Ceilings and car seats

Last week I was off work and we'd packed in a number of trips out and about to see friends and family.

Our first trip was down to Brighton to visit my brother - the weather was typically British and we got drenched on our little walk around the Marina, taking refuge in a local inn to dry off betwixt showers.

This trip we travelled light, with only the change bag, buggy and a bag of gifts etc so the boot of the car was more than ample.

We then drove up to Sheffield the following day to visit the Out-laws and this was when things were tested a little more - in terms of space at least.

The idea was that we would drive up to Sheffield with the intention of staying the night in a hotel in Sheffield whilst Hayden stayed with his Grandparents for the night, and then we'd pop in again the following morning to check how everyone was coping, and then continue our journey north to Helmsley where we had booked another hotel for the night.

Well, we arrived in Sheffield - we stayed a while, had lunch and then the time came when we'd need to leave our little boy for the first time ever. Was he bothered? Not in the slightest.

We waved goodbye as he was in his Grannies arms, and drove off.

Needless to say, he was absolutely fine overnight and the following morning, so we didn't need to pop in the following morning, so we popped into the local shopping centre and had a look round. We stopped in a well known department store who I shan't mention, but their initials are J for John, and L for Lewis. Having commented on the lack of baby boys clothing compared to the vast amounts for girls we then asked the sales assistant if they provided advice on child seats. She confirmed that they did, and we presented our situation regarding size and rear-facing. The lady tried to be as helpful as she could, but again we ended up without any real answers, - keep them in a rear facing seat as long as possible, and then move them up for a forward facing seat when they reach 9 months. Trouble is, Hayden is not going to fit in his seat at 9 months the rate he is growing.

Once we'd had a bit more of a look around we continued our journey north to Helmsley. We stayed in a gorgeous hotel - The Feversham Arms, and spotted two wine buffs off the telly. Sat in the hot tub and they walked past us to their room. I turned to Bev and said "that's the wine dude off the telly" We later found out that they were Peter Richards and Susie Barrie - both wine experts featured on Saturday Kitchen several times. Never realised they were together. Watching them select, smell, swirl, taste, smell some more, swirl a bit and then eventually drink the wine at the evening meal was an experience.

Having spent a nice relaxing evening together we then drove back down South to collect our boy.

We loaded the car back up - and I mean loaded, there was barely room for a fag paper once everything was in the boot, which enforced my theory that a car with a more accessible boot would be a good idea, but that's for another time.

Over the last couple of weeks I've read a lot about rear facing car seats and contacted a number of people regarding advice - with no real answers at the end of it.

Here's one example:

Hi Wayne,Sorry for the late reply. I have been on holiday.I don't really know what to reply to this. I can see your concern, but I think that you might be surprised at the rear facing car seats available. Some of them are not huge and might well fit in your car, even with the length issue you present. I think that you will also find that children's growth slows down rapidly at around 1 years old. My daughter was a big 1 year old but is now not much taller or heavier than she was then and she is now 2.5 years old.If there is a will, there is a way. As you point out, it is guidelines and you are not legally obliged to have a rear facing car seat. I would personally never put my daughter in a forward facing seat, as I would fear for her safety. I get reports from parents whose children have broken their necks and it is not a happy thought (http://www.joelsjourney.org/), but youhave to do what you think is best for your family.My site is there to offer information, and I hope that it will be of help to you.Kind regards,Helena Atkinsonwww.rearfacing.co.uk

I have to say, that the site is very helpful, if you are of an average size and persuasion.

Some of the examples quoted within the website are once again unhelpful if you are above/below average. Within the rearfacing.co.uk website the British Medical Journal is used as a source: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/338/jun11_2/b1994

A lot is made of the headline grabbing figures and facts, but on closer reading it's clear that they have not considered all situations:

Many babies are switched from a rear facing car seat to a forward facing seat at 9 kg (8 months of age for a boy on the 50th centile)

Hayden is currently outside the graph, let alone being anywhere near the 50th centile. Literally "off the chart". He is currently almost 6 months old, and weighs 9.15 kg (20.19 lbs), and is 76 cms long.

Helena kindly pointed out that children’s growth often slow down at the age of 1 yr old, but Hayden is likely to be far too big for his car seat by that point anyway, and given that in every school photo of mine I am always on the back row in the middle (tallest in class) this is likely that he will be the same.

Enough of the continued frustrations for now - here's something slightly more light hearted.

One morning last week I was playing with Hayden in the bedroom and now that he is starting to sit up a bit on his own I decided to try and sit him up on my shoulders. So, I slowly lifted him up and over my head, but before he reached the point where I could pass him over my head - his head hit the ceiling (not with any great force luckily).

If you are 6ft 7 and are attempting to lift your child onto your shoulders - do it outside.