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

[fieryred33143]

Blen-thanks for the review. No one I know has a Sunshine so I appreciate your reply. Knowing that it is too tall for a small car (which I have) is enough for me to look into other options.

 

[NovemberBride]

I posted this on the mommy thread, but wanted to share it here too for anyone looking for an umbrella stroller:

If anyone is looking for an umbrella stroller, we just got the UppaBaby G-Luxe and it is awesome. It''s about $150, so cheaper than the MacLarens. It''s only 11 lbs and has a full recline, so can be used from 3 months. I think it''s the lightest stroller with a full recline. It also is taller than a lot of umbrella strollers, which is great for DH who is 6''4", but not uncomfortable at all for me at 5''2".

There are obviously way cheaper umbrella strollers out there, but if you are looking for a higher quality one that is going to hold up for a long time and be comfortable for longer walks, I highly recommend checking this one out.

 

[fieryred33143]

PSA:

Since we were discussing pampers cruisers on another thread I thought I''d post this here.

If you become a fan of Pampers on Facebook, they will send you a sample of their new diapers that are coming out in March. They are called Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max (or Max Dry something like that). I have not signed up but some ladies are saying that while they are thinner than the old cruisers, they are better than the new ones and so far no leaks.

 

[ChargerGrrl]

piggybacking on Fiery''s PSA- I recall seeing mention in last Sunday paper''s P&G circular about "requesting your free sample of the new diaper" Don''t recall if you had to friend them on FB- need to check it out!

also, THANKS for the suggestion to pick up BABY BARGAINS (Fiery, i know your''re a fan!). did so not too long ago, and can''t put it down. it''s invaluable!!

 

[qtiekiki]

You can request the new Cruisers samples on their website pgeverdaysolutions.com, but you have to register.

 

[oobiecoo]

Date: 1/30/2010 5:21:23 PM
Author: Blenheim
And just to illustrate what I mean about fit on newborns - this is a BumGenius 3.0 One-Size pocket on George at 6 days old, and probably 7.5 lbs or so. It''s snapped to the smallest possible setting. Flip''s made by the same company and so I''d imagine that the sizing would be similar.

Blen,

How did you like the prorap covers? I''ve only seen a couple of used ones in the used bin at the local cloth diaper shop and they didn''t look so great. They were dingy and no longer white, the plasticy lining was pulled away from the cloth part, and just didn''t look like they would contain any sort of mess. Do you think they were just heavily used... possibly through mutltiple children? Or do they just show wear quickly?

 

[oobiecoo]

Also, can anyone recommend a really great digital thermometer? It seems that all of the ones I''ve seen, no matter how expensive or what kinds of attachments they have, all have mixed or horrible reviews. I want to make sure I get one that is going to be accurate!

 

[jcrow]

Date: 3/2/2010 5:42:11 PM
Author: oobiecoo
Also, can anyone recommend a really great digital thermometer? It seems that all of the ones I''ve seen, no matter how expensive or what kinds of attachments they have, all have mixed or horrible reviews. I want to make sure I get one that is going to be accurate!

i have this one and then for when she''s a little older i was gifted this one. however, i originally registered for this one instead of the temporal artery one.

 

[Mara]

we have like 3 thermometers people gave us and we haven''t used one once hehee.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I used the one the hospital gave us. Pedis request a rectal temp. Since she NO longer will let me do that I got an ear one. I can check the brand. Works great but luckily I don''t need it that often.

 

[qtiekiki]

I think digital thermometers get mixed reviews b/c their accuracy depends on the users (I am assuming you are talking about ear thermometer). We always use a rectal one, but DH recently got one of those infrared thermometer. We used it and checked against the temp we get with a rectal thermometer, and it''s pretty accurate. So we''ll probably start using the infrared one for quick scan.

 

[sunkist]

Our doc, or maybe it was a nurse at the hospital, told us not to use the rectal thermometer we had gotten for the babe. So we got the digital temporal scan thermometer at Costco. So far it works great and very easy to use. And no crying baby, well at least he''s not crying because of the thermometer

 

[sunkist]

Don't know if anyone has talked about this one lately, but does anyone have a baby entertainer/ jumper that they love?? And preferably one that doesn't have to be a permanent feature in my living room?? I'm looking at this one and liking it cause it can fold down and I could stuff it under my couch or something when Wes is done playing with it. We don't have a lot of room for big baby toys.

