https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 00:32:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness/page/2#post-2587244 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 10:37:36 +0000 tlcbaby 2587244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ScarletBegonia: I don't think you are a murderer. :) We went to forward facing either right before or right after a year (I can't remember). We had some long road trips ahead of us and I couldn't stand him being alone in the backseat staring out the window for twelve hours! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness/page/2#post-2587231 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 09:08:58 +0000 travelgirl1 2587231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Much, much stricter than most of my friends and family. You would not believe how hard (and expensive!) it has been (in the UK) to find a seat suitable for ERF with my tall and heavy baby boy. My family are all rolling their eyes because he should have FF at nine months. A lot of kids at four are just in regular boosters with no backs. I'm also the only person in my family that knew car seats have expiry dates. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2587201 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 05:19:20 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2587201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In Australia, I'm middle of the road. Changed to FF at 9 months. My American and Canadian friends basically think I'm a murderer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2587198 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 04:43:30 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2587198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: we have the Maxi Cosi Pria 70 and a Chicco Nextfit. I had the Maxi Cosi installed by my local fireman carseat safety expert &amp; he's the one that told me a hand must fit through. He also used a pool noodle to get the angle just right. DH ended up going online and found one specific noodle for car seats that is a bit firmer throughout. </p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Diono-Rite-Seat-Installation-Grey/dp/B005PK1CN4" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Diono-Rite-Seat-Installation-Grey/dp/B005PK1CN4</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2587187 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 00:42:05 +0000 cabbagerose 2587187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am older as in I am the youngest of five kids and the only one of my siblings to have sat in a car seat and I believe the only reason was when my parents bought a new Rambler station wagon it came with a car seat that hooked over the back of the seat. LOL very safe. But car seats have come along way and it is important to use them correctly and some times parents and grandparent sitters and others just need little education. Sometimes knowing what you are supposed to do isn't as effective as knowing why you should be doing it.</p> <p>Any parent who's ever bought a car seat has likely read in the instruction manual about the proper placement of the chest clip – which should be situated at armpit level – but countless injuries and deaths have still resulted from children not being correctly secured at the time of an accident.</p> <p>That's where Mr. Bones comes in. In just two simple Facebook images, the skeleton – created by child passenger safety advocate Ashley Kulm – models the correct and incorrect ways to position the chest clip. What makes this visual so much more eye-opening than one with an actual child is that you can literally see what the chest clip is doing to the body.</p> <p>In the event of an accident, if the clip was placed in the wrong position, shown on the left, Mr. Bones would likely have internal bleeding to his vital organs. In the correct position, shown on the right, his organs are protected from impact by his rib cage. Kulm also notes that the chest clip, when placed too high – at the shoulder level, for instance – can cause asphyxiation. </p> [attach=7431/16/oae7u6.600x600.3cf57283305feb87_13490677_556394764467_8991935531402296713_o.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2587136 Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:54:21 +0000 maddyz 2587136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I found this helpful <a href="http://thecarseatlady.com/latch-weight-limits/" rel="nofollow">http://thecarseatlady.com/latch-weight-limits/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2587126 Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:30:04 +0000 avivoca 2587126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Which seat do you have? I have a Graco and it only specifies that there can be no bracing and the space between seats has to accommodate a piece of paper moving freely in the space. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2587123 Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:22:37 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2587123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Omg yes. Ny dad keeps reassuring me he cab be back up care. I said first he would need a car seat. He looked like a deer in headlights. A friend of his has 7 yr old car seats from when her child used them. He suggested he could use those. Umm no</p> <p>My car is small and my front seat passengers get so frustrated when I stop them from reclining the seat further. Car seat safety dictates a hand must pass through the seat &amp; carseat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2587120 Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:17:26 +0000 tlcbaby 2587120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maddyz: Ever since I saw this comment I've been meaning to check our manual for the latch weight limit and I finally did it today. Ours didn't say in the manual that the weight limit was any different, though. Did you get that info. from an outside recommendation or specifically for your car seat? I want to make sure I'm not missing something.</p> <p>Looking at the manual was helpful because I realized our seat is only good for about five more pounds! