Just Rambling...
Thursday, August 16, 2007
We went to the police station today and had Scout's Britax Marathon car seat installed in our car. We had it in the car when she was a newborn and decided to replace it with an infant seat for a while because the straps on the Marathon just swallowed her up and she didn't seem very comfortable in it. Now that she is much bigger, she fits nicely in it. I feel like it is a much safer seat, so I was anxious to get it installed as soon as possible. The infant seat definitely served its purpose for a while, but we never unsnap it from its base anymore (unless it is just so we can bring it in to keep it cool). That's the one thing I will miss about having a seat that comes off of the base. But I have a solution to that: I'm going to bring a big ice pack with us whenever we run errands and lay it on the seat and the buckles while we are shopping. Even if the ice pack totally melts while we are in there, at least the seat and buckles won't be scorching hot.
It has been miserably hot here. Last Friday I went grocery shopping while Scout rode contentedly in the Ergo carrier on the front of me the whole time. After we were done, I started the car and cranked the air so it would cool off a little while I loaded the groceries in the trunk. Scout was still attached to me in the Ergo. A lady came up to me and graciously offered to help me put my bags in the trunk. I only had a few left, so I politely declined and thanked her for offering and told her I thought it was so sweet of her to ask. Then she said, "I just thought I'd offer because it is just too hot to have a baby out today." I think it was her disapproving motherly tone that bugged me more than what she said.
Can anyone say "passive aggressive"?? Sheesh. Here, I thought it was just a stranger being nice but it was actually just a cranky old lady who can't keep her advice to herself. Offering to help just gave her the perfect opportunity to come over and gripe at me for having my baby out in the heat.
I couldn't think fast enough to reply with anything clever. I just thanked her and she walked on. If I would've thought faster, I would've told her that it was a billion times hotter inside the car and much safer for her to be out in the sun for 2 minutes with me while we waited for the car to cool off. But I think by her phrasing, she must've meant that it was much too hot to have a baby out of the house in general. Yeah - it's SOOOOO dangerous to carry a baby around in an air conditioned store for an hour and then spend 2 minutes in the parking lot (I even had her head shaded)and put her into an air conditioned car. I'm a neglectful mother.
Okay. Sorry. Got derailed from my original story. Anyway, after we got the car seat installed, we went to the local LLL meeting. I always look forward to that every month. It's nice to hang out with some like-minded mommas. I weighed Scout at the meeting and she weighed 16 lbs 2.5 oz! What a chunk!
That reminds me, I made an appointment for Scout to see a pediatrician for a check-up on September 17th. We haven't taken her to any well baby visits since her 1 week appointment. I know, I know...don't throw tomatoes at my head. I just really didn't care for the place we took her for her 1 week appointment and I've put off finding another pediatrician. Part of my laziness in finding another one stems from the fact that I'm dreading the confrontation about vaccinations. I've heard stories from some of my other friends who don't vaccinate their children (or vaccinate on a delayed schedule) about docs who tell you that you are a bad parent and are stupid for questioning the safety of vaccines. Supposedly, this other doctor we are going to try is open to discussing it in a friendly manner and doesn't think a parent deserves to be turned in to CPS for refusing/delaying vaccinations for their children.
**ETA**
Ha ha .... I just read what I wrote in the last paragraph and the way it is worded makes it sound as if the first pediatrician she saw wanted to turn us in to CPS or something. LOL No, not at all. We didn't even get into a discussion about vaccinations with him. Just from what I've *heard* about the physicians at that particular clinic, they are not very open to discussing more natural ways of preventing and curing diseases. Plus, the staff just wasn't very friendly AT ALL. Just wanted to clear that up. I was just being dramatic.
