to complain to Bridgestone about this advert with a wrongly fitted baby car seat

[KnitterNotTwitter]

On my profile I've loaded up a picture of an advert from tonight's Evening Standard. Unless I'm very much mistaken the top half of the image shows a wrongly fitted Maxi Cosi Cabriofix in a car. The carry handle should be left up to act as a roll-bar protecting the baby in the event of an accident, not down level with the car seat itself.

Based on my instinct that they'll kill more babies by encouraging parents to wrongly fit their car seats than they ever would save by flogging them fancy-dan new tyres do you think I sound flag this up to them? Shall I mention it to Maxi-Cosi too? Any suggestions for being taken seriously?

(apologies for posting in AIBU but I want the traffic!)

YANBU - I'd do it. Well spotted.

how can you tell it's a maxi cosi seat?

thisisyesterday It was clearer in the original compared to my photo but basically the styling of the whole thing plus there are these little clip bits that you can clip the straps behind when they're not in use and they're definitely the same as the ones on the Maxi Cosi that I had...

I'll have a scoot round the internet and see if I can find it in a webby format....

I think Maxi-cozi have the patent on the clippy things. If that is the case, and that is the correct way to fit that particular car seat then YANBU.

aha - found the video....

Will try and find the print ad...

Video isn't clear that the seat is fitted wrongly

Can't really see much from that picture.

My mamas and papas seat DID have to have the handle down as far as I can remember (racks brains) yes, I'm sure it did.

If that's a maxi cosi seat and that's wrong then I guess it's wrong.

um... my youngest is nearly 4 so just a tiny query. But I thought I was told not to have the carry handle up, because it could break off and become a projectile hazard in the case of a crash.

I wouldn't. The handle needs to be in place when the car is moving but it's always easier to move the handle to put baby in and take them out - hence it having that feature. Does it suggest anywhere that that is how the seat should look for travelling? I think few people look at pictures of random adverts for inspiration when fitting their carseat.

Yes I think you're absolutely right to complain. I had car seat training from Dorel a couple of years ago and the trainer said that on this seat the handle should definitely be left up, it acts as a shock absorber IIRC.

sorry working link to the video

and...
... here is the print ad

www.bridgestone.ie/press/press-releases/2011/new-bridgestone-advertising-campaign-in-europe

I don't see the issue myself. On the advert the picture probably looks better without the handle obscuring the baby. On the video you can't really tell because the shots are so close. If it was car seat fitting instructions I think you'd have a point but I don't see the problem here tbh.

I think that the impression given by the print ad is that the car is in motion with the bar down... it definitely is in the video but you'd have to be looking for it

Do you think it will cause anyone to incorrectly fit their seat? If you do then complain but I doubt it myself. Not having a go btw as you clearly have good intentions.

You are definately right to complain. When DS1 was a baby (he is now 7) we had a Graco babyseat, which also had to have the handle 'up' when the car was in motion. SIL claimed it didn't, and 'I'd know I am a nanny' plus it showed in it the Argos catalogue with the handle down, as she took great delight in showing me (she took their photo as fact that that's how it goes), I took even greater delight in showing her the instruction manual and proving her stuck up arse how wrong she was!!

TheBestWitch I guess my worry is that lots of people don't actually read the instructions that come with their car seat as it is 99% intuitive...

People absorb images without even knowing it and then when they look at a car seat they'll set it up as it looks 'right' - even if they don't know where they got the rightness from..... does that make sense. The more times the brain stores an image of something the more right it becomes. This is the same phenomenon that allows people that allows people to 'normalise' what to an outsider is considered extreme; either images or behaviour.

Anyway I've basically convinced myself that I'd regret it if I didn't do something... So I'll send Maxi Cosi and Bridgestone messages and see what happens.

You have made me wonder about our maxi cosi pebble now though as I never thought of the handle as anything more than for carrying, I will investigate the instructions tomorrow so based on that I don't think YABU

Upthread, the Mama's and Papa's viaggio (sp) was the one we had and you had to put the handle against the seat when it was rear facing.

I agree with your last post.

It depends on the seat totally. Older seats tended to have the handles down because the handles used to just be made of ordinary plastic, and in a crash there was a danger they could splinter and cause injury, but once the bracing idea was hit on by someone, carseat manufacturers started to reinforce the handles to use them in this deliberate bracing/rollcage fashion, so almost all seats will have the handle up now. But you definitely need to check the manual for your particular seat. Most manuals are available online if anyone wants to check but has lost theirs.

Ahh... that explains a lot, Bertie. :)

I think you are doing the right thing by contacting them.

My SIL & BIL had their Maxi-Cosi in the front seat of their car, with the handle down - and the airbags on! They have several degrees between them so they are not stupid, but hadn't thought about it at all!

Hi there

Had a missed call from Maxi-Cosi today and then this reply:

Our reply:
Dear Ms XXXX

Thank you for bringing the advert to our attention. I have tried to contact you but unfortunately we keep missing each other.

The safety of children is something that Dorel as a company treat with the utmost importance, I have therefore forwarded the details onto the relevant team to pick this up and deal with accordingly.

Again thank you for taking the time to contact us

Regards

Estelle Salter
Customer Care Manager

I was going to say don't complain, but do get in touch and let them know, which I see you've done. Good on you. [hgrin] too many people think oh someone else will do it

Galaxy thanks for that clarifiation

My sil used to put her baby seat in ff it was a rf carseat. We went down to seat them went out together when they went past our car I saw the handle up. went over to help as they had three kids i was a nanny but had no kids to get out of the car and saw how it was fitted. Had the kid in our car a day later and their eldest questioned her mum as "not farm" had not but the seat in the same way. Mum said she is right but daddy wants it in like that.
A few years later they traveled 3hours to see with the now 3year old on a booster that he slipped off. Sent them back with britax super cruiser decided couldn't have lived with myself if they had a accident