say something or ignore

So I just stopped by my husbands job and I saw this lady that we know put her three month old in the car. She put him in a forward facing carseat. I know it is not the worst thing and at least the kid is in a carseat and not sitting on someones lap in the front seat. She speaks very limited english, so I am not sure if it a cultural thing, she doesn't know or just doesn't care. I always feel guilty when I see things like that like should I say something in case she gets in an accident and the kid gets hurts, then I will be like man I should have opened my mouth or just ignore it know that it is her decision. Is it a law or just a suggestion to keep your kid rear facing until a year. I'm a quiet person so I usually just keep to myself. for instance this same lady's kid has isues with milk and has to get special formula, but yet she was giving him yogurt at 6 weeks. I always feel bad for the kids like is his stomach now hurting because she is giving him yogurt, does she know, not care.... I never know what to do in situations like that because i don't want to give parenting advice. I alway know this other 8 month olds that screams every time he poops and poops out pellets, so I said to the mom I think he maybe constipated, maybe you should try prune juice and she was like whatever he always pooped like that, then I felt so stupid for saying anything, but it just killed me to the see the kid in so much pain.

 

I don't know, that's a tough one if she is just someone who works with your DH that you don't really know. You'd think that someone around her who knows her would tell her about car seat safety! Or maybe they have and she just didn't care.

 

Hmmm, I'm not sure either. If it were someone I knew really well, I would speak up, but with someone I don't know, maybe not. ardon: So many people really don't want advice, especially from strangers or mere acquaintances.

 

leave a pamphlet on her window about rear facing car seats. You could probably even find one in Spanish.

 

Does your husband know her husband? does he speak better english? I would talk to your husband and see if he knows more about the situation, try and get some more details. this could be a major life or death thing, but you need some more facts though.

 

i like this idea, then at least you know that she knows what she should be doing and you won't have to confront her directly. i do think that it is important that someone tell her though, she just may not know, i don't really know how that is possible but i guess it could happen. i always thought it was the law to have them rear facing until 1 year + 20 lbs.

 

LOVE this idea!! and if you do feel that you need to speak to her remember that you probably wont see her very often, so for your peace of mind i'd just tell her and not worry too much about her reaction...

 

I can't ever bite my tongue when I see a child in the car seat incorrectly (or not at all). If you are afraid to say something, I would leave a note on the car. That babies life is in danger. I'm one of those people who say something to people at the Walmart parking lot though. I feel really strongly about it. Once I saw a couple get out of a truck (with no backseat) carrying an infant and left a note on their windshield.

 

I think laws regarding rear-facing car seats vary from state to state, but the newest recommendation is to leave them rear-facing for 4 years! That's kind of tough, considering most convertible car seats only support rear-facing up to 35 pounds, but when you look at the studies and see crash-test videos, you begin to see how important it is to keep them rear-facing as long as possible.

I personally would have a very hard time confronting someone, just because I'm non-confrontational by nature. But if you can bring yourself to say something, or find a way to get some information to her about this issue, then you will be doing a great thing, and perhaps saving a life.

 

THe Idea about he pamphlet is great. I have been searching the internet for one and I can't seem to find one. I may have my husband confront her next week, he is very talkative and pretty good at starting converstations like that without seeming rude, so we will see how it goes.