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

i also was on the ''stroller confusion'' train and decided to just do infat seat with snap n''go for the first few months and figure out what we actually need before buying anything. i think we will get the valco latitude but it''s one thing i am not really worrying about right now. i also plan for us to just have one stroller as we don''t do much hiking or anything in our suburban lifestyle, but we''ll see.

for a quickie car stroller in the future, i am hoping we can get to an umbrella stroller point since that would be cheap and easy and small. but the valco also fits in our trunk so that is good. the BOB would not fit. i wish BOB made a smaller stroller.
 
JCrow - the Bee was my first choice until I found the Stokke and then for me it was a no-brainer.

I needed something lightweight with a small footprint and the Bee fitted that, but I come from a family of giants and I could see any kid of ours growing out of it very fast. Also it''s very low down and with my back problems I would have a nightmare lifting Daisy once she was past tiny newborn stage.

The Stokke has a tiny footprint, super-easy to take apart, can be steered with one finger, takes our carseat, will last her till she''s nearly 4 (I hope), takes loads of shopping and best of all for me it''s incredibly high-up. It also doubles as a highchair in restaurants. I am endlessly stopped by people wanting details of it by expectant parents and grandparents.

It was expensive but the best thing I have bought. I don''t have space for more than one stroller so I spent months researching before buying.

My brother has just bought the Bee for his baby due in January. I will be interested to see how they get on as he''s 6ft 5" and both of them are large build - their reasoning was that it would be easier to carry up and down stairs than the Stokke - well, first ANY stroller is hard to carry up and down stairs with a baby in it, and second the Stokke has a kick-in section that turns it into a two wheeler specifically for stairs - and you can do the kick-in without taking the baby out!
 
Date: 12/4/2009 1:42:16 PM
Author: lovinsparkles
Anyone want to help a stroller newbie out with some basic questions? I''m working my way through this thread, but there''s a lot there and it''s slow going... Here are my basic questions:

1. Do I need more than one stroller? I want one that I can push easily on rugged sidewalks (and on icy winter sidewalks) since we will do a lot of outdoor walking. I also need something that I can get on the bus/train occasionally. I''ve heard good things about the BOB Revolution. Will such a stroller be sufficient or are there other reasons to have more than one? For example, I''ve heard about some that accomodate a car seat so that you don''t have to wake the baby. That would be a separate stroller (a travel system?) than the BOB Revolution?

2. Are any strollers upgradeable to accomodate a second child? We are expecting one now, but *hopefully* will have a second bundle of joy in a couple years. I''ve read on here about the Phil and Ted''s that I think you can add to for a second child. Are there others like that, or do most people just have to buy a new (dual) stroller when the time comes? (On that note, how long do kiddos sit in strollers for...maybe by the time the second comes, the first will be walking?? Can you tell I''m a first timer? LOL)

Thanks for any help/suggestions!
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#1. I would not want to take a BOB on public transportation. I think that a ton of people here have ended with with a snap and go, BOB, and Maclaren.

#2. Phil and Ted. City Jogger Classic series also has a jump seat that can attach to it. My brother and I are 23 months apart and my mom says that she found a double stroller very helpful for us, if only for another space to put shopping bags LOL.

RE: Wishing BOB made a smaller stroller - has anyone seen the one with the 12" wheels in person? I''m wondering if that would seem smaller because you don''t have the bulk of the rear wheels. And FYI, BOB''s wheels pop off which helps it fit into smaller spaces. Not that you''d want to do that each and every time you go out, but if you''re just wanting to take it in a small car occasionally it does help.
 
Date: 12/4/2009 8:13:54 PM
Author: Blenheim
Date: 12/4/2009 1:42:16 PM

Author: lovinsparkles




RE: Wishing BOB made a smaller stroller - has anyone seen the one with the 12' wheels in person? I'm wondering if that would seem smaller because you don't have the bulk of the rear wheels. And FYI, BOB's wheels pop off which helps it fit into smaller spaces. Not that you'd want to do that each and every time you go out, but if you're just wanting to take it in a small car occasionally it does help.
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____________


MY REPLY IS SHOWING UP IN THE QUOTE - SORRY ABOUT THAT AND CANT SEEM TO FIX IT


YES - my friend has it. I don't think it seems any less bulky than mine (the regular one). I don't even notice the wheels on hers. When we go walking, it just looks like 2 of the same stroller. The wheels do come off very easily if you need to fit it in a small trunk etc.

