So I've decided to break down and start looking at nursery furniture, strollers, car seats, etc. for my not so little baby girl. I really candidly have NO idea what to look for and everyone and their mom seems to think that this is the make or break decision of a lifetime. So here's the help I need:
1. Cribs: what to watch out for, what is potentially hazardous, where to find them, drop down sides or not, convertible to toddler bed or not, and brands, if you have any favorites.
2. Strollers: I know there are as many kinds out there as there are kids. What is the best kind to get? Do you buy your stroller w/ your carseat so it can snap in? Are there strollers that can transform from infant stage to bigger toddler?
3. Carseats: Brands? Type? Bells and whistles? I honestly know NOTHING about these so please hook me up.Basically, I want to know what you wish you had known when you had your first kid.
Oh, and I keep hearing strong opinions one way or the other about neutral colors for all of the above. The argument is either that if Jr. #2 is a boy, we don't have to buy all new stuff OR that I'll want everything very girly for this baby and everything for a boy very boyish...or that it will it all likely be wrecked by the time Jr. #2 comes along. Thoughts? Thanks in advance all. I'm seriously as clueless as I could be so any advice would be AWESOME!
17 comments:
Graco Snugride carseat is top of the line and they have matching strollers as well. I would go neutral for carseat, stroller and the crib b/c that's a lot of money to go all girl and would be plain sad to put a little boy in a pink carseat. Go girly with the crib bedding, clothes, and some blankets but I'd go neutral everywhere else.
I recommend an "In-step" brand of jogging stroller (look on Amazon.com for reasonably priced ones). They are the best strollers to walk or run with! I wish I would've had one before now. Also, I found out that you can buy a separate attachment for them for the infant carseat.
if you're worried about a big baby, you have an option to get a convertible carseat (5-33lbs). The bad thing about that is that you can't just bring your infant in the store or attach to a stroller in a convertible car seat. Talk to me if your interested b/c I found a really great convertible carseat that is top of the line and cheaper. I'll tell you how that can be if your interested.
Ask Becky, it sounds like she did all the research possible for all that stuff. We were given our first car seat, and were glad to get it, because it was cheap. We were mostly concerned with prices, not quality - maybe that's because we still remember all piling in the back of a van (without seats, let alone seat belts) and seeing who could stand up the longest without getting knocked down by all those sharp corners - keep in mind I was around 5 or 6 at the time - but we had a blast.
Okay, so as Sara said. I did do a ton of research. I used consumerreports.org a lot but there are items that they don't have recommendations on, like cribs. If you don't have a subscription, you can use mine. Just let me know. I would totally recommend looking there for things like the carseat cuz they change all the time and the ratings can change as well.
Like Crystal, I got the Snugride carseat but it only goes to 22 lbs. and I will have to buy a new one shortly. Graco also makes a new carseat that goes to 30 lbs and clicks into a stroller but it wouldn't fit into our car. It did have high ratings as well.
I could go on and on but I will stop here and we can discuss more in detail later. I have lots of opinions on cribs and mattresses and other things as well. I will fill you in. As if you could stop me.
I lied on the convertible seat. It goes to 55 lbs. sorry
so, for the carseat. i would definitely go with the graco safeseat. it's an infant carrier like the snugride, but it can hold a baby up to 30lbs. parker was such a big baby that he grew out of his infant carrier (which was not the safeseat) at 4 months before he could sit up on his own, which was a big pain.
as for the stroller. i had the peg perego pliko, and i loved it. i say had because i'm now using the beast of a double stroller. i got the car seat that went with it, and as i mentioned i wish i had gotten a different one. they'll all fit together, they just won't click in. so, unless you plan on doing some crazy off-roading stroller maneuvers, you should be fine. strollers a tricky. you have to figure out what you want and what you don't really care about.
good luck!
I think this is all bunk. Baby stuff says more about the parents than the kids, so get whatever the flip you cali-noisans will like the most.
But, since you asked... here are the *right* answers...
1. Cribs: Ha. As if this kid is going to sleep for the first year of her life! More important to find a good bedside bassinet more than in a crib. By the time the kid is old enough to stop freaking out sleeping in the other room, she will be smart enough not to put her head through the bars.
2. Strollers: You're thinking a stroller for the baby to ride in, but (trust me with 6 nieces) you just as well better start investing in little toy strollers first... kids are more interested in those. Actually, no. Get a little red radio flyer wagon... we used to pull each other around in that and randomly dump each other out. Then we'd go eat dirt. My childhood was the best.
3. Carseats: I used to prefer riding in the back window of our Ford Granada, but I guess they'd lock you up for that now, so my answer is: "yes. get one."
Oh, and everything needs a cup holder... dont' forget the cup holders!
I just sent you an e-mail!
We have a Chicco stroller and car seat, but my X-Men child has outgrown that car seat, so we've gone to a Britax/ Fisher Price carseat. We love the stroller, though.
