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

[E B]

So I think we''ve decided on an Arm''s Reach for next to the bed, but for the moms who live in two story houses: what do you have for downstairs? Should we add a pack and play to our registry? A swing? A portable crib like the BabyBjorn recently posted? Or do you think a bouncer would suffice?

 

[pavelover]

hi ebree! congrats if I haven''t said it before!!!! So happy for you!
For downstairs, we have a pnp which has the little change table which we use allllll the time. also a bouncer, which tyler sleeps in and hangs out in. we also have a travel swing for our graco car seat. Its a little insane. I would love for him to sleep in the pnp for naps but it does not work out. we have a full size swing up in his room which he is currently sleeping in full time!

I think the pnp would be great for downstairs.

 

[qtiekiki]

We borrowed our nephew PNP for downstair. SIL got us the Fisher Price glider thingy; M hated it initially, but got used to it and started napping in it around 4 months. She outgrew it in a couple more weeks. So she just sleeps in PNP during the day.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Ebree, you MUST have a swing. We ended up with two. A FP full size that swings BOTH ways (some babies only like one way) and a travel one (can''t remember the brand) for our bedroom. Complete lifesavers! I already explained what we had downstairs. That''s why I like how the combi splits apart. Made me feel like we got more for our money and less crap to store before the next one comes along. I personally wouldn''t want to buy both an arm''s reach AND a p''np.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I thought of something ALL you mamas to be need...batteries that recharge. I can''t tell you how many Ds and Cs we went through in the early days (swing, bouncy chair, all the big stuff...). Now we are in double A land for her toys. Point is it gets expensive AND is a PITA to remember to pick up new batteries. This way we always have some charging.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 3/12/2009 9:39:38 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
Ebree, you MUST have a swing. We ended up with two. A FP full size that swings BOTH ways (some babies only like one way) and a travel one (can''t remember the brand) for our bedroom. Complete lifesavers! I already explained what we had downstairs. That''s why I like how the combi splits apart. Made me feel like we got more for our money and less crap to store before the next one comes along. I personally wouldn''t want to buy both an arm''s reach AND a p''np.

I gotta say that I think it''s best to borrow a swing if you can to see if they like it first. Neither of our boys took to ours at all, so it''s just sitting there. They prefer their bouncers by far. And swings are so expensive! The nice thing about ours is that it plugs into the wall OR uses batteries which is a great feature.

 

[fieryred33143]

If any of you ladies have little cars, what are your thoughts on getting a travel system?

I know we are getting the Chicco keyfit 30. But I don''t know if I want a travel system or not. My car is little (a toyota Corolla) and while the trunk is large I just feel like it''ll be a hassle to take a huge stroller out every time. But FI has an SUV. I''m thinking that maybe getting something like the Baby Trend Snap-n-Go instead.

 

[Burk]

Ebree~We had our PNP downstairs . We also had 2 swings: one on the main level and one in Tayva's bedroom. She took swing naps until she was 6 months old. We now use the PNP for travel.

Fiery~I know Tacori LOVES her snap 'n go. I'm sure she'll pop in. I have the Chicco travel system and really like it. I have an SUV, though, so it was easy storage.

Totally agree with Tacori about batteries....you can spend A LOT of $$ on batteries if you have toy factories like we do!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 3/13/2009 10:46:40 AM
Author: fieryred33143
If any of you ladies have little cars, what are your thoughts on getting a travel system?


I know we are getting the Chicco keyfit 30. But I don''t know if I want a travel system or not. My car is little (a toyota Corolla) and while the trunk is large I just feel like it''ll be a hassle to take a huge stroller out every time. But FI has an SUV. I''m thinking that maybe getting something like the Baby Trend Snap-n-Go instead.

We LOVE our Snap N Go (we have a double). The travel systems just seem so unwieldy in comparison...and I know I wouldn''t want to use that stroller later on when something like a Maclaren is available that is so much easier to deal with in and out of cars. But that''s just me.

 

[E B]

Thank you all for weighing in on the co-sleeper vs. pack and play decision still looming above my head. I really, really value your opinions.

Even though it''s the more expensive route, it seems a co-sleeper upstairs and a PNP downstairs might be the way to go, and if it''s too much, we''ll have learned in time for baby #2. I know that most babies don''t hit 15 lbs until 6 months or so, but DH was a 10 lb, 6 oz baby and I was 9 lbs, which is why I''m concerned with the weight limit on the PNP bassinet. DH probably hit 15 lbs the first month!

