I find it totally crazy that some of you have pediatricians who...

kattyleigh · July 2012

I find it totally crazy that some of you have pediatricians who advocate for carseat forward-facing once the minimum weight/height standards have been met at one year. That is a fundamental SAFETY issue. We are not talking about formula feeding vs. BFing; baby lead weaning vs. purees...we are talking about SAFETY. Proven safety.

If your pediatrician told you it was a good idea to turn your kiddo around at one year, they are wrong. Period. And they are NOT familiar with current literature supporting so. That is a huge red flag in a provider. As someone in medicine, pediatric medicine in fact, I would be changing providers stat if my pedi suggested such a fundamentally unsafe practice. Just sayin. I care about all of your LOs and felt the need to post this after reading so many posts about pedis suggesting inaccurate advice.

CarlaAndJames · July 2012

I agree. One of the nurse practitioners at our practice is the one who told me that at our 1 year checkup (that once Lexi gained one more lb, making her 20, I could turn her around). DH wants me to call or write a letter to let the doctors in the practice know she's advocating it. I was so shocked I didn't even argue with her at the appointment.

Turtle143 · July 2012

Would be a red flag to me also. And when I really think about it, I think I might consider extended rear-facing.

MommaA117 · July 2012

Word.

kaitylin · July 2012

Agree. My pedi is awesome and told me to be sure I kept her rear facing as long as possible. However, I think I have the most amazing pedi ever and she is incredibly knowledgeable on many many topics but I was still very pleased that one of the first things she said was "make sure you keep the carseat rear facing even though the law says you can switch it". I would not see any pedi who told me otherwise.

Jaytee501 · July 2012

Agree, agree, agree.

jporqueler · July 2012

My pedi did not act as though is was an option. RF? Check. I am sure if I would have said otherwise I woukd have gotten an ear full bc she has two LOs 2 years older than L.

CarlaAndJames · July 2012

ok, yall inspired me to just write a long email to my practice's manager. Since we were seeing a NP, not her regular pediatrician, i'm not going to leave the practice, but I won't be agreeing to see that provider there anymore. Here is the email I sent -

"Good morning. I hope I'm emailing the right contact there, I wasn't sure!
My daughter is a patient (primarily of [dr]) who just had her first birthday. We have always been very happy with the practice and everyone we have seen there, but my husband and I felt very strongly that we needed to reach out after our daughter's one year well check.
We saw [NP], who we've seen before for a sick visit and I like her very much. However, at our appointment, she recommended turning our daughter's carseat to front facing when she gained one more lb, making her the legal minimum of one year and 20 lbs. I don't know if you have a standard opinion as a practice on extended rear facing, but I would hope that you all would at least follow the AAP's recommendation of 2 years minimum. I didn't argue with her, I was too shocked to say anything. It is possible I misunderstood her, and she was saying I was allowed to? She mentioned that there was some European research now saying that up to 2 years is a good idea (European research suggests 4 years! The AAP recommends a minimum of 2!), but scoffed that she knew some parents who left their children rear facing until 30-35 lbs. That is in no way unreasonable. I don't mean to be one of those parents who knows everything (I'm sure you have plenty!) but I have never read a single piece of research that gives any reason for turning them earlier than 2 years, and many that advocate leaving them that way until they outgrow the seat limits (mine is 45 lbs!)
I know most parents would have taken her comment as both permission and encouragement for turning their child around, which is a huge safety risk. I also know that as a practice with several different drs and NPs that opinions on standards and childcare are going to vary, and that their primary concern with continuing education is care of sick children (which we appreciate! We need them as experts when our children are sick!) But with so many looking to their pediatricians as primary childcare advisors, I highly recommend doing anything you can as a practice to standardize your stance on this, at least asking all providers to stick to the AAP's recommendation of 2 years.

Thank you for your time,"

Magenta728 · July 2012

Carla, you should absolutely send that letter.

jcsumm0 · July 2012

Good for you, Carla! I'd be curious to hear their response!

