Preggo stuff, Baby Stuff, Toddler Stuff...post your best finds here!!

[Pandora II]

Date: 2/25/2009 12:29:25 PM
Author: mela lu
Hi gals!
I''m needing help from my American friends.

Our nursery is small, and the change table that came with our nursery set (from SIL) is very petite. It fits into the space-challenged room, but does not accommodate a standard change table mat (31'' or 33''). It only allows for a 28'' mat.

I''ve found this Kicka$$ mat, made in the UK, available in the US, but not in Canada. (??? this goes back to my rant about Canada feeling like a 3rd world country concerning shipping - ANYWAY!)

Here is the product: Kuster ''jelly baby'' change mat in cream.

http://kuster.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=41&osCsid=7aa27e8c393f923c0cb3e3f8f37d0501

One seller on Ebay has them...but won''t respond to my question about colour

.

What else can I try?
Have you seen these around anywhere? Will THEY ship to Canada?
(I live in an igloo...does that mean I can''t have it?! JOKING!)

Mela, I''ve just bought that one. Try Amazon - I found it way cheaper on the UK amazon site than ebay or anywhere else.

 

[qtiekiki]

Just thought I would mention that I love bumkins bib for solid feeding. So easy to clean, and don''t stain.

 

[Pandora II]

I''m an obsessive review reader and research nut, here are a few of my finds and bargains:

Crib:

Arm''s Reach Mini-Co-Sleeper

Had real difficulty finding one as they don''t stock them in the UK - however an American expat selling on ebay came up trups and in the colour I wanted (Tan Dot). Still cost as much as it would new in the USA, but they would be more expensive here anyway...

Pros:

- Really easy to assemble, also folds up in minutes into carrycase so great as a portable cot for visiting grandparents/hotels etc and means the baby is sleeping in a familiar environment.

- Loads of storage space underneath

- Very narrow (34"x 20"x31), so great if you live in London-sized apartments - ie very small, and looks like the baby will be nice and cosy rather than floundering around in some huge cot.

- Usual pros of co-sleepers (yet to find out if it''s a good as they say...)

Cons:

- They print saftey instructions all over the fabric (not really a problem, but aesthetically not wonderful)

- Mattress seems very hard - also not standard size. But there are ebay shops that specialise in made-to-measure baby mattresses in loads of different things at great prices - I''ve ordered a coconut coir and organic wool mattress made-to-measure with all the safety certs and it''s costing about $50 - hooray!

- The sheets are not a standard size so you have to order their sheets which aren''t that cheap. Also, the cotton ones aren''t very soft. They do have a bamboo range which I haven''t seen but maybe nicer. I''m resorting to buying some nice sheets over here and running them up on the sewing machine.

 

[Pandora II]

Cot:

Stokke Sleepi

I thought this looked great but was probably a bit gimmicky - until I got to see in up close in person.

Found it on ebay as a pick-up only item just down the road from where we live in London and managed to get it for around a quarter of the retail price. Hooray!

Pros:

- Stokke design orthopaedic furniture and their baby collection is the only one stocked by the specialist back shops in London for people with back problems. It has four separate levels that you can have the mattress at so it really reduces the amount you have to bend.

- You can use it from birth with the mini-kit. It has castors so you can move it easily from room to room and fits easily through doorways when in mini-form.

- The centre panel can be removed on one side when your child gets to the climbing out of bed themselves stage. They''re still protected from falling out by the rails at the top and bottom, but it lessens the risks of them falling by trying to climb over the top of the cot (my brother did this and my mother spent a fun morning in ER having his head x-rayed and his chin sewn up!)

- You can add a junior bed kit which should take them to the age of 7 or so. The bed then converts into either a sofa or two separate chairs.

- solid wood, comes in 5 colours, doesn''t look ''babyish'' so older kids should be okay with it.

- Other furniture in series available - a changing table that converts in a desk, a high-chair that grows with the child, a wardrobe and shelving unit that are slimline for babyclothes and then join together to form a full-depth wardrobe.