Cribs? You probably won't do the whole "toddler bed" stuff, so just get a reasonably priced one that you like. Our dresser is a non-nursery one from IKEA.
Nursery stuff - whatever you like is what I say! I don't like overly baby stuff and Ollie's nursery set is just this side of too babyish for me.
ummm... i don't think that you will really use the toddler bed because if you have your kids around 2 years apart, you will be constantly using a crib! i think most cribs are safe now. i just got a killer one on craigslist with a changing table that i LOVE. if you get a high-end crib, i think that is the way to go. also i think white is good for a boy or girl.
go for a nuetral color carseat, (i like graco) something with brown or black that matches what YOU wear. same with a daiper bag, it is kinda like your accessory. i would totally get a travel system it is so nice not to have to wake them up when you are running errands etc. (also the good thing about an infant carseat is that you can hook it on the top of your shopping cart. heaven knows you want them to keep on sleeping). but you still plan on running, get one that snaps into a jogging stroller. almost all strollers work for a 2 months to 3 year old
as for the nursery, go all out pink/purple whatever all girl. you never know what your next is going to be and decorating is SO much fun. if you never have a girl again, you can always e-bay or craigslist it.
whatever you get make sure you LOVE it. it is always worth the extra money to get something that you are REALLY happy with.
happy shopping!:)
one last thing that i am getting for this babe is a sling called "mama's milk". my sisters have it and i am in LOVE with it.
sorry this is so dang long, i should have just emailed you. love ya!
i think that you should go with a neutral baby crib and furniture(i like white and any shade of dark wood) but, you definately have to go all out with the girly bedding-it won't last 2 kids anyway. i like the graco carseats(i usually get black) they are reasonably priced and aren't usually covered with something corny like butterflies or baseballs. i love the "mothership" fleurville diaper bags. check out the snap and go stroller that you can snap any baby carseat into. that way you can buy any stroller or jogging stroller you like and use that when your big girl grows out of her little carseat (cause i usually don't like the strollers that come with the carseats). i agree with catherine, just get stuff that you love and will be so happy seeing your little princess in!
So, let's talk baby stuff - by the way, this is Amanda of Law School and Freshman year infamy.
Car seat - we got the Graco snugride because it's really safe and weighs less than others. Our son grew out of his by 8 months, but at that point we couldn't carry him in it anymore anyway with out bruising our knees, so the high capacity carrier ones are practically useless - who wants to carry around a 30 pound baby in a 15 pound car seat? Although, I can do a pull up now - a new thing since carrying my large child around.
And then we got the snap'n'go stroller - just a frame that holds the car seat, and a jogging stroller with the car seat attachment. Loved both.
And for furniture - we were cheap and did the craigslist thing as we got around to it. We tried a co-sleeper and a bassinet, but our son wouldn't have it. He just wanted to be as close to the milk source as possible all the time. Then he went straight to a crib.
We didn't get a changing table - just made changing kits - a basket with diapers, wipes, a changing pad (the fold-up kind) and diaper rash cream. We still use them as the changing areas. If she is an over achiever like her mother, she may learn to roll over early, and in our case I preferred he did it on the ground rather than off a tall table.
We actually have a ridiculous compilation of baby stuff information if you want, because for some reason people ask us stuff - so we did the research and then asked Matt's cousin who did crazy amounts of research. anyway, sorry so long ...
I only have boys, but my advice would be: I agree with everyone that said Graco Snugride. That is what I have and i love it! I got the travel set so it came with a matching stroller and I love it!! For a crib, I would suggest some kind of bassinet for the beginning(a pack and play works great and then you have it later for when you go places) and then the crib. When I was looking I went for the sturdiest. I did not get one that had the drop rail because I did not think they were as sturdy, and my husband and I are both tall enough to reach if the side does not drop. We did not pick one with wheels either because we did not think they were as sturdy. The bed that we picked does turn into a toddler bed, but we have not used that yet. WE just put Zack into a twin bed when Jackson came along and was ready for the crib. oh, I would go neutral for the car seat, and really anything that can and will be used for other children.
Well since I don't have children-I can't vouch for brands and such, but my advice is don't forget ergonomics for you! You are both tall so make sure the stroller is adjustable for you and your hubby so you don't break your back pushing it!
I would also go with white or brown for the crib, but I also agree with Sam that a basinet is a must for the first few months-so much easier!
Good luck shopping!
Here's my advice... get everything free from a co-worker. That's what we did. :) Seriously though, I really don't have anything with the stroller and crib that I was dying to have. The swaddle that I use is called "The Miracle Blanket" and can be found on Amazon. Most other blankets, Emma could wriggle out of. I really like the "Brest Friend" (at Babies R Us) for a nursing pillow, instead of the Boppy because it provides back support and my back was super sore after lugging her heavy body everywhere. :)
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