Oops... she did it again..... again

[Tiger926]

Here in Canada our laws are very specific, and Miss Britney would be charged for having Sean front facing if he wasn't at least 20lbs, since he's not yet age 1. For those of you who are discussing your kids growing out of car seats and having to switch to front facing, how many years ago was that? We have had convertible car seats for quite awhile now - my daughter was in one at 5 months as that is when she reached 20lbs. She stayed rear facing until about 1.5 yrs. old as we had the proper car seat - a convertible seat which accommodates infants of 20lbs to 40lbs. This is important because it allows you to keep your infant rear facing up to the required 20lb, one year old mark, or past that age if you so desire.

Perhaps in California the laws are different, but Britney has already proven with the driving the lap thing that she is an ignorant parent - it doesn't take much sense to figure out that an infant shouldn't be on your lap, and that a 6 month old should have a hat on while driving in the direct sun. Perhaps the front/rear facing issue may be a dilemma for her, but the other stuff should not.

As a teacher of high risk students who have children at very young ages, I must say most of my students have more intelligence than she does, which is pretty scary since some of them are only 14 years old.

As someone else said, money can't buy brains or class - I surely hope Britney's kids don't pay too heavily for her stupid mistakes!

Tiger

 

[PixiePop]

Whether or not it is a law in CA, I think it is a parent's responsibility, to do what is best for your child. If the AAP recommends rear facing to one year and 20 pounds, then I think as a parent you should follow the recommendation.

As far as not being educated in the changing rules of car seat safety, there are many resources that a parent can use to find the correct information. I know in our state various locations are always offering to check your infant car seats to make sure they are installed properly and I am sure that a babies pediatrician can assist you in this issue.

Also, I think that just because something "used to be done a certain way" doesn't mean that we can't learn how to do things differently/better than our parents.

I never wore a helmet when I rode a bike, hardly used sunscreen when I was a child. I certainly make sure my son wears appropriate safety equipment and is slathered in the sunscreen as necessary.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Did it occur to any of you that it may not be her? You can't see her face. The hair is up in curlers so you can't even tell if it is a cut she wears. She doesn't look pregnant, and for all any of you know, that is a doll in the back seat.

Now I don't give 2 bits about what she does or does not do. I have never followed her music, her son was born before I even knew she was married.

But really, to see all of you "perfect parents" out there jump all over her like this. Really. Have you never done anything stupid? Have you never done anything stupid twice?

Get a freeking life already. Or are your lives that boring that you have nothing better to do then make critical comments about other peoples parenting choices, based upon snap judgements, not all the facts and tabaloid photos.

I'm not just talking about this thread either. It's all over the board. Every forum. It's getting old, very quickly.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Now I want a cheeseburger and fries.. thanks a lot PoohandWendy

Maybe it's a good thing the babys head was slumped over - keep any debris from blowing in his eyes while riding in the convertible. Man, I hate riding in covertibles. It never fails - something ends up in my eye

 

[disykat]

I think she has made poor choices, but feel sorry for the scrutiny she is enduring. The mom in me just wants to take her under my wing and teach her a few things. Just call me a frustrated MIL in waiting, I guess.

I see soooo many people making poor carseat choices. Every day when I drop my child at school there are kids way under 12 getting out of the front seats of cars with airbags. I've had people suggest "double buckling" to fit extra kids in the car. These types of things are very common - the difference is they don't all get photographed doing it. I wish every single one of them would get ticketed and stop the unsafe practices, but I wouldn't wish that publicity on anyone.

As for Brittany Spears weighing 180 in her school girl outfit (I remember seeing clips of that video). I'm thrilled to know that someone thinks this plus size, 40 something woman weighs the same as BS in that video! I'll take it! (I can't believe I just admitted that!)

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a link to the California Highway Patrol site. It says:
"Children MUST be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint (safety seat or booster seat) until they are at least 6 years old or weigh at least 60 pounds."
I think the law probably doesn't say anything more specific than that, because you would go by the instructions from the manufacturer posted on the carseat.

 

[va32h]

Get a freeking life already. Or are your lives that boring that you have nothing better to do then make critical comments about other peoples parenting choices, based upon snap judgements, not all the facts and tabaloid photos.

Except for the tabloid part, this could refer to any parenting thread on the DIS. If we all minded our own business, this forum would consist of nothing but word and number association games, and I don't know about you, but I would find that incredibly dull.

Oh, topic? Britney Spears is a moron, but I thought that well before I saw that picture.

The "rear facing up to 1 year and 20lbs" has been around at least ten years, because that's how old my oldest is, and I received that recommendation from 1)My pediatrician, 2)the hospital 3)every baby care book I read and 4)stamped on the box of the car seat, in the car seat installation instructions and on a sticker that was prominently affixed to the car seat itself.

I can't imagine that I somehow lucked into all this information, or that the manufacturers were only talking to me.

If the 20lbs/1 year rear facing rule is news to anyone who has had a baby in the last decade, they are incredibly careless, or inattentive, or living under a rock.

