Heartbreaking video is spreading misinformation

[Edensmum]

I belong to several message boards on parenting issues. There is a very sad video about a little boy who was thrown from his car after his seatbelt failed.
This is creating a frenzy on message boards that Latch is the only way to go and belts aren't safe.
I have spent hours in the last few weeks reminding people that latch isn't superior, and has weight limits.
Why don't people read manuals? So few people have any idea about the seat they are using. It's so frustrating.

[babylu]

The video actually recommends a five point harness with top tethers, specifically the Britax Regent, Latch or seatbelt. It's created a Regent frenzy. Hopefully car seat companies and car makers will come up with a better solution for our kids including Latch that goes past 40 pounds or integrated 5-point harnesses!

[MarisaSF]

The video goes straight for the heart and people hear "thrown from car" and think they need LATCH (I did).

My carseat (MA) can be used to 65 lbs, but the manual says LATCH up to 48 lbs only. I don't have a car with LATCH, but if we get one I'll make sure to find out what its limit is.

I keep hearing people refer to this video and want to be ready with some more facts.

Is there a weight limit for the top tether (my manual doesn't mention one and I'd assume not)? The video seemed to make the biggest push for top tether and 5-pt harness, not LATCH anchors. I also assume that using the seatbelt lock-offs will help keep the carseat in the car, correct?

[Joolsplus2]

There's a stated top tether anchor limit for all cars, but if they fail to state it in the owner's manual, you can feel free to ignore it, I think.

Edensmum, yep, we've been dealing with that video here, too...I guess the best thing I can say about it is that it's generated a ton of interested in CPS :). I hope it also makes people demand more safety features when they go to buy their cars.


Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[bubbaray]

Well, OK, I have a different perspective. That video has persuaded someone I "know" on another board to move her 3 yr old from a Parkway to a Regent, based on the increased safety a 5-pt harness provides.

So, you can trash the video (which I personally don't see as promoting LATCH, but rather 5pt harnesses) all you want. It IS getting an important message through to some people!

JMHO

Melissa

DD#1: 04/2004

http://bd.lilypie.com/SasRm7.png

[Edensmum]

The video says nothing wrong, it says several good things. I don'tthink that is trashing it. My complaint is that regardless of what is actually said people are all running to use latch, when it is not necessarliy approriate or safer. Or feeling their cars are not safe because they don't have it. So the whole"we're screwed without latch, why do anything better than a booster." mentality is what I have been hearing too much of.
Eden 9/04

[Splash]

The video is spreading a TON of misinformation.

Seatbelts do NOT fail "very often" as the video suggests. Seat belt failure is extremely rare.

A five point harness may or may not have saved his life, and if a belt fails, it fails with a seat in it too.

Side airbags may or may not have prevented his death.

LATCH cannot be used over 48 pounds in most vehicles (40 in Honda, 60 in Subaru) and is MUCH less safe than a belt in those situations.

She was misusing their seats. You cannot deny that. Looking at the video it is very evident that these boosters were not being used correctly. Whether or not that caused his death, who knows? But my gut tells me that there was no "expert" report on the seat belt failing and that the kid was just improperly buckled. Tragic, absolutely. But user error, not vehicle failure.

I'm not trying to blame the parents, but to use scare tactics to push a product isn't fair. Especially to claim something with absolutely no way to back it up.

[niccig]

I wondered about the seatbelt failure. It seems that the belt came undone, but was it the belt failing, or did the child fool around with the buckle and undo it? They said it was a failure, and maybe that was expert opinion. I think the last part of the video when they talk about a child's maturity to be in a booster is the important part of the video, but I think most people just heard about the seatbelt failing and nothing else.

Nicci

[seeks1]

The mom who made this video came onto another board's car safety board to address some things.

An expert did investigate and found without a doubt that the seat belt failed. She also provided a link that showed that seat belt failure is higher than previously thought.

She also explained that her purpose was not "to push a certain seat" but to encourage the use of tethers and latch where possible and definitely a 5 point harness as long as possible. She believes that if her son had been in a 5 point harness and was thrown from the car, the seat would have helped absorb some of the impact and her son would have had a higher chance of survival.

As to her seats being mis-used, I think she probably knows a lot more now than she did then, don't you think?

JMO, I don't care if seat belt failure is very rare. I don't want to be the one in a million. I forwarded the video to my friends and TWO of them took their kids out of boosters and put them back in 5 point harnesses that they had not grown out of. To me, that is TWO kids who are safer now than they were a week ago.

