Admissions of a Carseat fanatic

I have been a strong advocate for Car seat awareness since my daughter was about 11 months. Why not before 11 months?

There is an easy answer to that.

I didn't know about Car seat safety.

 I didn't realize that I was strapping her into her seat incorrectly.
I did not realize she was supposed to be strapped without a snow suit.
I did not realize her Car seat needed to be on a 30-45 degree angle.

I just did not realize.

This is an incredibly embarrassing blog post. but if it even helps one parent who feels wholly offended by the suggestion that she or he is not being entirely safe...well then it is totally worth the humiliation.

I am endlessly grateful to the 'Car seat Nazis  (I REALLY hate that term) for posting all of the information I needed to make my car a safe one.

 I would probably strapping my three children incorrectly, had they not shared their knowledge.

Car seats are not magical contraptions oblivious to the laws of physics..
 If your child is not properly strapped the car seat will NOT protect them.

Unlike what seems to be a very popular belief among parents, Car seat safety is NOT a parenting preference.
It is not a cloth vs disposable ......Breast feeding versus formula feeding...a baby wearing vs stroller discussion...

It is a SAFE VS NOT SAFE situation.

 As someone who used to do it very very wrong I can say that it wasn't a conscious choice. When strapping her in I did not pat myself on the back.. congratulating myself for sticking to my values. I strapped her in expecting the seat to just protect her. There was no second thought... There was no conscious good vs bad parenting choice. I just did it.

It wasn't until I started shopping around for a second seat that I started realizing my errors. And as I realized them. I slowly fixed them (ok by slowly I mean besides the conscious installation choice I slowly altered how I strapped her).
First it was the install... I went down to our parking garage and put on the seat belt lock and used my knee to properly tighten her seat. Then I went down and instead un installed the seat belt and uses the UAS system to strap her (the safety level is the same, I just became unsure of my seat belt lock install).

Then I went and I fixed the recline why using a pool noodle... Out of all the errors I was doing one thing correct. Her straps were through the proper height slot. It was actually such a gradual change that I totally forgot how LONG I was doing it wrong. Until I started looking through old photos...and saw that the last bad strap job was at almost 11 months of age.

Then the Eddie Bauer was recalled and we decided for safeties sake (finally realizing we had to take an active role as her parents in the her safety) to just buy a new seat

.. So the research started again

We went with Graco Myride 65's because their shell allowed for the proper installation without the pool noodles.

Since discovering my errors I have become a strong advocate.

Had I become defensive and ignored the information once I received it any injuries sustained in an accident would have been entirely my fault..ENTIRELY.
I was not an awful or neglectful parent. We both love our daughter to the heavens and back... We were just uninformed. I sincerely believe that most parents are the same; uninformed and slightly idealist.

My grandmother  told me a few weeks ago that "every few days or weeks, I hear on the news about another baby dying in a car crash because their Car seat was not properly secured. Why don't parents get it' "

I wish I had an answer for her.... I don't. I really don't know why it took me so long to wake up. Why it isn't more of a priority for parents... Or why some parents chose to ignore Car seat safety altogether... Under some misconception that they are unnecessary( because they survived childhood without them....or by the standards they themselves should be in a booster).

You are right... The majority of kids out there will never be in an accident. The majority of parents will never have to live with guilt and remorse. But you might.
Fact is that every single time you get behind the wheel you are at the mercy of other drivers, weather conditions... And other drivers. There will be no warning  that comes to you saying '' get it right; this time it will count''
You just never know. So best practice should be safety 100 percent of the time.

Education is so important. If you are expecting or have children already please take heed.

I won't bother writing it all out... I will instead send you to a credible link. Because I strongly believe that you shouldn't blindly believe everything you read online.

Here is the recommendation from AAP (the American academy of pediatrics) for every stage of car seat use. I urge you to read and follow the guidelines. It may very well save your child one day

 Watch this :No car seat crash test dummy video.
Forward vs Rear: why to stay rear facing As long as possible
and why we should never buy used or expired: NEVER
And see the low impact that rear facing has on Legs
And this is just a great info source

AND PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ YOUR MANUAL

Disclamer: Unfortunately sophia had to be turned shortly before her third birthday because our car just could not support three rear facing carseats. And shortly after my sons second birthday he turned forward in a radian to accomodate Elliott moving out of the infant seat he no longer fit. If I had a larger vehicle (or could afford to take on a second) they would all be rear facing. 

I purchased the Diono Radian for all three of my children as they have extra security in their Secure stop for children her turn forward before the 45 pound rear facing limit.