I would not want to take BOB on and off public transit either. I run and hike, and knew I wanted a rugged stroller for that, and BOB is awesome. I am reasonably happy with Mac Volo for errands and the mall etc. I'm not wild about it, but no problems with it either. Basically it is really good but I'm not sure why it costs so much. Maybe the other umbrellas are a lot worse - I didn't look around that carefully at them!
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Date: 12/4/2009 12:51:34 PM
Author: fiery

Date: 12/4/2009 11:55:22 AM
Author: Blenheim
I just realized that I don''t think I''ve really mentioned the BabyHawk Mei Tai. It''s my favorite carrier, and I''d really recommend it. It can be used from newborn on up through 40 lbs. You can do a front carry, a hip carry, a regular back carry, or a high back carry in it (which is great if George wants to be able to see over my shoulders and look out). The front carry is still extremely comfortable with George currently at 19 lbs or so. It''s really easy for people of different sizes to use it as it''s much more easily adjustable than, say, the Ergo. It comes in a lot of cute patterns, and it''s also reversible in case dad doesn''t want to wear a cute pattern. If I could only get one carrier, it would be this one. The straps are less padded than the Ergo, though, so the Ergo''s still my go-to for really long walks.
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Thanks for the rec Blen. I was looking into a Mei Tai. I still haven''t gotten a baby carrier (besides the Bjorn
14.gif
).
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No problem! I tried out a couple of different mei tais, and the BabyHawk won out because of the head rest plus the option to have a pocket to throw stuff into. The pocket works well for keys, wallet and cell phone. While it does fit several diapers it looks bulgy and weird when you do that.

Here''s DH and George with ours, circa July. I let DH choose the pattern.

BabyHawk.jpg
 
re the smaller wheeled BOB ... i think from what i recall looking at measurements is folded down with wheels it is not really smaller than the revolution. i agree without wheels is good for sometimes but i didn''t want to need to be removing wheels for every fold down (in general).
 
Date: 12/4/2009 8:18:29 PM
Author: TanDogMom

Date: 12/4/2009 8:13:54 PM
Author: Blenheim

Date: 12/4/2009 1:42:16 PM

Author: lovinsparkles




RE: Wishing BOB made a smaller stroller - has anyone seen the one with the 12'' wheels in person? I''m wondering if that would seem smaller because you don''t have the bulk of the rear wheels. And FYI, BOB''s wheels pop off which helps it fit into smaller spaces. Not that you''d want to do that each and every time you go out, but if you''re just wanting to take it in a small car occasionally it does help.
Click to expand...

____________


MY REPLY IS SHOWING UP IN THE QUOTE - SORRY ABOUT THAT AND CANT SEEM TO FIX IT


YES - my friend has it. I don''t think it seems any less bulky than mine (the regular one). I don''t even notice the wheels on hers. When we go walking, it just looks like 2 of the same stroller. The wheels do come off very easily if you need to fit it in a small trunk etc.

I would not want to take BOB on and off public transit either. I run and hike, and knew I wanted a rugged stroller for that, and BOB is awesome. I am reasonably happy with Mac Volo for errands and the mall etc. I''m not wild about it, but no problems with it either. Basically it is really good but I''m not sure why it costs so much. Maybe the other umbrellas are a lot worse - I didn''t look around that carefully at them!
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Click to expand...
Ditto...no BOB on public transit. No way, no how.

The BOB AW, which has the 12 inch wheels all the way around is the same size as far stroller as the regular revolution. But you can''t just swap the wheels out because there is a difference in the wheel base, or something like that.

