Baby Saga Part 2- Cats As Baby Stuntpeople: Make Sure That Stuff is Safe!

As mentioned in my previous post, there will be a mini-Modern Domestica running around soon (well, he won’t run much for a while yet). As such, we have purchased and mostly received large baby items that facilitate everyday tiny human needs. Of course, all these items must pass a thorough safe inspection when being made and safety regulations are being updated yearly. As a new-to-be parent, nothing freaks you  out as much as reading about these safety precautions, recalls and worst case scenarios. Did you know that a tiny human could suffocate on a sheet wrinkle? Yes. A wrinkle on the bed sheet could potentially kill your baby. A screw missing from a pack n’ play could mean the whole thing collapses on the poor tiny human. And let’s not even get into harmful chemicals, rash-producing materials, exposed wires or splintered wood. It’s like a giant, scary Ninja Warrior course in which your child is purposefully trying to trip and fall into the water (according to things I read. I don’t really know this first-hand. So far I’ve only been responsible for fish and cats).

Putting aside the fears, it is fun to read directions and figure out how some things work by playing with them. Definitely want to get acquainted with the stroller features before there’s a tiny human in it who could get folded inside. It’s nice to test the softness of fabrics by washing them ahead of time and making sure tiny lint particles don’t rub out on the poor tiny human’s face and nostrils. Testing everything out is the fun part! And what better way to do it than using your cats!

***NOTICE*** No cats were harmed in the taking of these pictures. They may have been slightly humiliated, but for the most part they volunteered their stunt-work services and were rewarded with treats and extra petting.

 

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Here you can see our stunt-cat George  is checking on the airflow and comfort of a baby gym. What’s not pictured here is the variety of soft plastic balls which make this a ball pit, for fear that our stunt-cat would assume this meant he could deflate them all.

 

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Here is George again, testing the weight limit of the stroller and making sure it provides a comfortable ride to its occupant.

 

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George again, now in a pack n’ play, again testing the comfort but especially the weight limits. Seriously, he loves this thing. He slept in it for a full week basically 24/7 and was so upset when I put it away, it was ridiculous.

 

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Here we have our other stunt-cat, Whisper, checking the used IKEA Poang chair I bought for $10 at a yardsale and dyed blue for about $2, and hoping to use for nursing. She is making sure it is still fluffy and not likely to fall apart.

 

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Whisper in the swing. As some of you may notice, this image appears to be terribly photoshopped. I am sad to say neither stunt-cat really wanted to swing… maybe it’s a motion-sickness thing.

 

And there you have it! Come back in a few weeks when we test out the diapers, car seat, baby food, swaddling a baby and baby bath-time products on the cats*.

 

 

 

*I AM JOKING.

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