Sept 08 - No no no, ME do it!

[CappuccinoCarrie]

Shiny new thread for Christmas!

I know how you feel Debi, I think part of the problem is that the information just isn't out there. The leaflets may say 'this seat is for xlbs - xlbs', but it doesn't explain why and the dangers of using the wrong seat.

It's something I'm having trouble with at the moment actually. When ds sits in his front facing car seat (I think it's a stage 2) he rests his feet on the seat in front. Is this dangerous if we have a crash? However he doesn't weigh enough to go in to the stage 3 seat. When I questioned the lady in the shop about what the weight restrictions mean and why they are there, all she could tell is that is what the manufacturers state, not the reasons behind the restriction.

Anybody know why? Answers on a postcard please

debi & itmimi I get a bit judgy about moving them up a car seat too quickly. But I try to remember there's worse things in life, I survived 1970's parenting for example .

3 of my friends from my ante-natal group had their toddlers in rear facing until recently. I'm sure they all judge me putting mine in forward facing from 1yo!

They should explain the reasons for waiting to move them up, it can't be rocket science can it?

I put a comment on her photo saying "ooo forward facing, that's it, she's not your wee baby anymore! We kept Andrew rearfacing until he was almost 1 and it made him stay my baby for longer!" just to see what she said and she responded with "she prob should be rear facing -she is 9 months but still only 7kg but for my back,it's much easier!she seems fine in it!still rear facing in our other car which i can manage as its higher up and i don't need to bend or stretch!how are you all?x"
She does have a very bad back (is waiting for surgery) but still, 7kg is very small to be going forwards isn't it?

When we put ds1 forwards he was enough over the min weight and passed the other criteria too for it to be the best decision (other option was same seat facing backwards but not fitted properly). We had problems too with his seat when he needed to go into the highbacked booster as the ones with the proper harness don't fit our car! Luckily he was just heavy enough to go with the normal seatbelt so we bought an expensive, well supported, deep head rest, one of those.

iltmimi I'd say he's safer with his feet up than in a seat that's too big for him. In an impact his legs would take it (if it was a front or back straight impact) but broken legs would be better than back or neck injuries. Is he in one of the ones that looks like a babyseat but is bigger? He is big enough for one of the ones that looks like a booster seat with a back but still with a 5 point harness.

My neighbour puts her 3 year old in the front just on a booster!

I've put this as a comment "Ah that makes sense, must be really hard lifting her with your back. I don't want to sound judgy or telling you how to parent but did you know that they are meant to be 9 months or 9kg to go foward and it's the weight not the age that is most important? (it's actually safer to travel backwards always but not so practical for driving ;-)" then went on to say about how I only knew that because of having problem when ds1 was that age and then a general chat about how we are. Hope that wasn't too interfeery!

Sounds OK and tnh Debi, it's better to actually say it than to skirt around it and seeth inside (then make snide comments) - I have the habit of being a bit judgy too!!

Just done a huge post on the safety of rear facing and why they suggest the ages and whatever and lost it.

Basically rear facing is best for everybody travelling in any vehicle, apart from driver obvs. You should only move up to the next stage when they are physically unable to travel in the previous seat, i.e head reaching the top or body too large to fit in the seat. Manufacturing guidelines are just guidelines and we all know companies want us to buy the next thing asap to make them more money. If you try www.carseat.se It has more info, and it saves me more typing.

We put toby forward facing very early....he was such a big baby - he was so scrunched in the infant seat - even the bigger one we got him.

I waited til he was 9kgs though!

Tbh, he is starting to looked scrunched up in the forward facing one but he is only 14k/15 kgs.

Lots to do today....cant be bothered.

Snow this morning!!!!!

I got a tx from my friend at 4am (she assured me she was up anyway!) saying she had got the weight wrong and it was a 1 off that she was in that seat and she knows I was right. Was because she didn't have room in the car for her lying flat seat when coming back from holiday. She's taken the photo off fb too. I think she's ok with me mentioning it. I did say in a tx that it was only because we'd been given wrong advice etc.

I found the same friends who put their babies forward facing as soon as they hit 9 months were the same friends who weaned from 4 months. Even when their baby couldn't even hold their own head. All intelligent, well-informed women - so didn't see the point in saying anything. Just muttered to DH about how they probably all think I'm an over-protective breastfeeding nazi.

BTW what is the next stage of carseat from the ones they're in now? Have no idea what weight DS is (seems so heavy now)

He's been walking so much lately - we've done all the parks over the last few days and ds has insisted on walking everywhere. It's been great for ensuring early bedtimes, which by our standards is around 8pm. Haven't known what to do with our evenings!

We're off for DH's birthday tomorrow. Already feel guilty about leaving ds for one night with my mum (leaving him with dh is much easier). Friend of a friend went on a two week holiday and left her 18 mo with her mum. Can't see myself doing that in a hurry and ds is 2.4, even dh said he'd not be comfortable with that.

DG next car seat up is from around 4 yrs old. not sure of weight though. We have a Maxi Cosi Isofix in each of our cars and don't plan on changing till C is at least heading towards 4. but she is a tiny thing - not yet 30lbs and 81cm tall on her 2nd birthday.