 

[Tiger926]

What's old is that people continually say to leave her alone and let her be an imperfect parent because we all make 'stupid' mistakes as parents! Speak for yourselves - 'stupid' mistakes as parents usually end up in injury, death or destruction, and I'm not willing to take that chance with my precious child - perhaps some of you are, and obviously Britney does as well, but honestly, you don't have the right, nor does she to put your child in harm's way because you don't want to be inconvenienced, too lazy to learn the laws, car seats are too expensive, or any other 'stupid' excuses I've heard people use who don't follow child safety rules!

Tiger

 

[katerkat]

The carseat laws depend on the state. In Washington, it's 20 pounds OR one year - I have friends who turned their 18-pounder around at one year and 25-pounder at 8 months.

ETA: My 20-pound 14 month old is rear facing and will remain that way for a while.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Did it occur to any of you that it may not be her? You can't see her face. The hair is up in curlers so you can't even tell if it is a cut she wears. She doesn't look pregnant, and for all any of you know, that is a doll in the back seat.
.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Thank you Lisa Loves Pooh. It's driving me nuts to see everyone jump on her for bad parenting when they don't even know 1) that it's her and 2) that it's a baby in the back. I know babies are flexable and all but that kid is contorted all funny. Like a doll could be, but not a baby.

 

[MosMom]

It seems some of the posters here are more lenient on Britney Spears than they are on their fellow DIS'ers. I've seen people flamed for FAR less. If a DIS'er (and I can think of a few particular DIS parents that post repeat bonehead moves) posted that she did this she would have her *** handed to her...but for some reason, Britney doesn't deserve to be picked on. Interesting.

 

[Nancy]

Didn't we all grow up with forward-facing seats, though? Isn't the rear-facing trend relatively recent?

I feel like people are being a little harsh on her. She's not the brightest bulb on the planet, but at least he's in a seat.

Baby safety recommendations change all the time. Just look at the which-position-should-they-sleep-in thing. Back, side, tummy.... what is it now?

Exactly. None of my kids ever rode in a rear facing seats, even though it was recommended at the time (not the law) I could not drive a car and not be able to check in the rear mirror and see if my child was still breathing, turning blue, spitting up, etc. My children used to fall asleep slumped in strollers, car seats, grocery carts, etc. Man, I probably should have had my kids taken away from me! Of course they did not ride in a convertible, I got rid of mine when I got pregnant.

 

[kdibattista]

Thank you Lisa Loves Pooh. It's driving me nuts to see everyone jump on her for bad parenting when they don't even know 1) that it's her and 2) that it's a baby in the back. I know babies are flexable and all but that kid is contorted all funny. Like a doll could be, but not a baby.

Actually, her rep has confirmed that it was Britney but said she did not break the law.

ETA:

But on Tuesday, Britney's publicist said Spears did nothing wrong this time around, telling "Extra," "There is no law in California requiring rear-facing car seats."

 

[Tiger926]

I'm not sure why people continue to use the argument that "We did this when we were younger." Life is about learning from mistakes and getting smarter as the years go on, not 'dumber!" Pardon me for saying so, but some of the arguments on here in regards to Britney's bad parenting are just so weak - bad parenting is bad parenting! Just because lots of parents do it, doesn't make it right. Why take a chance with our most precious assets - our children?

Tiger

 

[poohandwendy]

I think she has made poor choices, but feel sorry for the scrutiny she is enduring. The mom in me just wants to take her under my wing and teach her a few things. Just call me a frustrated MIL in waiting, I guess. Ultimately you have to let people make their choices.

I see soooo many people making poor carseat choices. Every day when I drop my child at school there are kids way under 12 getting out of the front seats of cars with airbags. I've had people suggest "double buckling" to fit extra kids in the car. These types of things are very common - the difference is they don't all get photographed doing it. I wish every single one of them would get ticketed and stop the unsafe practices, but I wouldn't wish that publicity on anyone.

Thank you. You expressed my sentiments much more eloquently than I previously did. Yes, she makes some bad choices...but I think she is under far more public scrutiny than necessary.

Also, has anyone clarified the CA law on this? If what she did is not againt the laws in her state, this is really much ado about nothing, IMHO.

 

[poohandwendy]

On a side note, I have wondered why each car manufacturer doesn't design a car seat option...the kind that will fit each specific car and can be adjusted for different ages? It just seems so strange that we are still using car seats that are not designed with the interiors of specific cars in mind.

Anyone else wonder about this?

 

[mytwotinks]

On a side note, I have wondered why each car manufacturer doesn't design a car seat option...the kind that will fit each specific car and can be adjusted for different ages? It just seems so strange that we are still using car seats that are not designed with the interiors of specific cars in mind.

Anyone else wonder about this?

$$$$ The average person would not be willing/able to pay what it would cost.

 

[poohandwendy]

$$$$ The average person would not be willing/able to pay what it would cost.

Well, I think the cost would be comparable to airbags...air conditioning, etc. We are wiling to pay for those options, I would bet many people would be willing to pay for a carseat option too.

 

[stevenpensacola]

That is so sad to see that little baby slumped over with the sun beating down on her.

Nice car SwedishMeatball....I used to have a '67 Mustang that was the same Acapulco Blue as your car. Seeing your car brought back many memories.