April 6th, 2006

The Child And The Car

»

I don’t think it has only genetic connection that the kid like to manipulate the steering wheel like her parents do. It is a child’s fantasy to be able to drive a real car, all children loves to play with the steering wheel.

I have not been exactly a safe mom that diligently uses a car seat. We have packed her space invading throne into the store room a long time ago. Now, I sit her on the passenger seat and strap her in place using the safety belt. Initially, I felt like a bad mom who ignored/neglected the safety aspect of the kid by not using a proper car seat. There was once when she stood up looking out the window while I was driving, and have a bad fall when I applied a sudden brake. It gave both of us a bad fright, but from then onwards, she understood the importance of sitting properly while I was driving. Hence, I got bolder and said bye bye to the car seat. Not exactly something I would encourage anyone to do, maybe I should get a toddler booster seat as soon as possible.

Sometimes, it gets me a bit worrying that Yauyau could actually sit absolutely still throughout a 30min drive. Why isn’t she restless like the other kids? Why isn’t she trying to climb around the car? Why isn’t she trying to unbuckle the seat belt? You know, you get worry when the kid behaves, but get frustrated when they plays like most kids do. Oh well, nothing please us moms.

It also surprises me that children can pick up small detail in identifying cars. I always ninja my father’s car and drive it around. He just changed a new car a couple of months ago. As we know, all the normal and popular family sedan looks identical nowadays. Even I had problem locating the liver colour Nissan Sunny in the car park if I don’t look at the car plate. There are a few really similar looking, liver colour Toyotas in the same car park, and the kid never failed going up to the right car. Amazing! How did she do it? Did she remember the car plate number? Or she actually picks up the difference in their logo?

5 Responses to “The Child And The Car”

  1. www.idobaby.com Says:

    You are invited to Singapore Largest Parenting Website at http://www.idobaby.com

  2. Anonymous Says:

    its not so much the fact that you are negligent about the safety of your child that shocks me. its the fact that you are fully aware of the risks involved and yet despite that, choose to persist in still running them.
    theres a word for that. its called reckless.

  3. tess Says:

    in as much as you don’t like using your car seat, any chance of selling it? i don’t really need it because i don’t have a car here. but we’ll be visiting my parents for a month. And back there, there are cars galore from all my 6 brothers i can borrow. i’d like some mobility and drive with her alone. thanks.

  4. Rene Says:

    It sounds like your little one is around the age of a toddler. It’s not safe for her to be in the passenger seat…if the airbag inflates, she could die from suffocation. I lived in the USA for 6 years and one thing I learnt is the great importance placed on car safety for the ones who need our protection. There is even a law there that unless the child is 12 years of age, he is not allowed to be in the passenger side of the car.

  5. GP Says:

    Plse reconsider yr decision to allow yr child not to use a car seat and to sit in front if there is an airbag fitted to your car passenger seat when travelling. I am aware that a large number of children are seen without being strapped to a car seat on SG’s roads but that does not make it alright in my opinion. You are the parent, you have the right to do as you wish but please re-consider.

    I saw this on youtube and find it a good reminder for myself.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

    GP

Leave a Reply