Would you say something?

[happymama]

A Facebook friend just posted a selfie of herself and her LO in the car. Her LO is several months younger than our LOs, in the photo he is foward facing and strapped in with the chest strap on his belly. I am a big proponent of car seat safety so I feel like I need to say something, but I'm not sure how to do it tactfully. We are not really friends, she is friends with my sister and we have met a few times but thats it.
Any ideas on a way to make her aware of the safety concerns without making her feel embarrassed?

[happymama]

Mar 21, 2015 16:56:47 GMT -5 jnetx said:

I don't know if I would say something but if she is over 1 it is legal for her to forward face (at least in my state). Although it isn't recommended, some people have their reasons. The chest clip is definitely an issue.

Maybe just find an article to post on your Facebook and say something like "Just in case anybody needs a refresher on car seat safety. I thought the rear facing info was interesting and need to remind myself to make sure the chest clip is nice and high."

Good idea. I think he's probably just over a year so the forward facing is just a safety issue not a legal one, but in combination with the chest strap, that could be so devastating in an accident. I just never know how to bring it up to someone I don't know well.

[fiveohfive]

I agree with jnetx - might be best just to post an article and not say something directly... Maybe she pulled the clip down for the photo?

[Deleted]

A photo isn't going to give you all the facts. Did she move the chest clip for the photo? Did she immediately notice the clip after the photo? What are the forward facing requirements in her state? (Here it's 1 year AND 20 pounds.)

I wouldn't say anything.

Just think of all the times random people have given us (and pissed us off in doing so) unsolicited advice.

[happymama]

Mar 21, 2015 18:36:26 GMT -5 @twinstars said:

A photo isn't going to give you all the facts. Did she move the chest clip for the photo? Did she immediately notice the clip after the photo? What are the forward facing requirements in her state? (Here it's 1 year AND 20 pounds.)

I wouldn't say anything.

Just think of all the times random people have given us (and pissed us off in doing so) unsolicited advice.

Good point. She took the photo with herself in the driver's seat and her LO buckled in behind her. I guess the first thing that popped into my head was a news story I read of a mom who lost her baby in an accident due to incorrect car seat use. She had posted a similar facebook photo shortly before and said she wished someone had told her because she had no idea she was doing it wrong.
Maybe I need to stop reading these news stories, I'm already paranoid enough :-P

[Deleted]

Mar 21, 2015 19:07:08 GMT -5 happymama said:

Mar 21, 2015 18:36:26 GMT -5 @twinstars said:

A photo isn't going to give you all the facts. Did she move the chest clip for the photo? Did she immediately notice the clip after the photo? What are the forward facing requirements in her state? (Here it's 1 year AND 20 pounds.)

I wouldn't say anything.

Just think of all the times random people have given us (and pissed us off in doing so) unsolicited advice.

Good point. She took the photo with herself in the driver's seat and her LO buckled in behind her. I guess the first thing that popped into my head was a news story I read of a mom who lost her baby in an accident due to incorrect car seat use. She had posted a similar facebook photo shortly before and said she wished someone had told her because she had no idea she was doing it wrong.
Maybe I need to stop reading these news stories, I'm already paranoid enough :-P

I saw that article too! As if we didn't have enough to be paranoid about, right?

[redfraggle]

I agree with jnetx about the passive route of sharing the info. I've had a friend correct me to my face on something I didn't know I was doing wrong (and I'm pretty up-to-date on car seat safety), and I appreciated her saying something. But in my situation, we were at my car, strapping my kids in. If it were a FB picture, it would have been different because of what @twinstars said. (Seriously, people post pictures that don't tell the whole story all the time.) I do really like the language JNE used where you would say "I needed this reminder" because it sounds like you are just being humble.

I will also add that while it is important to look out for the safety of others' kids (I'm a firm believer in it taking a village to raise a child), you have to accept that you are not responsible for other people's parenting decisions or the consequences of them. There is information out there for this person if she seeks it. You can't force her to read it or follow it, even if you do confront her directly.

[annarose]

I wouldn't say anything.
I had a friend (college roommates now ex husband) post a photo of his brand new baby on the way home from the hospital with the car seat forward facing!!!!! I couldn't believe it. Other people pointed it out and he actually said he did a lot of research and this seat was designed to go forward......he missed the part about the about the age and weight limit. Thankfully, again someone else posted that he was I correct. The picture was deleted in a matter of hours. People scare me sometimes

[redfraggle]

Mar 22, 2015 13:27:27 GMT -5 annarose said:

I wouldn't say anything.
I had a friend (college roommates now ex husband) post a photo of his brand new baby on the way home from the hospital with the car seat forward facing!!!!! I couldn't believe it. Other people pointed it out and he actually said he did a lot of research and this seat was designed to go forward......he missed the part about the about the age and weight limit. Thankfully, again someone else posted that he was I correct. The picture was deleted in a matter of hours. People scare me sometimes

Gah!

[annarose]

Mar 22, 2015 18:50:38 GMT -5 redfraggle said:

Mar 22, 2015 13:27:27 GMT -5 annarose said:

I wouldn't say anything.
I had a friend (college roommates now ex husband) post a photo of his brand new baby on the way home from the hospital with the car seat forward facing!!!!! I couldn't believe it. Other people pointed it out and he actually said he did a lot of research and this seat was designed to go forward......he missed the part about the about the age and weight limit. Thankfully, again someone else posted that he was I correct. The picture was deleted in a matter of hours. People scare me sometimes

Gah!

I know!