My 2 cents: if you want to go BOB, do the full revolution. It''s not a great every day (mall, errands) stroller, so might as well buy it for the purpose it is intended for...being out and about with the big honker wheels!
 
Date: 12/4/2009 5:52:06 PM
Author: so cal girl
Date: 12/4/2009 1:54:34 PM

Author: jcrow



thanks for your feedback! how did you score it for $100 off?? also, when the seat is reversed, does it fold down? or do you have to remove the seat? i know it folds down in one peice when the seat is facing outward.
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We got our stroller last year over Memorial Day weekend, and the store was having a sale. I think that was the only way I convinced my husband to get it. But now he loves it!


The stroller folds with the seat in either position, although it is a little more difficult to fold with the seat reversed. Still easier than most others I tried. It doesn''t really ''lock'' with the seat rear-facing, but it is still compact and easy to carry. I got it on and off the tram at Disney by myself, while the baby was in the Baby Bjorn, if that gives you any idea of how light it is.
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$100 off is a fab deal! the closest thing i''ve found is a site where you get the cocoon for free when you purchase the stroller. i live in the south and will be having a spring baby, so i''m not sure i could even use that.

glad to hear that it folds when the seat is reversed. we had trouble with it in the store and then the lady said it didn''t fold in that position. so we didn''t continue to try. i just thought it had to fold that way! why toot the seat reverses horn if you had to take it off each time you want to fold the stroller?!
 
Date: 12/4/2009 8:21:25 PM
Author: Blenheim

Date: 12/4/2009 12:51:34 PM
Author: fiery


Date: 12/4/2009 11:55:22 AM
Author: Blenheim
I just realized that I don''t think I''ve really mentioned the BabyHawk Mei Tai. It''s my favorite carrier, and I''d really recommend it. It can be used from newborn on up through 40 lbs. You can do a front carry, a hip carry, a regular back carry, or a high back carry in it (which is great if George wants to be able to see over my shoulders and look out). The front carry is still extremely comfortable with George currently at 19 lbs or so. It''s really easy for people of different sizes to use it as it''s much more easily adjustable than, say, the Ergo. It comes in a lot of cute patterns, and it''s also reversible in case dad doesn''t want to wear a cute pattern. If I could only get one carrier, it would be this one. The straps are less padded than the Ergo, though, so the Ergo''s still my go-to for really long walks.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the rec Blen. I was looking into a Mei Tai. I still haven''t gotten a baby carrier (besides the Bjorn
14.gif
).
Click to expand...
No problem! I tried out a couple of different mei tais, and the BabyHawk won out because of the head rest plus the option to have a pocket to throw stuff into. The pocket works well for keys, wallet and cell phone. While it does fit several diapers it looks bulgy and weird when you do that.

Here''s DH and George with ours, circa July. I let DH choose the pattern.
Click to expand...
Blen (or anyone else who knows), I''m looking for a new baby carrier - I currently have the Baby Bjorn that I don''t much like, and the Tri Cotti which is great when they are tiny but doesn''t go on your back.

My needs are:

- Lightweight and small enough to fit into the bag on my stroller (Daisy gets bored in the stroller so I stick her in the sling for a bit)
- Must do back, hip and front carries - front preferably facing both in and out.
- Allows breastfeeding
- Easy enough to put on
- Comfortable for the baby - one of my dislikes with the Tri Cotti is Daisy seems uncomfortable with the way the cloth goes under her backside.
- Suitable for someone 5ft 10" with a shortish torso and a bad back.

Does such an item exist?
 
Pandora, short answer is yes.
1.gif
When you say that you want it to fit in the stroller bag, are you talking about one of the things under the stroller for storage, or a pocket on the back of the stroller seat? And do you consider the Bjorn to be lightweight, or are you looking for something more along the weight of a sling?
 
The shopping bag on the front - the Bjorn is too solid and bulky whereas my current sling folds up nice and small.

Bjorn is on the heavy-side - would prefer sling weight.
 
Just wanted to make sure that I was correct in ruling out soft structured carriers. There are a couple of different ways you could go.

