Car Seat Safety

I am going to preface this post with the caveat that I am NOT a car seat technician or expert or even someone who has done a ton of research on the expert. But I am starting to do more and more because the topic of safety for my child is of the utmost importance for me, as it is for most parents.

Jack is quickly approaching 2 (check back soon for 23 month update!) and according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is safest to keep your child rear facing in their car seat until they are 2. However, you can continue with extended rear facing until you meet the height and weight requirement. I am contemplating doing this with Jack, but I'll admit, I look forward to being able to actually look at him in my rear view mirror while I am driving.

We use this car seat, which makes it possible for him to stay rear facing for while yet.

According to most of the research I've done, rear facing as long as you can is the safest for your child, and despite Jack being tall for his age, he's been perfectly content still rear facing.

Plus, reading this article and watching the videos in this article makes it pretty convincing to keep him rear facing.

What do you do with your child? Any recommendations either way and why? I'd love to get your thoughts!

How to Panic like a New Mom

Yesterday we had a bit of a scare.

I went to pick up Jack at my sister-in-law's and found a very heavily-crying/lethargic baby. It was unlike I'd ever seen him. I immediately knew something was wrong. Daniel was there because my SIL was at her math class and while she is in class, Dan and I take turns taking our lunch and hanging out with the baby for an hour. Well, she was jus returning from class when I arrived. She said about an hour earlier Jack had choked on a piece of cucumber. Back a week or so ago before his two teeth were in, we were letting him suck on a large piece of cucumber. Well, yesterday he decided to give those new teeth a try and tore a chunk off and choked on it.

Reacting like a quality caregiver, she took all of the necessary steps and did the baby Heimlich, but nothing came out. So she made sure he was okay, he drank some milk from his bottle and everything seemed okay. Until Daniel got there and Jack awoke from his nap. Apparently, possibly traumatized, or had an upset stomach from the cucumber, I don't know.

But in my panic-induced new mom state, I rushed him to the ER, just in case. Fortunately he appeared to be getting plenty of oxygen and after we were there for a while, he perked up and calmed down and turned in the giggly happy baby I know on a daily basis.

So we left and went home.

All in all, I am a little embarrassed that I overreacted so much, but grateful to my SIL for doing everything she could to make sure Jack was safe. And now we've all learned a huge lesson to NOT feed him any sort of solid food until he is ready to learn to actually chew before swallowing. He is very impatient about eating and clearly isn't ready for real solids. Baby led weaning is not going to happen in our house for a very long time.

For now, we'll just soak up the time we have with him as a wee little babe and not rush the solids. I am happy with this decision :)

And for your viewing pleasure...

BABY GIGGLES (he loves his silly daddy)

 

and in case you missed this gem on Facebook:

 

 

TGIF, Ya'll!!