Baby Gear

When you are pregnant for the first or fourth time you know there is a lot of things you need for a baby. They may be small but they can take over your house with their “stuff”. Some things you need for day to day living and some baby gear is a luxury. Besides diapers, wipes and clothing, a baby monitor is very necessary.

When I had my twins I received a baby monitor as a shower gift. We were living in a apartment and the traditional monitor was ok, although I would get to hear the occasional phone conversations of my neighbors that the monitor picked up. Now that I am pregnant again I wanted a monitor that allowed me to see the baby now that we are mostly downstairs during the day and the baby’s room is upstairs.
I had the pleasure of reviewing Summer Infant Day and Night Handheld Video Monitor. This 900 MHz monitor blows away my old traditional monitor. This portable handheld unit is perfect for moving around the house and still being able to see your baby. There are also traditional sound lights that visually show baby’s level of activity. There are nighttime LED lights on the camera that makes the baby fully visible both day and night!
The video monitor has batteries or you can use it with an AC adapter. It also has a kickstand which is perfect for me to view it while I am doing dishes, using the computer or watching TV.

Don’t get this monitor just for a new infant, I would have loved this for my twins when they first transitioned into their toddler beds. It would have saved me countless trips upstairs to see what they were up to. Parents love this monitor, go ahead and read the reviews yourself. This is one of my new favorite baby products to tell all parents about.

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I remember sitting in church one Sunday and my mom spitting onto a tissue and rubbing it onto my face. That really grossed me out and I vowed right then and there never to use my saliva to clean anything on my kids. I have kept my promise, well, kind of. I do use Momspit, it just isn’t mine.

Momspit is the universal no-rinse cleanser. It is not a hand sanitizer, it is a cleanser for your little one’s hand and face. It contains no alcohol which I just love. It works like magic, just rub some on the dirt, lipstick leftover from a kiss or ice cream face and suddenly the mess is gone as fast as it appeared. It comes in two scents: fig & green tea and lemon and white tea and they also have unscented.

Here are some of the reason I think this company is as great as their products:
MomSpit products are user-friendly
MomSpit products are not tested on animals
MomSpit products are not manufactured anywhere using child labor
MomSpit products contain no human saliva, ’cause that would just be gross

What is better then that? Whether you are a mom, a grandmother, a babysitter or a lover of all things clean, order your Momspit now. You are not always near water and soap when your kids get messy and these bottles can fit into any purse or diaper bag. Buy it just so you can ask your mom friends if they want to use some of your mom spit! It is good, clean fun.

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When you are going to have a baby there are some items of baby gear that you need. A stroller, car seat, a crib, diapers and a high chair. There are alternatives to a traditional high chair these days which is perfect for parents who live in apartments, don’t have a big kitchen or just don’t like the bulky piece of baby gear. I had two big old high chairs in my kitchen, so I understand.

Fisher Price Healthy Care booster seat is a great alternative to a high chair. It connects to virtually any chair, has a 3 point restraint system and 3 height adjustments to grow with your child. The back and tray can be removed for an older child. It also has the best feature for any high chair or booster seat, a dishwasher safe removable tray. I would never buy any feeding chair that didn’t have this.
This is inexpensive at around $23.00 so you can buy one for the grandparent’s houses. This is also perfect for traveling with!

Kaboost is a revolutionary idea in alternatives to high chairs. This attaches to a regular chair to add height for a smaller child. It just snaps on a chair, is very stable and can holds up to 300 pounds. It comes in three different colors and at $39.99 makes any chair into a high chair. I wish I thought of this!

If you really just want a regular high chair this Graco chair is the slimmest when folded. This seat comes complete with 6- position height adjustment, 3- position recline and two trays that are dishwasher safe. It is slightly more expensive then the average high chair at $129.00.

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Every mom knows about the stroller struggles. The one you bought is too heavy/doesn’t fit well in your trunk/is too small/has no storage room. It is never exactly what you want. I have gone through three strollers in my kid’s five years of life. The bugaboo is the newest coveted strollers on the market and their newest model, the Bee, may be the best one yet.

This stroller is the most compact of the Bugaboo line. It has a reversible seat to face the child to you or away, it also has locking swivel wheels and 4-wheel independent suspension. That makes it easy to maneuver through doorways and small spaces like in department stores! The wheels are also easy to stroll right onto the beach with!
The back goes down to 4 different positions and it has height-adjustable handlebars for tall people, like my husband.

The Bug fits Graco and Peg Perego car seats. It also comes with chassis/seat, under seat bag, rain cover, sun canopy & 2-year warranty. The canopy is water repellent and all the fabrics are machine washable.
There are a couple of things I do not like about this stroller though. I think the weight restrictions limit the length of use of the stroller, it is only for kids up to 37lbs. It doesn’t have a cup holder (you can buy one for $24.99) and it also does not have a tray for the baby, which is my complaint about my Maclaren stroller.

This stroller will not come cheap, it is $529.00. Many bugaboo parents are total converts though, so I guess it is worth the cost.

