My Neighbor Does not Use Infant Seat...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the baby were born in the US, the hospital does not even let you leave without an infant seat that is properly installed, facing reverse in the BACK seat. Maybe she DOES know but is not complying bc it's inconvenient, she wants to see the baby as she drives, ...

Nobody at the hospital checked to ensure our car seat was properly installed. Yeah, the nurses saw that we had an actual car seat, but we could have easily left it in the car and they wouldn't have been the wiser.

Maybe they don't check that it's tethered to the car, but if it's in the front seat, they will educate you on the position (reverse) and location (backseat) of where it should be before you can drive off.

Umm, who is "they?" The hospital police? We walked out the front door by ourselves and that was that.

In my case, "They" are the nurses from the maternity ward of the hospital. The nurse wheeled me out. Our car was pulled up to the hospital curb turnabout and she took a look to make sure we had a carseat - in the back of the car.

[Anonymous]

OP, with an update: Turns out she has a base in the back seat. She cannot get to her dd when she is crying or wants a bottle so it is easier to keep her in the front seat. Um..... I just kinda looked at her like she had four heads.

We discussed the laws, the police, getting fined, and airbags. She likes having the baby next to her.

I am at a loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, with an update: Turns out she has a base in the back seat. She cannot get to her dd when she is crying or wants a bottle so it is easier to keep her in the front seat. Um..... I just kinda looked at her like she had four heads.

We discussed the laws, the police, getting fined, and airbags. She likes having the baby next to her.

I am at a loss.

Save a life. Call the police.

I'm the PP who advised calling the police right away because I was worried that you would end up in this position. Now if you call the police, she'll know it was you. If you don't call, the baby probably has a 50-50 chance of being injured in the next year.

I would wait a few days and call 911.

[Anonymous]

if you discussed all of that and she still seemed oblivious, you have two clear choices now: walk away/ignore it OR take action to protect that helpless infant. An airbag deployed in an accident will kill an infant in the front seat - and noone ever thinks they will be in an accident. To me, that's reason enough to call the cops AND child protective services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm the PP who advised calling the police right away because I was worried that you would end up in this position. Now if you call the police, she'll know it was you. If you don't call, the baby probably has a 50-50 chance of being injured in the next year.

I would wait a few days and call 911.

I don't know what are the OP is in, but in Fairfax County, an anonymous tip can be submitted via the web here: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/traf_sfty_report.htm
Check your jurisdiction to see if you have something similar.

Good luck, OP.

[Anonymous]

OP again, I am going to call the police tomorrow (non-emergency) and ask them what can be done.

FWIW, when ds was born at Shady Grove we had to bring the car seat up to our room so the nurse could see we had one. Noone checked the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again, I am going to call the police tomorrow (non-emergency) and ask them what can be done.

FWIW, when ds was born at Shady Grove we had to bring the car seat up to our room so the nurse could see we had one. Noone checked the car.

Good for you. I hope there's no drama involved, for your sake.

[Anonymous]

Will be even easier to take care of her when she's dead. No effort required. No pulling over to the side of the road. Piece of cake, she should be thrilled when it happens with that mentality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again, I am going to call the police tomorrow (non-emergency) and ask them what can be done.

FWIW, when ds was born at Shady Grove we had to bring the car seat up to our room so the nurse could see we had one. Noone checked the car.

Good for you. I hope there's no drama involved, for your sake.

[/houlquote]

What is that suppose to mean? This woman was told that the police have been ticketing in the neighborhood at a speed trap. Should the police pull her over it will be her own fault, not mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the baby were born in the US, the hospital does not even let you leave without an infant seat that is properly installed, facing reverse in the BACK seat. Maybe she DOES know but is not complying bc it's inconvenient, she wants to see the baby as she drives, ...

noone checked ours either and I have a preemie we vrought the carseat in he took his carseat challenge once he could pass it we were allowed to take him and leave noone checked anything in our car

[Anonymous]

A few weeks ago I saw a family in a minivan with two kids not in car seats. There was a toddler and an infant. The mom was holding the infant in the backseat and the toddler was all over the place. I was at the bank right by the FDIC in VA Square and pulled over and told the cop on duty there and he took after them and pulled them over.

I am still glad that I did this as I feel like I was protecting the kids.

So, my advice to you is to talk with her about it. If she still doesn't make a change, call the cops.

[Anonymous]

maybe your neighbor was inspired by watching Britney Spears drive with her toddler on her lap last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, with an update: Turns out she has a base in the back seat. She cannot get to her dd when she is crying or wants a bottle so it is easier to keep her in the front seat. Um..... I just kinda looked at her like she had four heads.

We discussed the laws, the police, getting fined, and airbags. She likes having the baby next to her.

I am at a loss.

I'm sorry to hear this, but kudos to you for approaching her directly and raising the issue.

[Anonymous]

Two cents: Think of how many times we've all mused about how much simpler things were when we were growing up....we rode around without bike helmets, didn't have carseats, played outside yada yada.....the reminisces always tend to end with "...and we turned out ok." Keeping that in the back of one's mind, if the lady *is* using an infant seat, chances are that she is fully aware that the law requires it. She probably thinks that it's really not a big deal to just stick the car seat in the front seat (for convenience) if she is just running down to the store or something. If she is alone with the baby in the car, she may also be thinking of having the baby close to her so she can keep an eye. I tend to think she is not a negligent mother per se, and nor is she oblivious of the law, but it could be that she doesn't comprehend the gravity of it. OP, perhaps you could talk to her and say that it's illegal and not safe to have the infant seat the way she has it. Let her know that this is an offense that is actually punishable by law. It could be that she does not know how egregious it is. You could also give her the documentation on safety etc. and let her know that she can have the local police help her with correct installation...instead of slipping it in the mailbox. I think a personal, well-meaning interaction will turn out better than you expect. And, btw, I'm from abroad and I don't think you were being racist. I do think you need to intervene, though. The lady could end up being locked up over this if she gets pulled over!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the baby were born in the US, the hospital does not even let you leave without an infant seat that is properly installed, facing reverse in the BACK seat. Maybe she DOES know but is not complying bc it's inconvenient, she wants to see the baby as she drives, ...

Nobody at the hospital checked to ensure our car seat was properly installed. Yeah, the nurses saw that we had an actual car seat, but we could have easily left it in the car and they wouldn't have been the wiser.

Maybe they don't check that it's tethered to the car, but if it's in the front seat, they will educate you on the position (reverse) and location (backseat) of where it should be before you can drive off.

Umm, who is "they?" The hospital police? We walked out the front door by ourselves and that was that.

In my case, "They" are the nurses from the maternity ward of the hospital. The nurse wheeled me out. Our car was pulled up to the hospital curb turnabout and she took a look to make sure we had a carseat - in the back of the car.

My point is that sometimes they don't check at all.