I really don't care if it causing people to get hysterical. If children will be safer because of it, great! I hope all car seat safety boards have to "handle" and "deal" with the questions. At least people are asking!!!!

[bubbaray]

EXACTLY my point. If even one parent decides to put their child in a 5pt harness instead of a booster at an early age, then the "hysteria" is well worth it, IMO.

I find this debate somewhat disturbing, though. If techs and people who know a fair bit about child restraints (such as on this board) are saying the video is not valid, what is a "regular" parent to do with the information??

Personally, I think techs should use this video in the spirit in which it was intended -- children are safer in a 5pt harness.

I have had people comment on another board that this video should be disregarded because it is a marketing tool for Britax. Uh, huh?? I do NOT get that argument at all and am surprised to see it here. I understood the video to be made by the parents. There is no reference to Britax making the video, being involved in the production, NOR is it mentioned on the Britax website. Are there other harnessed seats with as high top slots and as high a weight limit as the Regent?? I thought it had the highest weight limit/highest top slot combination -- that in my mind explains the reference to the Regent.

FWIW, the issue of whether the child would be safer in a 5pt harnessed seat in the event of a belt failure was discussed last week. I am 100% comfortable with my opinion that a child in a 5pt harnessed seat would be better protected in the event of a belt failure. Firstly, the top tether, even if it too failed, would slow down the accelleration of the child/seat. Secondly, it is unlikely that a child in a Regent will exit the vehicle in a crash -- the child/seat would likely be too big to fit through a window (and by far more serious injuries result from being through FROM the vehicle than from being through around IN the vehicle). Thirdly, even if the child/seat did exit the vehicle in the crash (or were tossed around inside the vehicle), the seat would provide some level of protection, such as preventing the child from landing on their head (if they were properly fitted for the seat, the top of the shell should provide some level of protection for the head).

Again, JMHO.


Melissa

DD#1: 04/2004

http://bd.lilypie.com/SasRm7.png

[Splash]

A kid flying out of a car in a seat is in just as much danger as a kid randomly flying.

But the fact is that people need to make the right decision for the right reason. This information has been "out there" forever, they just refuse to use it. The parents in the video would have found higher weight harness seats if they had just looked. You said she belongs to a car seat board, how did she NOT know there were other options than a booster? Unless she joined it afterward of course.

But this is putting kids in danger as well. Yes, some kids (but really, I don't think all that many) are going back into harnesses. However I am willing to bet that a LOT MORE kids are now in seats secured with anchors beyond the weight limit. And THAT is dangerous.

Fact is, there is NO hard proof that harnesses are safer than boosters when both are properly used and the child fits. We may THINK harnesses are safer, but we don't know. There are very compelling arguments for the "boosters are safer" camp as well as the "harnesses are safer" camp.
And I also thought it was a bit too Britax heavy. I am all for Britax, and my kid will be in one until he is done with his carseat days, but they are NOT the only seat out there. She could have provided a list of HWH seats, but instead she focused only on one seat, ignoring many other seats that would appeal to a larger audience (the Regent, while a great seat, is very big, very expensive, and requires more than some cars have in terms of installation). I am not saying she was trying to market Britax, but it DOES look odd. And if I was coming at it from a pessimistic angle, I would think that.

It is VERY SAD what happened to her child. But I do not think the video is doing much good. It's spreading a lot of misinformation and panic that doesn't have to be there. And now many people will blindly use the anchors until the kid is out of the seat, any seat, without any regards to what the anchors can hold.

[bubbaray]

Other than special needs seats, what seats compare to the Regent? The Safeguard car seat only harnesses to 65lbs and the Go booster harnesses to 60lbs. Reportedly, the Radian80 has the same top slots as the Radian65, so you can't really compare it to the Regent in that regard. I'm trying to find a seat that has as high a harness as the Regent and I keep coming back to the same answer: Regent. If there are others out there, I'd really love to know, because I would like to look at them.

I found the crash test videos of children in harnessed seats vs booster seats pretty compelling when it comes to safety of children in the two types of restraints.

I have to disagree on the the kid flying in a seat is in just as much danger as the kid flying randomly. I think even a flying seat would provide some level of protection. I also find it pretty hard to believe that a Regent + child would fit through most car windows.

Guess we will never agree.

