Taking the stinky path to improved safety

May 8, 2012 16 Comments

Sponsored by BigW

It’s the scenario every parent dreads. Driving along, singing with the radio (badly), and a little voice from the back pipes up:

“I have to go wees”

Bubba has been out of nappies for what feels like forever, so I was quite confident in telling her to wait until we got to swimming, suggesting she sing along with me while she holds it.

“Mummy, I’m GOING wees”

Sadly, I turned off the radio for that one, and I heard it. Trickling down the plastic of her chair to my fabric car seats.

COME ON! Seriously? You couldn’t wait 3 minutes?

There was nothing I could do, but continue driving, steam coming out my ears at the injustice of it all.

As it happens, this wasn’t an all bad occurrence. Being forced to take her seat out and do the clean up gave me the chance to really examine her seat and the way it fit her.

She’s getting too big. Too big for her seat, and too big for her ‘I can pee anywhere’ britches. Not that I’m holding a grudge or anything.

Since I paid over $400 for her seat, and I don’t feel inclined to do so again, I got to researching and thinking.

What I needed to do was convince Weasel to give up her convertible-booster seat so her little sister could have it, and buy a booster-only seat for Weasel. Off I went to explore the massive Big W Baby Carseat range. This is what I decided on – it meets my requirements of hard plastic shell, comfortable padding, lap sash belt and uses the anchor strap. Perfect for my tall 5yo girl until she turns 7 and no longer legally requires a seat.

Infa-Secure Ventura Booster Seat

Anyone else totally get an ET vibe? Infa-Secure Ventura CS54 Booster Seat $108

Why did I spend so much last time? I’m such a fool. I was all about the brands, despite this seat from Big W scoring considerably higher in the latest CREP safety tests. I could have just bought this and used the savings to buy a piddle mat for Bubba! I am tempted to replace both seats at these prices. I drive a little 3 door car and I worry about not having the safest carseats I can get, especially since the car itself is unlikely to offer much protection against a bigger car – you know, one made of metal or something.

Infa-Secure EHP Convertible Booster

Infa-Secure EHP CS57 Convertible Booster $248

This one would take Bubba all the way through to big kid size, as well as make me feel a lot better about her safety. I’m older and wiser now; when it comes to my kids it’s not about the brand and it’s perception of safeness, I’m all about proven safety, trusted sellers and affordable prices.

Now I’m off to take out the seats again and shampoo my back seat, because I will need to trade the car in at some point, and I heard pee stink is a real turn off for buyers. Go figure.

What’s the worst mess your child has made in your car?
Linking up with IBOT again :)

 

16 Comments

Go to DPCON12? Oh no, I couldn’t possibly!

March 7, 2012 Leave a Comment

For the past whatever months, the blogosphere has been abuzz with requests for sponsorship to attend this wonderful event. I wouldn’t mind going myself, provided it didn’t actually involve going.

Having worked in the conference arena in the past, I know exactly what a great time could be had, especially at the after hours functions. These functions are planned in such a way that even the organisers let their hair down. Our conference staff room was always stocked with Berocca, V energy drinks, Panadol & Nurofen. It may have had some other boosters on offer, but one would have had to ask around. Running a week long conference with 7000 attendees is draining and staff get to a point where they’re actively engaged in the debauchery. Just saying.

The best part of a conference for me was always the trade expo. Can anyone say freebies? I still have a bunch of branded items lying around. Well sure they weren’t intended for me, but why should delegates score all the goodies and fun? The trade guys were bored, and I was being helpful until the delegates finished waffling about whatever.

Of course, this was all pre-children. Pre-single parenthood. Pre-self imposed poverty. If I were to go a conference now I would need to leave my baby, who despite being 2.5 years old is still very much my baby. I would need to pay for flights and taxis, instead of dropping a note on someone’s desk requesting they ‘make it happen’. I would need to pay for my own hotel room and room service, and well frankly, bugger that.

Finally, it would involve mingling, and I’m astonishingly bad at that. Honestly, I was listening, I was also just really fascinated by that cloud out the window. Maybe you should drop in random words to bring me back?

Woman I have secret blog crush on: Wow, this is amazing, I can’t believe how many bloggers are here.
Me: Yes, there’s a lot. I wonder who has sponsorship, they should totally wear hats.
Woman I have secret blog crush on: Something something something cheese boobs  and it was quite an achievement.
Me: Did you see the squishy whales in the trade expo?

You see? High quality conversation and small talk. Attending would be money well spent.

Fortunately, nobody has approached me to offer sponsorship, and I coincidentally have a much awaited appointment with the pulmonary specialist on the 29th.

I can hear the Aussie blogosphere breathing a collective sigh of relief. You’re off the hook this time, but I do expect to leech whatever knowledge you take away.

Because I’m helpful like that.

 

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