Jake, the ERF-er

Jake is now 2. He will be 26 months in a little over a week. In the past month, I have had several people ask me when I'm going to turn Jake around to forward facing in his car seat. Well, let me clarify this for anyone that wonders this same thing. :) And I am going to start from the beginning of my car seat days.

Before Jake was born, I did not research car seats. I bought what was cute. Which is fine, since a car seat is made to protect a child. However, the most important thing a parent can do when it comes to car seats, is to choose the best one for your child and to READ THE MANUAL. And when I say that, it is in all caps for a reason. The manual should be read... front to back. Also important, the automobile's manual should be read on all things child passenger safety/car seats. So, there ya have that. I did none of the above. I left the installation up to Derick, since that's what guys are good at. I trusted that he had it in right. He did. However, I had no CLUE how to even buckle him into his seat when we left the hospital. THANKFULLY where we delivered Jake (St. Francis Hospital, where I was working at the time) they try to have someone that is car seat certified working. A CPST was working and she ran the basics by me and out we went. I didn't even know how tight the straps needed to be. I was just guessing. And I certainly had no idea about the retainer clip (chest clip). I looked at my friend's pictures on facebook, because surely THEY knew what was best and how it was done, right? I seriously NEVER even gave it a single thought other than that. Then someone made ONE comment on a picture I'd posted to facebook when Jake was 3 weeks and 1 day old. Beverly Muzzy, if you read this... it was you. :) Her one comment (that was in no way offensive!!) is probably mostly responsible for beginning my obsession with car seats. This was the picture.

 She just said something about the straps being too loose. Look how loose they are! You can tell they're too loose! And that retainer clip... dear LORD look how low it is! Cryin' shame. After that, I started reading things online and read my manual and my car's manual. And then I used that info for me and only me. THEN I started to analyze pictures that people would post to facebook and my heart would just break for those poor kids whose parents were just like me and didn't know any better! So, I started posting little facts and tidbits here and there in an effort to bring light to subject that is so often brushed over. I have had people tell me specifically that the facts I post about car-seat safety has shed light on something they were not aware of and in turn were able to make their kiddo safer. Anyway, after that comment, Jake looked more like this in his car seat.

Perfectly snug fit, retainer clip at armpit/nipple level. Beautiful. And yes, it is perfectly ok for a kid's head to lay against the side like that. If you do not like it, you can place rolled up blankets, towels, washrag, whatever... Just so long as nothing comes between the child's body and what came WITH the car seat. Aftermarket positioners are UNSAFE FYI. Also unsafe and not recommended (which I did not learn until I became certified) are those little rings I have hooked to his seat. Anything that didn't come with the seat, is unsafe.

I unofficially began researching content on child passenger safety on my own. I knew what was appropriate, for the most part, and what was completely inappropriate. Truthfully, I used my friends' facebook pictures of incorrect usage, along with informational websites, to learn what was ok, and what was not... and also what was of popular belief but not true or ok.

Jake was on the heavier end as an infant, and his infant seat only went up to 22 pounds. At 6 months, Jake was 19 lbs, so I knew I needed to find a him a new seat quickly. I decided on the seat below. I ordered this seat before it was even available to be ordered. I thought it was THE seat for us. :) Here is Jake in his brand new seat at almost 7 months. He was actually only testing it out. We didn't go anywhere, I just buckled him in for the picture.

August 2010 with Sophie the Giraffe. Straps could probably have stood to be a little tighter, but we weren't going anywhere right then. I was just excited to see what he looked like in his new seat.

The reason I had bought this seat was, first and foremost, because it would allow Jake to rear face until 40 lbs. We have since moved on to a different brand of seat. This seat was a car accident, so it had to be destroyed. Here a few of my favorite of Jake from then till now in his seats.

At 26 months, 30 pounds, 37.5", Jake is perfectly happy (and safer) rear facing. 

I have had people sort of snicker, or try to justify their "turning around" of their almost 2 or barely 2 year-old toddler, and even a barely ONE year-old toddler. You can say whatever you want, especially if you have your own blog... because I'm about to say what I want... since this is my own blog. Sorry, I am really passionate about it. :) My child is as much as FIVE times safer than your forward facing child. So... snicker all you want. Because that is what I have encountered a couple times... however... I'm being very kind to keep my comments (and not so nice thoughts) to myself, even though I could completely slam them with facts. :) I did not make up that statistic above. It was a real number in a real study, published in real medical journals. Wanna see what it would look like if your forward facing kid was sitting right next to my rear facing kid in a crash?? Here you go. :) Hmm... Pretty sure I like the rear-facing position a lot better. And if Jake can still fit properly, he will still ride that way.

Ever heard of internal decapitation? Google it. It was enough for me to take the real-world studies seriously. Watch a couple youtube videos of kids who were affected by it. You may change your tune about my exponentially safer-than-yours child.

This site really explains every reason that rear facing is safer.

So, yep. Jake is still rear-facing. I have no time-limit set on it other than his size and what the seat will allow. Until we reach that point... my kid will be safer than forward facing kids. And trust me, I have the highest weight/height limit seat on the market, it will be a while. I am not interested in forward facing. It is NOT a fun or exciting thing. In fact, the day he turns around will be a sad day, because it will be a step down in safety.

So, there you have it. We do extended rear-facing in the House of Pickle. It is not for everyone. I totally know that. But DO know that the AAP recommends that ALL children stay rear facing until 2 years or as long as they fit the height/weight requirements of the seat in rear-facing position.

In June of last year, I completed a 4 day training course and left being "car seat certified", or the actual term... Child Passenger Safety Technician. So, if you have ANY questions, or would like me to help you make sure your seat is being used properly and safely, PLEASE ask me to look at any time!! I have honestly, since the day I passed that class, had 3 people ask me to look at their seats. Well, other than the ones in the car-seat clinics I help with. If I had a friend that was car-seat certified, I'd be all over that offer! Please ask, I want my friend's kids to be as safe as possible!

It is estimated that about 80% of car seats are misused, either because a child is in the wrong seat, the seat is installed wrong, or the child is not placed in the seat correctly. I will willingly admit that Jake's was installed incorrectly when I went to take the CPST course.

So.... feel free to ask me to check out your seat(s), or to help you find a car-seat check station in your area!

Happy Tuesday, friends!