A short while ago, I started giving you some car related tips for new moms. Make sure you check them out and here's part II.
At a year, baby and seat face forward, which is better, but you still don’t want your passenger to get kicked unmercifully every time they sit in your car. The forward-facing seat is much less onerous although still a pain, and he will be in it or a booster seat until he’s eight. Yes, eight. You do not want to be driving a MINI right now.
Check out the outside door handles, imagining yourself wearing mittens, with a diaper bag slung around your neck, a baby on one hip, and your keys in your teeth. How easy are they to use now?
Once you’ve narrowed it down to a couple of choices, start thinking about equipment. If you can afford it and don’t get the factory-installed DVD system, you will live to regret it. Bite the bullet now. (Be careful giving toddlers an iPad to keep them occupied. It may seem like a perfect solution, but in my experience, it makes them pukey.)
You want not only a cavernous trunk, but one with an opening wide enough for your stroller. Don’t guess — measure it. If you get your shiny new car home and discover your desperately longed for Bugaboo doesn’t fit in it … Let’s face it, you are very pregnant — you will cry for days.
You will also be carrying a large diaper bag, possibly a play yard, and at some point in his early development, every single available engine plus 100 feet of track for Thomas and His Friends. From here on in, you are going to be toting around a whole lot of stuff.
Of course look for good fuel economy and excellent safety ratings, but you should be doing that anyway. Finally, if you are one of those people who absolutely can’t stay off the phone (be honest), get the Bluetooth connectivity. Beware steeply angled rear windows, which may result in streams of sunlight shining directly into that pretty baby’s baby blues. And get a couple of suction-cup screens for the side windows.
Ideally also before delivery day, get your carseat installation checked. Your local police and fire services run regular clinics, or give your town government a call and ask where you can go.
When I first had my kids, I suddenly became terrified that I would fall down the stairs while holding one, even though I think I have managed to make it this far in life without ever once falling down the stairs.
When you’ve finally picked out a car, and Bump is finally home, try not to let nerves get the best of you — if you were a good driver before, you’re still a good driver. If you weren’t, it’s time to admit it and get help. Go to a reputable driving school. It’s too important.
If it’s winter, get the best winter tires you can afford. I mean snow tires, not all-seasons. You will be absolutely amazed at the difference they make in the way your car handles in the snow, ice and cold. They will give you more confidence than just about anything else.
The simplest things you can do are pure common sense. Slow down. Don’t tailgate. Wear a seatbelt. Don’t drink. Don’t smoke. Don’t apply eye-liner. Don’t speed too much. Keep your eyes moving from mirror to mirror, staying aware of everything going on around you. Do all the things you should have been doing when it was just you and old what’s-his-name.
Finally, here’s a little tip I actually picked up in a novel years ago and have had in mind ever since, whether or not there was a baby on board. When you’re pulling out to make a left turn, pull out into the intersection, then straighten out your wheels. If your wheels are turned in and you get hit from behind, you’re going to be sent into oncoming traffic. The passenger’s side, where you’re most likely to put baby (so you can see him in the rearview mirror when you’re driving) is going to be most vulnerable.
Bringing a baby home doesn’t have to mean added stress on the road. Shop smart, drive smart, and enjoy every second. He’ll be bugging you for the keys before you know it.
At a year, baby and seat face forward, which is better, but you still don’t want your passenger to get kicked unmercifully every time they sit in your car. The forward-facing seat is much less onerous although still a pain, and he will be in it or a booster seat until he’s eight. Yes, eight. You do not want to be driving a MINI right now.
Check out the outside door handles, imagining yourself wearing mittens, with a diaper bag slung around your neck, a baby on one hip, and your keys in your teeth. How easy are they to use now?
Once you’ve narrowed it down to a couple of choices, start thinking about equipment. If you can afford it and don’t get the factory-installed DVD system, you will live to regret it. Bite the bullet now. (Be careful giving toddlers an iPad to keep them occupied. It may seem like a perfect solution, but in my experience, it makes them pukey.)
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| 2012 Dodge Durango Citadelle (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
You want not only a cavernous trunk, but one with an opening wide enough for your stroller. Don’t guess — measure it. If you get your shiny new car home and discover your desperately longed for Bugaboo doesn’t fit in it … Let’s face it, you are very pregnant — you will cry for days.
You will also be carrying a large diaper bag, possibly a play yard, and at some point in his early development, every single available engine plus 100 feet of track for Thomas and His Friends. From here on in, you are going to be toting around a whole lot of stuff.
Of course look for good fuel economy and excellent safety ratings, but you should be doing that anyway. Finally, if you are one of those people who absolutely can’t stay off the phone (be honest), get the Bluetooth connectivity. Beware steeply angled rear windows, which may result in streams of sunlight shining directly into that pretty baby’s baby blues. And get a couple of suction-cup screens for the side windows.
Ideally also before delivery day, get your carseat installation checked. Your local police and fire services run regular clinics, or give your town government a call and ask where you can go.
When I first had my kids, I suddenly became terrified that I would fall down the stairs while holding one, even though I think I have managed to make it this far in life without ever once falling down the stairs.
When you’ve finally picked out a car, and Bump is finally home, try not to let nerves get the best of you — if you were a good driver before, you’re still a good driver. If you weren’t, it’s time to admit it and get help. Go to a reputable driving school. It’s too important.
If it’s winter, get the best winter tires you can afford. I mean snow tires, not all-seasons. You will be absolutely amazed at the difference they make in the way your car handles in the snow, ice and cold. They will give you more confidence than just about anything else.
The simplest things you can do are pure common sense. Slow down. Don’t tailgate. Wear a seatbelt. Don’t drink. Don’t smoke. Don’t apply eye-liner. Don’t speed too much. Keep your eyes moving from mirror to mirror, staying aware of everything going on around you. Do all the things you should have been doing when it was just you and old what’s-his-name.
Finally, here’s a little tip I actually picked up in a novel years ago and have had in mind ever since, whether or not there was a baby on board. When you’re pulling out to make a left turn, pull out into the intersection, then straighten out your wheels. If your wheels are turned in and you get hit from behind, you’re going to be sent into oncoming traffic. The passenger’s side, where you’re most likely to put baby (so you can see him in the rearview mirror when you’re driving) is going to be most vulnerable.
Bringing a baby home doesn’t have to mean added stress on the road. Shop smart, drive smart, and enjoy every second. He’ll be bugging you for the keys before you know it.
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