OK so the American Academy of Pediatrics recently announced their new car seat guidelines and parents all over the web are talking about it. And complaining about it. WTH? Seriously, what’s the big deal people?
The old guidelines from 2002 said that you should keep the baby rear-facing until they reach one year old or 20 pounds, which ever is first. That was fine by most parents, who typically moved their kids front-facing once they turned one.
The new AAP guidelines recommend that parents keep kids rear-facing until 2 years old, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for the seat as noted in the manual.
OK, so what’s the big deal? Just keep your kid in a rear-facing car seat until they are either too long to sit that way, or until they turn 2. They’re safer for it. We all want to keep our kids safe, right? Right. So then there should be no problems, right? Wrong.
I’ve been reading oodles of sites this morning about the topic. Parents are nuts! They’re crying and complaining about having to buy new seats and how their poor kids are going to hate staring at the back seat in a rear-facing car seat. OH. MY. GOD. Get over it people. Seriously, all you have to do is put your kid rear facing for a little while longer than before.
Most kids probably won’t even make it to their second birthday in a rear-facing seat. I know my Handsome probably won’t. He’s a tall boy and will probably only be sitting rear-facing for another 7-8 months. He turns one this week. (woo hoo!!) Am I crying? No. Am I complaining that he’ll be bored? No. Am I going to buy a new car seat? No. He’s already in a seat that can sit both rear and front facing. Hubby and I are smart like that.
We want him to be as safe as possible when he rides in the car with us. And he will not be bored in the car staring at the back seat. Hello…he can look out the windows! Plus, mommy brings all kinds of books and toys to keep him entertained even when we’re just taking a ride to Target!
So if you’re one of the parents who’ve been complaining about these new guidelines, I say to you…get over it and do what’s needed to keep your child safe.
Thanks,
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: Vanitacyril
March 21, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Haha! You tell ‘em Eve! I say if you really don’t want your kid bored in the car use mass transit! I do all the time (I also live in NYC and have too many choices)
Vanita recently posted..The Here Today- Gone Tomorrow Dad
Twitter: BeautifulSpitUp
March 24, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Right!