Cons:

- Due to oval shape you have to buy Stokke''s sheets, cot bumper, mattress etc and it would be a real pain trying to make your own.

- Not cheap (although re-sale value is pretty good).

 

[Pandora II]

Stroller:

Stokke Xplory

The stroller and car-seat were the only things I was definite about buying new as I wanted the warranty and for safety reasons. Found a great online deal where I got the carseat and adaptors for free and still saved £200 GBP on the normal price of the basic stroller.

Saw this at the same time as the cot and was really impressed. I''d looked at a gazillion strollers and was pretty certain we would be going with the Bugaboo Bee - although I was worried about how low down it was. I''d been told by the main department store in London that I wouldn''t like it (they didn''t stock it) and that the Bee would be more suitable so I hadn''t really looked much further. DH took me to the Baby Show a couple of weeks ago and Stokke had a huge stand and I got to have a really good play with it.

My requirements were:
- Lightweight as possible
- Usable from birth
- Travel system that would take a carseat
- Parent-facing option both as baby and as older child
- Easy to use for public transport and in London shops
- extendable handle-bar
- As compact as possible, but also sturdy and able to last a good few years.
- As kind to my back as possible

Pros:

- Very high up so child is close to you, out of briefcase/cigarette/exhaust-fume range, and almost no bending required to put child in or get them out.
- shopping bag folds up really small, but is huge when it''s opened up
- diaper bag attaches to frame and is out of the way.
- handlebar is extendable and designed so you can hang your coat/jacket over it and still have a bar for your hands.
- no bar for you to hit your feet on so if you are tall you can walk with a normal stride.
- Really easy to attach and remove seats/carrycot etc. I found it MUCH easier than the Bugaboo Bee to adjust things and add and remove bits.
- Easy to move to two-wheel mode for stairs
- narrow so great for public transport/shops
- Can be pushed with one finger and super-manouverable.
- Can be used as a high-chair in cafes/restaurants when you are out as it''s so high-up and will pull up to the table.
- Has a foot-rest that will adjust and grow with the child so should easily take a child that is 3-4 years old.
- Has a three-year warranty. Stokke will pick it up and return it within 4 days if you have anything that needs to be fixed.
- Loads of accessories - you can get textile packs so you can change the colour or mix-and-match if you get bored. I bought the plain black version, but have bought some of the accessories in the olive green.
- Men love the design for some reason...

Cons:

- Expensive (but great resale value) and if it takes you from birth to 4 then it''s worth it.
- Accessories are pricey - more difficult to get hold off than Bugaboo accessories via Ebay, online stores etc as there are less of them about.
- It''s not that compact - but it''s lightweight (for a travel system) very solid and sturdy feeling and in two-wheel mode it''s ''easier'' to store. You''d need a bigger car-boot to put it in.
- Definitely a city stroller not one for all-terrain.

(Will update once I start using this as to performance!

)

 

[Pandora II]

High-Chair:

Bloom Fresco

DH fell in love with this and ''had to have one''...

Bloom also do a range of other fun baby things - DH is taken with the baby bouncer seat (I''ve said no at the moment)!

Found it on ebay from a couple in London - he was a diplomat and was being sent overseas at short notice, so it was only about 6 weeks old, immaculate condition and less than half retail price.

Pros:

- Usable from birth until child is around 35kg (77lbs). You can use it as a sleep pod for a tiny baby if you don''t have a moses basket or similar to move from room to room or up and down stairs.
- Tilts into loads of different positions so it lies flat for tiny babies and then gradually sits to upright
- Two trays that fit on top of each other and will go in the dishwasher
- Bamboo insert for tiny babies
- Soft but very secure harness
- Chair doesn''t have corners for food etc to get stuck
- Textiles are wipeclean and come in loads of colours including blingy gold leatherette

(and aren''t very expensive)
- Adjustable footrest that grows with the child
- Chair can be pulled up to table and used like a normal chair
- Hydraulic system to adjust height from ground-level for older kids to different table heights
- Very sturdy and solid
- Glides across floor when you line certain points up - so safe but manouverable.
- Great resale value
- Looks amazing and hopefully not ''babyish'' so child will be more inclined to use it at an older age.

