Car seat.... finally!

Right after my previous post of "To buy or not to buy?" came out, many of mommy's breastfeeding buddies im and emailed her about this subject. They are concerned about my safety (thanks aunties, muak muak!) and adviced mommy to get me a car seat. I won't go into details on how they 'scare' mommy, but what I know next was that the day before Mother's day (May 12th), both daddy & mommy took me to Kids Gallery and bought me this car seat. I was sleeping on mommy's shoulder that time, but after I woke up, Daddy showed me the car seat and told me that he's bought me this beautiful car seat.

Later, when the shop uncle fastened the seat onto Daddy's car, I did not hesitate and went right into it willingly with some encouragement from Daddy & Mommy. But then, they found out that my strap was a bit loose, and when that uncle went into the car with me sitting on the car seat already, trying to adjust it, I just felt frightened and cried. Mommy tried to soothe me, and soon after that, I was enjoying my ride home....

Well, the story didn't end just there. The very next day, which was Mother's Day, we all headed for church together. Mommy tried to get me into the car seat, despite my struggle. I kept shaking my head and cried, but Mommy insisted. I could sense that Daddy gave up already, but Mommy still wanted to have me in there. Finally, she succeeded, and I was strapped! I cried for sometime, while Mommy tried to console me (she sits besides me). After sometime, I just stopped crying and sat there, looking very gloomy. I heard Daddy told Mommy, "she's angry with you for forcing her". Mommy felt very bad, and asked me if it's really the case. I smiled to Mommy and called "Mama", so Mommy was relieved and told Daddy that I was not angry with her. Then I dozed off (I woke up quite early today).....I was awaken when Mommy tried to carry me after we reached church. Goody, so finally I get to come out from that car seat.

After church, Mommy tried to put me in again. Hehe, but this time I was smarter. I struggled until I slipped down to the floor of the car, so mommy couldn't strap me. In the end, they both gave up and so I get to sit on Mommy's lap! Hooray!

For the next few days, I was again the winner. Everytime Mommy asked me if I wanted to sit in the car seat, I would shake my head. When she tried to put me in there, I'd cry and struggle until I could slip down from the seat. So, I always end up sitting on Mommy's lap. Once I tried to be naughty and wanted to stand in between the driver & the passenger seats, so Mommy put me on the car seat. I learnt my lesson since then, (of course she couldn't get me in there) but I wouldn't try to be naughty again.

So, do you think Mommy has succeeded?

Anecdotes from Mommy:

1 week had gone by and Sze Yi still didn't want to sit in the car seat. We tried to give her toys, or distracted her attention, but to no avail. Our main problem was trying to get her in and strapping her. We felt this would be a waste afterall, I was especially guilty because we kind of expected this would happen but I still insisted to get one. My reasons besides the safety issue was so that I could transport Szeyi around when hubby's not free, so we wouldn't need to depend too much on hubby.


So on Friday I told hubby; "Maybe if it's just me & Szeyi, she'll understand and want to sit in the car seat." So hubby agreed to let me try. I carried Szeyi down to the car, and started to put her in. She protested, and cried when she anticipated what I was going to do.


Me: Szeyi, today mommy needs to drive, so you have to sit in the car seat
Szeyi: Shake her head and cry, directing me to move away from the car
Me: Then who's going to carry you? Mommy needs to drive.
Szeyi: Pointing to the driver seat and said Dad Dad (she called her daddy "Dad Dad")


After walking around and trying for several times, I knew I can't get her in, so I had to go back home and asked hubby to fetch us all. While waiting for Daddy to get ready, Szeyi asked for nen nen so I told her:


Me: Szeyi, Mommy will make nen nen for you. After you drink, mommy take you to Amah's house and you sit in the car seat, ok?
Szeyi: Think for a while, then nodded.


So, after she had her milk and all of us were ready, we went down to the car again. This time when I tried to put her in there, she didn't stuggle or protest. To my amazement, she let me strapped the car seat belt on her! I was too shocked but quickly go to the front seat (not the back this time, since she didn't cry). Coz I remembered my breastfeeding buddies adviced me to sit in front, don't sit at the back with the child or she'll start demanding things. Hubby was surprised too, and started passing the soft toys to her. She was playing with that, but put on a gloomy look on her face.
p/s: the forlorn looks on her makes me feel so guilty...

I was anxious if she'll cry halfway, so I kept turning back to talk to her, praised her and played with her. She still has the gloomy look on her face, but after some time she rocked her head in tune to the music that I put on specially for her. Finally, we reached MIL's place and she still didn't cry! I was really relieved and happy about this progress. At least she's beginning to understand things now.

Well, I'm not sure if this first time can be considered a success or just a one-time success only, but after a few drives, I can safely declare that our battle with the car seat issue is finally over. On Friday night, when we went to fetch her after work, she willingly goes into the car seat without any struggle and I can still sit in the front passenger seat. Then today (Saturday), I decided to be adventurous and took her out for a drive all by myself. And she's really co-operating well. I'm so proud of her, and felt really relieved for the first time that I did get this car seat for her. Thanks Siew Hooi & Wooi Sin, for your advice has really helped to 'convince' my hubby ;)