My dr. has actually never said anything to us about car seats at all, but I agree that if she recommended FF that would be a huge problem for me.

cvl105 · July 2012

I'm glad you're sending that. Please let us know if and what they say in response!

PurdueMama14 · July 2012

bestmaid6 · July 2012

MommaA117:
Word.

Double word.

MommaG123 · July 2012

Yeah our pedi is the exact opposite.

Every visit she's like "and you're still rear facing until two" matter of factly and pretty much without question. Which is fine because we are until at least two.

Carla let us know what they say in response.

Andie_83 · July 2012

Yes I 100% agree! I posted a youtube video about it on my FB last night to spread the word as well. It scares the shiit out of me that people are turning their LO's around when there's such a huge safety risk in doing so!

ETA: Carla that letter is awesome! I would totally send that too.

kimbo1216 · July 2012

Amen! Preach it sister!

march2008 · July 2012

My pediatrician did tell me about the new recommendations about rear-facing but he basically scoffed at them and said there is no way a toddler will stay rear-facing that long. I definitely will follow the current recommendations, but who knows how many other parents he has said the same thing to that will not follow them because they trust his advice.

We have butt heads several times about things I've read in the AAP guidelines and things he disagrees with. One of major issues I have with him is his lack of support with breastfeeding, even though I was referred to him by some local recommendations that told me he was very pro-breastfeeding.

If we were planning on staying in this area, I would absolutely change pediatricians, but we are trying to move and I don't want to switch her locally only to have to find a new pediatrician when we move.

baseballcr8zd · July 2012

I definitely agree. Our pediatrician asked me if Connor was still rear-facing at his 1yr appointment and I said yes. She said that was great and that even though he's a big boy to keep him that way until he is 2. He met the requirements to turn ff a few months ago. I thought about it and then I saw the youtube video one of the mommies here posted.

I know several moms who turned their babies before they even turned one...they soooo got a stank eye from me.

MommaA117 · July 2012

Also interested to hear their response.

justme04 · July 2012

How about instead of ya'll writting the doctors offices on their outdated recomendations, or even in adition to, you write letters to your congressmen and start campaigns to create a law about leaving LOs rear facing until 2...because right now as far as I know it isn't in any law books. Its just a recomendation that isn't even in the instruction manual for the car seats.

pregarella · July 2012

Yes, yes and yes!

MouseInLux · July 2012

Try this one....group 1 car seats in Europe are crash tested starting at 9 kilo. Most of the seats available are ONLY FF in a large portion on Europe (we have one imported from Sweden because I treasure DD's life).

My friend's little give doesn't weigh 9 kilo, just barely 8kilo BUT her PEDIATRICIAN has told them that she's developmentally ready for a group 1 seat!! This child still fits (comfortably) in her infant seat.

I was shocked when I read about this on FB!

MouseInLux · July 2012

Oh and I would also like to add that I love my pediatrician because even though FF is normal here his kids RF!

dannie2011 · July 2012

I'm really not surprised, some Pedi's are set in their ways. Just like some Ob's we had to deal with.They do tend to get the attitude that they know it all and the new stuff out there is just fluff.

MammaBear81 · July 2012

march2008:
My pediatrician did tell me about the new recommendations about rear-facing but he basically scoffed at them and said there is no way a toddler will stay rear-facing that long. I definitely will follow the current recommendations, but who knows how many other parents he has said the same thing to that will not follow them because they trust his advice.

Did you ask him if he's polled toddlers to see if that's how they feel, LOL!

