In my work with parents of toddlers, I would rank car seats as one of the most complicated and tricky issues.  Here we are, wanting and trying to be respectful of our children.  We read books, we attend workshops (waving at the parents from my discipline workshop last night!), we talk with other parents….and yet, here we are, one hand on our child’s chest, holding them–forcing them (ugh, that word “forcing”) into their car seats.  Our children are twisting and arching their backs and screaming and kicking and pummeling our heads with their fists as we hold them down and buckle them in.  Let’s face it.  It’s awful for everyone.  And the day has often just begun!

This is the place where even the greatest fans of gentle and respectful parenting question the wisdom of their ways.  This is a non-negotiable.  If we are traveling by car, there is no…