I''m also putting a bouncy seat on the registry, and I''ll investigate the swing that uses the car seat- that may be a way to save some dough.

You all rock, seriously!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

fiery, I have the chicco travel system. If I could do it over I would have gotten the chicco keyfit car seat and just use my snap ''n go (which folds super tiny) and then an umbrella (love my Volo). Pkus s''ng is cheap, light, and so easy!

Ebree, I would be scared if you had a 15 lb one month old. Haha.

 

[ChinaCat]

Hi ladies.

Ok, I am so confused. Can someone please break down the stroller options/lingo for me quickly?

What is the difference b/w a Snap-n-Go and say a BOB or a Bugaboo or a stroller of that nature? I know Bugaboos are super-pricey, so just asking about logistics, not price.

Do people generally have a smaller, lighter "easier" stroller AND a bigger, walking/jogging type stroller? Or just one?

I have asked some friends, and one is getting a Bugaboo (expensive) and the other one has 3 strollers, so hoping for a more moderate answer!

Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[cdt1101]

China - I''m not a mom yet, but we went w/ the City Mini Jogger because I felt like it was an all in one stroller for me. It was light, very easy to push, folds super easy and has an attachment so that you can snap your carseat in. It''s not super cheap at $230 (attachment for snap n go feature is an additional $60), but I only wanted 1 stroller and felt like this one got me that. But I haven''t used it yet, so I''ll report back after June once the kid pops out

 

[curlygirl]

Date: 3/13/2009 12:38:18 PM
Author: EBree
Thank you all for weighing in on the co-sleeper vs. pack and play decision still looming above my head. I really, really value your opinions.

Even though it''s the more expensive route, it seems a co-sleeper upstairs and a PNP downstairs might be the way to go, and if it''s too much, we''ll have learned in time for baby #2. I know that most babies don''t hit 15 lbs until 6 months or so, but DH was a 10 lb, 6 oz baby and I was 9 lbs, which is why I''m concerned with the weight limit on the PNP bassinet. DH probably hit 15 lbs the first month!

I''m also putting a bouncy seat on the registry, and I''ll investigate the swing that uses the car seat- that may be a way to save some dough.

You all rock, seriously!

Ebree, my chunky girl weighed over 16 lbs at 4 months, so you just never know! Honestly, if you put a 16 or 17 lb. baby in the pnp bassinet, it''s not going to collapse or anything! Also, once they really do get too heavy, you just remove the bassinet part and have him/her sleep on the bottom. That''s where my little big one sleeps now!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 3/13/2009 2:24:15 PM
Author: ChinaCat
Hi ladies.


Ok, I am so confused. Can someone please break down the stroller options/lingo for me quickly?


What is the difference b/w a Snap-n-Go and say a BOB or a Bugaboo or a stroller of that nature? I know Bugaboos are super-pricey, so just asking about logistics, not price.


Do people generally have a smaller, lighter ''easier'' stroller AND a bigger, walking/jogging type stroller? Or just one?


I have asked some friends, and one is getting a Bugaboo (expensive) and the other one has 3 strollers, so hoping for a more moderate answer!


Thanks in advance!!!!

China, a Snap N Go is a brand of stroller. It basically is just a frame, so it''s super lightweight and folds small, then you just snap your carseat into it.

It doesn''t function as anything without a carseat.

We do have a few strollers for different uses...seems inevitable.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 3/13/2009 2:24:15 PM
Author: ChinaCat
Hi ladies.

Ok, I am so confused. Can someone please break down the stroller options/lingo for me quickly?

What is the difference b/w a Snap-n-Go and say a BOB or a Bugaboo or a stroller of that nature? I know Bugaboos are super-pricey, so just asking about logistics, not price.

Do people generally have a smaller, lighter ''easier'' stroller AND a bigger, walking/jogging type stroller? Or just one?

I have asked some friends, and one is getting a Bugaboo (expensive) and the other one has 3 strollers, so hoping for a more moderate answer!

Thanks in advance!!!!

Chinacat, take my word on this one - carseat+snap and go device for the first few months of the kid''s life. THEN figure out what you might want to do. I say this as a suburban mom. If you are an urban mom, I would invest in something like the uppa or bugaboo or whatever.

A few reasons for this:

- During those first few months you will LOATHE waking up your kid because the kid sleeping directly impacts your rest. So you want him to sleep and that means not taking him out of a carseat to put him in a bugaboo type bassinet. Yes, other strollers have adaptors, but I still say you want an easy fold, light stroller frame and nothing will be lighter for a carseat than one of these frame type models.