I''d personally go with a mei tai. There is a learning curve for putting them on, and it does get easier with practice - thre are instructional videos on youtube if you''d like to take a look and see if it seems like too much work to you. I''m not sure exactly what you have in the UK. I like the BabyHawk. Freehand also makes mei tais, as does Ellaroo - and I know there are others.

I know some people who swear by their ring slings, and you are able to do front, hip, and back carries with them. I''ve tried a back carry and it did not feel secure to me personally though. I also don''t feel like they distribute weight as well as something that also goes around your waist, as far as being easy on your back goes. But they are more compact and, once you get the hang of it, they''re faster to put on than a mei tai. Sakura Bloom ring slings are supposed to be excellent, and they are very pretty and made of silk.

I also know people who swear by wraps, and a woven wrap (like a Didymos) would fulfill all of your needs except ease of putting on. Again, it''s supposed to get much easier with practice, but I honestly don''t have the patience.

There are youtube videos on how to use all of the above options, if you''d like a visual demonstration.
1.gif
 
We have a BOB revolution for long walks, jogging, outdoorsy stuff or when he will be in it a long time. LOVE IT! Best stroller ever. Then we have the Baby Jobber City Mini for in-and-out of the car stuff. One handed fold, totally awesome.
 
I was doing some searching online yesterday for baby stuff (to order in the US and pick up at my brother''s place). It''s too bad BRU and a bunch of other places don''t accept Canadian credit cards for delivery in the US!

Anyhow, I was showing DH the Ultimate Crib Sheet, and he wasn''t a fan, especially after reading a few reviews that said their babies managed to wiggle underneath it and got trapped! Another option I came across (that we''re going to try out) was the Quickzip sheet set. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RJ9TCY/ref=asc_df_B000RJ9TCY978357?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=googlecom09c9-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B000RJ9TCY Looks like it has lots of good reviews. The mattress we''re thinking of getting for baby is only 5" thick though. Guess we''ll get it and wash it and see how it fits at the store maybe before buying the mattress, otherwise we can get them to throw in another 1" layer of foam to make the mattress the perfect thickness for the sheet set.
 
Date: 12/5/2009 8:44:16 PM
Author: Blenheim
Just wanted to make sure that I was correct in ruling out soft structured carriers. There are a couple of different ways you could go.

I''d personally go with a mei tai. There is a learning curve for putting them on, and it does get easier with practice - thre are instructional videos on youtube if you''d like to take a look and see if it seems like too much work to you. I''m not sure exactly what you have in the UK. I like the BabyHawk. Freehand also makes mei tais, as does Ellaroo - and I know there are others.

I know some people who swear by their ring slings, and you are able to do front, hip, and back carries with them. I''ve tried a back carry and it did not feel secure to me personally though. I also don''t feel like they distribute weight as well as something that also goes around your waist, as far as being easy on your back goes. But they are more compact and, once you get the hang of it, they''re faster to put on than a mei tai. Sakura Bloom ring slings are supposed to be excellent, and they are very pretty and made of silk.

I also know people who swear by wraps, and a woven wrap (like a Didymos) would fulfill all of your needs except ease of putting on. Again, it''s supposed to get much easier with practice, but I honestly don''t have the patience.

There are youtube videos on how to use all of the above options, if you''d like a visual demonstration.
1.gif
Click to expand...
Thanks Blen,

I''ve found a place in London that specialises in slings so I''ve called them and I''m going over with Daisy this week to try loads of them out with their resident expert on hand. They don''t have the BabyHawk, but they do have most of the others I''ve heard of.

Fingers crossed they have something good as I''m planning on lending my Tricotti to a friend whose baby has terrible colic and will only sleep in the Baby Bjorn - not great for spinal development.
 
ugh i had a long post and lost it!

PS moms.... what 2 bottle brands would you recommend if i wanted to get a few bottles to have on hand to test out in case we had to supplement in the first few weeks?

i know it''s personal and it depends on the baby and what they like, but i have heard a lot of positive about born free wide mouth and avent bpa free bottles. i was looking at plastic not glass and bpa free. i just want to get 2-3 to have on hand in case...we''d have to get larger/more of them later if they work out for when i go back to work and would prefer to have some recommends instead of just going to the store and choosing. also was thinking of going with as natural of a nipple as possible right? and slow teat for newborns?

tia!
 
