I hate when people post carseat pics on FB!

Culkinator54

I have a fb friend that posted a pic of her little guy in his car seat that was taken about a month ago.  He doesn't turn a year for a couple more weeks.  Not only was he FF, but the straps that go over the shoulders were entering the car seat up by his ears!  I should also add that she's the Safety Manager for a production company... 

PrincessShay80

I hate that too- I usually will say something like "way to have your kid in the car seat correctly!" I don't care I'm the car seat safetly Nazi!

slmcronelaw

oh wow!

Ciarrai

Not that this excuses it, but when kids go FF, the straps need to enter the slots above their shoulders.  When they're RF, the straps need to enter the slots below their shoulders.

ETA - FWIW, all of my kids have been/will be RF until about 18 months or more.  I wasn't saying anything about her turning her kid around early as if it was ok, just about the strap height.

Culkinator54

Ciarrai:

Not that this excuses it, but when kids go FF, the straps need to enter the slots above their shoulders.  When they're RF, the straps need to enter the slots below their shoulders.

This, I did not know, so thank you for sharing!  It's probably in the instructions I'll read when I decide to finally turn her around much later in life.

Ciarrai

Neither did I until I turned my first around - again at about 18 months or older.  It was before DD#2 was born but not by much.  They're 20 months apart.

nealbl

We just went to get our carseat professionaly installed and they said, if they are forward facing the straps are suppose to enter the carseat at the ears. So she had that part right, however her child should not be forward facing so really she ahd everything wrong.

emiliemadison

nealbl:

We just went to get our carseat professionaly installed and they said, if they are forward facing the straps are suppose to enter the carseat at the ears. So she had that part right, however her child should not be forward facing so really she ahd everything wrong.

  The straps are supposed to be at or above the shoulder, but on the slot that is closest to the shoulder. If the only options you have when FF are an inch below the shoulder, or at the ears, then you'd pick the higher one at the ears. But if there is a shoulder slot that is right at or just above the shoulder, that is the one that should be used. Very few seats space the slots so far that the closest one is that high, though.

diana.filipi

When they're rear facing the straps should begin from below the shoulders.  Once they forward face the straps are supposed to begin from above the shoulders.

ETA: I should have read all the responses.  I see this was already said and debated.  

Mereou12

Oh, I cringe when I see photos like that!

My BIL is a firefighter and SIL is a nurse -- so you'd think they'd be pretty well up on infant safety. Not only did they buy their carseat used, but they keep the straps so loose that you can pull them at least 4 inches off their little guy's body. I don't want to be the know-it-all first time mom, but it makes me sick.