- In the early weeks, you won''t be as good with figuring out all the lugging around business. Just taking a light snap and go and plopping the carseat on it is SO easy and manageable. PLUS these things have huge baskets for all the crap you think you need but will not use.

- A lot of babies hate being placed in carseats, so you''ll have to do it less often with a snap and go type system.

- You''ll then get a taste for how heavy is too heavy for you and what kind of stroller you really want to get.

Caveat, don''t leave your baby too often in the carseat - it can lead to flat head. If you are going to take long walks, etc, then get another stroller that isn''t hard like the carseat.

I highly recommend getting the BOB console (which can be used for other strollers) for the Graco snugrider or the snap and go because the snugrider console SUCKS. You can put in keys and water bottle plus phone or whatever very easily the BOB console. I link to it very early in this thread.

I also recommend if you can, getting a snap and go in excellent used condition on craiglist if you can, or putting it on your registry to get as a gift. They are expensive if you consider the short time you use them (I used it for 4 months, I think?) But still well worth the full price, IMHO.

Here''s what I have and my logic for it:

1. Graco snugrider with safeseat.
2. MacClaren Quest (found in EUC for $100 on craigslist)
3. BOB revolution. (Paid $200 new in Australia and brought over)

So for all three it was cheaper than something like a Bugaboo or an Uppa. The Maclaren didn''t come out to play until I stopped using the snugrider. Both of those were my errand strollers. I wanted the BOB for walks and runs on the beach and even though I don''t go on rough terrain, BOB pushes so much better for active walks and over stuff like grass than the bugaboo. My friend had the bugaboo which she used for our stroller strides class. Once she pushed my BOB, she went out and bought one and hasn''t used the bugaboo since. She also has the MacClaren which is the stroller she uses most since she''s in and out of places quickly for errands.

The BOB revolutions 2007 and higher have a much better recline so I used those for walks since Amelia was a week old. it''s not a FULL recline, but it is more than enough and I used a snuzzler with it. Canopy is awesome and it was a great ride for her. Plus better for her head than the carseat.

It all depends on your lifestyle!

 

[fieryred33143]

Neat, Tacori, Tgal-thanks for the thoughts on the snap-n-go.

I''m going through page by page as recommended by Ebree and writing things down. There''s just so much to think about.

 

[ChinaCat]

THANK YOU CDT, Neat, and TGAL for your thoughts. I''ll add Tacori since I remember how often she praises her Snap-n-Go.

TGal- That is exactly what I needed to know. So the Snap-n-Go for at first. I definitely plan on long walks and such, so I will eventually want a BOB-type stroller.

The Bugaboo looks nice, but too expensive especially if the BOB is as great as everyone says.

Thanks everyone!!! You ladies are just awesome.

 

[E B]

I just made it through the whole thread and didn't see much about bouncers and swings (though I might have missed something, and if so, I apologize!), so I'll ask about 'em here. I've read it's handy to have both, so onto the registry they'll both go. But which ones? Can anyone recommend two great models?

Boppy Rock In Comfort <- This one looks nice and portable, but also low. Is it better to have baby in a swing that sits higher?

The bouncer I'm looking at: Boppy Cradle In Comfort

 

[curlygirl]

Ebree, I can''t comment on the swing because we didn''t use one with either one of the girls. I had registered for one the first time around (Fisher Price Papasan, I think) and we received it but returned it unopened because we didn''t need it! Plus, we have space issues so for us, less is more!

We do have the Boppy bouncy seat and it''s really cute. My only issue with it is that the baby can''t really recline in it, the seat is almost too "upright" even in the most flattened position. Not sure how to explain it. It''s fine now that my baby can sit up and hold her head up but in the beginning, it looked really uncomfortable for her neck. With my first, we had the Fisher Price Soothing Motions Glider. It was actually quite good, although she wasn''t into the motion part of it so it mostly served as a place to put her down and get things done. We would have used it again but we didn''t know that we were going to have another one so quickly so DH took the entire thing apart (even parts that weren''t supposed to come apart!) to store it and then couldn''t figure out how to put it back together!

 

[pennquaker09]

When the BOB that I ordered the other day is delivered, we will have 3 strollers. When I was looking for strollers, I couldn''t decide on the best option so I ended up buying a Graco Quattro Tour Duo and the Kolcraft Options Tandem.

My personal favorite is the Kolcraft because I can configure the seats in different ways. The really like being able to face each other. There are two cons to having it, however; it''s quite heavy, and it''s on the long side. But it''s a double stroller,so it''s kind of expected.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Penn, what color did you order? I am so excited for you!