Date: 12/7/2009 7:58:00 PM
Author: Mara
ugh i had a long post and lost it!


PS moms.... what 2 bottle brands would you recommend if i wanted to get a few bottles to have on hand to test out in case we had to supplement in the first few weeks?


i know it''s personal and it depends on the baby and what they like, but i have heard a lot of positive about born free wide mouth and avent bpa free bottles. i was looking at plastic not glass and bpa free. i just want to get 2-3 to have on hand in case...we''d have to get larger/more of them later if they work out for when i go back to work and would prefer to have some recommends instead of just going to the store and choosing. also was thinking of going with as natural of a nipple as possible right? and slow teat for newborns?


tia!
Click to expand...

mara, i''m not a mom, but after doing some research and hearing some recs, we added these, this and this one.

i''m also interested in feedback from the mommies though!
 
We used BornFree with Meena. It''s the first and only bottles we tried, and it worked for her. We also used Medela bottles (the type that come with the pump) when she was older. Meena used slow flow stage 1 nipples since birth until she refused the bottle at around 11 months. The nipples didn''t collapse when she sucked on them and she was fine with the slow flow, so I never move her up to stage 2. I imagine the wide mouth bottles are more similar to the shape of the breasts, but don''t quote me on it.

My SIL used Dr. Brown''s bottles. While she liked them, she said it was PITA to clean.
 
Mara, I believe BRU ONLY sells BPA free bottles now so any one would work for you. They were harder to find when I was preggo. We used Medela (just screws on the pump), Born Free and Nuby. Not sure Born Free is worth the price now that there are so many options. I liked nuby but switched out the nipples. The shape made it really easy for her to hold it herself around 7 months or so. I played around with different brands of nipples too. They are a cheap way to experiment. Only silicone though b/c for some reason latex (pacis too) freaked me out.
 
Tacori
You are right about more options on BPA free bottles. When I was researching, there weren''t that many of them and Dr. Brown''s was just starting to make BPA free ones. I think they were available when M was born, but I just sticked with what I''ve researched.
 
Mara for *us* we saw no need to spend $10-20 per bottle when the cheapo Evenflo bottles worked just as well for us. My boys actually liked them better than the expensive bottles I had-go figure!

Since there are just SO many more options than the Born Free and Dr. Brown bottles now unless your LO has reflux or needs a special bottle I would buy the cheap ones personally-and did!
 
Mara, I do agree with the other gals...even less than 2 years ago, there were not many options for BPA free. Tessa is not much older than Amelia and she had even less options than we did. I chose the born free because my main options at the time were Dr. Brown and Born Free.

I stuck with it because it worked. And even though they are 10 bucks a bottle (just buy the 9 oz ones) I washed right after every use so I really only needed 2 bottles for her entire bottle feeding career. I just replaced the valves and nipples as necessary.

But gosh, there are so many more options now...try a couple of cheap ones and see how they do. Amelia did like Born Free. She had spit up issues despite it though for 4 months, so go figure.
 
neat, I agree on getting cheaper bottles. 2007 did not have a lot of options like QT mentioned. I remember being SO excited when the Nubys came out b/c they are pretty inexpensive and I liked the colors. Haha. I think a lot of it is gimmick and I don''t even want to think what a PITA those Dr Brown straws are to clean. No thanks!
 
Date: 12/7/2009 10:36:49 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
neat, I agree on getting cheaper bottles. 2007 did not have a lot of options like QT mentioned. I remember being SO excited when the Nubys came out b/c they are pretty inexpensive and I liked the colors. Haha. I think a lot of it is gimmick and I don''t even want to think what a PITA those Dr Brown straws are to clean. No thanks!
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I tried Dr. Brown''s first and uh, no thanks. I hated cleaning it. Born Free is not bad to clean, IMHO, especially if you rinse right away.
 
