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Tara77
LIF Infant
Member since 7/07 284 total posts
Name:
Tara
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Nervous about driving with DS... ETA: update for those who replied...
When did you first drive your DC alone?
Gavin is 11 weeks old, and until now, I've always sat in the backseat with him whenever I've gone anywhere (either DH drives, or my sis comes over if I want to go somewhere during the day and drives). I want to start going places on our own, but am nervous about "leaving" him in the back seat. 
Am I being too overprotective? I am confident with my driving, I just worry he'll be confused not seeing me. He always cries in his carseat as it is.
ETA: Do you have a mirror?
ETA update: I did it and it felt great! 
*I only pulled over once (I wasn't hearing him coo anymore, so I checked on him...sound asleep, of course). I did not go get a mirror, but I did find an old shower gift I received and stowed away- a toy bar that velcros on the carseat handle. It has a spinning thingy with a mirror, so at red lights, I would turn back and look at that mirror. Thanks to you all for encouraging me- it's so not a big deal after the first time! Now, where to tomorrow.... 
Message edited 6/2/2008 10:43:23 PM.
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Posted 6/2/08 9:39 AM  |
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Charly
LOVE!
Member since 5/05 12578 total posts
Name:
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
I had the same fears when DD was a newborn. Although I never sat in the back with her, I was just scared to take her out alone for some reason.
At almost 8 weeks I made plans with a friend of mine and that forced me out of the house. Once I did it I was fine and my whole world changed (for the better)
Just do it!!!
Message edited 6/2/2008 9:42:50 AM.
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| Posted 6/2/08 9:41 AM |
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
I suggest getting am mirror so you can see him. I went out at 10 days old and I was nervous but I needed to get out with him. I also didn't want to start a habit of him getting use to me in the back.
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| Posted 6/2/08 9:44 AM |
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tabrtm
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 1314 total posts
Name:
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Under a week.
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| Posted 6/2/08 9:47 AM |
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DmarieK
My loves!!
Member since 1/06 9203 total posts
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
I was never nervous about driving with DS. I went out with him the first week.
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| Posted 6/2/08 9:55 AM |
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classylayd
LIF Infant
Member since 7/07 288 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Posted by Seles81
I suggest getting am mirror so you can see him. I went out at 10 days old and I was nervous but I needed to get out with him. I also didn't want to start a habit of him getting use to me in the back.
ITA!!! That is the only way I was able to drive with her alone.
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| Posted 6/2/08 9:56 AM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
we had drs appointments and Leo works a lot, so I guess very early on.
I always knew he was fine though since he screamed the entire time.
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| Posted 6/2/08 9:59 AM |
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Tara77
LIF Infant
Member since 7/07 284 total posts
Name:
Tara
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Omigosh... I guess I was overreacting! 
Thanks so much for the quick responses!
I am sooo going out with him today! I'll let you know how we (I) made out! I'm expecting to have to pull over a few times when he starts crying, though. 
--But just out of curiosity, was anyone as scared as I've been this whole time??
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:01 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
I was only home with DW for a little while, so with DS, she had to drive fairly early alone. With DD, she was used to it, plus she had routines with DS (preschool, etc) that she had to keep, so she had no choice but to drive alone with them.
The sooner you get out and do it, the less stressed you'll be about it. If you wait too long to drive alone, you'll be a complete mess when you go.
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:03 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Posted by Janice
we had drs appointments and Leo works a lot, so I guess very early on.
I always knew he was fine though since he screamed the entire time.
When DW and I drove together the first few weeks, I kept reassuring her "If he's crying, that means he's still breathing...."
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:04 AM |
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Tara77
LIF Infant
Member since 7/07 284 total posts
Name:
Tara
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Posted by Seles81
I suggest getting am mirror so you can see him. I went out at 10 days old and I was nervous but I needed to get out with him. I also didn't want to start a habit of him getting use to me in the back.
