Most people who read this blog probably know that I'm a car seat nut. Or a Car Seat Nazi as some people call me. Savannah still rides in a 5-point harness. Yes, she is 6-and-a-half. Yes, she is 51 inches tall and 57 lbs. Its still the safest option. She has told me more than once this year that she is the only kid in her class who still rides in a car seat, but she hasn't once complained about it. We sometimes drive her friend Joscelyn home on Wednesdays. One Wednesday afternoon Joscelyn said something to the effect that Savannah was riding in a "baby" seat. Savannah said, "Well my mom loves me, so she gave me this to make me safe." So glad she gets it. (That is not in any way, shape or form meant to be taken that anyone who puts their kids in boosters doesn't love them or anything like that, just glad that she knows I'm doing it out of love and not that my life's mission is to embarrass her or anything like that.)
Just in case you live under a rock, the AAP came out with a statement last week recommending that babies remain rear facing until their second birthday. I had to stay off facebook for a few days afterward because people's comments were making me downright angry. I really wish more people, especially parents, were more educated about car seat safety. We turned Savannah to forward facing when she was 9 months old because her pediatrician told us to, and we didn't know any better. She was 20 lbs, and the doctor said, "Now that she is 20 lbs you can turn her forward facing so her legs aren't squished." So, we did. Its one of those things I wish I could go back in time and undo. We turned Lincoln at 15 months, which was earlier than I would have liked because we were driving from NC to CA. When he was three I turned him rear facing as a punishment for kicking my seat, and SURPRISE he liked it better that way. He stayed rear facing for a few months until he hit 35 lbs, which is the weight limit for rear facing on his seat.
One of my friends, who is a car seat technician, posted this on her blog the other day. I think its worth a read, so I hope she doesn't mind that I'm linking it.
2 comments:
Thank you for spreading the word, Carley! It's such an important topic that most people don't take the time to think about. Nolan has often said that he's the only one in a car seat, too, but he says the same thing Savannah does! I hope you are doing well, I miss the BN boards.
Good for you for making sure your kiddos are safe. I think it is so important and I think that everyone really does need to seriously consider what the AAP has come out with.
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