Post by yogasailmomma on Feb 5, 2015 18:27:25 GMT -5
Several times recently I have seen people at the grocery store with their infant carriers on the top part, resting on or clicked into the kids seat. This is so so dangerous as the cart could tip over, the kid could get seriously injured and it's not good/safe for the mechanism in the seat to be engaged that way.
I have held back saying anything because I don't want to butt in because I would probably be annoyed if someone said something to me but I often just wonder if they don't know how unsafe it is. Would you say something? Or would you let it go?
I have also seen people posting pics of their kids not properly latched onto a car seat/facing forward at too young of an age/the list goes on but I am too chicken to say anything. It makes me so nervous that something bad might happen and I could have prevented it by mentioning something.
Since becoming a mom I just have so much empathy for all babies and want to help without seeming like a pushy know it all
Especially for strangers I would let it go unless the child was in immediate danger.
For the incorrect latch - you have no idea what context the picture was taken in... they could be stationary and they took a quick pic before properly latching them in and taking off.
For the forward facing, there are a lot of new guidelines regarding this so I don't think it's necessarily the parents fault.
Maybe, if you see some of these things on facebook, you can post something about the newest carseat safety guidelines so everyone see it (I have no idea how you would do this since I don't have facebook). Then you are sharing information and not really being pushy.
Post by luckynumbers on Feb 5, 2015 18:46:42 GMT -5
I know it's scary to say something, and it is hard to do without coming across as rude/pushy/whatever. BUT, I like to think I would say something in that situation. I haven't come across it yet, though.
If it's someone you know, I wouldn't hesitate to tell them. Convenience does not trump safety, and if you can get through to them, then all the better.
I feel like we've discussed this before at the old place, but can't remember what suggestions were given. I feel like somebody had a really good way to go about doing this. Anyone?
Post by yogasailmomma on Feb 5, 2015 18:55:55 GMT -5
luckynumbers I do feel like it came up back on the bump but I didn't apply to me at the time so I don't remember what was said.
It's always strangers in public with the car seats on the shopping carts. I have been soooo close a couple times to saying something then back away.
The posts with the car seats, I totally get what you are saying @usernameedit about the reccs changing and not knowing the context about how/when the photo was taken which is why I have held back from saying anything. I like the idea of sharing the current recommendations/guidelines. I know it's just people are uninformed and not doing things intentionally!
I'm with @usernameedit. Strangers typically don't appreciate you coming up and telling them their doing something wrong. Unless there is some sort of immediate threat, I would stay out of it.
FB is a different beast, though. If it's someone I know, I might ask questions about the pics, and then say something if it seems that there is an actual danger.
For the M14 mom, it would depend on who it was. I'm not on IG, but I'm think pics posted here. There are definitely some of you I feel comfortable enough voicing concerns with. Some of the newer posters, not as much.
I do place my carseat on the top of the cart sideways and I hold it while I push. My safety arm of my seat also is in the same position as in the car and crash tested. Any time I move my cart I hold on. And yes if someone came up to me to tell me, I'd likely say fuck off. Not their place imo. I do not drive my cart recklessly around the supermarket and I have never been in or seen a in store cart crash. Yes I know there have been instances where a child has fallen but I was not there to witness what happened and if the child was secure or not.
I posted this pic on facebook when DS was 3 months old and I got a comment from my old boss saying that he better still be rear facing. I wasn't offended. I was glad that she was planning on saying something if I forward faced my 3 month old.
That being said I don't say anything when I see people at the store with their car seat on top of the cart. I have been approached by a couple of moms when I am wearing DS and they've asked me what kind of carrier I have, is it comfortable etc. and I've said things like yeah and it's safer because I don't have to worry about someone else ramming their cart into mine and knocking him off. I think it helps if you put the safety issue off on the other people in the store. Obviously like pp said she is driving the cart carefully, holding onto the seat, but you can't control if someone is in a hurry and swings their cart around the corner quickly and knocks the car seat out.
