Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

I felt awful when my friend told me she turned her 13 month old forward facing. I wanted so badly to say something...but you know how tough that is...don't want to offend, make anyone feel bad.

She's not defensive, she's a great person actually so this shouldn't be tough. But I'm sitting here having a REALLY hard time writing this email. I watched the video of that little boy Joel and want to send it to her yet, I feel like that is just so upsetting. I just don't want her to feel bad.

Any tips on how I should inform her? TIA!!

Her ped told her it was okay.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

My gf turned her daughter forward facing before she was 10 months old. I was I even told her about hte video that Gabi (twinkletoes) posted but her come back was "I drive really safe"

I tried

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

I would just say "oh hey I was talking to my ped bc I wanted to turn riley and she said that the new recs are for two years....did yours mention anything about that?" Then you can say you researched further online and found some stuff etc

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

To be honest I don't know anyone IRL that didn't turn their DC around at 1 year. My ped told me to turn it and I went to the state troopers to have it inspected and they didn't say I should keep it rear facing either.

You could always just send the link and write A must watch for all parents. Then she can make her own decision.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

What if you said something along the lines of ( in an e-mail) and send it out to a few people as to not single her out...

" I always heard that rear facing was best for as long as possible and never had any idea why until I saw this video !" Thought I'd pass it along, since another mom passed it on to me ....

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

I had this issue a few months ago when my friend turned her 8 month old forward facing on her PED"S suggestion. She is the same way - I sent her something that carseatsafety answered when I asked him to give me some info. It is a tricky situation

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

I sent that video to all my friends.
some thanked me for it, some ignored it.
i did what i could.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

I think all you can do is casually mention that you heard the new recommendation is 2 years and see what she says.

If she just disregards it, not much more you can do. But at least you tried.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

I wouldn't say anything.

Message edited 8/8/2010 8:16:04 PM.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

i just had to do this with SIL because she wasnt aware of the new 2 year recommendations. i just said that the american academy of pediatrics recommends that all infants remaining rear facing until 2 years...or AT LEAST 18 months. i also mentioned the video about joel and it was enough to convince her.

Message edited 8/8/2010 8:21:45 PM.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

Is she a FB friend? Find an article and just randomly put it up on your FB page for all to read and hope she reads it.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

It's tough, because we just had DS' 12m well visit yesterday and we were told 1,2,3,4:
1. stay on whole milk until age 2
2. babyproof the house, lower water temp to 120 degrees
3. turn carseat forward facing
4. tylenol dosage is .16

so maybe her ped told her to do it, and she just didn't question it!

fwiw, my DS is still rear-facing.

i would just bring it up to her like, "hi x, i noticed suzy's carseat is forward-facing! did the Dr suggest that? Mine said to leave her rear-facing as long as possible and told me out this youtube video...."

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

Message edited 8/8/2010 10:06:51 PM.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

i would've turned Em if i hadn't read all the info on this website....

i get comments EVERY SINGLE TIME someone sees that she's still rear-facing....including my mom, my sister in law, dave's sister....

i think maybe if you told her the 'new recommendations' she may take it to heart! tell her there's a video - but don't send it to her...tell her if she wants to see it - you can send it to her!

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

I wouldn't say anything. Personally I get a little offended when people bring things like that to my attention because it makes me feel like I am ignorant, or that I'm doing something wrong, or that I don't care about my child, etc. It's like when people told me "OMG you aren't breastfeeding?!?!?" Like I should be stripped of parental rights or something.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

It sounds silly but my cousin is a ped and he wasn't aware of the new recommednation for rear face until 2 years old.
My DD is 10 months and I usually switched them at a year...
I may go a little longer but definitley not to 2.
To answer the OP question
I would send the video to a bunch of friends and say...did your ped inform you about the new recommedation???

Remember it's a recommendation, it's not manditory so your friend might ignore it. To each is own.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

Honestly, I had no idea about this rec, until this site my DD is 2 1/2 and forward facing and has been for a while. Obviously, my 7 month old is rear facing, but I will keep him rear facing as long as possible. I just wonder why this safety issue isn't brought to the attention of more parents. Wish i would have know for DD. I would probably send some links to my friend or just casually bring up in conversation what your ped told you, etc.. She probably has no clue, like me.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

I would maybe frame it in this way - " I am not sure what to do because my ped said I can turn DC around now but I read that the new recommendation is 2 years"

However, I would be cautious about pushing the issue because if you read the actual studies they show only a very slight benefit connected to being rear-facing past the one year mark. Furthermore, I would not send out the youtube video. I watched it, and as someone who bases their decision on facts, I really did not find it very informational. Frankly, it was done by someone's grandfather and did not provide factual background or any medical expertise which would indicate that the child's injuries would truly have been otherwise - I feel for the child and family but as a PSA for rear-facing after a year I did not find it persuasive.

P.S. my child is 12 months and is still rear facing...

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

I would just say

I don't know if you are aware but I wanted to share....blah blah blah.

And take it from there.

Re: Any ideas on how to gently inform a friend that her child is safest rear facing?

Message edited 8/9/2010 12:26:30 AM.