Melissa

DD#1: 04/2004

http://bd.lilypie.com/SasRm7.png

[Tondi G]

I'm not trying to get into it with anyone but I thought the same thing. If the child had been in a car seat and it was thrown from the vehicle there is still a chance that child could die, car seat and all! Then the other thought I has was what if the seat had come undone and the child IN his Regent or Marathon whatever had gone flying around the cabin of the car..... could his sister (or mother) have been killed from the trauma of being struck by a LARGE car seat with a child restrained in it... absolutely!

It's a tragedy. It's sad. I am glad it is making people more aware that there are other options besides a BPB when their children outgrow seats that have a weight limit of 40lbs! Even still.... some people can't afford a Britax.... it's a shame that the "better" seats have to be so expensive!

~Tondi

[madelinesmom]

I am not sure how this can add or take away from this discussion b/c everyone sounds very technical. This is my personal story and why my dd's will be rear facing or in a regent until they are probably 20...
In 2001 I was hit head on, my 4 year old niece was in the middle of the back seat of a Dodge Durango in a convertable with a 5 point harness. She was killed. The impact broke her neck. The cornor said the speed of the impact and whiplash in the neck killed her, there was nothing that could have been done. She was 40 lbs. so she was forward facing. (her parents did FF her at 1 year.)

My point of telling you all this is that if this video will get one person to put their child in a 5 pt. harness, even if they are in a wreck and their child dies, they will know they did everything they could. The only way I got thru this was b/c my family and I knew there was nothing we could have done. Her neck muscles were not strong enough. I don't know this woman so I can't speak to her video but I know she suffers and will suffer for the rest of her life, she knows she didn't have her child in the correct seat, but there is nothing she can do but suffer. I promise you she will forever.

Yes this video is a bit product heavy, but that is b/c this is all she knows, maybe her ignorance can help someone else to get educated.


Jane
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[bubbaray]

I am so sorry for your loss. This must be a very difficult discussion for you. Thank you for sharing.

Many hugs

Melissa

DD#1: 04/2004

http://bd.lilypie.com/SasRm7.png

[niccig]

I am so sorry that your family suffered such a loss. As you said, there wasn't anything you could have done, no carseats here allow RF to 40lbs. 35lbs is the limit. Your story makes me wish even more for those Sweedish seats that RF to higher limits.

Nicci

[jeanum]

I'm so sorry, and thanks for bravely sharing your story and perspective.

[supercalifragilous]

I'd like to see for myself what this is all about....

[madelinesmom]

This is the one about a 5 point harness that has been referenced in this thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

This is another one that I got thru e-mail about the importance of rearfacing after age one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI

Hope this is what you were looking for...

Jane
http://b4.lilypie.com/l3-em6/.png
http://b1.lilypie.com/-FG1m6/.png

[supercalifragilous]

Thanks! That's the one!

[Joolsplus2]

A kid flying out of a car in a seat is in just as much danger as a kid randomly flying....

Well, maybe, maybe not. Depends on the crash, of course. I've heard many miracle stories of the baby in the infant seat flying out of the car, skidding across the road and surviving with no injuries. A FF harnessed seat is different, but a top tethered one is much more likely to stay in the car... the plastic shell is more likely to protect from the door and pillars and windows. And the main job of a seatbelt is to keep the person IN the car. That's why a lapbelt IS safer than no belt at all, for example. Flying out the window virtually guarantees death, staying in the car will usually get you some pretty terrible injuries, but you're a lot more likely to live. So, my point is, if a child is attached to a carseat, particularly a top tethered one, they are going to projectile around the car and be very injured, but if the seatbelt fails and they fly right out of the booster, their chances of survival are smaller.

Many crashes are not survivable at all. The older dd in the misused booster survived nicely. Seatbelt failure is rare....you kind of have to put all the risks and odds together and make your own decision based on best practice.

<diatribe over>

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[nbrackman]

I agree that while the video is "Britax-heavy" and perhaps not 100% technically correct, it makes a big impact (forgive the expression).

Around here, despite people being generally well-off enough to buy decent seats and being otherwise informed enough to buy gorgeous strollers, many people do so many carseat blunders (and worse) that to me, it's worth the visual and emotional impact of the videos (including the rearfacing one) to hammer home the point: kids belong in a proper carseat (not double-buckled for carpool).

