newborn in forward facing car seat - would you say anything

[MumNWLondon]

Just went to tesco and the couple next to me in car park took a newborn baby out of a forward facing car seat in their car.

Would you have said anything?

(Will tell you my reaction once I get some replies....)

No I probably wouldn't say anything.

I would have wanted to say something polite but not had the balls to.

No I wouldn't say anything as it's not my business. Although I will admit, I think I would have a hard time containing my filthy look of shock.

I think I would have been too afraid to say anything. Depends how many adults with child if they looked passive etc!

When I parked I thought like Meglet and didn't say anything but then I realised I had to back to the car as I'd left my shopping bags and I saw them putting her into a lie flat buggy (and it was obvious that she was newborn).

I then thoought like Stewie - as it is illegal and very dangerous and they didn't look scary, just 2 parents doting over newborn.

I cooed over the baby, said how cute she was and asked how old (a few weeks) - I just said, I hope you don't mind me saying but did you know it isn't safe or legal to drive with your newborn in a forward facing car seat.

They looked very concerned - and I could see that the car seat was one that you could turn round - so I just said - better to turn car seat round when you get home as tiny babies have to face backwards. I pointed to the sign that said 0-10kg rear facing and 9-18 kg forward facing and said it was because babies were more protected from accidents when facing backwards.

The woman said (in shaky english) thanks so much for telling us, we didn't realise this is a car seat from our son when he was younger and we were told its ok for newborn.

Although I feel a bit bad about butting in when it wasn't my business, I think I did the right thing?

Well done, you did the right thing.

I think you handled it perfectly and Im really glad that they were grateful and will get it turned around.

OK on this subject I have been meaning to post about this for a while. I live in a country where it is not a legal necessity to put children (of any age) into car seats. A few people, eg some of my friends, some expats and some locals, do use car seats. But plenty of others I know don't - not even for their toddlers. These are not people who can't afford car seats, they just chose not to. Some of them are even British but have raised their children here. There isn't much I can do about it but my gut reaction is to think less of these people. AIBU to do so? Would you leave your children unbuckled in a car if legally you could?

Sorry I meant to say to OP you did really well, good for you.

Claraquack - no not unreasonable to think less of them, especially those who should know better. But unreasonable to think that of people who don't know better.

I don't understand why you wouldn't buckle up your toddler even if just with a seat beat. I probably wouldn't have said anything if that was the case but I understand in the UK need to have child in age appropriate seat?

I correctly identified the situation as one of doting parents who just didn't know better.

Well handled MNWL

i am glad you had the courage to say something. I wouldn't have!! If they have shakey english then they probably didn't understand the instrustions properly and just assumed it could be used that way from birth?

Well done . Lovely to hear they were ok with it.