Carseat Issues

[Ariana]

I have a 2 yr old dcg who sometimes gets picked up by grandma. Grandma has back issues so I help her lift dcg into her carseat on the days she picks up. I noticed that the carseat is not installed properly and the straps are way to low. I mention it to grandma who is of course super surprised and says she will fix the issue as she is very concerned for dcg's safety

Fast forward to 3 more pickups and the problem has still not been addressed. I am literally worried for dcg and I feel angry and sad that no one is advocating for this little girl. My husband says I should just take the seat out and fix it for them, but I don't feel it is my place and I also don't want to enable this nonesense.

WWYD in this situation? I remember when I worked at a centre the director called the police on a woman who was not using a carseat properly and she got fined. Not sure I want to go that far but this is very concerning.

[sharlan]

Me personally, I would not put the child back into the carseat until it was properly installed. I would be afraid that in an accident, they would blame me if the child was injured. (You never know what people will do.)

I would probably take it out and install it properly, but then again, you're opening yourself up to liability.

[Blackcat31]

I have a 2 yr old dcg who sometimes gets picked up by grandma. Grandma has back issues so I help her lift dcg into her carseat on the days she picks up. I noticed that the carseat is not installed properly and the straps are way to low. I mention it to grandma who is of course super surprised and says she will fix the issue as she is very concerned for dcg's safety

Fast forward to 3 more pickups and the problem has still not been addressed. I am literally worried for dcg and I feel angry and sad that no one is advocating for this little girl. My husband says I should just take the seat out and fix it for them, but I don't feel it is my place and I also don't want to enable this nonesense.

WWYD in this situation? I remember when I worked at a centre the director called the police on a woman who was not using a carseat properly and she got fined. Not sure I want to go that far but this is very concerning.

Maybe bring it up to mom and have her discuss it with grandma. Here we are mandated reporters and HAVE to address it or report it.

[Play Care]

I would fix it.
She may not have understood what you meant (there's a lot of straps on those things! )
She may have attempted to fix the issue but didn't do it correctly. Car seats can be bulky, heavy and difficult to maneuver. She can't even lift her own grandchild into the car seat, so perhaps she's not physically able to make the changes.
Heck, I had a hard time when dd's were younger and I had two car seat techs show me how.

Consider it your good deed of the day

[Ariana]

Maybe bring it up to mom and have her discuss it with grandma. Here we are mandated reporters and HAVE to address it or report it.

I am also a mandated reporter and I know this is why my director called about the incident she saw. What does this fall under? Neglect?

I will be bringing it up with mom for sure at pickup. I will also let her know that I am a mandated reporter and that I can no longer put her child in that carseat under good conscience. I was under the impression from grandma that she discussed it with her daughter because she said she was the one who installed the seat.

I think it will make me more liable if I install and fix the seat and something happens so I am not going to take on that responsibility. I am doing my due diligence by letting them know it needs to be fixed.

[Blackcat31]

I am also a mandated reporter and I know this is why my director called about the incident she saw. What does this fall under? Neglect?

I will be bringing it up with mom for sure at pickup. I will also let her know that I am a mandated reporter and that I can no longer put her child in that carseat under good conscience. I was under the impression from grandma that she discussed it with her daughter because she said she was the one who installed the seat.

I think it will make me more liable if I install and fix the seat and something happens so I am not going to take on that responsibility. I am doing my due diligence by letting them know it needs to be fixed.

It's listed under "safety" here.

Yes here too, if we touch the seat, we become liable.

I agree...do your due diligence by discussing it with mom...maybe even have her sign off stating you addressed it with her... I know that doesn't automatically excuse you from liability but it may very well help.

[Ariana]

It's listed under "safety" here.

Yes here too, if we touch the seat, we become liable.

I agree...do your due diligence by discussing it with mom...maybe even have her sign off stating you addressed it with her... I know that doesn't automatically excuse you from liability but it may very well help.

Thanks!

I just texted dad. I bypassed all the people I know won't do anything and went to the one person I know will. He said he is going to fix it!

[Leigh]

It's listed under "safety" here.

Yes here too, if we touch the seat, we become liable.

I agree...do your due diligence by discussing it with mom...maybe even have her sign off stating you addressed it with her... I know that doesn't automatically excuse you from liability but it may very well help.

I send them to our local police department. They have a staff member who installs seats and trains parents on installation and proper use. Parents view her as an expert, and are more likely to take her advice over mine on that subject, anyway. I once had a grandma ask me to teach her about car seats. I told her that the baby's carseat had straps way too high and too loose, and explained why it needed to be adjusted. She asked me to do it for her. The next day, they were where they were before my adjustment. Mom was upset because baby was uncomfortable being squeezed like that and put everything back to how it was (a 4 month old with straps on the highest slot, and enough slack to fit a second baby in there). Some people just don't listen and don't care until they have a dead baby from their negligence.

[Ariana]

I send them to our local police department. They have a staff member who installs seats and trains parents on installation and proper use. Parents view her as an expert, and are more likely to take her advice over mine on that subject, anyway. I once had a grandma ask me to teach her about car seats. I told her that the baby's carseat had straps way too high and too loose, and explained why it needed to be adjusted. She asked me to do it for her. The next day, they were where they were before my adjustment. Mom was upset because baby was uncomfortable being squeezed like that and put everything back to how it was (a 4 month old with straps on the highest slot, and enough slack to fit a second baby in there). Some people just don't listen and don't care until they have a dead baby from their negligence.

It is just so sad! This grandmas other daughter is a pediatric surgeon in the NICU for God sakes. She should know better. She was even spouting off about how carseats have really cut down on child deaths from car accidents etc. I really fell for it

We used to have fire dept. doing it but they cut that out. Now there is a carseat clinic that you have to sign up for. I might forward them the info....

[Alwaysgreener]

Just saw a Tom Copeland webinar on managing risks. He said do not loan out your car seat, install or adjust a car seat, or buckle a child in.

[Play Care]

Just saw a Tom Copeland webinar on managing risks. He said do not loan out your car seat, install or adjust a car seat, or buckle a child in.

Good to know.

I don't accompany families to and from vehicles so I have no idea what they do for car seats

[Ariana]

Good to know.

I don't accompany families to and from vehicles so I have no idea what they do for car seats

Me neither! This is the first time I have had to help a kid into the car. I think we would all be very shocked to see most kids carseats I am sure,

[sharlan]

Good to know.

I don't accompany families to and from vehicles so I have no idea what they do for car seats

My opinion, too. I decided the less I knew, the better.

[Blackcat31]

I wont even allow car seats to be swapped, left or removed from vehicles on my property or within sight of my property.

[TwinKristi]

Just saw a Tom Copeland webinar on managing risks. He said do not loan out your car seat, install or adjust a car seat, or buckle a child in.

In some cases I suppose this would be managing risks but I feel in my case it would be managing risks by doing it. I have seen parents put their child in wrong, straps too low, forward facing too early, infant car seat too late... I have car seats for each age group for my car in case I need them and I do loan them out in emergencies. I have done more research on car seat safety and have more experience than any of my dc parents.