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Friday, June 14, 2013

Mommy Struggles: Day Care & Car Seats

So Happy it's Friday! I always look forward to the weekends because I get two solid days off with my family. No matter what we are doing, it's just nice to be together.

 
I have really been struggling the past couple weeks because I actually DO NOT feel bad about taking Zach to School (aka day care). Does that sound strange? I really thought I would feel bad and guilty about it, but I actually feel like it's the best thing for him. He's 14 months old and has been walking since he was 9 months. He's very active and I think that he's gaining so much from going there. He gets to socialize with other kids, learn new things, and just run around and play! It actually is a huge stress reliever.
 
Zach is very tall for his age. He's 35 inches & 25 pounds. He's been in the 100th percentile since his 2 month visit. He seems pretty comfortable in my car, but in my husbands car and my mom's car, his legs are completely bent. I guess it's just the way the backseat is designed in each of our vehicles.
 
Has anyone ever turned the car seat to forward facing before the age of 2?
 
Michigan state law requires your child to be 12 months and 20 lbs but recommends waiting till they are 2. We haven't turned him forward facing because we worry, but I'm just wondering if anyone else has? He seems uncomfortable sometimes!
 
On another note, we are working with Zach at each meal trying to get him to use utensils. It's quite entertaining. Some days he does really well and other days he just holds the fork and eats with his other hand! It's so cute! I guess it depends on what we're eating. I think he's doing a great job for his age!
 
 
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18 comments:

  1. Hey -- new reader courtesy of Crafty Healthy Mommy! Same laws here in CT and turned my daughter at 13 months. She's even "below average" in terms of height and weight (still over 20 lbs though). My son was in the 95% all the time and he was turned right at a year.
    Can't wait to catch up on reading the blog!

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    1. That makes me feel so much better! My husband and mother really want to turn him around.

      Thank you for visiting & following!

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  2. I am having car seat struggles too! We need to buy some and they are so expensive...

    I am a new follower of yours from the Let's Be Friends blog hop! Following you on bloglovin'! :)

    Thanks for linking up! Can't wait to read more from you:).

    Follow back if you can!

    Tiffany
    http://www.thedwellingtree.com

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    1. We ended up getting ours from Costco for $120 and it was really highly rated!

      Following back. :)

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  4. The moment my boys reached the minimums they were turned around. I do NOT like my child facing the back of the car where I am unable to see his face and make sure he is OK. Others will have their own opinion on the matter, but all that matters is how you feel comfortable.

    I wouldn't stress in either situation, turning your child's carseat and sending him to day care. You do what is best for you and your family!

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  5. We switched our son just before he turned 2. The pediatrician said to keep him backward facing as long as we could and as long as he was comfortable. I believe the recommended age is now 2. I will say he has a been a happier passenger since the switch!!

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  6. All three of mine were 95th percentile and all three were turned around at one year. I think they were miserable in the other position. After the chance they were so VERY HAPPY and more comfortable.

    It is my opinion that turning them around helps with their learning and sensory processing advancement. All the best with your decision!

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  7. When my daughter turned 1 we were going to flip her around. A good friend of ours is a firefighter, and he told me ABSOLUTELY NO. Here's what he said: First, even if they look uncomfortable, kids' legs are different than adults, so even if they are bent, they aren't uncomfortable the way we would be. Second, until kids get to be age 2, the proportion between the weight of the head and the rest of their bodies is off. When they are facing backwards, there is a lot more support on their neck if their is an accident. If you are in an accident and they are facing forward they get much more of the whip lash effect, and their bodies cannot handle the disproportionate weight between their heads and bodies and the damage on their necks can be a lot more. Lastly, he told me the fatality rate is higher for kids in accidents that are turned forward earlier. Those reasons were enough for us to keep all 3 of our kids backwards until after they turned 2.

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  8. Hi Crystal! New to your blog and am a momma of a little boy too. Anyway, read your 'about me' page and I lost weight about 5 years ago too! We are sisters from another mister. Anyway, I'm completely with you on the taking Drew to daycare thing. I KNOW it's best for him and therefore don't feel bad about it at all! Also, Drew has always been a big boy... not 100%, but definitely 90-95% and we kept him rear facing until 2. I just can't look past the statistics and it was all he ever knew. He often say indian style which never seemed to bother him. Don't stress yourself out though if you have to turn him around. Anyway, I'm your newest follower and hope you'll follow back! Zach is a DOLL!

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  9. I kept my son rear-facing until almost 27 months (this May). He weighs about 33 pounds and is 37"ish tall. His legs were bent for the majority of the last year, but I felt SO much safer with him RF. I probably would have kept him RF longer but it was getting impossible to get him in while also carrying my 6mo old. Can you try having your son cross his legs (like criss-cross-applesauce) in the seat? I never could get Lincoln to try that, but it seemed like a more comfortable option.

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  10. I'm a big fan of rear facing as long as possible. Your son is SO TALL so i can see how it's going to get uncomfortable quick.

    & don't feel bad about not feeling bad about taking him to school. (lol) You're right! It's awesome for them to get that socialization. My son is 8 months now and once he's 12-14 months I think i'm going to put him in once a week or something for it.

    http://www.unconventionalmommytails.com

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  11. I turned my son much before 2 (I don't remember when exactly) because of the same problem. He was tall for his age and he hated being seated backwards where he couldn't see us!
    Don't feel bad about leaving your son in daycare. You are quite right that they will love socializing and the daycare people are experts at keeping them happy and occupied!

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  12. your little one is a cutie!! and i think it's healthy that you don't feel bad about leaving your baby at a daycare. socializing and learning to explore his environment by himself as an individual is so crucial! kuddos to you! new follower via the blog hop on Bloglovin :)

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  13. Hello. Hopping across for the first time from Blow Your Own Blog Horn.
    I live in the UK and have had my child in a forward facing car seat from around a year old. My friend didn't want to go forward facing and bought a BeSafe rear facing car seat that goes up to the age of 4. May be worth looking at one of these maybe? x
    http://amummysview.com

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  14. Hello, I'm your newest follower. Such a sweet and encouraging blog, I am glad I came across your site! :))

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  15. We forward faced at 12 months for my daughter and are going to for our son as well..As long as you follow your state laws..Its really a personal decision that only you and your family can make..I know from experience my daughter was much happier forwarded facing..she could see what was going on

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