I ummed and ahhed about rear facing seat till she was 4 but the inflexibility and price put us off. She went from her rear-facing baby seat into her main Maxi Cosi when she was 15months (shows you how small she was!!), so just over a yr ago. I do keep it fully reclined though so she's not bolt upright. I miss being able to take her out in the seat when she's asleep though.

It is hard when intelligent friends do things that are so against what I do. I was the last person to wean and the only person not to spoon feed purees to their baby, yet my baby cafe friends are true friends and I adore them - I just don't say anything about this sort of topic.

Oh and C started older toddler/pre-school room at nursery today and loved it. She was happily playing tea sets with the 3 yr olds when I arrived to collect her.
They now brush their teeth after their snack and we got free toothpaste and a new brush to take home too! Apparently to improve the teeth health of welsh children, they brush their teeth at all pre-school nurseries and also in primary school.

On a darker note, DP is facing some tough business conditions - not a great start to 2011 as he'll lose some of his income for a while :( He works his socks off too. Not fair.

sorry to hear that MrsA. I'm still waiting to hear whether there's any more funding for my job :( There's currently a notice of redundancy on my desk so I hope we know before that runs out ....

DG there's 2 options for next car seat (assuming you've got one like MrsA is talking about now). They are both highback boosters. There's ones with a full harness that can be used with just the seatbelt when they are over 15kg/4 years and ones that just use the seatbelt. The harness ones can be used from 9 months (I think) but wouldn't be very good for that small unless you only did short journeys as they are very upright. Good option though if you grow out of the other one before 4.
We had to go straight to the one with just the seatbelt though as none of the other type fitted our car (senic/picasso sized car that doesn't take a lot of car seats, go figure?!) but luckily ds2 was able to stay in his rear facing one for long enough for ds1 to get heavy and old enough to go into that one so we didn't need to buy extra seats.

Poor DP MrsA hope things pick up again quickly.

Back to work tomorrow. Will be good to get out of our freezing cold house and hopefully when I get home the new boiler will be fitted and working. We're getting a new boiler and bathroom fitted. I hope the bathroom ends up as lovely as I am imagining it!
DS2 asks everytime we come in the house if his bathroom is finished yet!

Think dh was glad to go back today, his patience was wearing a bit thin with the boys after spending nearly 2 weeks with them!

DS1's class were all asked today what they got for Christmas. His response- alien pants!

Oh and did any of you watch the One Born Every Minute over Christmas? I've been watching it today but have been quite unimpressed. The guy presenting it is pretty awful and a bit pointless I think!

Enjoy your night away tonight Digi. We're doing the same for DH's 40th in March and I'm bricking it already as ds hasn't spent a night away from both of us before. He'll be in great hands though and will have a fab time, your ds will too

Crap news about people's jobs at the mo, I hope the situation improves for you.

I thought One Born Every Minute was a bit naff as well Debi, too much of the presenters and not enough new babies imo. The new series starts on Monday.

DH is back to work today after 2 weeks off. Part of me is glad because ds's behaviour was getting a bit wild after a lack of routine and structure to our days. The other part of me will miss having an extra pair of hands around. Then I get to thinking that in May I'll also be having a baby to look after as well

I second the 'have a good night away' DG. I bet you have a blast. Like ILTMIMI, we've not spent a night away from C yet together (spent it away idividually with work but she's always had one of us with her overnight) but plan to rectify that soon. We were given £100 as an xmas present from MIL, so intend to spend it on a night away. Think we need it as DP will have to work twice as hard (and travel further) to make less money and I'm working in London in Feb for a whole damn week :(

Ninja sorry to hear about your situation. Do you have a backup plan if worst happens? You've always seemed to be an excellent teacher :)

Debi I have one born over xmas on sky+ and DP nagging me to watch (he doesn't want to watch it, just wants it off the hard drive!). Is it worth it? I've started watching one but agree there was alot of waffle - would rather it were pre-recorded as live means we're waiting on the babies!
Glad to hear it's back on Monday in it's proper format.
i can't watch it even now without getting upset and angry when I see labours in progress (wrt to when I had C) but i still watch!

Right ho, better get a cuppa and get my head stuck into some work.

I've just started watching OBEM at XMAS and am so glad there is a new series, although I do get a bit weepy watching the births.

when Lucy gets too big for her 1st stage seat and needs to use Robyns we are getting robyn thekiddy infinity pro
She can still use the roll cushion so is a bit more protected then just a seatbelt when she reaches age 4

MrsA I was getting nagged to watch it too, we got down to 5% free on the sky box at one point. But then I never got peace to watch it! I deleted the last one which was just highlights but watched the rest. But I fastforwaded every time the presenter man came on as his bit was just exactly the same every time. The bits about babies being born were all pre-recorded anyway.

DH just emailed me to say he's definately getting the voluntary redundancy, they've just to agree a finish date and do the sums.

Sorry to hear that debi

Didnt watch OBEM at XMAS as I just didnt seem to get to watch any TV over xmas at all!! What with the new Wii and the dc new dvds it was all top gear, balamory, Ice age and shaun the sheep!

