WWYD about parents not being as safe as possible

[quietserena]

I keep meeting mainstream parents with teeny year olds who are FF. Also people with babies who are obviously way too big for an infant carrier. Someone last week told me she was using the same carseat for the new baby as she used for her 6 year old daughter.

I always launch into a talk about how carseats expire, how babies need to be RF as long as possible, how most infant carriers have a weight limit of 22 lbs, etc etc. But people just brush me off with things like "but I need to be able to use the front seat" or "I just haven't gotten around to getting a new carseat". Maybe I'm sensitive because my mom died in a car accident so I'm extra safe in all things car related. I feel like as far as the car goes, I need to do everything in my power to keep that baby safe. These people are quick to point out some other things I do that mainstream considers unsafe like no vaxing and cosleeping and want to know why this is different.

I'm starting to be afraid that if anything bad happens to this baby, it'll be like I foretold it.

How do you deal with people like this?

[angie3096]

Well some people's minds are just not going to be changed, and there really isn't much you can do about it. You just give the info and leave it at that. Someday we'll have decent car seat laws like in Sweden, until then, there isn't much you can do.
As for people who say you are being unsafe by not vaxing and cosleeping, well, there is a growing body of research out there that says those practices are safer. I would say I have done my research and am doing what I have learned is safest for my child. Have you encountered research out there that says it is safest for a child to be forward facing/ in an expired seat/in the front seat of a vehicle?

[ThreeBeans]

I explain as logically as I can, provide as much info as I can, and then later I cuss and cry to DH :dizzy:

[quietserena]

I explain as logically as I can, provide as much info as I can, and then later I cuss and cry to DH :dizzy:

Yup that's pretty much it for me. And I share on MDC. :duck:

[amydawnsmommy]

Honestly I would tell them what I know with as many facts as possible.
If they decide not to listen then it will be on their conscience.
You've done what you can.

It might not hurt to have some carseat safety brochures to give to people like this.

I *always* tell people. I don't want to ever have it on my conscience that I didn't tell them that something wasn't safe. Seeing the possibility of an accident motivates me to tell them.