California changes car seat laws

[Deleted User] · December 2011

The user and all related content has been deleted.

jmgcoggins · December 2011

In Missouri it has been a law for at least a few years for 8yr or 80lb, whichever comes first-- but I'm not sure if that is just booster guidelines or if it includes backseat too.

BeachM · December 2011

Being restrained until 8 has been the law for awhile in VA too.

ETA: There is no age or height requirement attached to it.

ilovelife · December 2011

I did not know that having your child rfing until 2 reduces their chance of death by car accident by 75%! Thank goodness I've been very adamant about keeping lo rfing despite what other people tell me!

hopkins5 · December 2011

Ontario revised their laws back in 2005.

Children must RF in a car seat until they're at least 20 lbs.

Children 20-40 lbs must ride in an appropriate car seat.

Children must ride in a booster seat until they're a minimum of 4'9 OR 80 lbs OR minimum of 8 years old.

ETA: I see that Californians will now face up to a $475 fine. Ours is only $110 but it's also two demerit points.

jcole32444 · December 2011

I don't think this shoud be a law. I think that it should be recommended. But I don't like government to controld every aspect of my life. I will keep my son in his carseat rearfacing, probably until he reaches the hieght limit but I still don't think it should be law to keep them rear facing until 2. I always wear a seatbelt, but I don't think it should be a law to wear a seat belt. These things just bother me.

dosafyre · December 2011

Eh, enough people out there either don't know better, or don't care to research safety for themselves, let alone their child. If mandating carseat and seatbelt rules saves lives (and they do). Then I'm all for them.

sschwege · December 2011

jcole32444:
I don't think this shoud be a law. I think that it should be recommended. But I don't like government to controld every aspect of my life. I will keep my son in his carseat rearfacing, probably until he reaches the hieght limit but I still don't think it should be law to keep them rear facing until 2. I always wear a seatbelt, but I don't think it should be a law to wear a seat belt. These things just bother me.

Sadly parents don't always do what is best for their children and that is why we need laws such as these, to protect those who can't make informed decisions on their own.

*also it is taxpayers who end up footing the bill for those uninsured people who get into accidents so maybe we should have a say in certain aspects of other people's lives.

[Deleted User] · December 2011

The user and all related content has been deleted.

cynnichinny13 · December 2011

Seat belt safety advocate here. I won't drive until everyone is fastened. In high school I would "seatbelt check" people (suddenly hit the breaks while going moderately slow but fast enough where the people in the back seat would have to brace themselves if their belts weren't on).

One of my childhood friends died in a crash- he was going 100+ on the freeway, another car bumped him while merging, his car flipped multiple times & landed upside down, our two other friends that were in the car survived because of their seat belts, he was ejected and died at the scene. Wear your seat belts & don't roll your eyes at it. They save lives, it's not just a slogan its a fact.

/steps off soapbox

ETA: and I also plan on practicing all of the safest measures with DS and car restraints. i.e. all new laws/AAP suggestions.

bstrangely · December 2011

jcole32444:
I don't think this shoud be a law. I think that it should be recommended. But I don't like government to controld every aspect of my life. I will keep my son in his carseat rearfacing, probably until he reaches the hieght limit but I still don't think it should be law to keep them rear facing until 2. I always wear a seatbelt, but I don't think it should be a law to wear a seat belt. These things just bother me.

it really bothers me that parents would want the option to put their kids in more jeopardy. the government isn't controlling an aspect of your life.

trombagn · December 2011

ok related question:

rfacing untill 2 sounds good to me and im planning on it....but if LO's legs get too long and are unable to fully strech out due to the backseat before she is two does that hinder the saftey aspect of rear facing or does it not matter? i dont want her to be uncomfortable. my friend's DS was about 1 1/2 and she turned his seat around because this was happening

veronicacorningstone · December 2011

trombagn:
ok related question:

rfacing untill 2 sounds good to me and im planning on it....but if LO's legs get too long and are unable to fully strech out due to the backseat before she is two does that hinder the saftey aspect of rear facing or does it not matter? i dont want her to be uncomfortable. my friend's DS was about 1 1/2 and she turned his seat around because this was happening

You can google photos and videos to see how children 3 & 4 are RFing and are just fine. Your LO just needs to bend their knees. We bend ours when we're sitting in the car, right? It does not hinder the safety aspect at all. RFing keeps your child's spine and neck safe. If it came down to it, I'd much rather my boys have a broken leg than a more serious or deadly injury.

