Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Oh God, I'm a terrible parent

37 replies

GeorginaA · 15/07/2004 16:31

We have just had a very very narrow escape.

We were out in town when it started tipping down so we raced back to the car. Dh got ds1 strapped into his seat while I extracted ds2 (8 weeks) from the pushchair and put him in his seat. I carefully strapped him into the rock-a-tot then dived in the car as I was completely soaked. Got all the way home then realised... THE CARSEAT WASN'T STRAPPED INTO THE CAR!

I'd forgotten that I'd undone the seatbelt to get him out originally but left the carseat in the car in its normal strapped in position. Didn't occur to me to check.

I'm shaking and on the verge of tears that I put my baby at such risk. We are so lucky that nothing happened on the way home. Feel like the worst sort of scum

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

myermay · 15/07/2004 16:37

Message withdrawn

sobernow · 15/07/2004 16:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

emmatmg · 15/07/2004 16:44

I've done this with all 3 Ds's at some point in their lives.

Most recent one was DS1(5yrs) sitting in the front in his seat( uses normal seat belt). Been to one shop and had to go to another and for some reason I didn't do his belt up and it wasn't until we stopped to get out at the next shop that we both realised. Stopped us both in our tracks I can tell you.

Don't worry georgina, you're all safe and well and that the main thing. I know how scary it is though so saying don't worry isn't much help.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

gscrym · 15/07/2004 16:45

I did something similar. I took DS when he was about 12 weeks to the shops. Changed him and popped him back in his car seat in his buggy. Went to the car, ran a few errands, got home and realised I hadn't done up his straps on his car seat. They were across the back of him. Everytime we do something like this(bear in mind, we're all human, we make mistakes and forget things), we feel like bad parents. You aren't a bad parent. You were stressed and trying to rush. We all do it. There's no harm done and you are a good mum.

mears · 15/07/2004 16:47

Been there, done that and got the T-shirt. Wait till you forget to collcet a 5 year old from school like I did .

zebra · 15/07/2004 17:05

My mom did that to me, Mears -- age 7, tho'. I walked home.

carla · 15/07/2004 17:16

Have done that, too. Loads of love. You're a wonderful parent for worrying about it

pollyanna · 15/07/2004 17:21

Don't worry Georgina, we did it with DS on the way home from hospital after he was born!! we proudly strapped him into his shiny new car seat, drove home and then when we got there we discovered the car seat wasn't fastened in!!

SenoraPostrophe · 15/07/2004 17:42

I've done that with ds - twice. I feel more normal now I've read this!

Original poster

GeorginaA · 15/07/2004 22:29

Thank you all for making me feel a bit better. I know one day I'm going to look back and laugh at this, but that day is not today!

OP posts:

PicadillyCircus · 15/07/2004 23:03

I did this with DS - got home and realised that I hadn't strapped him into the car seat (seat was strapped into car though).

And DH hadn't read instructions properly and so when we took DS home from hospital the seat wasn't fastened properly...

And when DS was 6 weeks, managed to drop car seat (luckily he was strapped in).

Amazed he is all right really

hana · 15/07/2004 23:11

I've done it too when dd was in the rearfacing seat. Have also had her sitting in her seat without the straps done up (forward facing) the shock and horror when I realised what I'd done - just awful.

Wallace · 15/07/2004 23:40

Don't worry about it...soon they'll be old enough to shout in a panicky voice "Mummeeeeeeeee, I'm not strapped in!!!!!!!!!!!"

This will make you all feel better:

I was at an aqua natal class a couple of months after ds (now 5)was born. We were allowed to bring along babies and leave them at the side in their car seats. At the end of the session I got out of the pool, picked up the car seat, and was walking along the side of the pool. I slipped and fell in!!! Somehow I just managed to keep hold of the car seat, and keep it out of the water!! Luckily he was strapped in on that occasion

eddm · 16/07/2004 00:15

Yup, I've done this too (if anyone from social services ever does a search under my name on MN I've had it ). Gave me such a fright when I went to lift ds out of his car seat and realised although he was strapped in, the seat wasn't. We're all only human and sometimes we do stupid things.. thank Goodness 9 times out of 10 we get away with them.

NomDePlume · 16/07/2004 13:25

Oh Georgina , I'm not surprised you were feeling rotten. Like others have said, I've done it a couple of times with DD and been horrified. Hope things are better today.

I can honestly say, hand on heart, that you are a fab Mummy and we all have these heartstopping moments. Please don't beat yourself up about it, mate.

Enormous hugs from Rowntree Gardens
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Beccarollover · 16/07/2004 13:43

Georgina - just thought I'd make you feel better with my tale....

I did the same, strapped him into his seat but forgot to strap the seat in.

DD was in the front with me and I drover off - I reversed back then went in to first and turned the corner - at the point I realised the car seat was literally rolling across the back seat

I couldnt believe it and its certainly made me check thoroughly now.

libb · 16/07/2004 15:14

Georgina, I cant believe that I did the same thing yesterday - it was raining with us too and I just wanted to get him in the dry, we also left our car seat in which we don't normally do on shopping trips so it threw us off track a bit!

These things happen though and I am sure we will both be double checking from now on! All is well and they are both safe and sound.

Original poster

GeorginaA · 16/07/2004 16:04

Thanks for all these tales of woe - I feel less like I should be expecting a knock on the door from social services any minute! libb - I think that was the problem for us too, we'd left the carseat in the car which was unusual for us too, so the automatic "putting car seat in" ritual wasn't there.

Wallace, I've done that too - had ds1 scream "I'm not strapped in I'm not strapped in!" Fortunately always been remedied before we've moved off.

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 16/07/2004 17:49

I drove for approximately one week before I realised one of my DSs had released the seatbelt holding the car seat in rather than (or in addition to) the booster seat belt. I've also driven off numerous times with both DSs when they've had to tell me they're not strapped in.

ponygirl · 16/07/2004 17:53

Me too. Somehow the seatbelt holding the metal framed car seat had become undone and we didn't realise until we went round a bend and the car seat toppled over sideways. Ds1 was fine, just a bit surprised. We had the shock of our lives though!

sis · 16/07/2004 19:37

Oh, I'd forgotten, until I read this, that I too had driven for a very short journey without strapping ds into his seat - so GeorginaA, as awful as it is at the time, you too will probably forget until someone else recalls a similar incident!

Lisa78 · 16/07/2004 20:02

Georgina, hope you're feeling better having read all these
The fact that you were so upset about it shows that you are a good and loving mum
I haven't done that - yet - but DS2 is just about mobile and he's had about 3 injuries a week so far, so I know how you feel

dolbear · 16/07/2004 20:09

geoginaA - as a newby mum I have also done the saame ds is 11wks and I have done it at least three times now !!! with the buggy-transfer to car set base thingy , usualy whn with afriend or dh , u think they have done it and they think u have !!! and my best mate is a nursary teacher !!
try not to feel too bad i do not think that there is a single mum who has not had a similar happening
luv and vibes

Fennel · 16/07/2004 22:54

I've done it this week too with dd3 aged 11 weeks. Dp did it with dd1 at a few months old, he realised when he went over a speed bump and was surprised to see a little smiley face bobbing up in the rear view mirror, followed by a crash as she landed on the floor! she was fine though.

Tommy · 17/07/2004 00:00

Big hugs! Try not to worry about it. we did it with our DS1 on a journey of about 80 miles once.....

Flip

1 2