You know, when i was pregnant and registering for baby, someone advised me NOT to get a mirror (appearantly, they said it could "fall" and injure him-- she's more overprotective than I am!). But, that's pretty farfetched, so I think that will be my first stop today- BRU to get a mirror!
Thanks for the advice!
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:05 AM |
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Charly
LOVE!
Member since 5/05 12578 total posts
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Posted by Tara77
--But just out of curiosity, was anyone as scared as I've been this whole time??
I WAS!!!! I didn't use a mirror (the policeman took it out when he inspected my seat) so I was even more worried, but DD did fine. I NEVER had to pull over.
Good luck!! Enjoy getting out.
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:05 AM |
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Tara77
LIF Infant
Member since 7/07 284 total posts
Name:
Tara
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Posted by Charly
Posted by Tara77
--But just out of curiosity, was anyone as scared as I've been this whole time??
I WAS!!!! I didn't use a mirror (the policeman took it out when he inspected my seat) so I was even more worried, but DD did fine. I NEVER had to pull over.
Good luck!! Enjoy getting out.
Really??? (about the mirror) 
Hmm... not to spin the original post, but why did the cops take it out when the seat was inspected? Was it because of the risk of it falling?
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:09 AM |
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Charly
LOVE!
Member since 5/05 12578 total posts
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Posted by Tara77
Really??? (about the mirror)
Hmm... not to spin the original post, but why did the cops take it out when the seat was inspected? Was it because of the risk of it falling?
Really. He said anything that can come loose (mirror, sun shade that isn't the film kind that sticks to the window, can of soda, purse, etc) can be a real hazard should you get in an accident and it come loose. He said he's seen too many accidents where infants were injured because those mirrors came loose. He also said they cause accidents - you shouldn't be looking back there, you should be concentrating on the road. It only takes one second of looking at the baby to cause an accident.
I personally don't feel strongly one way or the other, I just didn't want to take the chance. Honestly I never missed it. There was never a time I needed it. You can't see the baby at night anyway so why get used to it. Just my opinion, but plenty of people use them and have never had an issue.
Message edited 6/2/2008 10:14:07 AM.
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:13 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Posted by Tara77
Posted by Charly
Posted by Tara77
--But just out of curiosity, was anyone as scared as I've been this whole time??
I WAS!!!! I didn't use a mirror (the policeman took it out when he inspected my seat) so I was even more worried, but DD did fine. I NEVER had to pull over.
Good luck!! Enjoy getting out.
Really??? (about the mirror)
Hmm... not to spin the original post, but why did the cops take it out when the seat was inspected? Was it because of the risk of it falling?
There's a paranoia about mirrors hitting DC during an accident. Most people (including police and car seat inspectors) forget that ANYTHING in the car can hit people in the head. Cell phones, pocketbooks, tissue boxes, bottles, etc. The mirrors are probably the safest thing in the car. As long as they are strapped down, they aren't going anywhere.
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:14 AM |
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Tara77
LIF Infant
Member since 7/07 284 total posts
Name:
Tara
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Tara77
Posted by Charly
Posted by Tara77
--But just out of curiosity, was anyone as scared as I've been this whole time??
I WAS!!!! I didn't use a mirror (the policeman took it out when he inspected my seat) so I was even more worried, but DD did fine. I NEVER had to pull over.
Good luck!! Enjoy getting out.
Really??? (about the mirror)
Hmm... not to spin the original post, but why did the cops take it out when the seat was inspected? Was it because of the risk of it falling?
There's a paranoia about mirrors hitting DC during an accident. Most people (including police and car seat inspectors) forget that ANYTHING in the car can hit people in the head. Cell phones, pocketbooks, tissue boxes, bottles, etc. The mirrors are probably the safest thing in the car. As long as they are strapped down, they aren't going anywhere.
That was my next question exactly. Shouldn't they be tested for safety and such?
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:17 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Posted by Charly
Posted by Tara77
Really??? (about the mirror)
Hmm... not to spin the original post, but why did the cops take it out when the seat was inspected? Was it because of the risk of it falling?
