Yes, this really makes you want to harness forever, doesn’t it? I do think we need to keep some things in mind, though.
First, we all know that manufacturers are for-profit businesses, just like the companies that make our medicines and our foods. They want to sell more of their products, so they make marketing decisions within the regulations to do so. We have to be savvy consumers and remember this point.
Second, manufacturers do listen to customers and others in the CPS community. Seats have gotten better over time, not only through competition and regulation, but because we want them to be better and our voices are heard.
Third, retention of the child is important because it keeps them from flying out of the vehicle, which we know is even more dangerous. The coming federal regulations are only for FF harnessed seats, so internal testing will still be important with boosters.
Next, the article states that the crashes discussed were extremely severe. Not even the current federal standards require testing for such severe forces, even in frontal crashes. And most side-impact collisions have a component of forward motion. No seat can keep a child safe in every situation. Parents have to be able to afford the seats too, or they might not use them at all which is the worst option.
Finally, this article does tons of finger-pointing without any research into ideas to improve the situation beyond shaming manufacturers. The AAP has guidelines, but pediatricians don’t talk about them enough. I know my office only mentioned when it was legal to FF my kid, nothing about best practice. The preschool did a better job, saying all children attending the school should still be harnessed. There are huge gaps in education of parents, and most won’t seek it out. I honestly don’t mind low weight limits as the parent of a small, slim kid. Maybe ages should be made more prominent on packing rather than just weights. Most kids outgrow seats by height, so maybe that should be featured too. I don’t have all the answers, but it really bugs me when someone goes around pointing out problems without proposing any kind of action or solution to fix it. Ok, rant over.
I just want everyone to see all sides, not just the author’s view.