Do You Educate the Pediatrician?

AllieK

New member
I normally don't read those handouts they give at the pediatrician's office for well checks but I just noticed the one we got at DD's 18 month well check says, "If child weighs more than 20 pounds, child can ride in forward-facing car seat in the back seat" WTF? I would HOPE the office was at least using handouts in line with the AAP's recommendation on this... :(

I have a good relationship with the office, we've been going there for about 4 years now with both kids. Should I mention something to the doctor? Write a letter to the medical group? This is the largest hospital in the region that is affiliated with the region's children's hospital so I would think they'd be more progressive. :(
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jjordan

Moderator
I would start by mentioning it to the pediatrician, and ask him/her the next step. For example, "I read the handout from dd's 18 month appointment, and I noticed that the car seat recommendation is outdated. The AAP currently recommends that children stay in a rear facing car seat longer. Is the handout something that is produced by someone here, or should I talk to someone at [name of hospital] about it?"

I brought printed copies of the NHTSA fliers and asked my pediatrician if they would post them in the office. They've been up for several years now!
 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician
Mine seems to have a pretty good checklist, and they told me Leah needed a booster for a few more inches when she was 54 at her 8 yo checkup :dance:
Then again, I was putting in an RF seat for my ds' school secretary's grandkid, and she said 'Dr C says they can be FF at 1...'. Dr C is also my doctor, and she seems to be very evidence based for our particular population... like, no HPV till the kids in OUR neighborhood are 15, and she's probably right, no kids in HER practice are dying or sustaining serious head injury at 1 from FF... I sort of think maybe I should bring it up, just because we don't see it frequently (or at all, in our tiny enclave) doesn't mean we shouldn't shoot for better...
 
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bnsnyde

New member
I'd mention it.
The Dr. doesn't usually even mention seats. Sometimes he says, and he's still using his carseat, right? But at age 4 or so.

They are always surprised I have RF kids so long or probably that my 9 YO still uses one (didn't even ask).

Our handouts always say use a RF seat until 2. So that means that everyone switches at 2. Ahhhh... Sure, it says or until outgrown by height and weigh, blah, blah, but that's secondary and does no good to keep kids RF. People just see 2.
And for boosters, they see age 8. So on the 8th birthday it's assumed it's no longer needed.
 

AllieK

New member
The handout is by the Calif. Dept. of Multicultural Health, dated 7/2012. I work in county government here and I've never heard of this organization! LOL I think I will mention it at DD's 24mo visit, if I can remember. 2yrs should be the bare minimum for FF and the doctors should encourage that! SMH
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AllieK

New member
I brought printed copies of the NHTSA fliers and asked my pediatrician if they would post them in the office. They've been up for several years now!

Do you have a link to something I could recommend to the doctor?
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Nedra

Car-Seat.org Ambassador
The handout is by the Calif. Dept. of Multicultural Health, dated 7/2012. I work in county government here and I've never heard of this organization! LOL I think I will mention it at DD's 24mo visit, if I can remember. 2yrs should be the bare minimum for FF and the doctors should encourage that! SMH Posted via Mobile Device

According to my googling, the office of multicultural health became part of the "Office of Health Equity" as of July 1, 2012. Maybe whomever put together the handout was overwhelmed with the change (or new, or recently laid off as a result of the change) and messed up the handout.
 

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