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I do pass on info if I find out about it, especially car seat info because I have found over the years that many parents don't know about the car seat laws. The previous 2 years I have added an attachment to the fall newsletter about not zipping kiddos in coats under the harness. I had pictures and article and some of the parents actually took the info and use it. That makes me feel good to be able to help them.
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lovethis daymommy to 7 kiddos - 5 girls and 2 boys -
One of my dck, as soon as dad strapped him in his car seat, immediately removed the straps from his shoulders. I brought it to dad's attention, to which he replied "he always does that". I said " tighten the straps!". I'm car-seat safety conscious, but has anyone read "Freakeconomics" (I believe it was this book) and what they said about car seats?Comment
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I don't keep daycare parents on my personal facebook page. If someone asked about car seats, I would direct them info provided by your state and licensing requirements.Comment
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The article says
"One facet of the argument we make against the efficacy of child car seats is that government standards for car seats cut the automakers out of the safety loop to some degree, creating some misaligned incentives between regulators, automakers, and car seat manufacturers"
Here is the full article
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The only time I've needed to say something is an issue that keeps happening & I don't know what to do about it now. DCG- 7 mos in her car seat with very loose straps. I mentioned before that they were very loose. DCD said yeah, he had loosened them getting her out, mumble mumble. Well, it kept happening. I tightened them almost as tight as they should be at pick up a couple times, once in front of him..just put the baby in her seat & adjusted them. One time he made a comment about how tight they were,& I said yeah, you're not supposed to be able to pinch & the clip needs to be at nipple/sternum. So today, the seat is sooo loose. Like seriously you could stuff a parka under the straps. Ugh- this family is awesome aside from this car seat issue. What do I do? I don't want them to think I'm being obnoxious. BTW, they don't put her in bulky coats.. just jackets & a blanket wrapped over the straps. So that's good. I don't want to passive/aggressively adjust straps daily.Comment
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I see it as having two options. Either straight up say to them that it is NOT acceptable to use the car seat in that fashion and that if they don't start using it correctly, you will HAVE to report it because you are a mandated reporter or simply because you care about the child and just cannot live with the stress of this anymore. (most parents are embarrassed at the thought of someone else being MORE concerned about their child than they are...kwim?)
Or you could just not deal with it anymore at all and not allow car seats to be in the house or removed from the car.
I don't store, keep or even allow car seats to be removed from their cars. IMHO, I don't believe car seats are meant to be continually removed from the car on a regular basis once they are "installed correctly" so I have each parent bring their child to and from the car while the car seat remains in the car.
Parents do all the buckling in and fastening of clips and straps in the car WITHOUT my knowledge of any of the ways in which they go about it.
I know that they could still potentially do it wrong or half-hazardly but in all honesty, it's just not something I personally have the energy to worry about anymore.
I worry about what I CAN change and choose to let the rest go.
I want to help others but when they don't want to listen or take action, then I stop offering and thus stop worrying about it.
You obviously have a kind heart and care a great deal about this but sometimes you can talk forever and some people will just never "hear" you.Comment
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I would straight up tell them that you're a mandated reporter and improper use of a carseat would warrant a report. You don't "want" to do that, but for liability reasons you have no choice if they continue to use the seat that way. I would also print out something with "tips" for carseat usage and the dangers of improper carseat use usage. Also explain you absolutely love their family and would hate to do this but if they got in an accident on the way home and something happened to this baby, you couldn't sleep at night! I really feel for you because I often wonder how parents justify using the seats improperly. Especially such a young baby! If you have their email you could also find some videos on YouTube about loose straps! That may open their eyes to the risk. It's honestly the equivalent of not even putting them in the seat at all!
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