Seriously, we aren't living in 1985!

I felt the need for the post since I am SO sick of people breaking the law when it comes to child safety. I can't tell you how many times I've driven down the road to see a child sitting on someone's lap or a car seat sitting in the front seat of a vehicle that has airbags and nothing sitting in the backseat. I just don't get it! My friend Melissa just told me about a lady who had her newborn (riding backwards) in the front seat and the airbag went off snapping the baby's neck. Now they want to charge her with manslaughter and I think that's an excellent idea. People should know better now with the internet, news and your pediatrician being informative on this kind of stuff. I also don't understand the rush to move a child to a booster so young...Tatum is finally 41 lbs and at the age and weight where I'm fine if she rides in one (although we won't need one since her booster/car seat goes up to 80 lbs). I do know that some vehicles come equipped with a button to turn off the air bag and especially in a truck with no backseat, it's understandable...The age and weight is not one or the other, it's one and the other and I know people tend to get confused about that. Here's a bit of info if anyone needs a refresher car seats and boosters :).

We’ve learned a lot about car seat safety in recent years. In 1996, it was discovered that the front seat was very dangerous for young children. Even in low-speed crashes, babies were dying when they were hit by front seat airbags. In addition, the front seat placed children closer to the point of impact in front-end crashes, which are usually the most deadly. And unrestrained children in the front seat tended to hit the hard dashboard and be thrown through the windshield of the car, which could be fatal. Since then, all safety experts have recommended that children ride in the back seat from infancy through age 12. Babies should start in the back seat in a rear-facing infant seat up to 1 year and 20 pounds; then a forward-facing child car seat up to 4 years and 40 pounds; then a booster seat up to 8 years and 80 pounds; then a seat belt afterward. Many states have also passed laws requiring children to be in the back seat using the appropriate safety restraint for the age and size. Parents can get a ticket and a fine if their children are not safely restrained.

Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox for now...