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581650 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:50:40 +0000 Adira 2581650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I'm with you. It's part of that whole "States should be able to govern themselves" thing... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581642 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:46:43 +0000 pinkb 2581642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just had this convo with a friend today. I feel like we are in the middle. I keep DD RF until just over 2 when I physically couldn't put her in anymore, I was 7 months pregnant and she wouldn't climb in. And DS is 16 months old and RF and I plan to keep him that way until 2. My friend doesn't agree with the safety facts and brings up the whole when we were kids blah blah and we were fine. Says it's all sales ploys basically. Just have to agree to disagree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581639 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:45:56 +0000 looch 2581639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I think that's actually the problem, the rules and laws vary by state. I can't think of a good reason why it has to be that way, maybe someone knows why it can't/shouldn't be/isn't on a federal level. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581635 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:44:24 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2581635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To answer the original question all the parents I know seem to be on the same page for car seat safety: rear face until 2 and then flip the seat around. Some friends flipped right at 2 and others waited longer. I'll keep DD rear facing until 2 and see how she is. I'd like to wait until she's closer to 3 to turn her, but if she starts fussing in the car and distracting me while I'm driving I'll turn her around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581627 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:39:42 +0000 SweetiePie 2581627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm definitely more strict than friends and family, but less than many on HB. I'm counting down the days until I can turn my large almost-two-year-old to face forward. I plan to do it shortly after he turns two. As far as install and use, I am very particular. It's the RF vs FF that I am more lenient than a lot of HB on.<br /> Almost everyone I know IRL did/does it before two.<br /> ETA: I forgot to answer one of the questions. I think that most people I know IRL don't know or don't care about current carseat recommendations. I know someone who was using the latch hooks for the side seats in the center seat (and she doesn't have a car or seat where that's allowed) AND also used the seatbelt. I mentioned that 1) most cars and seats aren't intended to use latch in the middle and 2) the seatbelt and latch aren't to be used together. She didn't know. She shrugged. And continued to do it the same way. I think that's a lot of people I know. She also does a winter coat in the car seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581623 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:36:51 +0000 Adira 2581623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pickle: Oh wow, I didn't realize it wasn't a law everywhere! :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581621 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:35:19 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2581621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LulaBee: @Adira: it is illegal. I'm pretty sure she meets the weight limit which is why they think it's okay. They are constantly asking when I'm going to turn my two year old so it feels judgy to say something but you're right. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581620 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:34:25 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2581620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LulaBee: @Adira: not in every state. Here's the law for the state Mrs Sunshine and I live in. It wasn't easy to find.</p> <p>"Children under age 8 and less than 57 inches must be secured in a child passenger safety seat system in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions."</p> <p>Everything else is just a guideline. The DPS recommends following AAP guidelines for forward and rear facing, but it's not a law.</p> <p>So if Mrs. Sunshine's friends baby hits the height or weight requirements for forward facing its not illegal. That would be a big baby though, wouldn't it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581612 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:26:22 +0000 Adira 2581612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LulaBee: Pretty sure it is! @Mrs. Sunshine: I would definitely say something to someone forward-facing before 1 (or 2 depending on the state) because it's illegal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581592 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 12:02:03 +0000 LulaBee 2581592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: isn't that illegal??? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581469 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 08:02:42 +0000 JerricaBenton 2581469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I'm pretty aware and conservative. Lo is over 3.5 and still rear facing. I know other kids her age who are in a booster! I definitely think older people/people without children aren't up on current recommendations and think they're too 'strict.' Older people often find new parenting advice an attack on their way of parenting, I've noticed. Before lo was born my mom made some comments about car seat rules being silly and over the top and I was like, we'll I guess you won't be driving lo any time in the next 5 years lol. Car seat safety is one of those funny things because people take all sorts of risks with their children but you see car seat stuff in public. Also, I know plenty of parents who've never read a parenting book or blog. I definitely think you're much more likely to be up on the latest safety recommendations if you're on sites like hb. