Product Thursday
There are times that you see a car accident and have a sick feeling hit your stomach.
I had this feeling recently when I visited J. Roycroft’s blog, The Roycroft Report. On this particular post Mr. Roycroft shares pictures of an accident that crumpled the back-end of his wife’s car.
The car after the crash, picture from The Roycroft Report.
First, you see the picture, then read the description of the accident. It makes you want to cry or freak out. I would have if I had been the one who was hit by a big truck who did not see the stop light.
The worst part is reading that J.’s wife was on the way home from a one month pediatrician check-up with the baby in the back seat.
But here is the kicker.
The baby was fine. Her car seat, a Baby Trend Infant Care Seat, saved her life as she was properly strapped in and the seat was properly positioned. Because the car seat had been in an accident it could not longer be used as it would be hard to tell if the products had been adversely affected.
The Baby Trend Infant Car Seat has been rated the #1 car seat. Consumer Reports gave a high rating a few years ago which increased the popularity of this seat.
This is the part where I tell you to look for the expiration date on your car seat because – believe it or not – plastic becomes brittle with age. This will compromise the safety of that seat. Secondly, if you are not certain how to put your baby seat, stop in at your local fire department or look for publicized seat checks. Either way, you can find out if you are putting that seat in correctly.
This picture is of a Baby Trend Infant Car Seat but not the exact one used by the Roycrofts, Picture from babytrend.com.
The Roycrofts had a new car seat before they left the hospital thanks to a thoughtful family member. The point being they went home intact and everyone well. Mrs. R had whiplash but it could have been much worse.
When looking for a recommendation for a product, can it get better than that? Word of mouth information sometimes can be misleading. But after hearing this story and seeing the pictures of the car after the accident I know what I am telling people if I am asked which is the best car seat to go with.
Go for the one that I know saved a life.
Every Thursday I will review a product. If you have a suggestion or have a product you would like me to review, please send an e-mail to bowmankaryn@sbcglobal.net.
Oh, that photo. As a parent, I swear, isn’t that your very worst nightmare? I’m so glad Mrs. R and baby are safe.
And to think, back in the early 70s, there was still no such thing as a carseat.
Wow. I’d call this post a public service announcement of the best kind. Well done.
holy smokes–so thankful Mrs. R and baby were uninjured…
things can change for infinity in the blink of an eye.
blessings
jane
I should mention that this accident occured two years ago and that Mrs. R recently gave birth to another daughter. It is amazing how fast life can change.
Thank you for sharing our story. I just wanted to add that my wife’s due date is actually April 8th, which is tommorrow. The actual day of delivery is of course, up to Ava. We are both excited to meet our little Ava Isabella. Little Emma will be joining us in the delivery room to greet her new little sister. I’ll post the details on my blog as soon after delivery as possible. Take care – jroycroft
Let me apologize for getting that wrong. I thought I read that you were attending to the latest Roycroft and put it in. Should have verified that bit.
Great post, Rumbly. Invaluable advice. And best of everything to the Roycrofts’ growing family.
Makes you think! How fast life can be changed by an accident!
I didn’t know until my granddaughter Riley was born last year that car seats have expiration dates. Although I had a great car seat for both my daughter and son, I don’t think expiration dates were listed back in the 80s…or if they were, I was oblivious to that information.
Thanks for a reminder…always buckle up, whatever age!
Sheila
We didn’t have them in the 90s either. But in the last ten years it has become the thing.
My pregnant niece just had a car accident, and had her son in the car with her along with other loved ones. So scary. She said her little boy tried to calm her, saying, “It’s okay mommy, I am not hurt.”
Thank goodness for car seats and seat belts!
I do mot like wearing a seatbelt but the kids tell me “you make us put one on, where is yours?” So I put it on.