China (and others), I do LOVE my snap ''n go. I took MANY (all when she was young) walks with it. I think it steers great. TGal is right as always. You will NOT want to pick up your sleeping newborn to put him/her in a stroller. Just easier to leave baby in the carrier and the s''ng is SOOOO light and easy to fold. I should work for them. BTW I have a babytrend and it has a cup holder and a little storage box thing perfect for keys and such.

 

[pennquaker09]

We got the navy.

 

[janinegirly]

About to purchase a Maclaren Quest--what did some of you Maclaren ladies choose in terms of colors (for girls)? I''m thinking scarlett and black for now (hope it doesn''t clash with all the pink she wears), but also liking the navy.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 3/16/2009 9:43:11 AM
Author: janinegirly
About to purchase a Maclaren Quest--what did some of you Maclaren ladies choose in terms of colors (for girls)? I''m thinking scarlett and black for now (hope it doesn''t clash with all the pink she wears), but also liking the navy.

I got mine second hand and it is light green and yellow. I don''t even think about clashing with what she wears.

If you plan on having another, I vote navy. I like that I can use my stroller for a boy or girl. In fact, nothing I have for her (strollers, carseat) is a girl color...girly colors wig me out.

 

[pennquaker09]

Date: 3/16/2009 1:01:14 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 3/16/2009 9:43:11 AM

Author: janinegirly

About to purchase a Maclaren Quest--what did some of you Maclaren ladies choose in terms of colors (for girls)? I''m thinking scarlett and black for now (hope it doesn''t clash with all the pink she wears), but also liking the navy.

I got mine second hand and it is light green and yellow. I don''t even think about clashing with what she wears.


If you plan on having another, I vote navy. I like that I can use my stroller for a boy or girl. In fact, nothing I have for her (strollers, carseat) is a girl color...girly colors wig me out.

I totally heart you.

 

[sunkist]

Hi Tgal

I''m thinking about the BOB and had a couple questions for you. I''m here in SoCal too. Would you recommend against getting a black color BOB, I''m just thinking because of heat? Or does color even matter?

Also, I see REI is at a 20% discount right now and I remember you mentioning REI sales before. Do remember discounts ever getting more than 20% off? Thanks!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Janine, you are SOOO funny! I have never even THOUGHT about if her clothes clashed with her strollers. Haha. If you love a good deal I heard TJ Maxx has Volos and Quests right now.

 

[janinegirly]

haha, ok I guess most people don''t think like that!

I''ll check out TJ Maxx!

On another topic (going back to my Travel Crib/PNP search), are Graco PNP''s or TGal''s pop up tent suggestion comfy enough for regular use? How long do these last?

We''re going to moving to the house soon (at last!) and I envision a lot of back and forth to grandma''s so she might be in the travel crib quite a bit in the beginning. She''d be 6 mo''s at that point. She''s only 15lbs right now though (5.5 mo''s).

 

[TravelingGal]

Penn, Me? hehehe...OK, I heart you too! So didja get your Bob yet?

Sunkist, I looked at BOB prices long after I got mine because my friend wanted one after pushing mine. I would say do the REI sale...I have never seen it for more than 20% off anywhere. Another baby online site (the name escapes me at the moment, but it''s the really popular one that sends you weekly updates of your pregnancy and child''s life) also had 20% off once and people opted to buy from them because they had some of the cuter colors (choc brown and choc pink).

Even SECONDHAND on craigslist, it is pricey and usually more than the 20% off price at REI. So my opinion is that yes, it is the best deal and if something better comes along, it won''t be much cheaper than that. However, DO check Costco online. Rumor had it a couple of years ago around this time they had the previous year''s BOB''s at a fraction of the price. I''ve never seen it on Costco since I have been looking.

As for black - I don''t see it as a huge problem, as my friend has navy and black''s not that far off from Navy. Although that was part of the reason I picked orange...it seems cooler. I did use it all last summer and the baby seemed happy and comfy in it, temp wise. I also live in the South Bay - we just don''t get as hot here, something to think about.

Tacori, that would be awesome of TJMaxx had the quest...I may have to go look as I wouldn''t mind having a spare! I love the Quest!! Thanks for the tip.

Janine, you mean regular use as in every day? No, I wouldn''t use it every day. It''s comfy and is a nice air mattress and is probably BETTER than the crap bassinet we used with Amelia during the first 6 weeks of her life, but because the tent has to be enclosed, I wouldn''t want to use it every day. Just those travel days.