Cons:

- It doesn''t fold away in a corner - but then it looks good enough that it doesn''t really matter
- Expensive - but if it goes from birth to 4/5 years it''s a bargain
- Textiles are apparently wipe-clean not machine-washable - I intend to test this!
- Main con is that I don''t fit in it as it looks so comfortable...

 

[neatfreak]

Pandora and those looking at arms reach cosleeper Just FYI it's not nearly as easy to fold up/pack up as they make it seem. Pack n play is MUCH easier. Maybe the mini is better, but the big one is a PITA. Also you can't access the space at the bottom for storage if it is set up, so you need to remve the mattress. So good for long term storage, but not short term.

 

[Pandora II]

Other items:

Car Seat:

Maxi Cosi Cabriofix with Easyfix Base

This is the top scoring carseat in safety tests in the UK and hands down the most popular model. Comes in a gazillion designs and colours. The Easyfix Base is for cars with the Isofix system - there is another base for cars that use the normal seatbelt system.

Compatible with pretty much all the travel-system strollers: Bugaboo, Stokke etc

Changing Mat:

Kuster Jelly Baby

Memory foam changing mat. It''s warm to the touch, it has raised sides and the baby sinks into it so is less likely to roll off, wipe clean (does come with textile inserts) and PVC free. Comes in cream colour (haven''t seen it in others).

Baby Alarm:

BT 150

This maybe a UK only product. Comes with built in room temperature gauge that is visible on the parents unit. Plays 5 lullabies and can be hooked up to an MP3 player. Parent talk-back option.

Baby Bath:

Tummy Tub

I plan to mainly use our big double belfast sink in the kitchen, but got one of these for travelling and as an alternative. Shaped like a bucket and apparently babies love them as it keeps them in a foetal position...

Towels:

Cuddledry

This is a towel that attaches round the parents neck like an apron so that you have both hands free for bathing. You then just lift the baby on to you and wrap it up. Towel is double thickness - bamboo one side and organic cotton the other - so dries quickly and is cuddly and warm. Has built in hood for the baby.

I also have some plain organic bamboo hooded towels as well.

I LOVE bamboo fabric - it''s antibacterial, eco-friendly, feels amazing (like cashmere) and yet can go in the washing-machine no problem. All my baby blankets and as many baby clothes as possible are in it - as are a load of my own clothes/towels etc

Bottles:

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature

Possibly a UK product. I plan to breast-feed, and so these bottles are designed to look, feel and deliver milk like a real breast. Comes with a choice of teats so you can choose one that is compatible with your nipple shape and let-down rate. Also don''t have any of the nasties that some plastics have.

Also comes with bottle brushes/sterilising units etc - I''m going for one of the microwave ones as I won''t have that many bottles to sterilise (if the whole breast-feeding thing goes to plan).

Tommee Tippee also do a range of milk-feeding bibs with a special bit at the neck that stops and soaks up dribble and milk so it doesn''t get into all the creases round the baby''s neck. They''re really soft and comfortable looking too.

Baby Bath Range:

Burt''s Bee''s Baby Bee

Having smelt and sampled a load of baby products, I opted for this range:

Buttermilk Baby Lotion
Buttermilk Bath Powder
Baby Bubble Bath
Baby Shampoo & Wash
Baby Soap
Baby Apricot Oil
Skin Cream
Diaper Cream
Dusting Powder
All Better Balm for cuts & bruises

Don''t know if it''s good yet or not. Horribly expensive but have found bit by bit as mega-bargains on ebay. Has a very useful starter kit which is handy for hospital/travelling to grandparents etc

Johnson''s Baby is the standard UK range so if I don''t like the Burt''s Bee''s I will probably go back to that.

