I’m writing this article as I lay horizontal on bed rest for my latest motherhood induced injury, a crick neck. Just an average day in the life of this mum who credits 15 months of exclusively breastfeeding (not a flex) and falling asleep in the most cooked positions for laying a pretty steady foundation of stiffness in the muscles, tendons and ligaments in my neck that love to flare up out of nowhere, like today. Honourable mention to my 4 year old who joins us most nights in bed and requires the most delicious (not for my poor neck) full-body cuddles-to-sleep. Couldn’t forget her!
I feel like I never really understood adult ailments as a younger, child-free person. When do the ailments begin? Sports-related injuries sure. But a random “bung” something? That was until I had kids. The positions parents find themselves in whilst delivering the perfect rock-to-sleep motion, or the simultaneous hand-holding-patting, shhh-ing or singing, whatever the combo is, to ensure they drift off to sleep in their dimly lit, dulcet toned, temperature controlled bedroom. All this while we lay on hard wooden floors or if you’re lucky plush carpet, often without a pillow. Sigh. And we just suffer in silence (our friends and family may have something to say about the silent part??) until some gorgeous genius of a human thinks, “there must be a better way!” And goes on to completely redesign something you use everyday, solving a very real PAIN point. (Gorgeous segue-pun if I’ve ever written one).
The Maxi-Cosi Raia360 LX Rotating Convertible Car Seat, in all its full-circle glory, is the result of one of those “there must be a better way” moments. THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY DEGREES! What do you mean I don’t have to contort my body at an uncomfortable angle while tightening and fastening straps to get my kid safely into their car seat!? This 360-degree technology is truly life-changing stuff.
I posted a reel to Instagram showing the installation and functionality of the car seat. Parents were absolutely losing it in the comments at how this would save their sore bodies. And I wasn’t surprised one bit. You see, car seats have a way of being the final straw on a challenging day. A day when you’re struggling to get out the door to make it to whatever appointment that you’re already late to with your kid/s in tow. You’re overstimulated, uncaffeinated and sweaty, trying really hard to stay in “gentle parenting” mode. And then the straps are tangled or won’t loosen from a certain angle. It’s like they know you’re having one of those days. So now you’re bending and twisting with half of your body up and inside the car thinking, “It’s 8:15am WTAF.”
Those days (at least the car seats completely breaking you part) are a thing of the past with rotating car seats. Designed for 0 months - 4 years, the car seat features a 360-degree swivel that allows the seat to rotate from front OR rear facing to the open passenger door. No full-body contortion or fumbling of straps. You pop your baby/toddler/bestie/tiny dictator into the seat FACING you. You tighten and fasten the seatbelts with EASE. You swivel the seat to front or rear facing (it also auto-locks into place with red-to-green safety indicators!) and go on your merry way! It makes every drop-off, pick-up and errand run simple. Every. Single. Time. A simple design change with the biggest impact. I’m just a little mad that I didn’t think of it!
My husband Charlie asked that I include that our youngest loves when we say “weeeee!” as she swivels - yes, getting into the car has actually become fun! But seriously, because they’re facing you it’s easier to maneuver them and they are way less cranky getting into the car. And then you go “weeeee!” and perfect baby chuckles ensue!
I wanted to also touch on the installation. I might be outing myself here but, I’m not an installation parent. I’m a research, source, purchase and pick-up kind of parent. But installation? Not my bag. Which it doesn’t take long as a parent to realise is a real problem, because quite often you need to move your car seat, and if you have to have a mechanic appointment to do that every time, you end up pretty stuck. I had to learn, and the Raia360 LX Rotating Convertible Car Seat was stupidly easy and quick to install, there was no reason not to. The fixed base of the seat features graphics and written instructions, as well as built-in red-to-green safety indicators, part of their SMART Lock™ system, to signal if straps have been installed properly and secured tightly enough. It also features ISOFIX technology and comes with two removable cup holders, newborn inserts and breathable mesh for year-round comfort.
As someone who didn’t have the pleasure of this technology with her first kid, this 360-degree swivel technology really makes a difference. Our routine is simpler and we’re a lot happier thanks to a genius upgrade to an essential product most parents use multiple times a day. Think of it as bio-hacking but for car seats. The Maxi-Cosi Raia360 LX Rotating Convertible Car Seat is lowering stress and adding years to our lives*. Happy, safe and stress-free driving, everyone!
*more of a vibe than proven fact.
