I heard they changed the carseat laws to 6 and 60 pounds....did they?

[its_our_family]

I heard it through a friend. But I hadn't heard anything about it myself. She said that she is keeping her kids in till 8 and 80 pounds. I was excited about 4 and 40 pounds....oh well, I guess we won't be able to make it without buying another carseat since ours only goes to 40 pounds!

[Dar]

It all depends on your state - each state's laws are different.

FWIW, children just aren't safe in a regular seat belt until they're about 80 pounds. The belts don't fit correctly, even the car manufacturer will tell you it's not safe. Yes, you could save some money, but what's more important? And actually, my daughter preferred her booster because she could see out the window a lot better.

Dar

[*~*SewHappyNow*~*]

Yes, it all varies by individual state laws. I think its all a huge conspiracy myself

In our state its no children under 12 in the front seat and all children must be in car seats or boosters until age 7 or 8 (forgot which)

So I guess this means you'll probably need to buy a mini van or a freaking bus to drive your kids around if you happen to have more than 2 under the age of 12 : and exactly who is going to space their children out that far apart on purpose?

Edited to add an amusing conversation with my mother:

I wasn't even aware of the exact law until she told me (she works in state government). She was saying how rediculous the law was and how its the 2nd most strict in the country (I believe she said only New York had a higher age/weight limit--which is also interesting because NY is the only state with more complicated, restrictive laws regarding homeschooling..but I am getting way off topic).

Anyhow, she said if you are pulled over for a traffic violation you may be cited for non-compliance with the booster seat law. And all in all it added up to something like a $70 fee and a $110 fine totaling $180, or so.. Forget the details.

I replied, "well damn! just how am I supposed to make my mini-van payment then?! gez!"

Seriously, though, are we going to have to start carrying around our kids birth certificates or scales to prove were not violators? How exactly is this going to be enforced? Perhaps our kids will be issued ID cards at birth or maybe, even better, implanted with microchips?

Well, ok I could go on... but I am beginning to sound like this thread belongs in activism. My apologies, but I really find the government thinking they're looking out for my best interests, because I'm too stupid to do it myself completely irritating!

[~Megan~]

Oregon is 7 and 70 I believe

[DiaperDiva]

So I guess this means you'll probably need to buy a mini van or a freaking bus to drive your kids around if you happen to have more than 2 under the age of 12 and exactly who is going to space their children out that far apart on purpose?

I think this is just part of parenting. I think things like finances, space, etc need to be considered when planning a family. We have a family car that would fit 2 carseats safely. We can't afford another car, so we aren't going to be having 3 children in carseats at a time. My desire for a larger family comes in second when it comes to my already living child(ren).

In NC its 8/80 and I like that just fine

[*~*SewHappyNow*~*]

I think this is just part of parenting. I think things like finances, space, etc

I don't know about that. I think a number of people might say that sounds like its a way of restricting the priviledge of having larger families to only the wealthy, those who are financialy capable of affording the space. Besides, it is a right, not a priviledge, correct? Last I check this is not China. Although, we're probably heading that way...

[DiaperDiva]

And I guess it is also a right for parents to let their children flop around unprotected ina 2000 pound automobile.

(the above wasn't sarcastic..does look that way though)

I don't think it should be law, but a recommendation. Then let parents take it from there. I'm more than happy in my decision not to have more children than we can a)afford b)keep safe.

[Missy]

Additionally, it's really hard to plan when the law keeps changing...

My oldest was "legally" out of the car seat and I was pregnant with my third child when the new law passed last year. Yes, we had just bought the minivan, but if we hadn't? And couldn't afford to? It's a tight squeeze but three children can certainly fit into a car. Three carseats? not so easy. Our children were spaced perfectly for the previous law that had been on the books for years. We can't base our family planning around laws that may or may not develop.

Missy

[brookelynnp]

We were not sure of the law here in Colorado but we went out and bought the toddler carseat that can be changed into a booster. I think that it is a good idea though. I get so salty when I see parents with kids three and four and even older at times just freely roaming around in their cars, especially on the highways where mom or dad is going a cool 75!