Baby Carrier:

Baby Bjorn Active

Opted for this one (in brown/beige) as it has really good lumbar support and my physio has advised against a sling. Hopefully it''s good - found it brand-new on ebay at less than half price.

That''s about it really....

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 3/10/2009 10:26:35 AM
Author: neatfreak
Pandora and those looking at arms reach cosleeper Just FYI it''s not nearly as easy to fold up/pack up as they make it seem. Pack n play is MUCH easier. Maybe the mini is better, but the big one is a PITA. Also you can''t access the space at the bottom for storage if it is set up, so you need to remve the mattress. So good for long term storage, but not short term.

I''ve heard that about the bigger one, but the Mini really is super-simple. I''m one of these people that really needs a DVD to work out how to put things together (and DH around to show me how to make the DVD player work

) and I managed to put it up, down and back up again in less than 15 minutes with only an instruction sheet...

Storage space on the Mini is also easy to access (just unzips) - but then again, the Mini doesn''t turn into anything afterwards so it''s much less versatile (hence it''s a very good thing it stores away so compactly!)

 

[Pandora II]

Forgot DH's find that I have had to give in on...

Playmat:

Jellycat Truffles Sheep Huge

This is an unbelievably soft sheep toy. It folds up into a 48" cushion and then unfolds into a big playmat. It's the biggest one of the sheep in the pic below (the next size down is 30" so you can see how massive this thing is).

DH has been obsessed since he first saw it and I have been talked into giving space to this pretty much life-size creature. With any luck it's machine-washable...

(My husband is unable to not buy soft toys and has loads, only he makes me tell people that they're mine. As it is I have to share our bed with three oversized monkeys and his cuddle-pillow... I have told him that he may have to share his collection with Daisy eventually

)

 

[pavelover]

Hi socal good idea to get your mom to check it out. I was out with a friend yesterday and she was helping me with my l.o. She liked the stroller and thought it would be great when I get out to stroller power(mommy exercise with baby) including running. I got the red one becuase I wanted a neutral color too! I LOVE it. can you tell I like the stroller alot. I am a dork. Ok well happy shopping again- if you have time to read back, lots of stroller reviews-not sure where exactly...
dreamer- mini city jogger
janine or curly- I forget which stroller but very detailed
wayyyyyy back ephemery- lots of strollers- might be hard to find- but maybe if you are really bored at work?hehe...

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 3/10/2009 1:29:09 AM
Author: qtiekiki
Just thought I would mention that I love bumkins bib for solid feeding. So easy to clean, and don''t stain.

Me too! Plus they are PVC free.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 3/10/2009 1:54:16 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring

Date: 3/10/2009 1:29:09 AM
Author: qtiekiki
Just thought I would mention that I love bumkins bib for solid feeding. So easy to clean, and don''t stain.

Me too! Plus they are PVC free.

I''m another huge fan of these. The only bibs I use. Saw the rec on babycheapskate ages ago and never looked back.

Pandora, great reviews, thanks for the effort!

 

[lili]

Pandora--
Love those jellycat stuff animals.
I got them for my nephew and friend's kids last year.
They are super soft.
This reminds me -- I should go and see if they have a mouse

 

[mela lu]

Date: 3/10/2009 10:30:26 AM
Author: Pandora II
Other items:
Kuster Jelly Baby

Memory foam changing mat. It''s warm to the touch, it has raised sides and the baby sinks into it so is less likely to roll off, wipe clean (does come with textile inserts) and PVC free. Comes in cream colour (haven''t seen it in others).

Pandora - I''ve ordered one of these in turquoise blue. It''s arriving along with a visit my NY friend on March 19th. LOVE THIS PRODUCT too! I wanted cream, but couldn''t find it available. Oh well! Blue it is for me!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

On my walk today I was thinking how helpful it was to have a stroller with a tray. She had it loaded up with a snack, sippy and even her toy cell phone. Just something to think about for you stroller buyers.

 

[mela lu]

I wonder if anyone makes (or will make) a tray for the Bugaboo? Obviously....sold separately

. As I like to say....part of the Bugaboo's "charm".

eye roll.

