Carseats

[campbems]

I am rereading Mary Anne vs. Logan and in the part where the Prezziosos bring Andrea home from the hospital, it says that Mr. P went around to Mrs. P's side of the car and took Andrea from her. I remember something like that happening in a different book as well, but can't remember which at the moment (maybe with the Newtons?). Do these people

Comments

[cpennylane]

It was a different time. It's only been recent that legislation in the US requires child seats for short people. Also, back then, many moms would stay at home with the baby for quite some time, believing that babies shouldn't be out in the world -- why spend money on a car seat for just one trip?

[imamaryanne]

Car seat legislation was enacted in the U.S. in the late 80's. So yes, baby Andrea definitely should have been in a car seat. Though Ann M gets a pass, not having any children of her own and having been raised in a time when car seats were not an issue. I am kind of surprised an editor or someone didn't pick up on that though...

[kakeochi_umai]

I am kind of surprised an editor or someone didn't pick up on that though...

Are you? These are, after all, the same editors who green-lighted WASH-OUT BLONDE HAIR DYE... :P

[saintrobert]

Not to mention Ann seems to be stuck Stoneybrooke to some degree in some 50s Princeston timewarp herself!

I have to admit I just cannot get my head around NOT wearing a seatbelt - even when it wasn't compulsory - holding a newborn in a moving vechicle just doesn't compute in my mind. Granted my parents where pretty strict about it (which has passed to me - I will not even start my engine unless all passengers are buckled up!).

[ladyjavert]

Maybe back then when the book was written carseats weren't used as much and weren't mandatory like they are today?

Like that whole scandal with Britney Spears driving away holding the baby some people actually where saying that they never use carseats either or didn't use em for their kids when they were kids, blah blah.

I don't know too much on the carseats law nor do i really care enough to go figure out facts of history on it lol :P

But it is a common trend that a lot of trends in the BSC are now obsolete or have become "history" for the books :P

[catfactory]

I'm gonna chalk it up to a time thing. I was floored when my mom (born in the 50s) told me that they didn't even have seat belts in their cars. I (born in 1985) had a booster seat that I gave up when I was around 4, and it was indeed a booster seat. Like, five inches of plastic I sat on top of. Nowadays, there are some kindergarteners who wear full on five-point seat belted installed-in-the-minivan car seats (like the kind toddlers have), which I think is pretty freaking ridiculous.

[glitterberrys]

They didn't in AMM's day, and really, that's all that matters when it comes to Stoneybrook.