Post by pinkstarbursts on Feb 5, 2015 21:28:11 GMT -5
I would never comment to a stranger. That being said, I did say something to a friend who had her infant in one of those giant snowsuits in a car seat. I was very polite, and it still backfired.
Post by luckynumbers on Feb 5, 2015 21:42:01 GMT -5
I guess I am in the minority on the telling a stranger thing, but I am also very IDGAF. Again, though, case-by-case basis. I agree that if I saw someone toting their kid around in a carrier on the cart and they weren't acting like a crazy person, I would *probably* keep it to myself.
The thing is, it's not the parent I'm worried about per se, it's all the other crazies that act like crazies that get to me. So my sentiment is, do everything *you* can to keep your kid safe, so that if someone else acts like an idiot, it may lessen the damage done.
Thankfully I learned from the old place not to put the seat in the top area before we had our babies. I'm glad I know that now. However, you can pretty much guarantee that it will not go over well, if you tell a stranger that they're doing wrong. So I say, you gotta mind your own business. You never know how someone will react. I saw on the news a Mom approaching another Mom at Toys R Us about something she was doing wrong (safety wise) and it ended in a fist fight. A freaking fist fight!!!
Several times recently I have seen people at the grocery store with their infant carriers on the top part, resting on or clicked into the kids seat. This is so so dangerous as the cart could tip over, the kid could get seriously injured and it's not good/safe for the mechanism in the seat to be engaged that way.
I have held back saying anything because I don't want to butt in because I would probably be annoyed if someone said something to me but I often just wonder if they don't know how unsafe it is. Would you say something? Or would you let it go?
I have also seen people posting pics of their kids not properly latched onto a car seat/facing forward at too young of an age/the list goes on but I am too chicken to say anything. It makes me so nervous that something bad might happen and I could have prevented it by mentioning something.
Since becoming a mom I just have so much empathy for all babies and want to help without seeming like a pushy know it all
I don't say anything about the cart.
I did just fb message a high school friend. She posted pics with 3 errors and I just had to say something. I emailed her a link and said it had some good info. I haven't heard back.
For the M14 mom, it would depend on who it was. I'm not on IG, but I'm think pics posted here. There are definitely some of you I feel comfortable enough voicing concerns with. Some of the newer posters, not as much.
Well, I'm not gonna call anyone out, but if the M14 mom was on PB today, hopefully they see this and realize that just because their LO is over 20 pounds and in a convertible seat does not mean they should be forward facing and it is also probably illegal in their state.
Post by yogasailmomma on Feb 5, 2015 22:34:59 GMT -5
I was going to post the car seat on the shopping cart question on my local moms group but they have been so fiery lately over vaccine debate I just didn't even want to post there. I just don't want people to think I'm being pushy or act like I know everything with my 9 month old baby in tow.
As far as the IG post I know what you are talking about and that wasn't my intention with the post at all, I was more concerned about approaching strangers.
I do hope that everyone takes the time to educate themselves and anyone who drives their kids about car seat safety. Accidents are accidents and they happen everyday and it's so important you do what you can to prevent something terrible from happening. I've learned so so much from this group about things I had no clue to even check for/look at. I was a nanny for years and drove tons of kids around and granted the regulations were different but there is no way I would let someone do the same with my kid. I would be way more involved.
I do place my carseat on the top of the cart sideways and I hold it while I push. My safety arm of my seat also is in the same position as in the car and crash tested. Any time I move my cart I hold on. And yes if someone came up to me to tell me, I'd likely say fuck off. Not their place imo. I do not drive my cart recklessly around the supermarket and I have never been in or seen a in store cart crash. Yes I know there have been instances where a child has fallen but I was not there to witness what happened and if the child was secure or not.
I hear what you are saying and this is exactly why I haven't said anything to anyone. I feel like if what I felt like what I was doing was safe I would also tell someone to F off
If someone approached me (I don't put the carseat on the top of the cart but if I did...), I'd probably tell them to fuck off. If they didn't, I'd call a manager to report their harassment.
