Saying It "Goes By Fast" Is The Biggest Understatement In Life
You see this:
I see this:
It doesn't matter what crazy words come out of her mouth, what amazing things she does, or what ridiculously huge clothing I try to squeeze her into, the kid is still a wide-eyed baby in my eyes. Period.
I think that's why I was a wee bit shocked at the State of the Universe when I had to go hunt down a new car seat. After the Clueless Lady decided stop signs were optional, I was left to replace a car seat we were still perfectly happy using, and that was still well within the safety guidelines. At first I thought we would just buy the same one. I even found a REALLY fantastic deal on it (we have an extra cover--the ugly wasn't going to be a problem). But then I realized we don't really need a car seat that converts down to teeny tiny new baby size.
I checked the weight charts on various seats. I looked at Alexis' stats from her 4-year check-up. I looked at Alexis. I looked back at the weight charts. I looked back at Alexis.
According to the delusional people that make car seats, she's big enough to sit in a booster. Like, the kind that Vern Troyer uses to see over the steering wheel. Like, a BIG GIRL BOOSTER.
*passes out*
Meh baybee is now sitting in a big girl car seat. But . . . but . . . but what do you mean she's not a baby anymore?
Monday, April 26, 2010
Reader Comments (30)
Strange, isn't it. Too quickly. Too quickly.
I do have to say that many 4-6yo's can't sit properly in a regular booster (which is why I recommended the Frontier). Just make sure the belt lays across her collar bone, and not up her neck or too far down her shoulder, and that she doesn't slouch, and she should be ok.
And don't forget to buckle the booster in when she's not in the car! :-)
oh, and I hope you don't get annoyed at all my carseat talk - I'm studying up on them to become a CPST (Certified Passenger Safety Technician). In PA, the State Police barracks do the seat checks, so if in doubt, check here to schedule an appt:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/Index.cfm
(oh, and it looks like Pgh has WAY more locations than Erie, and not all of them are at SP Barracks).
Heh, I was just lamenting the fact that kids grow up too fast today as well. So apparently you're not the one to talk to for that Time Stands Still potion.
And you will never stop seeing her that way, even when she's 9, 12, 16 and an adult. She will always be your baby. Trust me my baby is 21. (Hugs)Indigo
You poor thing! Mine were in boosters at the age of three. It's a transition, for sure.
@amber--Since Alexis doesn't know better, we made her get a booster that has a harness and full back. I like my kid tied down nice and tight so that it's hard for her to escape, thankyouverymuch. Ahem.
yay! thanks! Makes me feel better now :-).
Technically then, you got her a combination seat. It's a forward-facing only harnessed seat that converts to a booster.
I agree about the "not letting them escape" part too!
With my first I was all about these milestones. "When is he going to..." But with my "baby" who is now two and not even close to being a baby in size, attitude or demeanor, I find myself holding back. What's wrong with me!?!
We were just watching old videos tonite of when my 4 yr old turned 3 and how different her speech was back then. Remember when it was real high pitched,squeaky and the "s's were kind of slurred? So adorable! I'll admit I shed a few tears!
We just switched too and I went back & forth bw Britax Frontier & Regent and ended up with Regent. I like the 5 pt harness and by the time she's 85 lbs she'll be a teenager so I figure this is the last one I'll have to buy. It's huge and heavy so I don't move it around but she seems to like it. Its like a lazy boy for the car.
sobbing with you babe.
You sound like my mom! I'm 21 and sometimes she still comes at me, grabs my face and goes "you're still just a little molly!" in her baby voice and tries to eat my cheeks like she did when I was two. In her defense my cheeks are still as big as they were when I was a toddler.
Yeah, we're able to get C into a booster but I bought the Eddie Bauer convertible 5-pt harness one last year. I just cant bring myself to take the back off yet.
I know. Oh, I know. *sniffle*
I very much do not want to think about things like this especially since, according to those charts, D is very, very close to being big enough for a booster (no where near old enough, though!). MIL bought two new Eddie Bauer 5 pt harness/booster things last week and it hurt my heart to put them in their cars for them.
