As I was packing for nearly two weeks away I knew I was packing too many clothes. But I kind of couldn't help myself. Not clothes for myself - I just packed the bare essentials for me - but clothes for the baby and the 3 year old - definitely. Baby and kids clothes are kind of my weakness. If I have a choice between buying clothes for myself or buying clothes for them I will always buy for them because it is always more fun. I left most of the toys at home - just a few puzzles and distraction devices and although I knew I would have to take a car seat with me I decided to leave the pram behind.
As we were packing up my mother's small car with all the stuff I did bring, I was very glad that I didn't bring it - there's now way it would have fit - not with two car seats in the back of her car!
1. I Didn't Miss It
I thought after about a week I might regret my decision not to bring it but I didn't miss it or even really notice that I didn't have it. Unlike the times I'm at home and I forget to bring the carrier. That I always regret.
2. It Made Christmas Shopping Easy
I managed to buy 6 Christmas presents in about 45 minutes for the part of my family I was visiting. I'm a big fan of speed shopping. Get in, get out, no fuss. Speed shopping with a wriggly 8 month old baby is definitely improved by her being asleep in the carrier.
3. Overstimulated Babies Like to be Worn
Being on holidays around a lot of keen relatives who hadn't had much of a chance to see the baby previously, means that the baby missed out on some of her sleep. And she was often far more keen on checking out all the new people than having a rest. Which is all well and good until she hit the wall of tired and needed to sleep but was too overstimulated and overtired to do so. It was nice to know that I could just wear her to sleep while still spending time with my family.
4. A Birds Eye View is Better Than Looking At the Sky
My baby far prefers to be perched up in the carrier looking at everyone, checking out people's faces and in general surveying her domain rather than being in the pram. Instead of looking up at the sky if she's in the layback position or looking at the people's legs if she's in the upright position, she gets to see the way everyone else does. It is possible that this is why strangers told me that my baby was a flirt. She learned all about peek-a-boo while we were away.
5. Country Towns Don't Always Have Footpaths
I was staying in the country so not everywhere is guttered or has foot paths and some of it could have been annoying to navigate with a pram. It was much easier being on foot without having to push anything. My pram handles off-road pretty well but I don't think it would have been a smooth ride for the baby. I doubt she would have gotten much sleep.
Now if only I could convince the flight crew that the carrier is superior to the infant seat belt I'd really be on to something . . .
