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Car Seats as Contraception

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Re: Car Seats as Contraception

#171

Post by bombcar »

brailsafe wrote: post #141
fnands wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could be as if you live in a city in Germany you don't necessarily need a car? But I would be surprised if car seats are the main driver here in any case.

Certainly not as much as the U.S or Canada, but not as little as Tokyo or Netherlands. I found various cities easy to navigate without one, but they seemed oddly car-centric as well. Berlin is very car and very public transportation somehow

Public transit and kid/stroller public transit are very different beasts.

Once you’ve had to lift a stroller into a “high” bus you’ll not want to do it anymore.

Re: Car Seats as Contraception

#172

Post by bombcar »

rickdeckard wrote: post #107
cucumber3732842 wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I think that's the already the ultimate test for any regulation to pass, as it's up against a huge industry trying to prevent costs of compliance. I think it mostly cancels out since the pro regulation side is inevitably bolstered by those who'll sell more shit if alternative goods get worse for the money and those who make a buck on the compliance process. >When you've lost someone in a car-accident it's not much c…

I agree, that's exactly the societal question: The core purpose of regulation is to create better lives for society as a whole. Human lives being lost is usually considered negative for a society, but just a number in economics for insurances, car-companies, etc. It's an annoying hindrance for companies to be forced into contributing to the well-being of society, they prefer to decide on that by themselves. Meanwhile…

We’re also incredibly adaptable - seatbelts and helmets have become so standard that many feel “naked” if they don’t use them. It’s likely if we required 5 point harnesses and head-and-neck-devices (HAND) like the race cars do we’d get used to it relatively quickly.

But each of those things has a real cost, one that is borne by each and every individual, whereas the cost of NOT having them is only borne by the unfortunate.

Re: Car Seats as Contraception

#173

Post by bombcar »

sollewitt wrote: post #135
Ir0nMan wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People are putting 12 year olds in car seats!?

In CA AB-435 is written to apply a 5-point fit test to anyone under 16.

I knew a few drivers (small females) who we teased because they’d have to be in a car seat if they weren’t 18+.

Re: Car Seats as Contraception

#174

Post by bombcar »

freeAgent wrote: post #136
mguerville wrote: post #131

Car seats have also deterred me from a few trips, short and long. They're a hassle to get an uber and store at destination (say a sporting event), and they are a nightmare to lug around airports and add to the effective travel time by if you end up checking them in as luggage (and then waiting for them at the carousel).

Traveling with kids in car seats via any method other than one’s own vehicle is almost not worth the hassle. I always rent a car and car seat on the other end, or purchase a car seat for family to put in their car for us. I’ve also purchased strollers to stash with the same family. I’d rather buy all this than lug it through airports for “free.”

The logistics involved in moving five kids all in car seats means that you’re either spending a day to get anywhere or you’re driving.

Re: Car Seats as Contraception

#175

Post by bombcar »

Tade0 wrote: post #111

I believe it's a factor, but not the dominant one. Me and my SO were considering a third for a brief moment, but it was the amount of living space and our age (35+ for the mother) that ultimately made us decide against it. I was totally in for getting a new vehicle BTW. Interestingly I have two siblings and we had a serious and expected downgrade as a family in living space just when I started attending grade school…

The loss of front bench seats has been a terrible blow - a six seat sedan has capabilities that can fit a large number of families (the oldest is often big enough for the front) but they’re rare as hens teeth. In fact, offhand I can’t name a current model with one even as an option.

Re: Car Seats as Contraception

#176

Post by bombcar »

simonsarris wrote: post #65

Is this really true in 2026? Even 10 year old cars are simply big now, and not that expensive. I could believe it in 1990 maybe. I have 3 babies (ages 0, 2, 4 when we started) in a 2016 Subaru Outback for 1.5 years now and it's been mostly fine. I have 2 "slim" seats from Clek, one is a booster, and it's really not a big deal. I cannot imagine deciding to give up a child because of a minor inconvenience like this. Bu…

As mentioned it’s an attempt to note the pressure without doing direct interviews.

And not to disparage you or cast aspersions, but if you think about why you do not have a fourth kid it’s likely that “have to get new vehicle” could be part of it.

Of course, when you come around from the other end (fourth is on the way, what do) you then change the equation and work it out.

To test the theory presented in the study, we should issue minivans with car seats to new parents; since they have a vehicle large enough they should statistically have more kids than the median.

Re: Car Seats as Contraception

#177

Post by bombcar »

IAmBroom wrote: post #149
em-bee wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People around him scolded him that's one of the bigger problems in todays society. people acting like they know better and judging others for doing things differently.

Same as it's always been. "Small town" attitudes; grandmothers judging young mothers; elders complaining about youth...

Scolds are always around no matter what you do. It’s just a bit amazing what total strangers will feel is appropriate to comment, but you have to take it from a place of fear of the unknown. I’d say “or you’ll go insane” but if you have 3+ kids you’re probably already there. ;)

The key is to have people in your life who understand the struggle and don’t just rattle off “easy ways” to solve all your problems.

Re: Car Seats as Contraception

#178

Post by nucleardog »

rickdeckard wrote: post #93
bradley13 wrote: post #78

Wow, talk about the law of unintended effects! Without going into the specifics of car seats, I do think we overemphasize safety. The article mentions saving 57 children. How much are 57 lives worth? The answer is not infinite - a life has a numeric value, ask any insurance company. Every safety regulation ought to pass a cold-blooded cost/benefit analysis. Few of them do.

> Every safety regulation ought to pass a cold-blooded cost/benefit analysis. Few of them do. I think that's the already the ultimate test for any regulation to pass, as it's up against a huge industry trying to prevent costs of compliance. Of course, the calculation is not to put a price on a human and then compare this against the cost provided by e.g. a car-company. When you've lost someone in a car-accident it's…

> When you've lost someone in a car-accident it's not much condolence to know that e.g. an airbag could have saved him/her but "back in 2026 it was deregulated because the car-companies have proven that there's no economic benefit to include them"

We live in a society, etc, etc. I think it's worthwhile, or even _more_ important, to look at how these impact other people.

In some hypothetical deregulated world, I can choose to buy a car without seatbelts, air bags, ABS/TCS, reverse camera, etc and take that risk on.

My neighbour doesn't get to choose whether or not they want to take on the risk of me backing over their child. The other people on the road don't get to choose whether they take on the risk of me losing control of my vehicle and slamming into them.

The value question isn't purely economic. Regulations that force a general societal care and consideration over selfish individual choices have value in _allowing us to have a society_.

Re: Car Seats as Contraception

#179

Post by nostrademons »

kqr2 wrote: post #167
nostrademons wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Diono and Clek, for those who are curious. It's coming to mainstream seats though. Graco has had the Slimfit3 LX out for a couple years now; we had 6 (3-across in a Toyota Corolla and Honda Fit) and they worked great except for the kids not really liking them. Britax has the Poplar and One4Life Slim; Chicco apparently added the Fit3x when I wasn't looking.

Why didn't your kids like them?

They're narrower and hence more cramped. My kids feel like they don't give enough shoulder and arm room.

Re: Car Seats as Contraception

#180

Post by Noumenon72 »

alsetmusic wrote: post #113
orthoxerox wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who expects mothers of young kids in the US to be away from the home?

> Who expects mothers of young kids in the US to be away from the home? Where in the USA do you live where I can support my wife and kids on one income? We'll move immediately.

I know people doing this in Prince William County, Cheyenne, and Minnesota college towns. It just takes ordinary frugality, no deprivation that I can see.
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