Baby Einstein Musical Motion Action Jumper

Wes is starting to not like to recline in his bouncy chairs as much, he's tries to sit up and wants to be held in a vertical position. He loves to try to stand already! But I can't hold him alll day long. Thought this would be something he'd like, but I just hope it's worth the money

ETA: Oh, and, I was also considering getting him a floor mat entertainer, but considering he's already 3.5 months old and Im concerned about flathead, dont you think it's a better option to just go with the jumper entertainer??

 

[Blenheim]

Ear thermometers - I''ve sometimes gotten a full 2 degrees difference between reads that are only seconds apart if I don''t position it just right, which can be hard to do if G does not want it in his ear. Rectal is much more accurate, although it''s a PITA.

Oobicoo - The Proraps that we had were actually used and weren''t in the type of condition that you''re describing, so those seem like they''ve definitely seen better days. They weren''t my favorite personally because they don''t come in cute colors

and they don''t have laundry tabs (which help to prevent diaper chains in the wash), but they''re cheap and they got the job done. They also have leg gusseting, which helps to contain any mess. We just had them when G was a newborn, though, and newborn diapers tend to hold up better as babies are in them so briefly before they outgrow them.

 

[lover in athens]

SUNKIST:

we had that same jumperoo thing. i thought it was pretty good, although coby was never that into jumping (he seemed to like the exersaucer better). it definitely doesn''t fold very easily though!! can you go to bru or something to have him try out the various options first???

 

[sunkist]

Lia - oh thats a good idea to see what they have to try out at //bru. I''ll do that. I was at Target today cause I have a giftcard, so BRU didnt even cross my mind. Thanks!

 

[lover in athens]

also, we tried putting coby in around 4 mo, but he was still just a tiny peanut and still couldn''t reach the floor. we tried putting phone books and stuff beneath him which helped....he couldn''t REALLY use it until about 6 mo or so...

 

[oobiecoo]

Date: 3/2/2010 10:29:32 PM
Author: Blenheim
Ear thermometers - I''ve sometimes gotten a full 2 degrees difference between reads that are only seconds apart if I don''t position it just right, which can be hard to do if G does not want it in his ear. Rectal is much more accurate, although it''s a PITA.


Oobicoo - The Proraps that we had were actually used and weren''t in the type of condition that you''re describing, so those seem like they''ve definitely seen better days. They weren''t my favorite personally because they don''t come in cute colors

and they don''t have laundry tabs (which help to prevent diaper chains in the wash), but they''re cheap and they got the job done. They also have leg gusseting, which helps to contain any mess. We just had them when G was a newborn, though, and newborn diapers tend to hold up better as babies are in them so briefly before they outgrow them.

Good to know. We may go with at least a few of those in the newborn size then. Do you have a diaper sprayer? I''m planning on using those flushable liners but am wondering if I may need a sprayer also.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

sunkist, we used an evenflo excersaucer (mid range model). She LOVED it and only recently stopped playing with it. It did take up a lot of room but frankly as a SAHM anything form of entertainment for her is worth a big, ugly, plastic thing in my family room. I think we started putting her in it at 4 months. Once she started walked she played with it standing up. I''d skip the floor mat since he is almost 4 months and go for a nicer excersaucer.

 

[fieryred33143]

That''s the exact same one we have. The swing was our life saver, the jumperoo replaced the swing''s spot in our heart

.

She loves it although I''ll admit that while we can easily store it away, it has its spot in the living room and stays there. It is easy to store though and fits under her crib.

I''m a huge fan of the jumperoo and love the one we have. She just figured out how to jump in it so that''s pretty hilarious. Before she''d just scoot around to each station. She also just discovered how to move the catepillar so it makes noise and that''s her new favorite thing. It entertains her enough in the morning so that I can make myself some coffee and breakfast, eat, and put things away.

 

[Blenheim]

Date: 3/3/2010 12:21:10 AM
Author: oobiecoo

Date: 3/2/2010 10:29:32 PM
Author: Blenheim
Ear thermometers - I''ve sometimes gotten a full 2 degrees difference between reads that are only seconds apart if I don''t position it just right, which can be hard to do if G does not want it in his ear. Rectal is much more accurate, although it''s a PITA.


Oobicoo - The Proraps that we had were actually used and weren''t in the type of condition that you''re describing, so those seem like they''ve definitely seen better days. They weren''t my favorite personally because they don''t come in cute colors

and they don''t have laundry tabs (which help to prevent diaper chains in the wash), but they''re cheap and they got the job done. They also have leg gusseting, which helps to contain any mess. We just had them when G was a newborn, though, and newborn diapers tend to hold up better as babies are in them so briefly before they outgrow them.