ETA: A quick Google search turned up this:
http://www.carryyou.com/snacktrays.html

Removable trays that velcro on to the Bugaboo Safety Bar. GENIUS! My love for Bugaboo is restored.

Thanks for the Tray-tip Tacori!

...now, onto my next conquest. That Boon Flair Highchair!

 

[E B]

Hi ladies!

I hope this hasn't already been asked, but is there a reason some of you chose the Boon high chair over the Bloom (and vice versa)? I'm just now jumping into the world of expensive baby products for our registry, and there's so much to learn. One thing I like about the Bloom is that it reclines for infants who can't yet hold their heads up- that seems convenient, especially since moving, my husband and I are eating *all* meals at the dinner table. We'll see if that works with an infant, but it's the plan so far.

Another thing to consider: Pandora's pro list seems to be pretty long compared to the con list!

ETA: Nevermind, I found the reviews in this thread and on Amazon. Looks like cleanup is easier with the Boon, which just may outweigh the coolness of the reclining feature on the Bloom. I'll keep Googling.

 

[qtiekiki]

My only reason for not getting the bloom fresco was the price. But my main reason for wanting it was the look and style. I don''t think I would''ve needed to use it reclined.

 

[mela lu]

Ebree. I love your shopping prowess.

I WISH the Boon had the reclining feature. I feel like this is the one missing link. I opted Boon instead of Bloom solely on price. I cannot afford the Bloom.

Hope that helps

 

[Pandora II]

I haven't seen the Boon for sale over here at all... just checked and they're not available yet in the UK... would definitely have been one I'd have looked at.

Other than the recline feature (which I will use a lot), I liked the way that the foot-rest grows with the size of the child - the only other one I've seen that does this the Stokke Tripp Trapp.

Price is nasty for the Bloom, but they come up on Ebay all the time - I just waited for the combo of almost new/in London and cheap (certain times of day/days of the week can make a huge difference to Ebay prices).

Amongst all the people I know with kids here, the Tripp Trapp was definitely the most popular and would have been my second choice.

 

[qtiekiki]

Pandora - is it on the ebay london site? When I was searching, they only came up as full price on the US site. That''s awesome you got it for half price. I would''ve gotten it at half price.

 

[E B]

Date: 3/10/2009 6:24:32 PM
Author: mela lu
Ebree. I love your shopping prowess.

Ha! I feel so clueless. I've been looking at a two page list of must-haves for baby (that I've compiled with help from several sources) for hours now, trying to find the highest rated products on Amazon and consulting this thread. I think I'm getting the hang of it, but there are SO many different types of products! The Arms Reach or the Pack n' Play? Automatic or Manual Breast Pump? What the heck is a sleep sack?....and so on.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

mela, no problem. How funny, when I realized it I was like "must tell the PS preggos!" There comes a time where baby/toddler does NOT like being in the stroller so any distractions help! You don''t need a highchair to recline BTW.

Ebree, I must have a different budget when it comes to baby gear! I cannot bring myself to buy $1,000 strollers or $400 custom bedding (NOT judging those who can). I love the flair b/c it is basically the same price (or maybe $30 more than many of the popular ones ie Chicco, FB Rainforest and such). I believe I paid $180ish. It is modern and totally my style. Easy to clean and unique. My friend told me I better LOVE my highchair b/c it is gonna be in my kitchen for a LONG time. Reclining in a highchair is NOT necessary in MY experience. Most docs like you to start baby food around 6 months. Most babies can sit at 6 months. Honestly I used my Bumbo for the first month of feeding anyways b/c it got so messy I fed her in the bathtub and she was naked. Haha. Worse comes to worse use the bouncy chair. Not worth the extra $200+ IMHO. Get an auto breast pump AFTER the birth to make sure you CAN BF. My list is on one of the first few pages and no offense to anyone else''s suggestions but it was written AFTER my baby was born. Sometimes what you THINK you need and what REALLY works is quite different.