Date: 12/7/2009 10:39:18 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Date: 12/7/2009 10:36:49 PM

Author: Tacori E-ring

neat, I agree on getting cheaper bottles. 2007 did not have a lot of options like QT mentioned. I remember being SO excited when the Nubys came out b/c they are pretty inexpensive and I liked the colors. Haha. I think a lot of it is gimmick and I don''t even want to think what a PITA those Dr Brown straws are to clean. No thanks!
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I tried Dr. Brown''s first and uh, no thanks. I hated cleaning it. Born Free is not bad to clean, IMHO, especially if you rinse right away.
Click to expand...

I agree. Born Free were no big deal to clean. Medela and Nuby were even easier though.
 
Pandora - I hope that you find something that works well for you. I think that shopping in person is really the best option, and so it''s great that you found a place where you can do that!

Bottles - I''ve just used the Medela ones - they have both glass and BPA-free plastic, and you can hook the Medela pump directly to them if you go that route (which is why I chose them). Washing them is pretty straight forward. I''ve never tried any others, as they worked fine for us.

Speaking of BPA - are all sippy cups BPA-free these days, or do I need to look out for that?
 
yeah it seems like most of the ones i see are BPA free so that makes it easier definitely. it sounds like i can get almost any 'bottle' and just play around with the nipple? so do most nipples work on most bottles then? there are so many options out there, it's so hard to know what works with what without just trial and error. i would also rather not pay a lot for the bottles. TG when you got 9oz and tried to use them when A was small do you just fill it halfway or ? i, for whatever reason, thought that would just introduce air?

and this might be a funny Q but if i want to go for a natural nipple so it's more like a natural boob, is there a keyword that bottle manuf's use?

and if bf'ing works out then when i go back to work i do plan to pump so it is good to know which would attach to the medela. i read on target that people seemed to use the avent to attach to the medela too.
 
Date: 12/8/2009 12:28:37 AM
Author: Mara
yeah it seems like most of the ones i see are BPA free so that makes it easier definitely. it sounds like i can get almost any ''bottle'' and just play around with the nipple? so do most nipples work on most bottles then? there are so many options out there, it''s so hard to know what works with what without just trial and error. i would also rather not pay a lot for the bottles. TG when you got 9oz and tried to use them when A was small do you just fill it halfway or ? i, for whatever reason, thought that would just introduce air?

and this might be a funny Q but if i want to go for a natural nipple so it''s more like a natural boob, is there a keyword that bottle manuf''s use?

and if bf''ing works out then when i go back to work i do plan to pump so it is good to know which would attach to the medela.
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Mara, I had the 5oz to start. Didn''t use them for long. I liked it and it was glass, but it was just so short lived. Born Free has the valve so that should reduce air. I don''t think 9 oz vs 5 oz would make a difference, but who knows. Amelia was on a SNS when she was taking really teeny amounts (1 -2 oz) so the bottle was introduced a bit later. I did use the 9oz for 4 oz feeds and had no issues, minus the spit up she had for 4 months which happened on the other smaller bottles too.

I don''t think nipples are interchangeable, but I am not well versed on what is out there anymore. I just bought Born Free and stuck with it and was very happy with them. Amelia drank from them until she was 15 months or so.
 
I think Medela pump can be attached directly to most regular mouth bottles. For the wide mouth bottles, you can get adaptor that allows you to pump directly into the bottle.

Breast pump adaptor for BornFree bottles: http://www.newbornfree.com/ProductInfo.aspx?id=3876261

Breast pump conversion kit for Avent bottles: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Avent-Breast-Pump-Conversion/dp/B001CWGXE2

Here''s an article on recommended nipples for bottle supplementation: http://www.bfar.org/nipples-print.html The website is for breastfeeding after breast and nipple surgeries, but the info is useful for everyone.
 
thanks for that last link QT... interesting info re: nipples best recommended for natural simulation.

for those of you who used glass, any problems with them easily breaking? our whole house is wood floors.
 
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