We have the following issues in my community, which is why I want to be a tech:
1) People using expired, straps-twisted-beyond-hope, outdated and unsafe carseats
2) People using grossly ill-installed seats
3) People not using buckles properly *at all* (straps not pulled tightly; heavy fluffy coats; carseat "inserts" obstructing buckles; etc.
4) Double buckling for carpool
5) Placing way too young children in boosters too early for the sake of carpool (everyone wants to do a 5-person carpool so they only have to drive once a week)
6) People turning their infants around way too early (even before a year...if they outgrow their infant seats then they just place them FF)
7) People misusing booster seats (improperly buckled, kids removing shoulder strap, etc).

You get the idea. So the visual and emotional impact of this video can only be good from my perspective.

[MissyAg94]

I am so sorry for you and your family. But thanks for adding some perspective to the discussion. God bless.

[ajweeks]

I'm so sorry to hear about your neice. All of these stories make me so scared.

In Sweden, don't kids usually RF to around 4 years and then move to a highback booster? With most kids, even with an MA, they are too heavy to RF at 4 years. I thought a 4 year old's neck was supposed to be able to handle FF? But this brings up an interesting debate about extended harnessing versus boosters--whether or not heavier kids in harnessed seats have more stress placed on their necks because their body is held back while their necks aren't whereas in a booster the seat moves with their body and the car's seatbelt. Why is it that Sweden does not have older kids in FF harnessed seats, but they seem so far ahead of us with child seat safety? Do they know something that we don't?

[Splash]

Most seats in Sweden have rear facing weight limits of 50 pounds, and have incredibly complex installations that allow ample leg room for the kids (there is actually a gap between the car seat and the vehicle seat). Once they outgrow RF, they are in boosters unless there is a real reason (medical, behavioral, etc) to have them in a harness.
I think that is the bext system. I would LOVE if we have 50 pound RF seats and then straight to a booster. The reasoning behind them not having FF harnessed seats is just as you described, the neck loading is too high.
People love to point out that race car drivers and pilots have five points harnesses, and they do! But they ALSO have head restraint that prevents their head from flying forward while their body is held back. Now I have no doubt that THAT is the safest way to travel! However we don't have that option, and bodies get held back while heads don't, which is why the spinal development is so important. At least in a booster, the body moves together, even if it DOES move more.
I'm torn on booster versus harness to be honest. I go back and forth on what I think is best. I still don't know the answer. Luckily Charlie still has about 6 pounds to go before FF, and maybe by then something better will come along.

[Joolsplus2]

But Australia has FF kids from 6 months and with a top tether, they have also incredibly low risk of head and neck injury.
We have the best of both worlds, extended RF (at least to 35 pounds, which is an average 3 yo) AND top tethering.

:)

Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[madelinesmom]

In this instance it was not just the neck breaking but also the brain damage. The cornor described to my brother and SIL that if she had been in some kind of seat that kept her head stable, let say something like a strap, even then she suffered severe brain damage. When she was taken to Children's Hospital in Dallas they were never able to stabalize her, her brain was not functioning. The man who hit us was also killed, he fell asleep, if you just go by the posted speed limit he was supposed to be going 70 MPH. When I saw him cross into my lane I hit the brakes and according to the police report at impact I had slowed from 70 MPH (I had just set my cruise) to around 40 to 50 MPH. Conservatively that would put the speed at impact at 120 MPH, or probably higher. Most wrecks are not this bad, I think the speed at impact was the biggest factor in her death.

Jane
http://b4.lilypie.com/l3-em6/.png
http://b1.lilypie.com/-FG1m6/.png

[denna]

Jane-

I haven't really been participating in this thread just following it through. I just wanted to say that I am so sorry for your family's loss. I cant imagine how I would feel if that happened to our family my neice is like my second child. Thank you for providing your perspective....many many hugs.

Denna

[daniele_ut]

>Many crashes are not survivable at all. The older dd in the
>misused booster survived nicely. Seatbelt failure is
>rare....you kind of have to put all the risks and odds
>together and make your own decision based on best practice.

Julie - how were the boosters being misused? I'm not terribly familiar with boosters and someone asked me and I couldn't answer the question.

[Splash]

There were large chunks of foam (maybe 2 inches thick) under their rumps that were added to presumably boost them up more since they were too small for the seat itself. Plus the belts were twisted on one of the seats (don't remember which and she has since removed that photo from her website) and it appears that she was not using the belt guide correctly for the daughter and had the belt coming from UNDER her shoulder, which is a big no no.
It's sad all around, and far be it for me to place blame on the parents for their child's death, but they were seriously misusing their seats and if they are going so far as to say he WOULD have lived had he been in a harnessed seat (which very well may be the case, no one will ever know) then it seems only fair to say that he would have lived had they been correctly using the booster (which we'll also never know).

