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Is this really dangerous?

28 replies

LadyTophamHatt · 18/10/2005 19:28

A 16lb baby/18 weeks old in a forward facing carset?

What are the risks?
What would happen to the baby in a crash? even a small shunt?

OP posts:
chicagomum · 18/10/2005 19:30

Is it not something to do with their inability to properly support there head, ie even if they can hold their head up their necks are still very delicate, and forward facing can lead to severe neck damage/paralysis or worse. This isn'tgospel btw just what i've been lead to believe.

Whizzz · 18/10/2005 19:33

link to Child Car Seats

hunkerpumpkin · 18/10/2005 19:34

Yes.

Whizzz · 18/10/2005 19:34

Info here

Rearward-facing Baby Seats
Group 0 for babies up to 10 kgs (22 lbs) roughly from birth to 6-9 months, or

Group 0+ for babies up to 13kg (29lbs) roughly from birth to 12-15 months

They can be used in the front or rear of the car. It is safer to put them in the rear. DO NOT put them in the front passenger seat if there is a passenger airbag. Rearward-facing seats provide greater protection for the baby's head, neck and spine than forward-facing seats. So, it is best to keep your baby in a rearward-facing seat for as long as possible.

Only move them to a forward-facing seat once they have exceeded the maximum weight for the baby seat, or the top of their head is higher than the top of the seat.

hunkerpumpkin · 18/10/2005 19:35

In some countries they keep them rear-facing for a year.

hunkerpumpkin · 18/10/2005 19:37

Why, LTH?

NannyL · 18/10/2005 19:40

its dangerouse because their spinal / neck muscles are not developed enough for them to be able to cope safely with a crash.

When they are rear facing their backs are against the back of their seat so this force is absorbed into the seat (IUSWIM) where as when they face forward this doesnt happen

No way would i EVER even THINK of trvaelling with a child aged 18 weeks in a forward facing car seat.

At least keep em in til they are 9 months (not many 9 month olds weigh MORE than 13kg) but guidelines suggest a year.

LadyTophamHatt · 18/10/2005 19:43

someone asked me about moving up to the next stage the other day and I pretty much said what been siad here.

I saw the car today with the forward facing carseat and was really angry.

If they had even the smallest crash the baby could be quite seriously injured, wouldn't it?

OP posts:
LadyTophamHatt · 18/10/2005 20:00

if youwere me, would you mention the dangers when you next saw them?

even though you've pointed them out already?

OP posts:
Caligula · 18/10/2005 20:07

I would leave a car seat information leaflet on her car.

If she doesn't read it and take note of it, she's an idiot.

I don't really know what else you could do.

Caligula · 18/10/2005 20:09

I suppose you could always hand her the leaflet, saying "you know we were talking about this the other day, well I was in mothercare (or wherever) and I picked this up and thought of you because of our discussion".

NannyL · 18/10/2005 20:09

i thought it was the LAW that children under 3 years have to be in a proper age / weight associated car seat.

(saying that i think that ONLY applies in the front seat right now, and will apply to all seats as of May 2006)

OMG people like that make me SOOOO cross... i mean whats the point... surely they have an appropraiote car seat so WHY would anyone not use it?

i personally would say, but thats me! Im the person who flatly refuses to take any child even the tiniest distance without a proper car seat 9and despite having 0 childen of my own i already own 4 car seats!

hunkerpumpkin · 18/10/2005 23:00

Oh, no - would definitely say something. The leaflet's a good idea.

This is SO stupid - why on earth would you swap from rear-facing this young?

LadyTophamHatt · 19/10/2005 09:21

I saw her this morning as she was putting the baby in the car.

Pretty sure it was still the big carseat but windows were steamed up.

TBH I couldn't trust myself to talk to her. It's really changed my opinion of her. Selfish and irresponsible springs to mind.

OP posts:
hunkerpumpkin · 19/10/2005 09:53

It's just ignorant and totally dangerous, isn't it?