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Car seat decisions are the worst. There are so many out there on the market different colors, names and styles. Do you go with the Graco seat you see everyone with or do you go with a newer car seat? Do you check consumer reports, ask friends and check buyers reviews online, or do you go with the one you like the best?

I can’t make that decision for you, and trust me I have had these same issues, we have bought three different car seats in 4.5 years.
This maxi-cosi Priori Convertible Car Seat is one I have been keeping my eye on. It is a European car seat that fits infants through toddlers, no need for a separate infant seat unless you want one for a stroller. It is equipped with LATCH, rear and forward-facing modes to accommodate growing little ones, a 4 position independent recline in forward-facing mode, 5 harness heights, a removable seat pad for easy cleaning and a padded fabric seat, buckle pad and harness cover ensure a comfortable ride for baby.

It is made for babies 5lbs up to 40lbs. It is stylish and comes in three great colors orange, grey and red. I do have a couple of issues with this seat, it is slightly heavy at 16lbs but you are not constantly taking this type of car seat in and out. Also it has no carrying handle like most infant seats do, but because it is a convertible car seat it doesn’t need one. They do make a infant car seat if that is what you are looking for.

What car seat do you have? Do you like it or hate it?

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When I was pregnant one of my Aunt’s had given me a great idea. She told me that when you have a baby in winter, like I was, that those baby buntings they sells are great and warm but impossible to put the baby in the car seat with. Plus, how hot is that baby in the bunting in a warmed up car? She suggested something new on the market at the time, a bundle me.

Bundle me is like a sleeping bag for the car seat. Made out of soft fleece it stays in the car seat and the straps easily fit through the pre-made slots. The top can zip off so you can easily regulate the baby’s temperature. It fits car seats, strollers, and joggers. It eliminates the need for coats and blankets in the car or out for a stroll on a cool evening. It comes in many different colors and the price is the same as five years ago when I bought them $39.99. JJ Cole also offers an urban bundle me. This one is made with soft chamois lining, and has a wind- and water-resistant outer nylon that protects the baby from the weather. The urban bundle me is slightly more at $49.99.

These bundle mes are a great investment that you will not be sorry you made. Perfect shower gift for a cold weather baby and first time moms! We put ours to good use from their first car ride until the spring thaw.

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After you become a parent and you have all of the things you registered for, all of the things you bought on a whim and all of the things you thought you could not live without, you realize your house is full of stuff you used once, or never. This is so true with a lot of baby gear. Sure you need a clothes, diapers, bottles, wipes and a place for baby to sleep, but what else?

This HABA Dream Baby Play Mat is not a necessity but it sure is cute and functional! This alternative to a regular floor mat has lateral sides can be flapped up so that the playing rug changes into a little bed or flapped down for a changing station. It has a wooded rod with a squeaker, rustling and glitter foil pockets included. Hanging toys can be purchased separetly. The best part is that the cover is removable for easy washing. It has a ton of different things to look at or touch on the sides and overhead.
It measures 54″ l x 48″ w.
It is not cheap at about $150.00, but it is different and perfect for baby when you travel overnight or for use as a bed or changing station when you visit family or friends for the day.

HABA toys are are some of the best designed toys worldwide, meeting Eupopean standards, but this toy is made in China and I know many parents want to be aware of where their children’s toys are made.

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Can you handle another recall? I am not surprised when any new baby gear is recalled now, there has been so many just this year alone!
Whether you are ready for another one or not, here it comes. Graco just announced a recall of their infant car seats today. The recall is of the standalone SnugRide seats manufactured between Aug. 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007 and could have been sold as late as just last week.

The recall is because the backing of the seat pad may pull away from the seams, exposing the pad filling that could pose a potential choking hazard. This recall does not affect SnugRide models sold as part of a travel system or those made before August 2006, because the design is different.
If you are unsure if your snugride is part of the recall check the model number and manufactured date on the back of the car seat.
The model numbers that are affected are: 8609FOF2, 8609FOF3, 8616FOF2, 8616FOF3, 8643DDH2, 8643DDH3, 8643CDR2, 8643DH03, 8643SUP2, 8643SUP3, 8643JOS2, 8643JOS3, 8643MDW3, 8643PWC3, 8643SFJ3, 8645FMT2, 8645FMT3, 8645GLM3, 8645GLN3, 8645HEM2, 8645HEM3, 8645MYC2, 8646SML3, 8645MYC3, 8645MRG3, 8645PKR2, 8645SNY2, 8646SND2, 8645THR2, 8645THR3, 8646FIE2, 8646FIE3, 8646GRT3 and 8646RRY3.

The company said customers should not return the seat to the retailer. Consumers can get a replacement seat pad by calling 800-345-4109 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, or go to www.gracobaby.com.

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After your baby grows out of his infant car seat, you need to buy a bigger car seat, or a convertible car seat that turns into a booster. Children should be in a booster seat with a five point harness as long as they can be. With many booster seats, they just come with a five point harness until your child weighs 40 lbs and after that it is near impossible to find a booster seat with extended weight harness.

Go and watch this video and you will know why a five point harness is so important.
Did that shake you up? Yup, me too.

