Vent

So, I have this personal issue with children's safety, more or less kids in carseats. It drives me nuts when people buy carseats that are cheap and pieces of crap, or they do no research on the safest seat within their price range. I'm not saying the most expensive seat is what you have to buy, but I would think parents would want to protect their child. Then when people don't install their carseat's properly, that makes my blood boil also. It isn't that hard to have your carseat checked at the local police or fire department, and ensure your child is going to be strapped in securly. I hate seeing little children riding in the front seat of the car, they have no business being up there. I don't care if you are driving down the street, something can happen at any time. Why take the chance? I don't care if people think I am crazy, you can bet my children's carseats will be inspected to ensure they are properly installed, they will be in their carseats for as long as possible and won't be riding up front. There are crazy enough drivers out there, I want to make sure I am doing everything in my power to keep them as safe as possible.

That being said a friend on facebook last night posted how she had just put her 9 month old daughter forward facing in her convertable carseat. UMM...HELLO, the rule is 1 year AND 20 lbs.(and it's actually suggested keeping them rear facing to 2 y.o) Instantly my blood started boiling. Then the comments started rolling in:

"ah, so fun she can see the world now"
"isn't it supposed to be 1 year and 30 lbs"
"it's so much easier when they are forward facing"
"this will make your life so much easier"

one person in 12 comments said "she needs to be rear facing until 20 lbs AND 1 year" to which the mother responded "everyone has their own opinion and we know what is best for our child". ARE YOU F'ING KIDDING ME?!?! This isn't just "someones" opinion, I'm fairly certain they have suffiecient evidence to back up their reasoning. But I'm sure the fact that your kids feet are touching the seat is a completely valid reason. (sense the sarcasm?!) The one person who knew the right info responded saying "it's to protect her neck" and explain why she needs to stay rear facing. The mother never responded. Someone else suggested she read the manual again. Did she not read the manual in the first place? I really hope after reading that she turned her around.

I'm sure I sound neurotic, and I know I am, but it just get's under my skin. As a parent, why wouldn't you want to do everything you can to protect your child? Am I just crazy and taking this too far?