know about this until after I had my kid! Can you believe how quickly things change?" is always a good way to go

That way it's less critical and the person (hopefully) doesn't feel like you're attacking their parenting.

tiggercat · Jan 27, 2013

I post carseat articles all the time (usually vicarseattech ones because they are Canadian and awesome) so people know they can ask me questions and that I am happy to talk carseat stuff through with them. I also post pics of my kids in their seats, without coats, in the -40 temps, not just because they are cute

but so people see proper use in action.
That's really all I can do. If they want more info, they know where to get it.

Sent from my iPod touch using Car-Seat.Org

Pixelated · Jan 27, 2013

tiggercat said:
I post carseat articles all the time (usually vicarseattech ones because they are Canadian and awesome) so people know they can ask me questions and that I am happy to talk carseat stuff through with them. I also post pics of my kids in their seats, without coats, in the -40 temps, not just because they are cute but so people see proper use in action.
That's really all I can do. If they want more info, they know where to get it.

Thanks Natalie! Care to contribute a guest post?

hausofgerz · Jan 27, 2013

Thanks everyone for the advice! I do post things on FB all the time about car seat safety, but she is hardly ever on FB. I'm sure she simply doesn't know that it is recommended to keep DD rear facing until at least two. I think I will email her and go with the "Can you believe all the things you have to know as a parent?!" spin.

mybabybean · Jan 27, 2013

I have a friend that lives far away, on FB all the time and I am forever posting stuff about the importance of RF, BUT at slightly more than a year she posted a pic of her FF with the caption about FF like a big girl.

I don't know how else to make her understand since she is not breaking any laws

How to politely recommend to someone that their child shouldn't be forward facing?

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