What's Your Soapbox?
Part of the reason why I started blogging was to be able to share my opinion about various topics that are important to me. I think it's interesting as I read to see what people are passionate about. It seems like I had seen a meme going around inviting people to step up on their soapbox and rant about a pet issue, but I can't find it. I thought it was a little interesting, since I figured that that was what blogging was supposed to be about: getting on your soapbox.
Since having kids, I've really become passionate about car seat use and car safety. I'm not sure why this is, exactly, but I guess it's just because there are clear-cut rules that people should follow, and I'm all about following the rules. I also think it's so sad that many kids each year die in car accidents because they're not properly restrained. Did you know that car accidents are the leading cause of death for children? A few weeks ago there was an accident in Provo in which a mom lost two of her children because they were not properly restrained in the car.
Now that we got our new car we've finally taken the harness off S-Boogie's seat and let her use it as a booster. She's been anxious to do that for a while, but I'm a stickler about the weight requirements and she's pretty lightweight. Now she finally weighs 40 pounds, plus our car has LATCH so we could actually attach the seat to the car. Unattached boosters make me nervous. I'm honestly nervous now that she's in a seat belt, because a harness really is safer. As someone pointed out in an article I read, each step up in car seat use (rear to front-facing, harness to booster) is a step-down in safety, so we shouldn't be too anxious to move our kids up ahead of schedule. I'll also admit that one of my pet peeves is when I see people hauling their kids around in infant seats that are either too small or too old. Move your kid to a rear-facing convertible seat when they are getting too big. If you are getting rid of your carseat, cut the straps and then recycle the plastic parts. Most thrift stores won't take used car seats, and I think that's smart. Old seats are dangerous.
Since I'm a chicken, I don't usually tell people what I think about their car seat habits. I have actually considered becoming a certified safety tech, just so I can get this impulse to judge others out of my system in a healthy way. If you want more information about safety, check out this site. Whew! Now I'm getting off my soapbox, so it's your turn to let it all out.
Since having kids, I've really become passionate about car seat use and car safety. I'm not sure why this is, exactly, but I guess it's just because there are clear-cut rules that people should follow, and I'm all about following the rules. I also think it's so sad that many kids each year die in car accidents because they're not properly restrained. Did you know that car accidents are the leading cause of death for children? A few weeks ago there was an accident in Provo in which a mom lost two of her children because they were not properly restrained in the car.
Now that we got our new car we've finally taken the harness off S-Boogie's seat and let her use it as a booster. She's been anxious to do that for a while, but I'm a stickler about the weight requirements and she's pretty lightweight. Now she finally weighs 40 pounds, plus our car has LATCH so we could actually attach the seat to the car. Unattached boosters make me nervous. I'm honestly nervous now that she's in a seat belt, because a harness really is safer. As someone pointed out in an article I read, each step up in car seat use (rear to front-facing, harness to booster) is a step-down in safety, so we shouldn't be too anxious to move our kids up ahead of schedule. I'll also admit that one of my pet peeves is when I see people hauling their kids around in infant seats that are either too small or too old. Move your kid to a rear-facing convertible seat when they are getting too big. If you are getting rid of your carseat, cut the straps and then recycle the plastic parts. Most thrift stores won't take used car seats, and I think that's smart. Old seats are dangerous.
Since I'm a chicken, I don't usually tell people what I think about their car seat habits. I have actually considered becoming a certified safety tech, just so I can get this impulse to judge others out of my system in a healthy way. If you want more information about safety, check out this site. Whew! Now I'm getting off my soapbox, so it's your turn to let it all out.
Comments
I am with you on the car safety thing. It bugs be so much when I see a too young child turned around, or a young child in the front seat (I'm talking 4 and 6 year olds, not almost 12 year olds). My brother thought it was ridiculous that I made it sit in the back until he was 13. David is in a booster seat with a strap that sets the shoulder belt at the right position, but it scares me when he starts slouching, or moving the seat belt around. Timothy will be 4 in about three weeks and is well above the weight requirement for a booster seat. However I don't see any reason to get him a new seat, or even stop using the 5 point harness (as opposed to using the shoulder/lap beat every time), if he still fits in it.
My kids grow out of their infant seats quickly (6 and 4 months) so I also have a convertible carseat. Yes I have 2 kids and 4 carseats. I had to replace my infant seat with Timothy (I love Graco - who replaced it for free when the handle wouldn't lock in place after being in storage for 1 1/2 years), so it will still be good for this baby, but after that it will probably need to be replaced.
Wow, like I said I didn't think I had a lot to say until I started writing. I love blogs for that reason too. They make me think about what is important to me and introduces new perspectives and theories. Thanks for letting me join you on your soap box.
This is an issue I have also. My husband went to traffic school in May and the police officer wrongly explained car seat safety (he said that all kids have to be in a 5 pt harness till 5, and then in a booster from 5-8). I was so irritated that a freaking cop didn't know his own dang laws.
I also love it that parents will move their children out of carseats too early because another kid needs it. Way to share the love.
I have tons of soapboxes. Saving seats, standing ovations in Utah, car seat safety and smoking in confined spaces with children are my big ones.
My best bet is that I clean the carseats every few months and while the covers are in the wash, I make a point of pulling out the owner's manuals and reviewing the height and weight mins and maxs, along with where the straps should sit for that specific kid right now. I'm totally anal about it.
Also, when it comes to the age thing, I have to disagree--being a certain age doesn't make you safe without a seat. It's being the right size. I have a tiny sister who went to school every day of the 5th grade in a booster seat. Embarassing, maybe, but she was under 60 lbs and wouldn't be safe without it.
Celia--
You totally got me with the movies thing! We were trying to find a present for Little Dude, and I was so sad that the boy aisle is all toys related to PG-13 movies like Spiderman or Pirates. No way my kid is seeing those until he's at least 11 or so, and by then he won't want to play with the toys anymore. I'm really conservative with movies and S-Boogie has actually seen very few Disney movies because I don't like the content there either. Mr. Fob is really into comics, so the kids actually do have some action figures of Superman, as well as their costumes. But they don't get to watch the movies!
I can't wait until we have a newer car, one with LATCH, or with seatbelts that retract properly (sigh.)
I have a lot of soapboxes...lots.
Thanks for telling me what to do with old car seats. I would never have thought of recycling the plastic parts or cutting the straps. Even though it seems wasteful it's more important that children are safe.
As for my soapbox...hmmmm....probably more than I need.
As far as my car seat goes, the plastic is good for 6 years. I didn't even know that was an issue until we took it in to get checked.
FoxyJ, you're the one who pointed out to me how important it is to get a new car seat and not risk getting a used one. I hadn't even thought about that until you pointed it out, and I'm glad you did!
And congrats on 3 years of blogging!
Carseat Cover