The Pacifier

We don't have problems with Euen riding the car, in her car seat. As long as the car's MOVING. It's even a lullaby to her and she feels being rocked the faster we go.

But, when the car stops moving, she doesn't like it and she starts to get fussy. Imagine when it's TRAFFIC.

I try different tricks to stop her from crying. Singing a song, putting a toy in front of her, making the toy talk to her. But it doesn't work. I know I couldn't explain to her that she's can't get out of the car seat when we're in the car. I get helpless seeing her cry.

Then came my saviour. The pacifier! She didn't latch right away, it fell a couple of times but this got her to stop crying. After a few times, she learned how to latch and I was very happy. Good job baby.

Another Car Seat

We visited the newly opened branch of HMR near our place. It is one of the biggest surplus shops in the Philippines. We always love to go to these places, when we're lukcy we find something we need for a fair price.

This one day is indeed a lucky day for Denden. He found this: Britax Baby-Safe Plus SHR II car seat. Well, it is not actually a need, because we already have a car seat. But he got fond of it because it fits Euen's stroller. He justified that aside from being the car seat and stroller seat, it can also be used as a rocker.

At first I didn't want him to get it since it can only be used up to fifteen months. But for the very low price, I couldn't stop him anymore.

Alright, I admit, it was more convenient now and there's more space in the trunk. So, the stroller seat was packed again. The other car seat was placed on the other car.

And the baby seemed snugly-happy.

January 27: Thirteenth Maternity Checkup @W36

Euen started to lay low in her movements this week. This is because she's growing fast in my tummy and her swimming-pool-world inside is beginning to be small for her. She can't toss and turn as much, at this point. Blood pressure normal and my weight has been constant for three weeks now. Though it looks like there is an extra large watermelon, still growing, inside my shirt. Had another nonstress test today, to record Euen 's movements, even those that I've been barely feeling. No contractions yet.

My OB, Tita Cel, is out of the country for a week. I need to cross my fingers that Euen will not want to come out, until she comes back. The D-day is set! Two more weeks to go!

In other news, after trying on the baby wrap with brown bear, Denden needed a model, smaller than brown bear, for the car seat. I was surprised to see Amy the bear, strapped on it last night.

A few days more and Denden will install it in the car.

Shipment from US

I'm on my 28th week now and I am giving a warm hello to the third and last trimester!
I got a treat, our orders from the US arrived in the Philippines the other day: the car seat, stroller and bassinet! And to celebrate, Denden picked it up from the warehouse himself. After all, it wasn't far from our house.

The boxes were indeed big, especially the car seat. After careful inspection, it was as he expected it to be. Details can be found here in my previous entry. One excited daddy wants to install it in the car last night, I just forced him not too.

The stroller and free bassinet were both lovely. It looked bigger compared to the pictures. And it looked very sturdy and durable. There is a huge space underneath for all the stuff you'd like to bring. Yey for me who likes to bring EVERYTHING. I was happy with the reversibility, it wasn't hard changing from rear to front facing. And I also liked the fact the we could change the stroller seat to the bassinet. It wasn't hard doing that either. The bassinet will be attached to the stroller for the first few months as intended.

Thanks to our Ninang Rose who took care of the shipment from US. Also, for the "other stuff" inside the box. Thanks to Marose for the baby things she sent: toys, clothes and a pair of baby shoes for Euen.

Last night, it seemed that it wasn't only me and Denden who's excited. Little baby Euen kept on moving and kicking inside my tummy while we were assembling. Just a little while now, my baby. It won't be long and you'll be here.

Selecting a Child Safety Seat

We decided that our baby will be riding in a child safety seat while travelling starting from the time that she will be brought home from the hospital. There is no law in the Philippines requiring babies/toddlers to be secured in a car seat but research has proven that it is truly the safer way.

There are traditionally 4 common types of car seats.
1. Infant Car seats. Rear facing and fits new born babies, 6 months to 1 year old depending on the weight and height of the baby. Weight limit: 4 to 22-35 lbs.

2. Convertible Car Seats. Both rear facing and forward facing options. Once the toddler is big enough, the seat can be installed forward facing. Weight limit: rear facing 5 to 30-45 lbs and forward facing 20-80 lbs.

3. Combination Car Seats. Forward facing only and can be used also as high back booster seats. Weight limit: 20-90 lbs in harness mode and 30-120 lbs when used as high back booster.

4. Booster Car Seats. Forward facing only and doesn’t have a harness of it’s own. It is normally used to help position the vehicle seat belt correctly on the lap and shoulder of the toddler.

Rear facing seats are still the safest and safety advocates are suggesting that children be rear facing for as long as possible. This is because during a crash the force is distributed towards the whole seatback of the car seat instead of just the harness. It also protects the delicate neck and spine of a child that is still developing. Here's an informative video here.

Since there are convertible car seats that can accommodate a newborn as well, we decided to skip the infant car seat and get a convertible car seat. Almost all of the car seats in the local market has a weight limit of 40 lbs and most have short shells. Our baby might outgrow the seat by height instead of weight, not to mention that the good brands are priced in the five digit range.

We again went to the online shopping route and we got an Evenflo Triumph 65 LX convertible car seat for USD118.99 from Albeebaby. It can accommodate 5-40 lbs rear facing and 20-65 lbs forward facing. It has a non-rethread harness height adjustment and a knob adjuster for harness tightness. It is one of the more compact installing convertible car seat that would install well in our compact car based on research from the car-seat.org website.

Mission accomlished for Denden.
Now, we just have to wait for the shipping.