When it comes to different varieties of all of the above-mentioned "big" things, I have heard many different opinions of all different types. And I would love to have them all "here" in one easy place to access. So if you would leave comments with your preferences on strollers, car seats/carriers, highchairs, etc., I would really appreciate it.
Thanks so much!
6 comments:
You need an email for this one! Ha ha...being that I'm a new mom, I have found that the lighter the carseat, the better. As the baby grows, so does the weight of the carseat. I have a snugride and love it because it clicks into the base easy and is light. It's just my opinion, though.
I have a jogging stroller that my carseat can click into and I LOVE it! It's a BOB, which is REALLY expensive (I got mine off KSL), but it's been a good investment...however, it's bulky and it doesn't have a lot of storage space.
We have a small high chair that sits right on the chair, so we can take it with us when we need, and that's been nice.
A bouncy chair and bumbo are musts. No really, you'll want both.
Honestly though, above all of these things, if I could do it over again, I would put my biggest amount of money into buying a nice rocking chair. One with an ottoman that is made for nursing. You don't think it will make that much difference, but I used my sisters one day and nearly died at how much easier nursing was. I cried when I had to sit in my hand-me down when I got home.
Good luck. And I'm sure everyone will tell you opposing views as me, but we all value differen things.
So fun! And you get to find out the sex of the baby soon. YAY!
Hi Megan!
YAY! I get to respond on your blog. Here is my opinion about the various baby things you will need:
Car Seat: I have the Chico KeyFit 30 and I LOVE it! It has a base that is easy to snap the seat into. It was given the highest safety rating and was named the best car seat by Consumer Reports (I sound like an advertisement!). When you are looking for a car seat, make sure and pick one that will go up to 30 pounds. They make some car seats that are only made for 25 pounds, but I am a fan of the 30 pound car seats because you can postpone buying a bigger car seat longer.
You will definitely want a jogging stroller. I have used a Schwinn model that is available at Target for a pretty decent price. You can spend TONS of money on jogging strollers. Check KSL for a good deal. Mike and I also have a little umbrella stroller that we bought for $15 that is awesome to use for quick strolls through the mall or around the neighborhood.
I do not have a high chair. To save on space, we opted for a chair that hooks on to our table, and we love it. It is great because Haven gets to sit with us at dinner instead of by herself in her high chair. It also keeps messes to a minimum because she has the whole area of the table to spread out on. My friends who have high chairs don't like how messy they get or how food seems to get stuck in every little space. I also like what your friend suggested about the high chair that sits on the chair. I have seen those and they work great as well.
Some of my "must haves" are:
1. A Bumbo chair (they are honestly so great! It helps babies work on their sitting, and it is also a great place to start feeding babies when they are too small for high chairs)
2. A Boppy pillow (this will save your arms during those hours of baby holding and feeding!)
3. A nice rocking chair and ottoman (This has been a lifesaver. We have it in Haven's room and we use it everyday. We were able to find a great deal at Babies R Us. Again, you can spend TONS of money on this. Just find one that is comfortable for both you and Pret)
4. A Diaper Genie (this is one of my favorite things because it takes care of the stinky diapers and I don't have to worry about taking the diapers to the dumpster everyday).
5. An ExerSaucer (this is for when your baby is a little older, but this has honestly saved me! Haven adores this toy and can spend hours in it. If we lived in Utah, I would just let you borrow mine! It has helped Haven work on standing and strengthening her leg muscles).
If you have friends and/or family who have recently had a baby, I would recommend having your baby try out all of their toys/baby gadgets before you buy one for yourself. This will help you get a feel for what your baby likes before you spend your money because all babies have different preferences. For example, your friend mentioned that you would need a bouncer. Mike and I bought a bouncer for Haven and she hates it. I wish I would have known that she didn't like it before I spent my money.
Also, make sure and register on Diapers.com because you can get a great deal on diapers and other baby necessities. And take advantage of the Babies R Us coupons that come out! A 20% discount really adds up.
I am so so excited for you to have your baby! You and Pret will make the best parents.
Hope this comment (sorry it's so long!) helps.
Ashley
I sure have plenty of opinions to offer you- I will save them for when I see you at Christmas time. Go to the library and see if they have a book called Baby Bargains (or something like that). It has all kinds of info for strollers, cribs, high chairs, etc and ratings and prices- it really helped me make decisions about what I would want.
You can't go wrong with Graco products. I think they make things like carseats and stollers with better quality than cheaper stuff. I agree with the light carseat-or you can plan on getting some major arm muscles.:)
Go for a stroller that is lightweight also. It will make for easier folding and lifting into the car (and save on your back)
I think you can wait on a high chair for a while.
Hopefully you'll get some of these things at a baby shower!
Remember to reserve us a day, night or two during Christmas for hanging! We'll be there 12/23-1/5
Good luck with decision making!
From my experience at the hospital, the best car seat is the chicco key fit 30. I wanted one so bad this time around, but decided what was the point when I already have a carseat? they grow out of the infant ones so fast anyway.
I think the best high chair is one you can stick to your table. I haven't used one, I've just seen them, but I'm going to get one with Audrey. Someone gave me their high chair, which I still had, but it takes up so much unnecessary space and it is such a pain in the butt to clean. If you're worried about your table getting ruined....well, let's just say that nice furniture should be saved for when your kids grow up because they will most likely ruin it anyway. I've given up and decided that's why they make table cloths! :D
When it comes to strollers, just look for one that isn't too bulky. I hardly take mine anywhere cause it's a pain to pack around. I took it to the airport and they couldn't fit it through the scanner and had to take twice as long to check it manually.
If you get a baby swing get one that has the ability to swing side to side and front to back and make sure it has a plug. You could waste hundreds on buying batteries and there's no point! I love mine (it's the jungle themed one!).
Get an exersaucer for sure! My sister let me borrow hers and Nate loved it (then broke it when he got older). If I can't fix mine I'm going to buy another one. They are great for when they learn how to crawl and you want a break from them getting into everything!
Most important of all get a Moby wrap!!!!!! But do yourself a favor and do NOT buy one!!!!! All it takes is 16 feet of fabric! Just buy 3 yards, cut it in half lengthwise and sew them together. It takes two seconds. The best fabric is jersey knit and that way when you cut it, it doesn't fray. If you don't have a sewing machine, just go to my moms house. She has a serger (spelling?) and it's perfect. Don't buy one because they cost $70, but you can buy the fabric for under $15! Or you can use an old bed sheet! They are the absolute best because they have more capabilites than a regular carrier. They support the baby way better, and they hold the baby in just the right position. Seriously who knew that the BEST thing I could get was just a super long piece of cloth??? You can also finagle breast feeding hands free if you wiggle them in there right! I made cookies while feeding her once! haha!
So, I'm way behind the times, but I'm full of opinions on these sorts of things. If you are still looking for thoughts on anything, I'd be happy to put in my two cents.
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