Really. He said anything that can come loose (mirror, sun shade that isn't the film kind that sticks to the window, can of soda, purse, etc) can be a real hazard should you get in an accident and it come loose. He said he's seen too many accidents where infants were injured because those mirrors came loose. He also said they cause accidents - you shouldn't be looking back there, you should be concentrating on the road. It only takes one second of looking at the baby to cause an accident.
I personally don't feel strongly one way or the other, I just didn't want to take the chance. Honestly I never missed it. There was never a time I needed it. You can't see the baby at night anyway so why get used to it. Just my opinion, but plenty of people use them and have never had an issue.
On the flip side, the mirror can let you see if DC has something in their mouth that they shouldn't have, or if they are having trouble breathing.
EVERYTHING is a distraction. Other cars, signs on the side of the road, buildings, people, etc. Your eyes should be constantly moving anyway, so a fraction of a second on DC's mirror is just part of the fractions of seconds you spend looking at everything else out there (including signs on the side of the road such as fund raisers for the fire/police department, "Buckle Up" signs, etc.....)
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:18 AM |
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saraH
happy birthday sweet kate!
Member since 5/05 16555 total posts
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I know that God exsists, I held her in my arms...
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
I drove alone with DD when she was about 9 weeks old. We were moving and I went to my parents for the day. It was only about 10 minutes away, and I don't think I went over 30 miles ph but I was nervous the whole time.
In the end, she was fine, and I was fine and have done it numerous times since then.
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:19 AM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
I did no mirror...the police offiver made a lot of sense when he told me the best thing I could do was keep my eyes on the road at all times.
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:21 AM |
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clmj2
cant believe hes gone
Member since 3/07 4407 total posts
Name:
Candice
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
i drove with DD the first week...had a doc. appt. so no choice!
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:24 AM |
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Charly
LOVE!
Member since 5/05 12578 total posts
Name:
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Posted by GoldenRod
On the flip side, the mirror can let you see if DC has something in their mouth that they shouldn't have, or if they are having trouble breathing.
EVERYTHING is a distraction. Other cars, signs on the side of the road, buildings, people, etc. Your eyes should be constantly moving anyway, so a fraction of a second on DC's mirror is just part of the fractions of seconds you spend looking at everything else out there (including signs on the side of the road such as fund raisers for the fire/police department, "Buckle Up" signs, etc.....)
I hear ya, but I'll tell you now that DD is forward facing I find myself looking at her in the rear view mirror and for ME it is very distracting.
I'm the type that needs to stay focused on the road. It's just safer for all of us.
Again for some it works, for me it does not.
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:27 AM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
I drove DS alone for the first time when he was about a month old to go to his doctor's office. I'm also a fairly new driver, so I was even more nervous!
I did not get the mirror--I heard it could fly off with a sudden stop or an accident and hit DS. Also, keeping your eyes on the road is a good idea. Honestly, he usually just babbles to himself a bit and falls asleep, so there isn't much need to look at him now.
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:31 AM |
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mrsej
The cutest!
Member since 1/07 2495 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
Posted by Tara77
I am sooo going out with him today! I'll let you know how we (I) made out! I'm expecting to have to pull over a few times when he starts crying, though.
--But just out of curiosity, was anyone as scared as I've been this whole time??
I took DS in the car when he was about 2 weeks old. I drove about an hour with him alone when he was 4 weeks. Just be careful about pulling over when he starts crying. I would just keep driving if he cries. It is safer. It might be a little annoying, but eventuallyhe will stop.
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:54 AM |
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ckdk
My girls
Member since 5/05 7027 total posts
Name:
Cheryl
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
from day 1... yes, had a mirror...
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| Posted 6/2/08 10:58 AM |
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MyChip-n-Dales
lifes many lil twisted curves
Member since 10/07 5158 total posts
Name:
aeriell
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Re: Nervous about driving with DS... when did you
1st day out of nicu dh couldnt get there till late so i said meet me home.. i packed up my boys and took them... i never used a mirror
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| Posted 6/2/08 11:00 AM |
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