[luckytroll101]

HI, I'm after some helpful links.
I have a relative who is being really strange about the baby capsule for her under 3 month baby. She uses it in her own car, but when travelling thinks that holding the baby with her arms will suffice as it's only for a couple of short trips. She seems to have no understanding of physics and that wanting to protect a baby by holding it tight will do absolutely nothing in even a small collision.
I've been researching articles to prove how much car seats and capsules increase the safety of car travel, but to be honest I can't find anything that addresses this basic point. They go into details on older kids car seats, but no-one asks the (frankly ridiculous) question 'are capsules necessary' and as such I can't find too much specific info.
If anyone has any links they could post that would be great.

[Femboside]

I'm sure there are links, but there is no discussion to be had. She's breaking the law.

[Liz75]

Does she not understand it is against the law to hold a baby in the car and she could be prosecuted if she is caught?

If she can not fathom the dangers of holding the child, maybe she will understand the legal implications of it.

[K+M+A+P]

Um how about just pointing her to what the law says?
I'm having a hard time comprehending that someone could even be this stupid
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/child...ints/index.html
http://www.babycenter.com.au/a1033422/car-...ws-in-australia
http://www.birth.com.au/Baby/Baby-Products...d-Car-Seat-Laws

She could crush the poor child if she is holding it and has an accident.

[iheartu]

Your friend is an idiot and I would report her to the police. That might give her the wake up call she needs,

I can't believe anyone could be so stupid.

[K+M+A+P]

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Driver-gu...-restraint.aspx
Taken from this site:

Some adults mistakenly believe that holding their child in their arms, or including the child in their seatbelt can prevent injuries in a crash. Your body could crush the child if they are sharing your seatbelt. The strength needed to hold a baby in a 50 kilometre per hour (km/h) crash is equivalent to lifting a large washing machine.

I would not hesitate in reporting her to the police

[luckytroll101]

Thanks. I have absolutely taken her through the law.
Believe me, I'm also having a hard time comprehending it, I have never come across someone who dismisses physics like this.
thanks for replies.

[SqueakyBee]

Does she ever try to ride in the car with you like that? I would refuse to take her. She and the driver could both be liable if their is an accident and the baby is injured or killed, so you are perfectly within your right to refuse to break the law and put a child in danger.

A woman was charged just the other day over the death of her baby after she (knowingly) left the child to sleep in the car, having been informed of the risks. Not only has she lost her child, she will spend time in jail, so knowingly placing a baby in danger would make her liable.

Also, there was a major accident not too far from where I live in WA a couple of years ago, a few adults and two young children, including an infant, were pulled over by police - too many people in the car and the children were being held in adults laps rather than adequately restrained.

They were escorted home and given a warning. That same night, they went out again, were in a major accident, all died. If everyone had been wearing seatbelts and the children had been properly restrained, they reckon the fatalities would have been much lower.

The same police officers who had escorted them home were the first on the scene - I can only imagine how traumatic it was for them.

You can try finding cases like that to tell this idiot woman about, but ultimately you can't stop her from breaking the law. All you can do is stop her from doing it in your car, and report her every time you know she does it. And hope like hell that her baby doesn't pay the price for her extreme stupidity.

[luckytroll101]

We don't live in the same state, we were discussing an upcoming family event to which we will both travel. I offered to send her the details of the capsule hire place I have used when travelling, and that's when she hit me with it.
I have never, and would never, let anyone in my car without the appropriate restraint - and that includes adults wearing their seatbelt.

[Natbub0610]

From 1 friend who worked as an Undertaker, he said funerals are bad enough but baby size coffins are a heart breaker, when they find out the COD and the death was senseless and avoidable.

Another friend worked RTA traffic patrol, same, it's bad finding babies at a crash scene, thrown from the car.

They both relayed on separate occasions, they gave a dash of lecture at traffic lights, when they saw kids and toddlers unrestrained in a car or baby's in arms.

This post has been edited by Natbub0610: 05/02/2013, 03:14 PM