[madelinesmom]

Even still.... some people can't afford a Britax.... it's a shame
>that the "better" seats have to be so expensive!
>
>~Tondi

Tondi,
I have been thinking about this for a couple of days and trying to think how I wanted to word this. I don't know how this will come off but I am going to be as honest as possible without trying to offend anyone...

I really wonder if people can't afford the Britax or they don't want to afford the Britax. For example. I have 4 Britax, two MA holding DD#2 and two Regents, holding DD#1. We saved to buy these first two seats, when my neighbors asked me what I wanted for a baby gift when DD#2 was born, I said a Regent. Everyone chipped in and that was the baby gift for DD#2. We then saved for the 2nd Regent. I work PT and contribute very little to our household income, I actually have not worked full time since my wreck in 2001, I am unable to teach b/c I can't stand or walk for long periods of time. It was a stretch for us to buy those first two MA, and yes I had to act ugly to DH to get the first two but I wanted them so we worked it out. I cooked more instead of going out to eat, I breast fed to save money on formula, I didn't buy expensive diapers, etc.

I also know there are people who really can't afford a more expensive car seat but then there are people like my BIL and SIL. They both have full time jobs and make over $120,000 a year. They have a nice home and go on big vacations every year, can they afford a Britax for their 2 1/2 year old son, H$LL yes they can, and why won't they buy one, "we just can't afford it" she tells me. I think sometimes people can afford what they want to afford. As my neighbor say who I talked into buying a MA and Regent, for most people how can you not afford the peace of mind it gives you.

This of course is Just My Opinion, and I would appreciate not being flamed for being mean and unfeeling for people who can't afford a better seats. It is just something that I have observed from family members, neighbors, and friends.


Jane
http://b4.lilypie.com/l3-em6/.png
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[Splash]

I completely agree. Everyone can afford a good car seat. If someone saved $5/month from the time she found out she was pg, she would be able to be a Scenera at birth. Continue to save $5 and by the time that seat is outgrown there is enough (or close to it) for a Regent, an Apex, even just a harnessed booster.
One of my best friends works three jobs and has three kids AND goes to school part time. She has a hard time putting food on the table at times, but every one of her kids is buckled up (5 year old in Apex, 3 year old in Bolero, 2 year old in Summit).
Someone would "afford it" if the A/C went out of if the cable bill went up or if they wanted to go to dinner or needed smokes. But they "can't afford" to keep their kids safe? Then they shouldn't have had them. Yes I know that things happen. We went from being a very well off family to being tens of thousands in debt in a matter of months due to my son's health problems and medical bills. But he still has two carseats and is properly restrained. There are times when I did not know how, or even if, we were going to buy groceries or pay the light bill, but I never would have let him go in a car without an appropriate car seat.

Yet my sister in law and her husband who has a $120k a year job, 2 plasma TVs, two vacations a year, two houses, three new cars, dinner out every night, and $800 a month in phone bills "can't afford" a decent seat for their kid (but they hate their kid, so it doesn't matter) and have him forward facing (since seven months/17 pounds) in the front seat of an F-150 (with airbag) in an Eddie Bauer 3n1 (almost as expensive as a Marathon) because EB is "cool" and they "can't afford" a better seat.

My boss drives a 2006 Explorer and just bought a 2007 Odyssey. His wife just put $10,000 into a stupid "organic makeup" venture and spends an average of $2000/month on manicures, massages, lunches out, what have you, and yet they "can't afford" seats for their 4 and 3 year old kids, who haven't been in seats in well over a year.

Lots of people can't afford an expensive seat ON THE SPOT (as in, you need a new seat TODAY), but VERY few people would truly be unable to come up with the money in time. They just don't want to because cable TV and dinner out is more important than their kids' safety.

[mommyto4]

Okay, I really wanted to stay out of this one. But, I have to say that I totally agree with you. I quit working two months before my youngest was born. My husband is vending machine repairman and doesn't make much money at all (however he has great benefits). Our income is in the poverty level for a family of five. We have managed to buy a Britax Freeway, Roundabout, two Huskies and a Recaro Start because we saved the money and felt that our childrens safety was worth the cost. I do understand that there are alot of people out there that really cannot afford it but, I feel that there are also alot of people that could afford it if it were a priority to them.