You make me happy I'm having another (not that I wasn't, but you know). I miss the baby stage.
We just ditched the seat(s) altogether. Had to count down the final 30 days. But much as I miss that darling little thing *ahem* that I could catch, pick up, and move (or remove) at my discretion, the 8 year old thing is nice too--she's asked to be allowed to EARN an allowance, helped determine what chores will be "every day kinds of chores" and which ones will be "as asked" kind of chores. Mr & Mrs Mumple both enjoyed not having to be the one to push the vacuum through her playroom last night, and the Howler enjoyed knowing that she was well on her way to earning her own money.
Pretty OK in the trade-off department IMHO.
Morgan's Britax is good to 65 pounds. Her other carseat for the man's car is only good to 45 so, we ditched that one already. My plan is to move the Marathon to the man's car and buy the Britax Frontier for mine. I like the idea of her being in a 5 point harness for a while longer....
It's sad to watch them grow so fast. Who in the HELL told these two they could grow up?!
Yes.
I can so relate. Yep. I've got nothing to add to that.
Except maybe to say, at fifteen I"m still seeing my oldest baby that way.
Oh, and she HATES it when I tell her that.
** Evil giggle **
So which one did you wind up getting? FEED MAH ADDICTION LAYDEE! :-)
@Pocklock--The second one you recommended. I'm not sure I like it, though. I miss the little velcro spots that held the straps that the Marathon had. :-/
There are just certain things that make it so painfully clear that they are growing up. For you it was the booster seat. For me, it was selling Dylan's stroller. SOB
Awwww. I totally hear you. The Kid will be 6 ( wth? SIX??!?!) in July and is only about 40 lbs. he is still in his Britax Boulevard that he can be in the 5 pt harness until he is 65 lbs. I will have him in it as long as I can. The Baby is about 22 lbs and is still rear facing (at 19 months old) in his INFANT bucket Graco Safe Seat that he can be in until he is 30 lbs. I am just hoping I can hold off until Sept (when the Kid goes into 1st grade!) to put him in the booster seat, and until then pray none of his little friends see him in a car seat...b/c kids are SO mean!
Glad you didn't go right to a booster and got a transition seat! The harness is the safest for as long as you can. :)
@Jen--We have used a stroller in so long that I can't even remember. Alexis didn't know what they were called when we were in Disney World, so I guess that puts it before she started really talking.
UGH! I know!!!! I feel like I say, "time is just flying by! It's going so fast!" at least 20 times a day. :(
had that moment too, last week. sat looking at my two-and-a-half year old boy (hardly even little anymore) that was a two-week-old baby....oh...um, just the other day?
too bloody fast. you're so right.
It does fly...sometimes I wish they'd just stop, but then I realize how much great stuff I'd miss out on if they did.
Good grief that kid of yours is a beauty!
Your baby went into a big-girl booster seat. My baby went into the driver's seat.
I still remind him that he's so incredibly lucky I'm not smothering him and being clingy all the time. He usually agrees..... after he's managed to pry my arms from around his neck so he can breathe. :)
<pat, pat> I know. Bee has been in one for awhile now (both girls are) and I still don't trust it. They are ginormous boosters that make the kids look even smaller, more fragile, and less protected. WTH booster-seat makers?!
On the OTHER hand, if someone could please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD teach my 6-year-old how to buckle her own seat buckle around her giant booster seat, that would be lovely. (Yes, I'm full of contradictions.)
Um, yeah. HUGE understatement.
I kind of had one of those moments when I bought my little big kid a pair of size 4 pants the other day. 4! Size 3 was okay. There was still a T next to it but these size 4 pants said just 4 without the T. (cries a little)
OK, you know me. I'm not Debbie Downer. But a couple of years ago, I saw this video on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ) and I ran out and bought a Britax Marathon that goes to 80 pounds.
But until then. I like the extra safety. In memory of Kyle, whose family was all over the news not long after this video went viral, I won't put my kids in a booster seat until absolutely necessary.