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581466 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 08:02:03 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2581466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know maybe 2 people IRL that RF passed age 1. A friend switches her kids at 20ish pounds (so like 10 months) and put her 3 year old in a non harnessed booster when he was 38 pounds. I don't say anything and I'm quite certain she thinks I am insane for having my 2.25 year old rf still. We are very different parent-wise though, and it wouldn't be good if I brought it up. </p> <p>Most people I know switch around 12ish months citing their kids legs are too long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581427 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 06:57:47 +0000 Adira 2581427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: I'm with you!</p> <p>Car seat safety is my one BIG THING that I'm super strict about. I'm the strictest person I know and I've gotten into a fight with my parents about it before when they were going to watch Xander for us. I had Hubs install their car seat so that I knew it was installed correctly, haha.</p> <p>I don't know anyone who even waited until 2 before turning their kids. Xander's almost 3.5 and he's still rear-facing. I'm never turning my kids around, haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581418 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 06:34:29 +0000 looch 2581418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maddyz: yes, agreed...most people don't realize the LATCH weight limits, but I think that's one of those things that happens naturally when you begin replacing seats. I wouldn't expect a parent of a newborn to know that, but a parent of a preschooler likely bumped up against that information when researching seats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581398 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 05:13:35 +0000 MrsRcCar 2581398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Car seat safety is so hard to bring up! A good friend of mine doesn't do a great job with car seat safety for her two kids but I just don't know how to approach the subject with her. My boys remained RF until 2 sometime after their second birthdays we turned them around. I wanted to keep my youngest RF longer but for medical issues we had to turn him. My parents poke fun at how much of a stickler I am about car seat safety. My FIL on the other hand is right there supporting our choices. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581374 Tue, 05 Jul 2016 22:15:48 +0000 Corduroy 2581374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I RFed DD until 23 months and that was much longer than most parents I know. The law has since changed to 2 years and LO2 hasn't reached that age yet so I don't know how long we'll keep him RFing. </p> <p>I am suprised that I know three friends that go out of their way to drive sports cars to keep babies up front. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581360 Tue, 05 Jul 2016 21:29:42 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2581360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Much much more strict. Most people are completely unaware. My best friend turned her baby at NINE MONTHS. I haven't said anything g because it's none of my business but it will be devastating if something happens to her. It's such a hard subject to broach. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581358 Tue, 05 Jul 2016 21:22:49 +0000 avivoca 2581358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We RF until two and don't put bulky coats on in the car. I'm a stickler for safety. I hope to RF longer with A, especially because we will have a bigger car. A friend of mine turned at one and I'm having a hard time not saying anything but I don't want to come off as judgy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581352 Tue, 05 Jul 2016 21:10:11 +0000 Foodnerd81 2581352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: ha, same- we don't drive that often, but I'm a pretty nervous driver in general so I think being very aware of car seat safety eases my worries about driving in general. </p> <p>@DesertDreams88: my husband still doesn't buy that RF is always safer. He's always trying to argue about how the momentum in different crashes would make forward safer and I'm like, no. It's just safer. You can do the research and watch the scary videos if you want but I promise you RF is safer. (That said we turned our then 2.5 yo FF when the baby was born because the safest thing for us was the driver being able to sit comfortably and drive safely. ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581337 Tue, 05 Jul 2016 20:42:37 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2581337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Car seat safety is the mountain I will die on.<br /> We have three rear facing and have no plans to change any of them any time soon.</p> <p>We are the only ERF family at school and I'm the only one that takes off winter gear.<br /> I never preach about it but it bugs me that I get perceived as judgy or uptight when I'm just following best practices. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-safety-awareness#post-2581333 Tue, 05 Jul 2016 20:33:04 +0000 SweetCaroline 2581333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are more strict and aware than most people we know. I agree with @LovelyPlum: it's hard to talk about this subject without sounding super judgy.</p> <p>Truth be told, it eases my worry and anxiety to some extent by being informed. I struggle because my MIL has a car seat for my niece (she babysits her a few days a week) and she takes it in and out of the car all.the.time. It's not easy to install and I know she's not getting a solid install. We struggle with helping her *get it* as she used to chastise us for buckling DD "so tightly" in her infant seat because she was so "uncomfortable, see, she's crying". :meh: kills me. I just know there would be an inch of slack in the harness if MIL buckled DD in.</p> <p>My parents might razz us about the days of yesteryear, but they will be the first to demand a walkthrough of buckling DD in and will pay close attention. </p>