Correcting family member's car seat technique, WWYD?

vanillacourage

My SIL & BIL had their first baby a little over a week ago.  They are already great parents, but as people they're not very handy or good at following instruction manuals.  Like, my husband has had to come to their house to help them hang pictures (and not even hanging something heavy into a stud - just normal nails + hammer).

They also asked my DH to install their carseat base for them since we used the same one.  He did, and told them how tightly they needed to pull the straps.  Friday night we saw them with the baby and when they left they only tightened the straps halfway - there was probably 1-2 inches of gap between the baby and the straps.  It happened so fast I didn't have time to decide what to say, but if I see it again I feel like I *have* to say something.  How would you phrase it?  I don't want it to sound like a critique of their parenting, and if it were something minor (discipline, feeding, etc) I'd of course MYOB. 

soontobemomma

Is it your dh's brother or sister?  If so, let him talk to his bro or sis.  I think it would be better.  Brother to brother, esp.  Then see if that works and go from there.   Is that the case?  I know he already showed them about the straps, but let him reiterate and see if they get better.

JenniC1135

Any chance you could snag the baby and put him/her into the carrier and tighten it up properly, and then say something about how hard it was at first when you were a new mom to get it tight enough, that you always wondered if you were doing it wrong but read in so many places that there shouldn't be any gap, etc.?

GettinNervous

I'm a dummy when it comes to things like that when they are new to me, so I'd welcome the advice. Maybe say, "I am not sure that we mentioned this when we installed the car seat, but they recommend that you . . . "

AnnapolisLari

I'd just say that you think the straps are too loose and they need to be a lot tighter to prevent the baby from flying out from under them.

As first time parents they are probably trying not to squish the baby. You can remind them that babies were crammed assoverelbow in the womb and LIKE it tight and confining.

sunnyday016

I'd probably offer to put baby into the carseat next time. I'd phrase it like "oh come here little baby ____, auntie wants to put you in! it's been so long since i've put a newborn in...yada yada". Then do silly commentary while tightening the straps.

AnnapolisLari

sunnyday016:

I'd probably offer to put baby into the carseat next time. I'd phrase it like "oh come here little baby ____, auntie wants to put you in! it's been so long since i've put a newborn in...yada yada". Then do silly commentary while tightening the straps.

That gets her strapped in correctly once. The parents need to know that they are doing it wrong.

ak1234

Just tell them to tighten the straps.  Simply say, "hey guys, I noticed Little Bean wasn't strapped in tightly.  I would never want anything to happen to the baby, so I am just letting you guys know that you should tighten the straps against the baby like so."  Explain the two finger rule...this is not the time to worry about hurting their feelings, KWIM?