Bit of a dilemma ladies.....

Went to my sisters this morning and my 2 dnephews (aged 7 and 5) were playing "call of Duty" on their dads ps3.

As I understand it, this is a cert 18 game.

I am pretty appalled she is letting them play it tbh but hey, her house, her rules.

HOWEVER she has invited ds1 for tea after school on monday and I absolutely do not want him playing this game.

How do I broach the subject?

ds1 has only just had a wii and a dsi as I have held off as I think really young kids need fresh air and stimulation, not computer games!!

My youngest nephew has had a ds since he was 3

So....WWYD?

So sorry to hear about all the rubbishness with jobs :(

bec I think your only option is to take the bull by the horns and ring your sister and talk about it. Its hard to come across as not judgey, but you need to say that it isn't ok for your DS to play that game.

I watched most of OBEM but just ffwd through the waffle and sobbed at watched the births.

DH and I are getting a night away in May, it'll be our first for two years and we can't wait! We left both kids with the ILs in Aug 09 for a wedding and had a great time away. Wouldn't do two weeks though

DD is heading towards having a high backed booster, she'll be 4 in April. Will keep her in her 5pt harness one for as long as the straps fit her though. DS is similarly fully reclined in his. We can't fit a baby seat in our car though, so need to see if we can find a high backed booster for DD, and a new infant carrier for the baby which will fit, hopefully being able to keep one of the two 5pt harnesses that we currently have for DS. If we can't find three seats that fit safely then we need to make a withdrawl from the bank of mum and dad for a new car, eeek. I'm not prepared to put DD on just a booster seat for the sake of squeezing three in, I want her in a high backed one.

bookmarking..

becaroo I would speak to your sister direct. Sisters are there to be argued with . I would freak if DS was playing COD.

We don't have a nintendo. xbox or wii in the house, personally I would love to have a wii but am going to be strict and keep them out of the house until the dc's are way older. I have one of the original gameboys and a playstation 1 though, I should dig them out of the loft when the DC's are asleep and get my old games out. There's also a Spectrum 48k in the loft .

debi I managed to catch most of the Xmas OBEM. I prefer the normal series though, think it starts again on Monday.

it's ok bec, he's got another job lined up. Should be good although it's further away so he won't be home for tea! (yes I know I have it good really)

I've got a nintendo ds and ds1 has just discovered it. He loves Mariokart but only gets to play it occasionally. No way would he get to play anything like COD.

Another one for saying a big no to COD. DH likes to play these games and tbh I bloody hate them. DH has got a DS and an XBox and we've also got a WII. They only ever get played when ds is in bed.

So, it was M's first pre-school session today. I had a quiet weep about 5 minutes before we were due to leave, and have spent the whole of this morning wringing with an emotional/stressed sweat . He has only been looked after by me, dh and close family. However he was fine, settled in straight away, said 'bye bye mummy' when I said I was going, and gave me a kiss goodbye

My baby. Where has the time gone ladies???

ILTMIMI Your story gives me hope!!! Am going to look at a pre school for Toby tomorrow (been putting it offf since nov!!) as toby is the same as M...only ever been looked after by me and close family.

debi phew, thats good!

Thanks for the advice on COD...will have a word with her. In her defence, she did make her boys stop playing it as soon as we got there and seemed a bit embarrassed tbh

I have no issue with adults playing these games but have a real problem with children playing them. I mean, would it be ok to take them to see a cert 18 film?????

Dont understand why BIL cant wait til they are in bed to play them? Oh yes, its because hes a knob

meglet I know what you mean wrt computer games. We got a wii because I felt it was more inclusive...i.e. instead of ds1 just sitting there on his own staring at the tv screen, we can all play the sports like 10 pin bowling, tennis, swordplay etc Its great fun! I am very bad at it though. Toby also likes to have a go

ds1 first day back at school today after the long xmas break...he seemed ok..he just said he would miss me Am so proud of him.

It's always harder for the parents ILTMIMI! And you'll have a new baby to snuggle soon :)

I still find the guilt of being a working parent hard but C loves nursery. So much so that I think I'm going to up her to 4 days a week in Sept when we get her 5 mornings a week entitlement.

Yesterday, when DP picked her up at 5 she was crying and had been distressed for about 20 mins. Cue worries about her new pre-school room and whether she was settling etc but no - she needed a poo and didn't want to poo in the nursery potty or loo but wanted to go on her green one at home! DP dashed home with her, she did her poo (was so proud of her managing to hang on) and then declared she now wished to return to nursery (at 5.45pm) to continue playing with her blocks!
Apparently, she sits there and eats her lunch and happily asks for 'more meatballs please, more garlic bread please'. She's a funny thing.

So, upshot IME is don't worry. Your DS will be fine and love it. As adults all we want to do is protect and my idea of bliss is feet up in front of the tv with C in bed, but that's cos we're old and knackered . Our 2 yr olds have brains like sponges and want to explore and do stuff and meet new friends (hence parents are always knackered!!)

Anyway, that's my theory and I bet your DS has a fab time!