Good to know. We may go with at least a few of those in the newborn size then. Do you have a diaper sprayer? I''m planning on using those flushable liners but am wondering if I may need a sprayer also.

Yes, we have (I believe) the Bum Genius sprayer. Prior to installing it, we were dunking and/or scraping diapers and we much prefer the sprayer. That reminds me though - we have some flushable liners in a box in the basement and have never used them, so I should go ahead and give them a try.

Sunkist - I''m going to ditto Tacori here. Since he''s already 4 months, I''d skip the play mat and use the extra money for a jumperoo/exersaucer. Our play mat got practically no use past 5 months.

 

[jcrow]

psa - sophie the giraffe is one sale on amazon for $14.95 plus it qualifies for free shipping if you spend $25. i just picked up two for shower gifts.

 

[meresal]

Date: 3/5/2010 1:23:15 PM
Author: jcrow
psa - sophie the giraffe is one sale on amazon for $14.95 plus it qualifies for free shipping if you spend $25. i just picked up two for shower gifts.

Will someone please explain why people love this thing?

 

[Mandarine]

Date: 3/5/2010 2:31:24 PM
Author: meresal

Date: 3/5/2010 1:23:15 PM

Author: jcrow

psa - sophie the giraffe is one sale on amazon for $14.95 plus it qualifies for free shipping if you spend $25. i just picked up two for shower gifts.

Will someone please explain why people love this thing?

I don''t know...my guys still don''t put it in their mouths...but they think it''s hilarious! If they get fussy, I show them Sophie and they laugh! haha

My dog wants a piece of it too

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

From Amazon:

Sophie the Giraffe, full of discoveries and activities to awaken baby''s senses. Sight: The dark and contrasting spots all over Sophie the Giraffe''s body provide visual stimulation and make her easily recognizable to baby. She soon becomes a familiar and reassuring objet. Hearing: Her squeaker keeps baby amused, stimulates his hearings, and helps him to understand the link between cause and effect. Taste: Sophie the Giraffe is very flexible and has lots of parts for baby to chew like ears, horns, legs. She is perfect for soothing baby''s sore gums when teething and is completely safe. Made of 100% natural rubber and food paint. Touch: Sophie the Giraffe is perfect for baby''s small hands. She is very light and her long legs and neck are easy for baby to grip. She is very soft to touch, just like baby''s mummy, stimulating soothing physiological and emotional responses. Smell: The singular scent of natural rubber from Have tree makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify amid all his other toys. Phthalates and BPA free.

 

[Mara]

OMG Mandarine, Portia totally wants to eat Sophie!! when she smelled it she went CRAZY. we think it''s the rubber somehow. we haven''t even tried to show it to J yet, he would have no interest in it...we got TWO of them as gifts, I kept one for a re-gift and we''ll see if he likes the other one, if not we''ll give it away too haha. it''s not something i would have ever bought, maybe for a girl but why don''t they make a Lion or something for a boy??

 

[oobiecoo]

Anyone have bottle suggestions for breastfed babies?

I don''t want to have any latching, gas, or leaking issues. So far I''ve narrowed it down to Tommee Tippee, Dr. Brown''s Wide Neck, Nuby Natural Touch, and First Years Breastflow. Any opinions on these or something better to consider? I have an Avent pump so it would be great to use Avent bottles that will fit right on it... but I''ve heard they are super leaky.

 

[meresal]

Thank you for the info on Sophie! It's funny, but when I read those descriptions, I can think of about 20 doggy toys that would do the exact same thing and have that rubber smell.

Oobie- We are going with Breastflow. They have a really wide nipple and have read/heard good things about using them while breastfeeding.

 

[oobiecoo]

I''ve hard good things about those too... BUT I''ve also heard that they can leak. The milk can get into the outer chamber and then when you set it down, the milk runs down and can leak through the threads. Thats the only thing keeping me from going with those. Sometimes I wonder if these reports of leakage are from user-error.

 

[meresal]

Date: 3/5/2010 4:43:59 PM
Author: oobiecoo
I''ve hard good things about those too... BUT I''ve also heard that they can leak. The milk can get into the outer chamber and then when you set it down, the milk runs down and can leak through the threads. Thats the only thing keeping me from going with those. Sometimes I wonder if these reports of leakage are from user-error.

Ditto... I''ve read at least one review on every bottle that *someone* had it leak and they will NEVER use it again.