| I don't currently advocate road rage.
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| | slip up to the belly. The shoulder belt
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| Laying on the horn, swearing like a
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| | should cross the chest, not the upper
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| sailor, and swerving around the slow guy
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| | shoulder and not the neck. Many of these
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| in the passing lane is not my style. Of
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| | boosters feature an adjustable clip to
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| course, tastes change over time, so I'd
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| | keep the shoulder belt in a good
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| like to reserve the right to practice
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| | position. Never forsake the shoulder
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| road rage in the future. But understand
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| | belt. Serious injury is common among
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| this: It won't be the slow guy in the
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| | children in booster seats who only use a
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| passing lane that sets me off. Instead,
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| | lap belt.For all car seats and boosters,
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| it will be stupid parents.You know the
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| | be sure to follow the manufacturers
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| ones I'm talking about. You see them on
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| | guidelines for proper positioning and
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| interstate highways and city streets and
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| | securing. You'll have to pay close
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| country roads. You point them out to your
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| | attention here. Some seats are
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| spouse, and explain their poor judgment
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| | rear-facing only, some only face forward,
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| to your children. At least I hope you do.
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| | others are reversible. Also pay attention
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| These are the parents who drive with
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| | to minimum and maximum length and weight
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| unrestrained kids in the car, ones who
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| | for a given seat. If your child outgrows
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| let Little Bobby climb over the headrest
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| | the length recommendation of a
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| and crouch on the floorboard and roam
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| | rear-facing infant seat, but is not yet a
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| from window to window, pausing only to
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| | year old AND twenty pounds, you'll need a
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| stick his tongue out at cars in the
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| | bigger reversible seat. Keep it
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| cruising lane.Why do some parents allow
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| | rear-facing until he is big enough and
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| their children such freedom? I think it
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| | old enough to face forward.When are kids
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| boils down to convenience. Dad doesn't
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| | ready for seat belts without a booster?
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| want to wear a seatbelt and he doesn't
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| | When their feet reach the floor while
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| want to hear Little Bobby screaming to
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| | their back is against the seat. The lap
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| get out of his. So Dad lets him roam.In
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| | belt must fit snuggly across the pelvic
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| every state, they're breaking the law.
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| | bones (not the stomach), and the shoulder
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| Not that it matters. Most states have
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| | belt must fit snugly across the chest
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| secondary seatbelt laws, even for kids.
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| | (not the upper shoulder or neck). The
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| This means police can only write a
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| | exact age varies from kid to kid. If your
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| citation for an unrestrained occupant in
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| | son or daughter is petite, he or she
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| the course of pulling a car over for
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| | might be 10 or 11 years old before
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| another violation. But let's face it,
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| | meeting this criteria. I realize this is
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| toughening seatbelt laws into primary
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| | much older than most people (especially
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| violations would do little to reduce the
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| | children) want to believe. But I bring
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| thousands of unrestrained children killed
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| | you the facts. Please, don't shoot the
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| and injured in the United States each
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| | messenger.There's much more to say about
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| year. Why? Because you can't force common
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| | car safety. When can kids ride up front?
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| sense through legislation. Don't forget,
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| | What about air bags? How do you secure
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| these parents are stupid.If you are still
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| | premature babies and disabled children?
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| reading, I suspect you are either not a
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| | The American Academy of Pediatrics has an
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| stupid parent or you are motivated to
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| | excellent resource answering these and
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| rise above your stupidity. And since
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| | other questions at what do we do with
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| smart parents ask lots of good questions
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| | the dad who won't buckle Little Bobby?
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| about the appropriate use of car seats,
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| | It's a tough call. This is America.
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| booster seats, and seatbelts, I will
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| | Parents have rights. Does Little Bobby
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| review the basics for you.The rules are
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| | have the right to life, liberty, and the
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| pretty simple really. Until your child is
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| | pursuit of happiness? Is Dad interfering
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| a year old AND twenty pounds, use a
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| | with that right? Maybe. Until we sort
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| rear-facing infant carrier in the back
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| | that out, you'll do well to avoid Dad's
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| seat of your car. The middle of the seat
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| | mistake. Be a good example to your
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| is safest. Once your child is twenty
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| | children and always wear your seat belt.
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| pounds AND one year of age, it's safe to
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| | Insist on your children being properly
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| use a forward-facing car seat. Again,
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| | secured from day one. Always use a car
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| keep it in the back, and if possible, put
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| | seat. Make no exceptions. Little Bobby
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| it in the middle.When do you graduate to
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| | figured out that if he screams loud
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| a booster seat? For most kids, you can
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| | enough and long enough, he gets to roam
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| make the move when they weigh forty
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| | the car and stick his tongue out at
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| pounds. Start with the type that has its
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| | passing cars. If you have a Little Bobby
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| own restraining harness. When your child
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| | in your car, it's not too late. Let him
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| outgrows the harness (usually between 50
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| | scream. It won't last long. Will you be
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| and 65 pounds), advance to a booster that
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| | interfering with his life, liberty, and
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| incorporates the car's safety belt. The
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| | the pursuit of happiness? Maybe. But I
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| important thing here is to make certain
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| | know which choice I'd make. How about
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| the belt fits properly. The lap belt
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| | you?Copyright 2006 Mike Patrick Jr,
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| should fit over the pelvic bones and not
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| | MDMike is an American pediatrician.
|