[DiaperDiva]

Brooklyn~

In NC it seems to be the norm to see young children(toddlers) uncarseated. THey look to be toddlers anyway.

[queen620]

Diaper Diva,
when was the law changed to 8and 80. I got a printout of the law vs safety, and it said the law was 4 and 40, but it was safer to keep kids in booster seats as long as possible. I got the state printout at babiesrus last month, along with some other stuff. Do you know where to find info of the change, b/c I have several friends that have stopped using their carseats b/c their kids are 4 and 40lbs?
Thanks for the update I hope you are right. Last year NC recieved a D rating from the NHTSB when it came to its lackness in carseat laws.

Thanks,Regina

[Trishy]

Most front seat laws apply to vehicles that have adequate seating capacity in back. Obviously if you have 4 kids one is going to have to sit in the front. 3 seats in the back is not easy but it is do-able. You just have to find the right combo. These laws are made because children have died because their parents were not protecting them in the car. All of us educate ourselves and do whatever is necessary to protect our children in the car and everywhere else. But not all parents are like us and that is what these laws are made for. its_our_family the current laws for Virginia are:

* Infants through children age 5 must be properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat.

* Children ages 15 and under must be resrained in some manner regardless of seating position.*

* When Virginia does mandate restraint use, it requires the driver to secure both the child safety seat and the child properly.

* Safety belt law covers all occupantsd in all seating positions.

* Secondary enforcement (safety belt law).

If anyone is interested to find out the law in your state look at:

http://www.safekids.org/

The is a bar on the right side that says "Learn about child safety laws and regulations." Select your state and select car. It is also important to check states you will be traveling through if you are taking a road trip.

[snuffles]

Who said minivans have to be expensive? You don't have to get a brand new one. We got a 1995 model, great shape, a couple of years ago, for only $4000.

Mel

[simonee]

ITA Lea. Would it perhaps be related to the fact that Detroit has some big time lobbyists in Washington? And that big cars guzzle more gas provided by Texas oil companies? :

[Monica]

Lea - YOU may not be too stupid to properly protect your children but millions of Americans are.

[*~*SewHappyNow*~*]

Ah the dumbing down of America, where your rights and common sense are traded for laws to protect you from craddle to grave...

*someone key the patriotic music please*

[somemama]

What about the rights of kids to be properly restrained?

[*~*SewHappyNow*~*]

What about the rights of children to be feed human breast milk, instead of artificial breast milk?

What about the rights of children to not live on a diet of coke and snickers bars?

What about the rights of children to not be damaged by vaccines?

Every time someone says "gee there ought to be a law.." it makes me cringe.

You don't see just how your freedoms have been suddenly taken away from you? How someone has assumed you're so dumb you can't consider the facts and make up your mind for yourself?

Why is 4 and 40lbs good enough in some places and 8 and 80lbs better in others?

You know why the first 3 things will never be laws, even though "there ought to be a law.."? Because no one will ever successfully lobby and get a law passed that doesn't have financial backing that will result in a profit for some industry etc...

The AAP can make all the recommendations it wants, but breast milk is never going to be profitable to enough for any group to mandate breast feeding children to the age of 12 months. I could just see it now, there'd be exemptions for religious and medical reasons.. Won't ever happen though...


Yes, it sounds like a wacko conspiracy theroy... so don't take me too seriously, but I can't help but think there's some motivating factor behind all this besides safely restraining children.

[somemama]

4/40 isn't good enough. (Just because the law stops there in many states doesn't make it "good enough.")

So many parents who've lost children because the kids weren't in booster seats say, "I wish I knew...." Laws of this type help educate.

I don't see this as taking away my freedom. (It's also not a violation of my freedom to require me to stop at stop lights.)

Now if they took away my kid or my car, that might be another thing. But you pay the ticket, learn your lesson, and properly restrain your kid the next time.

[somemama]

And off topic but related to what you said.....it should be ILLEGAL for schools to have vending machines. (Speaking as a teacher, seeing kids eat way too much of that stuff.)