LadyTophamHatt · 19/10/2005 11:30

Ignorant...yes that's the word!

I'm going to have to say something I think. Even just so I know I've done what I can.

whether she does anything about it is another matter.

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suedonim · 19/10/2005 13:39

I think you have to say something in such a situation, really, LTH. I went off on one at my friend recently, though she did not deserve it, poor thing, as it was her son-in-law I was ranting about!

Her dd crashed at high speed in the outside lane of the M1, thankfully both she and her 2yo ds were uninjured. But her son-IL doesn't want to buy a new car seat because 'I can't see any damage' on the car seat. My argument was that you can't always see any damage. Imo, the car seat has done its job, it kept the little boy safe and now it's time to replace it. I can't believe they would risk their ds's life for the sake of 80/90 quid. I even told my friend to take a pair of scissors to the straps so her dd will have to buy a new one.

hunkerpumpkin · 20/10/2005 12:44

Any update, LTH?

LadyTophamHatt · 20/10/2005 15:59

Yes, I saw her this morning.

I'd been trying to think of away to say it that wasn't too harsh, patronising(sp?) and interferring but everything was, so I said
"XXXX, look I've thought long and hard about this and I know it's going to make me into a busy-body and an interferring hag but I have to say it. If it means you never speak to me again then so be it, I'm willing to pay the price.........What you're doing with DS in the big carseat it really dangerous!, if you are in any kind of accident, even a tiny one then he will be very seriously injured. It absolutely terrifies me to see him in that seat, I'm really scraed that he'll be hurt because although you are a safe driver not eeveryone else is"

We talked about it for a while and TBH I think she just hadn't thought of the concequences. She said he seemed uncomfortable in the first size carseat so put him in the big one for more space etc even though she read 20lbs plus on the actual seat.
She drives a massive 4x4 and asked if he would still be hurt in such a big car. I said "Yes, you're car will probably come off ok but DS will still be hurt"

In the end she thanked me for telling her and said she'd change back because I told her this. I said she could check all sorts of places for the same info(mothercare, maxicosi etc ) and not to just take me word for it because I didn't want to preach to her(even though I was!!).

Then I felt like right bitch because she started crying. It wasn't the result I expected...I was more prepared for her to tell me to F off. She said she just didn't know.

I feel very glad that I've told her and I'm so releived she'd changed the carseat back (it was on mt mind all day yesterday and the minute I woke up) but absolultey awful that I made her cry and that I've bitched about her so badly on here.

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hunkerpumpkin · 20/10/2005 16:01

LTH, thank goodness.

I'm sorry she was upset too, but better that she cries about it now than after an accident - you did exactly the right thing and worded it beautifully. Don't beat yourself up about it.

moondog · 20/10/2005 16:02

You've done her a favour LTH.
You'd feel a lot bloody worse (and so would she) if the baby was killed in a crash.
Tell yourself that.

Mummyvicky · 20/10/2005 16:29

I think you did brilliantly, most people would turn a blind eye to it, but you managed to get the point across in a non patronising way- and got a result ! well done !

LadyTophamHatt · 20/10/2005 16:38

That was the exact reason I said it moondog.

I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I hadn't pionted it out, and then something happen.

I didn't want pressure her to change it, he's not my baby for a start and I can't make decisions for him(or her) so if she chose to keep him in the big seat then I knew I'd done all I could do.
I don't think I can put into words how relieved I am that she did change it though.

OP posts:
LadyTophamHatt · 20/10/2005 16:38

Oh, and Thanks for saying I done well.

That means alot too.

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cupcakes · 20/10/2005 16:43

wow - well done you for speaking out like that!
She probably cried as you probably shocked her with the reality of what can happen.
I'm so surprised that a shop sold her that size seat. When I was looking for a 2nd seat (as soon as ds hit the 'official' 9 months) I was turned away by one shop who told me he would still be safer in the first stage seat. Apparently they get really annoyed with mums desperate to buy the next 'thing'.

Very well done!