JuneBugsMommy · July 2012

I couldn't agree more!! Our pedi said FF until 2 at the VERY minimum! We will not even consider turning DS around until his next birthday. My brother and SIL turned my nephew around right after his first birthday, he just turned 1 in April, I tried to talk them out of it but they did it anyway and I hate that! Especially since my SIL was rear ended when she was pregnant with my nephew and they freaked out about it!

brandx725 · July 2012

I am shocked too. My LO pedi is older (around mid 60's) and always asks about how he is facing she has been in practice for some 20 yrs and I know the laws have changed many times and she still knows what is best. In every exam room she has a sign up with research about ERF and how the AAP recommends 2 yrs of age, but she recommends even longer if your seat limits allow. I would not even consider keeping a pedi that told me it was ok to turn at 1yr old no matter how many positives they had.

hajski · July 2012

march2008:

My pediatrician did tell me about the new recommendations about rear-facing but he basically scoffed at them and said there is no way a toddler will stay rear-facing that long. I definitely will follow the current recommendations, but who knows how many other parents he has said the same thing to that will not follow them because they trust his advice.

We have butt heads several times about things I've read in the AAP guidelines and things he disagrees with. One of major issues I have with him is his lack of support with breastfeeding, even though I was referred to him by some local recommendations that told me he was very pro-breastfeeding.

If we were planning on staying in this area, I would absolutely change pediatricians, but we are trying to move and I don't want to switch her locally only to have to find a new pediatrician when we move.

I think it is so funny when people say these types of things about rear facing. Ummm...last time I checked toddlers sit in the seat the way the parents put them there. They won't know any different unless you give them that option. My LO will be rear facing until at least 2 and maybe after that.

kimbo1216 · July 2012

justme04:
How about instead of y'all writing the doctors offices on their outdated recommendations, or even in addition to, you write letters to your congressmen.

Great idea. I just did!

LaRue86 · July 2012

hajski:
march2008:

My pediatrician did tell me about the new recommendations about rear-facing but he basically scoffed at them and said there is no way a toddler will stay rear-facing that long. I definitely will follow the current recommendations, but who knows how many other parents he has said the same thing to that will not follow them because they trust his advice.

We have butt heads several times about things I've read in the AAP guidelines and things he disagrees with. One of major issues I have with him is his lack of support with breastfeeding, even though I was referred to him by some local recommendations that told me he was very pro-breastfeeding.

If we were planning on staying in this area, I would absolutely change pediatricians, but we are trying to move and I don't want to switch her locally only to have to find a new pediatrician when we move.

I think it is so funny when people say these types of things about rear facing. Ummm...last time I checked toddlers sit in the seat the way the parents put them there. They won't know any different unless you give them that option. My LO will be rear facing until at least 2 and maybe after that.

I pretty much rolled my eyes at friends who have never extended rear-facing and wont because it has never been an issue. The dad flat out said it was stupid and move to get you to spend more money on car-seats...Then again they havent used the harness on their 2 older children since they were 2 because they were more comfortable in a booster...Really hard for me to bit my tongue but they were pretty adamant about it. When we left, DH said, that is just plain ignorance...

CarlaAndJames · July 2012

LaRue86:
hajski:
march2008:

My pediatrician did tell me about the new recommendations about rear-facing but he basically scoffed at them and said there is no way a toddler will stay rear-facing that long. I definitely will follow the current recommendations, but who knows how many other parents he has said the same thing to that will not follow them because they trust his advice.

We have butt heads several times about things I've read in the AAP guidelines and things he disagrees with. One of major issues I have with him is his lack of support with breastfeeding, even though I was referred to him by some local recommendations that told me he was very pro-breastfeeding.

If we were planning on staying in this area, I would absolutely change pediatricians, but we are trying to move and I don't want to switch her locally only to have to find a new pediatrician when we move.

I think it is so funny when people say these types of things about rear facing. Ummm...last time I checked toddlers sit in the seat the way the parents put them there. They won't know any different unless you give them that option. My LO will be rear facing until at least 2 and maybe after that.

I pretty much rolled my eyes at friends who have never extended rear-facing and wont because it has never been an issue. The dad flat out said it was stupid and move to get you to spend more money on car-seats...Then again they havent used the harness on their 2 older children since they were 2 because they were more comfortable in a booster...Really hard for me to bit my tongue but they were pretty adamant about it. When we left, DH said, that is just plain ignorance...

is it legal to have them out of a 5 point harness at 2? yikes!!

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