 

[rainydaze]

Date: 3/10/2009 7:48:23 PM
Author: EBree

Date: 3/10/2009 6:24:32 PM
Author: mela lu
Ebree. I love your shopping prowess.

Ha! I feel so clueless. I''ve been looking at a two page list of must-haves for baby (that I''ve compiled with help from several sources) for hours now, trying to find the highest rated products on Amazon and consulting this thread. I think I''m getting the hang of it, but there are SO many different types of products! The Arms Reach or the Pack n'' Play? Automatic or Manual Breast Pump? What the heck is a sleep sack?....and so on.

hi Ebree - i just happened to pop over and it''s funny you mentioned these three things. i am on kid 3 now and here is my .02, FWIW:

pack n'' play - i had a regular bassinet for baby #1 but tried the arms reach after a week or so. it went back ... it was ok, but i couldn''t get out of bed easily and i''d had a c-section. it was just too much of a pain for me. baby #2 used the regular bassinet, but we consigned it by baby #3. so with baby #3 i started from scratch - and got the small bassinet/pack n play combo. LOVE it. travels easy for when baby needs a familiar bed away from home, fits anywhere, and when baby outgrows the bassinet you have a compact pack n play which is SO handy.

manual breast pump - got the $300 medela auto breast pump and it caused me more frustration than i can use non-cuss words to describe with babies 1 & 2. (i didn''t work outside the home, and i didn''t produce a ton of milk, so keep that in mind). sold it on ebay and after baby #3 came and milk was working better, i got the medela manual. hallaluah!!! it worked AMAZING for me, and was a blessing not a curse. went out and bought a second for backup. considering it costs so much less, i might recommend going with the manual first and see how it goes.... (but then you miss out on registering for the automatic and if you end up needing it, it will cost you $).

sleep sacks are, IMO, one of the best inventions out there. it replaces a baby blanket, which if you use with an infant you must securely tuck into the sides of the mattress to prevent it from coming loose and covering baby''s mouth and well, you know. the sleep sack is just that - a sack with a hole for the head and two holes for the arms. it keeps your baby warm without worry of suffocation, and you can sleep sounder knowing she''s safe (or at least, it gave me peace of mind). make sure to register for light ones and warm ones in the sizes that correspond to the age your baby will be during cool months and warm months.

congratulations on your coming bundle!!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

rainy, how funny I have the medela cheapie pump and HATED it. Not strong enough or something. Just shows there is no one perfect solution. I agree though she should wait to make sure she is producing milk before coughing up $300.

 

[qtiekiki]

Ebree
I waited until after giving birth and BFing was established before getting a breast pump. I knew a few moms who bought the breast pump in advance and ended up not using it/using it only once. You don''t really need a pump until later on anyways. And if for some reasons you need to pump right away, then you can rent one from the hospital or go to the store to get one. If you plan to go back to work, then you''ll need a double electric pump (less work/stress on you). No way will I be able to manual pump four times a day. I have a Medela Pump In Style Advance, but I wish the Medela Freestyle was available when I bought mine b/c hand-free would be so nice. I read good reviews on Ameda Purely Yours and the Lansinoh one (these two are cheaper), but I have no first time experience.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 3/10/2009 8:01:10 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring

My list is on one of the first few pages and no offense to anyone else''s suggestions but it was written AFTER my baby was born. Sometimes what you THINK you need and what REALLY works is quite different.

All I can say is a huge DITTO to that. I am so so happy that I didn''t take the tags off clothes, take some things out of boxes, etc. because I returned a bunch of stuff that I hated/wasn''t using once the babies were born.

Honestly, get the basics and then once the baby arrives get everything else. Or at least keep receipts.

 

[mela lu]

You Momma's ROCK!

Thanks for all of your 2 cents'. We are RICH here!

 

[mela lu]

Buying a bunch of burp cloths on ETSY right now for $3 a pop. Can't beat it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is one example:

Thanks Lindsay for turning me on to ETSY. I'm hooked!