The Britax Regent is a great car seat, it grows with your child from 12 months to 8 years. It is well known for its safety and how comfortable it is. It is also very expensive at $270.00. I don’t believe that children can only be safe if their parents have money to buy these expensive seats.
For someone like me, with twins, that is an expensive purchase.
Now more and more car seat makers are making five point harnesses in seats that go up more then 40 lbs. Cosco makes the Alpha Elite Apex Seat which is $129.00.

It is for children from 22-65 lbs. It has a cup holder and is very comfortable. This is the one we are buying for our children.

I bleieve all car seat makers should be making their seats with extended five point harness system because seat belts can and do fail on impact. A child’s safety is never something to get cheap on.

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Do you travel often with your small child? We did, and where is the baby going to sleep is the first question that comes to mind. Renting a crib from a hotel or service didn’t really appeal to me, lugging a pack n play was even less desirable.
I would have loved this foldable moses bed by lalapanzi beds. They come in two sizes, large for children up to 22 lbs and small for children up to 17lbs. They look so soft and comfortable, I wouldn’t mind sleeping in one.

This bed would be great for baby but only if you travel often, I cannot find the price on their web site now, but I know it was not an inexpensive purchase.

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As a person who has traveled with twins often, including 4 trips to Florida and a roundtrip 6 hour drive to New Hampshire before my kids even turned 3, I am always looking for tips to travel with kids. They last couple of times we traveled I saw parents using the Gogo Kidz Travelmate and I loved it.

The travelmate is and attachment for the car seat letting you easily wheel your baby in the car seat rather then carry the baby and the seat. It easily mounts onto the seat, it is only 5lbs and attaches to many of the popular car seats on the market.

I don’t think the travelmate is perfect for the occasional flyer, because it is not cheap at $89.99, but would be perfect for someone who has to fly often with a young child. This is much easier then wheeling a stroller down to the gate, taking your child(ren) out and folding it up handing it to the flight attendant and hope you will see it again in good shape. Believe me, I know!

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I love Etsy. Creative people selling their creative, homemade things is heaven to me and I love to support them.

What I love more then Etsy though, is my kids being preoccupied when we are out, especially out for dinner. We have taken our twins out to eat with us since they were 6 months old. We bring toys, and snacks and even books, and we never stay and linger, kids get bored I understand that.

These beautiful Placemates are perfect for that! They are called Dine N Doodle and they are place mats on one side and a chalk mat on the other. Kids can doodle, you can play tick tac toe, you can make masterpieces all before your entree arrives!
They are durable, stain-resistant and waterproof, perfect for kids and their moms.
They come in many adorable colors and styles, my favorite is the sock monkey pattern!

They also have a crayon keeper. Place your crayons or chalk in the little pockets and fold up. No more crayons stains on the bottom of your purse. This comes is many colors/styles as well.

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I am always scared I am going to burn my children’s legs with the hot metal buckle on the car seats. Now that kids have to be in seats or boosters until they are 8 years old, the fear continues. Not only the buckle which I tried to tuck into the seat when we are going someplace so they will not be in the sun’s rays (mom tip!) but also the seats themselves because they are mostly leather. Easily to clean but hot in the summer!

Then I found the seat chiller car seat cooler.
It cools the car seats with ice packs that you freeze. It is made of vinyl, flexible non-toxic ice packs and flannel. You place it on the seat and buckles and it cools down the seat, then you can safely place your child into his car seat.
I do not have this product, but I think I will be ordering one. I don’t see how this would work if you were out of the car for a long period of time, but for errands or going to friend’s homes where you can refreeze the ice packs, it would be perfect. I am sure people who have hot weather year round would make use of this product also.

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Now that it is summer, I thought I would share some road trip secrets I have. Many people take vacations during the summer months, but even if it is a day trip to visit family, I think these ideas could help you with baby.

Make a trip box. Fill a empty shoe box with some things to keep baby entertained in the car. A small container of cereal, a book or two and a few small toys like finger puppets or rattles. Even if one falls on the floor you have others to go to for back up.

If you are at someone’s house that doesn’t have kids or babies, you can make some toys that entertain baby. Fill a container 3/4 the way up with cereal and tape close, to make a rattle. A plastic lid from tupperware is something fun or use a scarf or bandana to play peek a boo or to wave around. Never be fooled by how much fun a wooden spoon is either!

Also if you are looking for some tips on going on a plane with your children, I have some tips and tricks on my other blog.

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I am a HUGE fan of bibs, I mean what parent isn’t? I had so many bibs, girl bibs, boy bibs, fancy bibs, plastic bibs etc. I was a huge fan of disposable bibs and used them all the time. That way I didn’t have to cart a gross dirty bib home in the diaper bag and worry I will get other things in there dirty or forget about it for a week until the smell knocks me over.

Kipiis are a great idea also. Keep these in your diaper bag and make any napkin or paper towel an instant bib! They come in cool colors and are $14.00 each which is a little steep but think of the money you will save on bibsters!
Come to think of it, I bet you can make your own kipiis, if you do email me to let me know what you used and how it turned out!

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