[madelinesmom]

I saw this family on the Houston 10 PM news tonight. I was not aware that they were form San Antonio- gosh they look young... I must say that I am impressed that they have started a foundation to purchase 5 point harness seats for children that are over 40 lbs. and unable to afford a seat. They did not mention Britax by name but said that there are two seats that offer a 5 point harness for over 40 lbs. The main message they were getting out was that if you have a child over 40 lbs there is an alternative to a booster. They never mentioned anything about seat belts or latch, I know this was of concern to many people. I was impressed with them, they are trying to raise awareness and wow, isn't that what everyone wants...

Here is the link if anyone is interested.
http://www.click2houston.com/family/10945017/detail.html

Jane
Madeline 1/20/03
Emily 11/29/05
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http://b1.lilypie.com/-FG1m6/.png

[o_mom]

Oh, geez... these reporters must be blind. You can walk into any Target and get a seat for over 40 lbs - Marathons are sold there.

There are four companies that I can think of off the top of my head that make over 40 lb seats, 10 different seats altogether.

Off to write to the station if I can find a link......

[madelinesmom]

So funny that you mentioned this... I did the same thing at, oh say, 1:30 last night after I finished my ironing...
Here is the contact page...
http://www.click2houston.com/contact/index.html

I sent a message to local 2 investigates and I will probably call this morning.

I also went to the families website and sent an e-mail that reminded them that you could also find carseats that went above 40lbs at numerous B&M stores.

Thanks for looking, I love meeting other "letter writers"... My husband is convinced that I am on some FBI watch list b/c I send too many letters and e-mails... Ha Ha

Jane
Madeline 1/20/03
Emily 11/29/05
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[o_mom]

Thanks! I sent one just to the general address. I told them they must not have looked very hard, LOL. In any city you can find a seat at Target - not exactly hard to find. BRU carries at least four seats. Not to mention Houston has a Right Start which carries even more!

[Splash]

This family bothers me. A lot.
I actually got an email from them asking for money (they saw my reply to their video) to help them buy the seats, which "average $300-$500 per seat"

Um, no.

$100- Cosco Apex. It's not the nicest seat in the world, but it works. And if I were in the business of buying HWH seats for low income families, it would not be a Regent or SafeGuard (the only one I can think of that would cost close to $500)

Harness over forty pounds, for sale in the US

Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe
Britax Marathon
Britax Boulevard
Birtax Decathlon
Britax Regent
Sunshine Kids Radian 65
Sunshine Kids Radian 80
Cosco Apex
SafeGuard Child Seat
SafeGuard Go
Graco SafeSeat 2 07 (the new ones)
All EZ-on products
RideSafer vest (not really a harness, but close enough)
Safety Baby Nania (probably discontinued)

Any others?

Not ONE of those seats, with the exception of the SafeGuard, is over $200. Most are under $250, some under $200.

But, it's not as dramatic is people know that anyone can afford a HWH seat.

[Joolsplus2]

AND what's annoying is, these seats were all out long before the video was made...it's not like they have suddenly sprung onto the market since November and there's an excuse for ignoring them. See the 101 post where I get into it with someone from the Kyle Miller Foundation who very much needed some educating about seat options...I hope that person has looked into the options more.
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Joolsplus2]

AND what's annoying is, these seats were all out long before the video was made...it's not like they have suddenly sprung onto the market since November and there's an excuse for ignoring them. See the 101 post where I get into it with someone from the Kyle Miller Foundation who very much needed some educating about seat options...I hope that person has looked into the options more.
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 3 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[madelinesmom]

I actually went back and re-watched the segment this morning and I see what you are talking about. I totally missed the part about the seats being from 300-500. I did e-mail KPRC last night and told them that there were many seats that are and have been available all over Houston (city the segment aired in) that exceed the 40 lb weight limit, and that these seats have been avaliable for some time, definitely before the accident and that some simple research is necessary on any parents part. I also e-mailed the foundation to say they same thing so I assume I will be getting something about a donation, thanks for the head-up on that...

I still think that even if this piece is a bit sensational (most news pieces are) and something any parent can find out with just some simple research it can still be positive. If by a parents seeing this report that do decide to investigate they might take their child out of a booster and put them in a safer seat. KPRC has been pushing this piece since Sunday as a very important piece for every parent to see, maybe they did, maybe they will research, maybe children will be safer...

Thanks everyone for the different perspectives...

Jane
Madeline 1/20/03
Emily 11/29/05
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