** At 01:30 PM 6/3/2004, swalker72@KNOLOGY.NET wrote: **

>I am glad that we are having this discussion/recollection at this time.  My
>wife and I just found out that we are going to be parents and were

congratulations!  :-)

>discussing how increased technology over the past 30-40 years had added to
>the cost of pregnancy/child birth/child safety in this country.

dude, you think car seats are expensive, just wait..  braces, school
(even public schools cost more these days.. remember extracuriccular (sp?)
activites?  well ya gotta pay for em now!)   then there is college.. if you
think gas prices have jumped.. just go look at the inflation rate of
college tuition these days.  save up..!  :-)

but they *are* worth it.. do not get me wrong, there is something
very special/magical about becoming a parent.  It's scary, fulfilling,
joyous, and amazing, all at the same time.

>When we got to the subject of child seats in cars, I was stumped.  Can
>anyone tell me approximately when these became mainstream/required by law?

have no idea, other than you wont be able to take the
critter home from the hospital unless you have one properly
installed in your vehicle!

ob: science experiment
===================
place a bag of groceries on the back seat, strap it in with lap and or
shoulder belt.. get up to about 40mph and slam on the brakes..
watch what happens to the paper bag and the contents therin.
(if the head of lettuce and cantalope doesnt wack you upside the
head in the process)

now imagine that being an infant and or small child (30lbs  or
less)    not a pretty sight.   Priced seats at the local Target last
night.  there was a Cosco brand seat that went from infant
(seat rear facing) to toddler and it was $49.99   the cadillac
ran you $140.

Diapers will set you back more my friend :-)

cheers

  -tim