by Real

Created on: June 11, 2007

How would you feel if someone strapped you to a chair and wouldn't let you out for a while or being tied on your bed? Well I know how this feels, because I was in a car accident when I was a teen. I was stuck on my back in bed for months. The doctors feared that I wouldn't be able to walk if I stayed in the bed for any length of time. I don't see this any different then babies in car seats.

Car seats are not meant to be the babysitter. Babies need to be held, talked to, rocked, and sat up. Parents need to remember that some daycares', family members, friends, babysitters leave the babies in their car seats and other items rather then holding them, cuddling, or laying the baby on a blanket, in their bassinet or in their cribs.

We have all been on that long drive that takes hours or maybe even days. As our bodies are folded up in a seat, depending on how many people we cram into the vehicle. Sooner or later we all need to get out and stretch our legs, walk, straighten up before we get back into that vehicle. We tend to think that babies are okay with being stuck in one chair, car seat for hours at a time, only because the only way they voice their opinions is by crying and even then we know that we can stick a bottle or pacifier in their mouths to quiet them down.

I share a strong opinion that children should not be in a car seat unless for the intended reason, or if something out of the ordinary comes up. When my children were newborns, I would put the car seat attached to the grocery cart to do some quick shopping. When we get home from a car ride I do not leave my child in a car seat. I bring the children inside and take the baby out of the car seat and place my little one in the Pac-n-Play. That way my little one can get up, move around, lie down or just play with the toys provided.

Infants are not able to tip over their car seats, however a 35-pound baby is strong enough to move their car seat to another position crawl out of their car seat, or pull something on them if placed next to anything. Can you imagine setting your infant baby whom reaches out their hand and grasps a blanket, pulling it over their heads while you have your attention on something else?

None of us wants to think about these things. I personally never like thinking about these things. I have children now and that means I have to think about the scary things in life and try to stop them from happening. I owe it to my children. Don't you owe it to yours?

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