Toni's Legacy

Our daughter Toni died from injuries she received in a car accident in 1999. She was only restrained by an adult seatbelt which gave here the chest injuries that stole away her life. Had she have been properly restrained in an age appropriate car seat she may be here with us today.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• carseat
• safety
• seatbelt
• Toni
• Perry
• Toniperry
• accident
• booster
• harness
• child
• loss
• killed
• motor
• vehicle
• mva

[brecksma]

First I wanna say I'm sorry for your loss but I don't see how you can say you never had a warning. I think we were raised with warnings,,,ALWAUS WEAR YOU SEATBELT & the age fitting ones....

[leanneperry]

Sorry but I have to disagree with you. Toni WAS wearing a seatbelt & IT WAS LEGALLY allowed for her age & her size

In 1999 when Toni died The law said after 12 months she could sit in an adult seatbelt. Unlike the last 3 or 4 yrs, where the child restraints have been very much in the media. Toni had only come out of her 5 pt harness seat the previous week

We have just filmed a tv ad with BelleToni. If the Government had put similar warnings out in 1999,Toni would be here today.

[wordbugger]

My son is 3 yrs and 3 months. I recently bought him a harness that he can use until he is 6 or longer. You video (and Isabelle's) is why. Thank you. Peace to you.

[leanneperry]

Thank you for letting me know that we have helped save a child. It makes Toni's death that little bit easier knowing her legacy is saving children.

Thank you again.

[Qlift]

i am so touched by your daughter ,i will not be allowing mu baby girl ride out of her car seat and in her booster anymore she will be returning to her 5 point harness car seat thank you for sharing this touching story with us all you can see the love that Toni was giving in her short little ,it shines in her eyes

[leanneperry]

It is so sad that we allow our children to sit in the normal car seat, either because we are just ducking to the shop or they dont want to sit in their seat today. Toni was killed 250 metres from home. It scares me that I had so often let her sit in the front because we were just going down the road or around the corner. I really hope others just like you return their children to proper restraints... Thank you for taking that step.

[krazeeiii]

i am so sorry for your loss! i have a 6m old and was just wondering when the soonest i could turn him forward facing was. thanks to videos like yours, we have decided to keep him rear facing until he reaches 35lbs. thank you so much!

[katmagicate]

Devastating! So sorry about your loss.

This is just yet another reason why I try so hard to advocate for all children.

My 27 month old is STILL rear facing in a 5-pt harness. My 4 year 7 month old AND 5 year 9 month old daughters are both as well in 5 point harnesses. My 10 year old is not, however I wish he was.

Please follow and exceed minimum guidelines. Do NOT look forward to your baby facing forward or moving to the "big kid" seatbelt. Keep them properly secured as long as possible.

[maccersgal]

i have 3 children 6, 4 and 2...my 6 yr old has a backless booster, my 4 yr old has a high back booster, and my 2 yr old is in a 5 point harness seat suitable from birth....all age appropriate by law. but after watching Toni and Belles stories i am changing my 4 yr olds seat to a 5 point harness, and switching my 6 yr old to a high back booster. thank you for telling us about your beautiful daughter, youre saving lives. So sorry for your loss xx

[jsrcamp]

@LilMamaof1 how much does your older two weigh? I have a 4 year old and she wieghs 50lbs and is in the Graco Natulis witch 5 point Harnesses till 65lbs. it runs anywhere from 130.00-200.00 and you can get it at Walmart, Target, Toys R us and on line. or you could spend more and get the Britex brand they harness up to 80lbs

[LilMamaof1]

My question is where do you get the 5 point harness for those 'older' kids(I have a 6 yo and 4 yo)? My 2 1/2 yo is still in his 5 point harness car seat but the other two have moved up to booster seats. This video really 'hit' me and I want to find out more...please help me!

[Agerobjas]

Hi Leanne, I am very sorry for your loss, the video made me teary. I am an Australian living in Japan. The locals in this area seem to have no knowledge of the dangers of not securing people and children in cars properly. I want to give a public talk to them and show your video if possible. Would you please be able to send me a link to an internet site where I can get a high definition version? Or email me one? Then I could show it on an overhead projector. Thankyou, Robyn

[angelheart2189]

god bless you and yours

[jsrcamp]

wow if she was only in a five point harness she would be turning 14 years old this june. wow R.I.P hunny and happy birthday in heaven early. from jessica

mom of Riley 3 years old june 4

[jsrcamp]

how much does he way? and how tall is he? if he can still fit in a car seat by weight and height then yes it is safer for him to still be in a five point harness. their is the Britex that goes up to 80 lbs and then I have the Graco Nautilaus for my daughter and that goes up to 65 lbs five point harness and 100 lbs back or backless booster and taht will only run 180.00 at walmart.

[TAngel84]

We just purchased Graco Nautilaus carseats for my neices but my 3 year old neice's father has decided to move her to a booster and despite our pleas to put her back in a car seat he won't. She just turned 3!!!

[Simwookiee]

Extended harnessing DOES NOT cause internal decapitation. Nor is a booster more effective in preventing it. What prevents internal decapitation is keeping a child rear facing as long as possible. The AAP now recommends keeping a child rear facing to a minimum of age 2 AND 30 pounds. The law only says that 1yr AND 20 pounds is the bare minimum to Legally face forward. However it's not safest. Many babies heads are still larger then their bodies, so keeping them rear facing longer is always best.