It has been miserably hot here. Last Friday I went grocery shopping while Scout rode contentedly in the Ergo carrier on the front of me the whole time. After we were done, I started the car and cranked the air so it would cool off a little while I loaded the groceries in the trunk. Scout was still attached to me in the Ergo. A lady came up to me and graciously offered to help me put my bags in the trunk. I only had a few left, so I politely declined and thanked her for offering and told her I thought it was so sweet of her to ask. Then she said, "I just thought I'd offer because it is just too hot to have a baby out today." I think it was her disapproving motherly tone that bugged me more than what she said.
Can anyone say "passive aggressive"?? Sheesh. Here, I thought it was just a stranger being nice but it was actually just a cranky old lady who can't keep her advice to herself. Offering to help just gave her the perfect opportunity to come over and gripe at me for having my baby out in the heat.
I couldn't think fast enough to reply with anything clever. I just thanked her and she walked on. If I would've thought faster, I would've told her that it was a billion times hotter inside the car and much safer for her to be out in the sun for 2 minutes with me while we waited for the car to cool off. But I think by her phrasing, she must've meant that it was much too hot to have a baby out of the house in general. Yeah - it's SOOOOO dangerous to carry a baby around in an air conditioned store for an hour and then spend 2 minutes in the parking lot (I even had her head shaded)and put her into an air conditioned car. I'm a neglectful mother.
Okay. Sorry. Got derailed from my original story. Anyway, after we got the car seat installed, we went to the local LLL meeting. I always look forward to that every month. It's nice to hang out with some like-minded mommas. I weighed Scout at the meeting and she weighed 16 lbs 2.5 oz! What a chunk!
That reminds me, I made an appointment for Scout to see a pediatrician for a check-up on September 17th. We haven't taken her to any well baby visits since her 1 week appointment. I know, I know...don't throw tomatoes at my head. I just really didn't care for the place we took her for her 1 week appointment and I've put off finding another pediatrician. Part of my laziness in finding another one stems from the fact that I'm dreading the confrontation about vaccinations. I've heard stories from some of my other friends who don't vaccinate their children (or vaccinate on a delayed schedule) about docs who tell you that you are a bad parent and are stupid for questioning the safety of vaccines. Supposedly, this other doctor we are going to try is open to discussing it in a friendly manner and doesn't think a parent deserves to be turned in to CPS for refusing/delaying vaccinations for their children.
**ETA**
Ha ha .... I just read what I wrote in the last paragraph and the way it is worded makes it sound as if the first pediatrician she saw wanted to turn us in to CPS or something. LOL No, not at all. We didn't even get into a discussion about vaccinations with him. Just from what I've *heard* about the physicians at that particular clinic, they are not very open to discussing more natural ways of preventing and curing diseases. Plus, the staff just wasn't very friendly AT ALL. Just wanted to clear that up. I was just being dramatic.
Labels: baby gear, babywearing, general complaining, health, safety, tough parenting decisions
posted by Unkempt Mommy at 12:16 AM
3 Comments:
The ice pack ideas sounds good...but you may need to rethink that. Car seat straps should never be washed because something about soaking them in water makes them weaken. You should only spot clean them with a damp cloth. So I'm thinking that soaking them with an ice pack wouldn't be a good idea. I just keep a light colored blanket in the car and throw that over the entire seat while we're parked. Helps keep the cover from fading as well.
Oh, Sam's only been to two well-baby visits. I just don't see the wisdom in bringing a healthy child to the doctor - and my hesitation was supported by his leaving the last check-up with chicken pox. That said, I do wish you luck in finding a supportive doctor! They are out there, but you should know that they all push vaccines because their licenses are threatened if they encourage parents to NOT vaccinate. Still, you should be able to find one who respects your right to choose and isn't TOO pushy.
What a bad mommy you are for not keeping Scout in a safety bubble at home. Shame on you for taking her to the grocery store.lol Some people are just such ninnies!
Try throwing a towel over Scout's car seat to keep the buckles cool.
When dealing with doctors try keeping in mind that the doctor is working for you. Also, the doc may have the advance degrees, but God gave Scout to you and your dh to raise. When he did that he also gave you the wisdom on how to raise her in the manner that is right for your family.
Rock on!
Wendy
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