Car Seat Check disasssster!!!!

LuciaBella · Apr 14, 2009

Hey there,
I was checking my cousins car seat yesterday (he is 11 months) and he was riding FORWARD FACING! I almost flipped out. Although he is a big boy (23 lbs) I told them that it is not safe for him to ride forward facing. They wanted to know what the difference was...so I explained.
They turned him around because he is going to be 1 in 2 weeks and because he would put up a fight when RF. Regardless, I gave them the information turned him back around and taught them how to install it forward facing just in case...they might as well do it right.

They had the LATCH connectors for RF (Britax click and safe)- they hadn't switched them yet, AND they had them connected to the top tether! They have an Envoy, so the top tether is on the back of the seat.

How can I give them information for keeping him RF until 2? It's a sensitive subject because it's family and he's my baby cousin! Also, does anyone have issues with their kids screaming when RF??

Help!

Pixels · Apr 14, 2009

You can send them Joel's video. He was 18 months old and 33 pounds when he was internally decapitated due to FFing. It's on YouTube. Or show them a couple of crash test videos of FFing vs RFing. Just don't come on too strong. You can simply send them an email saying "hey, I thought you'd be interested in seeing these" and provide links. Keep it very brief so you don't come on too strongly.

Older kids can have their seats installed more upright, up to 30 degrees. Newborns need the full 45 degree recline to protect their airway, but older kids can be more upright. He might be more comfortable that way.

Lisa in WV · Apr 14, 2009

My 14-month-old DD screams in the car, too. She's RF and her almost five-year-old sister in FF. Sometimes having her sister back there with her helps, but other times nothing makes a difference. I try not to drive long distances if I can help it, because I know I'm in for a long, loud trip if I do.

scatterbunny · Apr 14, 2009

I do think some kids are just naturally going to be car screamers, RF or FF. They just get to an age/stage where they hate being restrained, period...doesn't matter which direction they're facing. My own dd hit that age/stage at about 13-15mo, coincidentally, right after we turned her FF. She also started getting carsick at that point, something that never happened when RF. Every kiddo is different, of course, but I hate that parents automatically assume that RF is the problem when a kid expresses unhappiness in the car.

JerseyGirl'sMama · Apr 14, 2009

Do they get 'Parents' magazine? You could direct them to the carseat article in last months edition.

Car Seat Check disasssster!!!!

LuciaBella

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Pixels

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