Parenting/kid question

TheMrsC23

If you see someone that has a car seat installed improperly, is using it wrong, or otherwise could potentially be putting a kid in danger in a motor vehicle, what do you do?

Do you just internally judge?  Say something to the person? Feel the need to call the cops?  If you see it at daycare, do you go tell the teacher/director?  Something else?

Wzz

i think it depends on what i see.  a carseat in the front seat, maybe tell the director. if it is just installed incorrectly, i would most likely mention it to the other parent in case they just need help getting it fixed.

i dont judge if it is a clear mistake and they need help, because those things can be a PITA.

Wzz

did they call the cops on you, conn? 

6fsn

It depends on the person/situation.  It was quite common for people in BFE to just ride with a kid on their lap.  I would call the non emergency sheriff number.  For real I called 6 times in 3 months for different people.

DG1

I did tell our daycare director once that someone was straight-up not using a carseat at all. (I think the place only goes through age 5, and these kids were definitely under that.)

I might call a nonemergency number if I saw something serious.

And I have sent people private FB messages when they post repeated pictures of their kids in carseats with extremely loose straps or with the chest clip down by the waist. I've also been known to comment directly on pictures, something like, "So cute, but please tighten those straps!" 

More and more, though, I realize it's just a losing battle. Lots of people just don't give a sht about carseats at all, never mind proper use. (see: SIL. And I never say anything to her about it. I pointed one thing out to MIL, since SIL actually had MIL driving the 3yo around in a booster seat. Legally, you have to be 4 to be in a booster, and MIL was going to be the one on the hook for it if she got pulled over. So I thought she'd want to know that. MIL did not care at all. Just said, "Oh well. I just do what SIL says." So now, I keep my mouth shut.)

6fsn

Situations I called on in BFE- a woman was holding a small baby and climbed into a front passenger seat.  When they drove off I called.  I saw a small child stand up in a backseat of a car so I called.  I was in a drive thru and the employee commented on the previous driver having a baby in their lap.  I called.

I've never actually seen someone I know breaking a rule.  If someone commented to me I'd be embarrassed, but thankful.

ETA: I can't believe by law 6let can use just a booster.  He's still in a convertible 5 point harness.  I think we'll move him to a 3 in 1 this August.

DG1

Word. Part of me *really* wants to move to the booster. He's been legally allowed to for more than 5 months. He's crazy tall. And he could finally totally buckle his own freaking seat belt. 

But I just can't do it. I figure he has a few more months until he outgrows the convertible (for height. Even with the new weight rules, he'd be good on that for a while.) 

DG1

This reminds me of the time I got into the TINIEST fender-bender in a burger king parking lot. Totally my fault, but going approximately .002mph and scratched (did not dent) a dude's car. Yes, bad, I'll pay for it, blah blah blah. 

The police come to take the report. While they're there, a regular ol' sedan pulls up and 2 adults and SIX children get out. The cop actually comments on it and then does absolutely nothing. I was livid. I'm sure he couldn't arrest them, but he certainly could go talk to them and point out the danger and explain that he didn't want to be responding to a dead-kid accident later that afternoon. Cops abuse power over much less serious stuff, you know?

A car with a half-dozen unrestrained kids was definitely more serious than what he WAS doing, and it's not like scratched car guy and I were going anywhere. I wonder if he would have changed course if someone decided to rob the burger king while he was taking that report.

hmonkey

i genuinely never notice anyone else's car seat situation because i am generally too busy trying to get flops mcgee into or out of his own seat.

baconsmom

I've called the cops before for babies in *no* carseat at all. 

But I wouldn't be able to tell if someone were using one improperly - don't they change the rules every six months or something? 

We put Bacon forward-facing before she was a year, and I know that's a no-no now. I also know there are plenty of people who would still have her in a 5-point harness; we've stopped using anything for her since around when she turned 8. And she rides in the front seat on the way to school, because the back passenger door handle is broken, so she can't get out that door. I would be livid if someone reported me for that. 

TheDuckis

All I got out of this post is that Bacon is 8. WTF. 

My mom/aunt/etc tell me all the time that I have Allie's straps too tight. I disagree. My cousin was over once and had her 3 month old in so loose I could have fit my whole hand between the strap and his shoulder. I didn't say anything, but probabl\y I should have. 

crosswordnerd

I had an infant car seat but got a new one when my daughter outgrew it. In the first week or so of having the new one, I had a family member correct me. I was used to the rear facing one and how that hooked up. I thought I had the new one figured out from the directions but nope! I was extremely grateful that someone showed me the right way to hook it up. I had messed up on the top part.