When we started having kids (18 years ago) I remember talking with a friend about a new WI law requiring such and such child-restrain until whatever age. I haven’t forgotten his comment, he said that all that the new law will do is require families to buy bigger vehicles and will cause many to reconsidering have child number _____.
Two children can fit nicely in a sedan. 3-4 children in an SUV. Beyond 3-4, because of these laws, one has to buy a passenger van (we found a steal on a corporate, 12-passenger van from a dealer in the Chicago area with low miles a few years back after we had our 5th and could no longer fit in our Suburban because of the car seat restrictions).
But, we live in a day when the safety-first ethic dominates. I guess it isn’t too far a step from being consistently freaked out over the safety of our children that pets are seen to be a better option.