Big Fat Fail

So, I posted the other day about my sitter having her 3 year old in a TB and more shockingly her 9 month old FF in a ComfortSport. She asked me today if I had any information regarding why her younger one should be RF. Apparently, her friend told her she was wrong too. I told her all of the reasons I could off hand (thanks for those who replied!) She told me she took her older daughter straight from her bucket(Snugride) to FF. She then told me that people have a difference of opinion and she wouldn't turn her child back around. I told her it is illegal in our state (MO) and told her I would send her some links that she could look over. I don't know what else I can do. Even my DH, who thinks I'm a nut, agreed that the same links I sent her (joel's video, the crash test, the new AAP guidelines and the RF fact sheet from this site) were very compelling. I hope it helps. Somehow I doubt it will. It just makes me sad. I know that not everyone is going to "buy into" ERF. It's going to take a really long time to overcome the 1 year/20 lb mindset. But, my goodness at least abide by the minimum standards.:thumbsdown:

I live about an hour and a half south of St. Louis and see this all the time! My DS goes to a preschool that is hard to get into and not cheap and I am shocked daily by the misuse of carseats. They will buy the Britax seats for the name I assume then turn babies FF just like that! I put flyers in all the parents mail slots about ERF and so far, I have seen none change.

One of my good friends turned her daughter FF when she was 8 months old. I, like you, did all I could think of and gave her the info on why and how rear facing is so much safer. She still has her FF She says she can't get a good install RFing and I said I could help her or she could even have a CPST teach her how to install it. Then she says she has a good install FF in the center so therefore she is safe. I understand people turning their child FFing not knowing any better...but once you do have that info..I cannot understand why you would NOT RF, especially that young

my MIL is against carseats, even though my home country has almost exact car seat laws as California. she insist that 1yr olds can sit in backless boosters just so FIL dont get a traffic citation and demerit points. so DH's niece rode on a backless booster since 1yr old to get to daycare.:thumbsdown:

and she insist that < 1yr olds can sit on mum's lap as she will lie to the traffic police that she is just giving her grandson a ride home (DH didnt have a car than) and hopefully escape a citation.

that explains why even DH is happy to live one ocean away from his parents. DH was not able to convince his mum about the safety reasons for car seats. MIL's standard reply was that the car seat took too much space and limit the number of adult passengers in the car.

MIL gave us a earful for wasting money when we bought a cosco scenara for USD 35 for DS1. we just told her the traffic citation would cost more than the scenara, which is true.

rochelle said:

my MIL is against carseats, even though my home country has almost exact car seat laws as California. she insist that 1yr olds can sit in backless boosters just so FIL dont get a traffic citation and demerit points. so DH's niece rode on a backless booster since 1yr old to get to daycare.:thumbsdown:

and she insist that < 1yr olds can sit on mum's lap as she will lie to the traffic police that she is just giving her grandson a ride home (DH didnt have a car than) and hopefully escape a citation.

that explains why even DH is happy to live one ocean away from his parents. DH was not able to convince his mum about the safety reasons for car seats. MIL's standard reply was that the car seat took too much space and limit the number of adult passengers in the car.

MIL gave us a earful for wasting money when we bought a cosco scenara for USD 35 for DS1. we just told her the traffic citation would cost more than the scenara, which is true.

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OMG where does she live?

natalie77,

south east asia, we are luckily divided by the pacific ocean

a citation back home for not having a car seat for a newborn to 5yr old can cost USD 100 - 200. buying a scenara was definately cheaper. a ex-colleague got a citation and ended up getting a britax as it cost as much as his citation :thumbsup:

traffic back home is as bad as San Francisco and New York City.
car seats law was enforced back home from 2000 eventhough the law could have existed before that.

we always joke that the traffic police get great commision from the citations for car seat violations and handphone driving violations.

I completely understand the frustration and concern!!

I am new to extended RFing concept (DD was FFing at 13 months and DS was FFing but is back to RFing at 18 months) but I knew that I wanted my LO's in a 5-point as long as possible. Since finding car-seat.org I have been trying to inform my siblings.

My oldest sister has a 4.5 year old who is petite - around 36" tall and 32#'s and she is in a high back booster with a seat belt - because she is over 4. Her 3 year old daughter is around 36#'s and is in a 5-point but my sister is already talking about putting her in a high back with seat belt once she hits the 40# mark; because it is "easier"

My other sister's oldest daughter is almost 8 but only 36" tall and not even in a booster seat because according to state law she doesn't have to be. Her other daughter is 4.5 and only in a regular booster with lap/shoulder belt and she is not even 40#'s.

My brother's little boy is 2 years and only 28#'s and FFing. I encouraged them to turn him RFing, but they said he didn't like it and would cry and scream, and what about his legs.

What can you do?? I have been talking to my husband about how concerned I am for these LO's and he has told me all I can do is send them the information and let them make the decision, but it stinks!! I keep hoping with the changing standards - 2/30#'s that things will start to change, but who knows.

I'm always floored by the "difference of opinion" line. I get it a lot. Well, yes, we have a difference of opinion I suppose, but I am giving you STATISTICAL evidence that your child is less safe. I don't get how some people don't care. Sigh.