And yes, it does get to that point. DH was driving his car that had super bright lights. When he pulled into a parking space someone accosted him. They left and went shopping at the grocery store. Same guy found him in the store and once again confronted him. DH had to get a manager before the jackass old man would leave him alone.
Maybe I'm the exception here, but I'll say something. We are talking about a child's safety and it could be life or death.
I 100% know that not everyone is receptive to hearing it, and I'm fully prepared for whatever backlash comes my way. I'm not rude about it whatsoever, but I know some parents feel like you're personally attacking their parenting abilities, and there is nothing I can do to change their minds about that.
During car seat safety week, I posted all the pictures and guidelines on facebook and instagram from the page Car Seats for the Littles. I do try to post helpful things that aren't specifically directed at people, but if I see something that I feel is dangerous, I will say something, bottom line.
Maybe I missed it, but I was serious about those pics I posted. I have put my kid in the carrier and pushed him around both of those ways. Are either not safe or are you only talking about putting the carrier or the handle bars?
Did someone post on here once that putting them in the front section with the cart belt was unsafe as well? I do that as well but I wasn't sure if it was safe either. I cannot wear my baby. He weighs 21 lbs, is 30 inches long and I'm 5'3 at best. I just want to know where I can put my kid. I'm glad you brought up this question because I had never thought of it being unsafe.
Did someone post on here once that putting them in the front section with the cart belt was unsafe as well? I do that as well but I wasn't sure if it was safe either. I cannot wear my baby. He weighs 21 lbs, is 30 inches long and I'm 5'3 at best. I just want to know where I can put my kid. I'm glad you brought up this question because I had never thought of it being unsafe.
I think that it can be unsafe. I let DS ride in the seat of the shopping cart sometimes and he can wiggle all the way around and stand up. I am sure in a metal cart he could slip out of a leg hole. If he is riding in the cart its a constant struggle of me repositioning him so he's seated safely. I really wish that they would add some shoulder straps to the seat belts... It can't be that expensive!
I read an article from Pediatrics journal that said that the plastic car shopping carts are safer since the child seat is closer to the ground and they're less likely to flip over.
Did someone post on here once that putting them in the front section with the cart belt was unsafe as well? I do that as well but I wasn't sure if it was safe either. I cannot wear my baby. He weighs 21 lbs, is 30 inches long and I'm 5'3 at best. I just want to know where I can put my kid. I'm glad you brought up this question because I had never thought of it being unsafe.
I haven't seen anything saying it's unsafe for them to be strapped in, sitting, in that front part of the cart. If it's unsafe, I'd love to know.
For the pics you posted, the first one is not safe and the second one is. I hated doing that b/c I had no room for the stuff I needed to buy. I usually ended up wearing DS2 to go shopping. Like yours, he's too big for that now (22 lbs), so I strap him into the seat like you're talking about.
For the record, I always put DS1 in his car seat on the handlebars, exactly like you're not supposed to, b/c I had NO idea it was unsafe. No one ever told me.
How is the carseat in the cart such a safety issue but having a baby or my 8 month old (who just started sitting on their own a month ago) strapped in the front of the cart by one little strap anymore safe if the cart falls over? Seriously though?
What do you guys think of this? I put in my zip code and it pulled up a lot of stores here that supposedly have their carts equipped with these, but I've never seen them.
How is the carseat in the cart such a safety issue but having a baby or my 8 month old (who just started sitting on their own a month ago) strapped in the front of the cart by one little strap anymore safe if the cart falls over? Seriously though?
At least with the car seat "propped" on the cart, it makes it top heavy. So even if you hit a bump, it would more easily tip over. I'm sure there are actual articles out there to show the difference and the likelihood of dangerous accidents happening comparing the two. Obviously if the cart falls over your kid can get hurt, no matter where they are.
Then Comes Family, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.