trombagn · December 2011

veronicacorningstone:
trombagn:

ok related question:

rfacing untill 2 sounds good to me and im planning on it....but if LO's legs get too long and are unable to fully strech out due to the backseat before she is two does that hinder the saftey aspect of rear facing or does it not matter? i dont want her to be uncomfortable. my friend's DS was about 1 1/2 and she turned his seat around because this was happening

You can google photos and videos to see how children 3 & 4 are RFing and are just fine. Your LO just needs to bend their knees. We bend ours when we're sitting in the car, right? It does not hinder the safety aspect at all. RFing keeps your child's spine and neck safe. If it came down to it, I'd much rather my boys have a broken leg than a more serious or deadly injury.

didnt even think of this, thanks

srporter89 · December 2011

veronicacorningstone:
trombagn:
ok related question:

rfacing untill 2 sounds good to me and im planning on it....but if LO's legs get too long and are unable to fully strech out due to the backseat before she is two does that hinder the saftey aspect of rear facing or does it not matter? i dont want her to be uncomfortable. my friend's DS was about 1 1/2 and she turned his seat around because this was happening
You can google photos and videos to see how children 3 & 4 are RFing and are just fine. Your LO just needs to bend their knees. We bend ours when we're sitting in the car, right? It does not hinder the safety aspect at all. RFing keeps your child's spine and neck safe. If it came down to it, I'd much rather my boys have a broken leg than a more serious or deadly injury.

This. A broken leg is a lot easier to fix than a broken neck, or internal decapitation. I had a friend who switched her LO at 1 and thought I was weird that I didn't do the same. I told her why and she thought I was just being overly cautious. So be it, my son is worth it.

MrsSR · December 2011

DD will remain rearfacing until she can't anymore due to the limits on her seat. I prefer her that way since it's so much safer.

I think bump land is the only place where people have heard of extended rear facing and not wearing bulky clothing (including coats) while in a car seat. My friend has a 3 year old and has never heard of either and has told me I'm nuts since DD doesn't wear her coat in the car.

I even posted video of why they shouldn't wear coats and why they should rear face for as long as possbile and she told me that it's a matter of OPINION and she still thinks I'm crazy.

lrn327 · December 2011

MrsSR:
DD will remain rearfacing until she can't anymore due to the limits on her seat. I prefer her that way since it's so much safer.

I think bump land is the only place where people have heard of extended rear facing and not wearing bulky clothing (including coats) while in a car seat. My friend has a 3 year old and has never heard of either and has told me I'm nuts since DD doesn't wear her coat in the car.

I even posted video of why they shouldn't wear coats and why they should rear face for as long as possbile and she told me that it's a matter of OPINION and she still thinks I'm crazy.

Yep, I agree that we get (mostly) good info because of TB! I have a FB that posted "she was really glad that her DD turned 1 before the new AAP rec" so she didn't have to have her RF anymore. Seriously??? It's not like your DD was somehow less likely to die in a crash because the rec changed after she turned 1.

greengirl0909 · December 2011

dosafyre:
Eh, enough people out there either don't know better, or don't care to research safety for themselves, let alone their child. If mandating carseat and seatbelt rules saves lives (and they do). Then I'm all for them.

This. Particularly with the number of uneducated parents out there I'm glad for any attention drawn to keeping parents informed and kids safe.

MrsSR · December 2011

lrn327:
MrsSR:

DD will remain rearfacing until she can't anymore due to the limits on her seat. I prefer her that way since it's so much safer.

I think bump land is the only place where people have heard of extended rear facing and not wearing bulky clothing (including coats) while in a car seat. My friend has a 3 year old and has never heard of either and has told me I'm nuts since DD doesn't wear her coat in the car.

I even posted video of why they shouldn't wear coats and why they should rear face for as long as possbile and she told me that it's a matter of OPINION and she still thinks I'm crazy.

Yep, I agree that we get (mostly) good info because of TB! I have a FB that posted "she was really glad that her DD turned 1 before the new AAP rec" so she didn't have to have her RF anymore. Seriously??? It's not like your DD was somehow less likely to die in a crash because the rec changed after she turned 1.

Oh my.... not the sharpest pencil in the pencil box, huh?

Kingston54 · January 2012

I saw that and I love it!

hopkins5 · January 2012

MrsSR:
I think bump land is the only place where people have heard of extended rear facing and not wearing bulky clothing (including coats) while in a car seat.

Really? My doctor reminds me of both of these things every time we see her.

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