Car Seat

The countdown is on and we are yet to purchase a new car seat.

We have three car seats already.  However, the Mushroom will be 4 soon and will be too big for all of them... geez.

So I did some googling, as one is wont to do when they hate the shopping, and would rather do clothes washing than spend any time in shops during school holidays.

I google, and google and google some more.  After spending countless hours online, I am no closer to being any better informed.

I decide to visit the only baby shop in town to find out what my options are.

Of course, I am intelligent and leave the Mushroom at the in-laws.

I am even more intelligent because I visit the store during the day.  When there is one person working there and zero customers.  Despite being the only human in there, I still stand around in front of the car seat stand for 5 minutes.  I finally decide to go and look for someone when I am approached by a bearded man.  'Can I help you?'  He says, smiling.

Me being a smarmy wanker says 'Why yes you can good sir, please tell me, aside from the price, what the difference is between these two car seats.'

Both are Britax Safe N Sound.  Both are grey and black.  Both are cushiony and look comfs.  Both are suitable for ages 6 months to 8 years.

But one is $479 and the other is $319.

Aside from extra padding on the $479 one, I really can't tell the difference.

And so begins the hard sell.

Mr Baby Bunting Beard asks me question after question, how old is my child, how far away is baby, what kind of car do we have, what kind of seat do I use now, do I care about safety... (seriously, he asked me this?!) how old is my current car seat...

After this battering he then proceeds to tell me why the $479 one shits all over the other one.

There are pop out cupholders!
Built in speakers!
You don't even have to pull the seat out to adjust the height!
How old is he again?  Three?  He can just plug his ipad in and not disturb you all and have his drink handy...

I'm like WTF dude?! He's a toddler, not Kanye!!

I am overwhelmed to say the least.  I hesitantly ask about a different brand which is $200 cheaper and he basically says it's rubbish and I clearly don't care about the safety of my child.  When I pull that face, you know the one where you're like, what the fuck did you just say?  He says of course all car seats meet Australian Safety Standards.  So they should douchebag!!

I've got no idea what to do.  I'm looking at the seats and thinking I still know nothing!  I quietly say I will have to discuss with my partner before making a decision and he says, well yes, it's a big decision... hey!  Why don't you come back on the weekend?  We've got 15% off all carseats, even sale stock!

SERIOUSLY?!!

Far out.

 Can you tell the difference people?!  Can you?!!!!

Rearward Facing

On Wednesday afternoon I nearly ripped the Mushroom's arm off trying to get him into the car and secured into his car seat.  It was traumatic for both of us.  He was in tears, I was in tears.  No fun for anyone.

On Wednesday evening, after telling Juffin of my torment, we decided to turn the car seat around. 

Yes. We still had our son rearward facing at 15 months.  

What kind of crazy hippies are we you may ask... but before you go hating, there are a few legitimate reasons for keeping your kids rearward facing for as long as possible and they can all be found here.

Or you could just watch this video.  (You don't have to watch the whole thing, you'll get the gist of it pretty quickly!) 

Juffin and I watched this video when the Mushroom was very small.  It wasn't a big deal, it just made sense to us.  If it doesn't make sense to you that's ok.  I don't care.  It just made sense to us so we decided to keep our little ray of fungi rearward facing for as long as possible.  We didn't quite make the 2 years, but we're pretty happy with 16 months.

Someone else seems pretty happy with himself also.

Grinning it up

Unfortunately I can no longer have sneaky eats in the front without a little person wanting some of that foodie action.  Silver lining, good for my arse right?  Boo!    

There and back again

I don't know who's more nervous.  Me or the Juffin.  He races off to get the car and I start the long and lonely trek from Mount Doom back to the Shire.  Just kidding, I'm not lonely, my Mum is with me, but it feels like I have to walk about a gazillion kilometres from the maternity ward to the carpark carrying the Mushroom and I'm totally channeling Frodo right now.  In fact, I feel like I'm going to perish, walking is hard!  Please bear in mind that the biggest distance I've walked in the last 4 days is from the bed to the toilet.  A round trip of about 2 metres.  This is bordering on cruel and unusual punishment as the maternity ward is at least 600 or 700 metres from the hospital entrance.  How fucking ridiculous!  No-one offers to get me a wheelchair or anything so I guess that's out of the question so foot falcon it is.  Luckily Juffin and my wonderful Mother have loaded themselves up with all the bags, flowers etc so all I have to do is concentrate on carrying the Mushroom and putting one foot in front of the other.

We finally make it to the front entrance and let me tell you, we're not breaking any land speed records.  I gratefully collapse onto a seat and then remember too late that it hurts to stand up and sit down unaided so that was a stupid move.  I grimace away as people look at me fondly.  Yes, people are staring at me and smiling.  I thought people were just being encouraging inside as I limped my way through the hospital but now I've noticed that it's this weird baby thing.  If you're carrying a little bebbeh around, random people smile at you.  Like a lot.  It's really bizarre and unsettling at first and I'm trying not to be weirded out by everyone's attention.  Is this what it's like to be a celebrity?!  The Mushroom seems to be coping just fine, despite all the unwanted attention, and I just ignore everyone and enjoy being outside, even if it is a little on the warm side.  

Juffin soon arrives and it's time to wrangle the tiny man into the giant car seat.  I have no idea what to do and can provide zero assistance whatsoever.  I'm bossily told to get into the car and sit down so, for once, decide to do what I'm told.  My Mother informs me that the Juffin is shaking as he tries to maneuver the Mushroom into the seat securely and I just close my eyes and vow not to interfere.  I'm in too much discomfort to be a bossy britches anyway.  He's finally in, seatbelt engaged, and we can push off, hooray!  Double hooray, as there are several cars lined up behind us all giving us the equivalent of a Voldemort death stare.  Arsehats.  Where's your stupid smiley faces at the baby now?!  Some people have no patience, geez!

On the way home Juffin informs me that he will be cooking me a medium-rare steak tonight for tea.  I nearly swoon.  Yummy!  I haven't had a bloody piece of steak since finding out I was pregnant, I love this man.  We make it home incident free and we manage to extricate the Mushroom without dismembering him and   he's still sleeping soundly, bonus.  Actually I could do with a rest myself.  I just walked 700 metres.  It was a long way.  I enter our home to find that Juffin has cleaned from top to bottom.  The floors are vacuumed and mopped, dishes are all done, the washing is folded, he's washed and changed the sheets, and moved our bedroom around so the baby hammock is next to me and I can get to our Mushroom easily.  I nearly cry.  What an amazing man!  I'm so grateful as he urges me into the bedroom and promptly tucks me up into bed for a rest with Mushroom laying in the day bed beside me.  We promptly pass out.

Mushroom in his baby hammock

I don't remember much from that first night, just overwhelmed to be back at home and on our own.  I do know that I enjoyed a delicious medium-rare steak and cuddles with my man for the first time in a few days and after we enjoyed our 2 minutes of adult time, we then embarked on a 3 hourly feeding schedule for Mushroom... oh how our lives have changed!!

Next time:  Breastfeeding = challenge, and the baby blues :-(