So I was in the mall.....

So I have never really had a experience like I did yesterday. I was in the mall with my kids and we were all getting some Auntie Anne's pretzels and we sat on the bench to eat them. On the bench next to us was a woman with a baby in an infant seat. A graco I am not sure what the model was it has a been along time since I have needed one. Anyway my kids ask if they can see her baby and the woman says sure. She turns the seat around so it is facing us. It's a beautiful little boy who is 7 1/2 months old. I happen to notice that the chest clip is missing from the car seat. I asked the mother if she knew the chest clip was missing. She said she removed it because it was bothering her son I had politely tried to explain that the chest clip needs to be attached so that in case of an accident the seat will function properly. She basically told me to mind my own business and walked away. Maybe I was to preachy. I felt so bad because i didn't want to get her mad at me and I also really wanted her to reattach the chest clip. Anyways I don't even know if saying anything was the right thing to do. I just feel bad about the whole thing. I am guessing that is it is not against the law to remove the chest clip so there was no one I could call.

I'm not sure. That could fall under proper use, since it came designed w/ a chest clip it could be that. I remember though seats aren't required to have chest clips. Most people think THAT'S what keeps their baby safe, I've never seen a person take it off. Sheesh!

Her reaction is exactly the reason I don't give unsolicited advice.

griffinmom said:

Her reaction is exactly the reason I don't give unsolicited advice.

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But how oh how do you resist that urge sometimes?

Honestly I think next time I will refrain from giving any car seat advice unless asked.

I really can't resist the urge, Tara, without suffering physical signs of stress -- increased heartrate, my Crohns Disease flares up, etc. -- but the same symptoms happen when I do give unsolicited advice that isn't received well I try to compromise by starting out by making a positive criticism & in this case I might've asked if she'd ever lived in Europe as they don't even have chest clips ... but gone on to say that she might want to check with the manufacturer because removing it could void any liability JIC