*D is sleeping much better these last few days, but that’s not why I’m writing this post.*
I think when a woman becomes a mom, she has one thing that she becomes obsessed with. For some it’s cloth diapers, organic foods, living completely green, etc. For me it’s car seat safety. If you knew me in real life or if we’re really comfortable over the internets than you know my view on car seat safety. Extended Rear Facing is the BEST, period. Not only is ERF best, but proper installation is too. If you need to know that your seat is in the RIGHT way and not just in…go by your local fire department or police department, they can check it. They take classes for that. Or go by your local hospital, I can guarantee you that they have staff that are trained on this. Or if you live near me, call me up. I’ll put it in for you. Even if it takes 60 minutes of installation time, it’s worth EVERY SINGLE SECOND. Not only is installation that important, having the five point harness in the correct position at the right place on the body is just as important. And spending upwards of 300.00 isn’t necessary but the right fit for your car and your child is. Yes I have an expensive convertible car seat. I did find it on sale, but even if I hadn’t I would have paid the almost $300.00 for it. I love it. D is comfortable in it and if fits our lifestyle. Daniel has a cheaper $150.00 car seat in his car for D, but I love it just as much as my more expensive model. Anyway that’s not the point of this post. The point is if you can do one thing that can truly and literally save your child’s life, you wouldn’t put a price tag on it. And you wouldn’t skimp on doing it b/c your child’s safety is way more important than cutting corners for ease, right? Watch this video and many others like it. Read the statistics. Then tell me if it’s worth turning your child around at one and putting them in their seat inappropriately.
For me, it’s not. Obviously from my last post, I don’t let D cry, BUT if D cried from sitting rear facing in his car seat , he’d just have to tough it out. Just like many of you won’t feed your child anything less than organic, I won’t put him forward facing until he’s reached the ERF limit. Please think about it. Do your research and then make your decision. And if you’ve already turned your baby around, still think about it and research and then maybe just maybe you’ll reconsider and turn him/her back to rear facing. I hope you will anyway.
Oh, and if your car seat has been involved in ANY accident, even a tiny fender bender. REPLACE IT!
8 comments:
I agree! So many people think I'm crazy for ERF. I get tired of explaining myself to people who don't really care. Every time I read someone blog about turning their baby around at 8 months I cringe! I understand that not everyone knows abou tthis and I understand that not everyone runs out to reasearch these things...why is that? It's 5 times safer then front facing and even if it's kind of a pain in the butt we're going to do it. End of story.
I know! I've ticked off more than a couple of people b reminding them that their child should still be rearfacing, but I'm passionate about it, and that's just the way it is.
Feel free to chastise me o n this because I can't decide if I'm doing the right thing today: my friend and I want to go somewhere, her car seat is is in her DH's car which is out of town at the moment and she asked if I have an extra one (her child is a wee older).
So I'm putting B back in her infant carrier for a few hours because a) she is still under the weight limit by one pound and b) she still has an inch of head room.
I'm really in a funk about this because according to the manufacturer she's like 2 inches too tall (just so happens to be all in her legs).
What do you think? I have an hour to back out.
I wouldn't make a habit out of it, but if she's still got an inch, and under weight I think you're okay.
Damn Jenna, I've been thinking about this since I wrote you back, and I wouldn't do it...but that's just what it says... "I" Of course I'd never let my husband go out town with my car seat either...but I think if you're comfortable with it, then that's what matters.
Ha! I ended up not doing it. I'm sure it would have been fine, but if something did, I'd be in the loony bin.
I left my friend behind and met up w/these other moms and one girl was like, "my baby is still in her infant carrier!" Um. What? She is taller, heavier and 5 months older.
Still glad I didn't do it - thanks for your input!!
Mandie, I know you said to go by your local police or fire department, and I've also read this several places. The reason this scares me is because my DH is also a firefighter, and he has NEVER been to a class on car seats, and knows of no one in his department that has! YIKES! I am so totally with you on ERF though, this is also my "thing".
Hmm...that's not good! Daniel hasn't been to a class either and several of his guys haven't either, but there are a few. I think it's probably like any other class they offer, you can take it if you want to.
However, I can GUARANTEE that someone in either the police or Fire Departments HAS been to a class. It may have to be a bigger department, but there must be someone that does these checks.
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