Baby Registry 101: Lesson #16- Shopping cart Cover

The shopping cart cover is such a great invention! It is multi-functional because it can be used with grocery carts, highchairs, and also on safety playground swings, all while keeping your little one germ free. Just about the time they are ready to sit up in a shopping cart, they are also at their peak phase of chewing everything!
There are many different brands available and at first thought you may think they are all the same... well, actually they aren't. I had 4 of my girlfriends tell me that the one they got at Babies R Us was a piece of junk!

After testing a few and talking with a handful of moms, here are the key things to think about:

• Will it actually fit over the entire cart?
• How thick is the material? Is there any padding?
• Also, since you will be carrying this item around for awhile, it doesn't hurt for the one you choose to be stylish!
  

Our favorites ones are by Itzy Ritzy. Not only do they fit over the entire cart, they work on the big carts at Costco! They come in a variety of colors and are also reversible. Check them out here.

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #15- Strollers

There are so many different type of strollers on the market today, so how do you choose??
Initially, you may think- it doesn't matter, they are all the same.... well, actually they are not!
After talking with several of my friends, we all decided that a stroller is the one item you should NOT skimp on.

After much research and comparison shopping, I found that there are some key questions you should ask:

• How easy does it turn and maneuver through a crowd (especially if you live in the city)? Most likely it will be you holding the door for yourself and trying to push stroller through. A feature some strollers have are swivel wheels, which allows you to turn it with one hand!
• Does it have some type of "snap and go" feature?
  That means, can your carseat snap onto your stroller base? This is such a great feature because when your little one is in those first few months, they need their sleep but still at that age where they can sleep on the go (usually)... So if you are running errands and baby is asleep in car, instead of waking them up and putting them into a sling or stroller, you can just snap carseat onto stroller
  
• My friend got one of those "Snap & Go" Frames, but she said it was so flimsy she ended up buying 3 of them. If you add up the price of those 3, plus the other stroller she figured it would have been better to have just invested in a nicer one in the beginning
• Does it fold up easily? Check to see if it can stand once folded up.
  
• Is it heavy or lightweight? Can you lift it into your trunk with ease? Remember if you have a c-section you can't left heavy items!
  
• Ask yourself- how will I use my stroller? Is the answer: Daily? Walking outside, through a crowd? Do you live in a city, where you will have to weather the elements and street traffic? Or will you mostly be indoors at a mall?

The following are the ones that have been top rated for the above reasons...

• Bugaboo Frog
  
• Uppa Baby (new to the scene, but have gotten great reviews)
  
• Phil & Ted's
  
• Bob Revolution (can function as a jogger and an "urban" stroller. The only downside is it is bigger)

If you live in an area, where you aren't walking along city streets often and don't think you want all the bells and whistles, the following are ones that work well (and look cute too)

• Quinny Zap (new to the scene in the US)
• Maclaren (the Quest is a nice one)- great umbrella stroller

Finally, there are the typical Travel systems. I am not too familiar with these, so stay tuned and Noel will speak on these ones further... but, the following have been rated well:

• Chicco Cortina Travel System
• Graco
• Peg Perego
• Inglesina (According to the Baby Bargains Book Inglesina was better rated than the Peg Perego)
  

Most importantly, go look and play with the different strollers in the stores- turn them around corners and see how they move with one hand. Try folding & picking it up. Imagine how it would roll over curbs and bumps.

Good luck and happy strolling!

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #14- The play mat

A play mat is one of the first fun items you can have for your baby. You can lay baby on it from day 1 and they can just take in all the sights and colors. As baby gets older, she can start trying to play with the hanging toys. Also, is great for getting that must needed tummy time!
Look for one that has a mirror- it is fun for baby to look at "that baby" in the mirror!

Our favorite: Tiny Love Gymini Siper Deluxe Light & Music
Why we love it:

Runner up: Baby Einstein Seek & Discover Deluxe Activity Gym

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #13- The exersaucer/ stationary entertainer

There are so many exersaucers on the market... how do you choose?
I remember when I went to register, I had no idea! But, when I started to compare some the different ones I saw a few things to help me choose. Here is a short list:

• Choose one that has many interactive toys for baby to play with
• Look for one that has a mirror
• Ones that have sounds or music (but look for ones that the music can turn OFF!

Our favorite: Baby Einstein Stationary Entertainer
Why we love it: There are so many fun things for baby to play with. A mirror, a mini-book, sounds and colors, things to chew on-- Hours of fun!

• It introduces Baby to 9 developmental, interactive toys to help develop important sensory and motor skills

• Captivates child by introducing bi-lingual language into child's early learning vocabulary

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #12 - The Diaper Bag

Ahhh... the diaper bag. You know you need one, but how do you decide which one will be THE ONE?! There are SOOO many on the market today, it is hard to choose.
I know some of you look for one that is basic, some of you go for the extravagant but not practical one. I had a friend tell me that she didn't put much thought into the diaper bag and ended up regretting her choice. Why? First, she said the busy pattern got really old to look at. Second, she spent $100 on it but it within the first 3 months it riped. Then she had to buy another one. She calculated if she combined the two cost, she should have invested in a quality bag up front! This is not to say, you MUST spend a lot. But, you have to choose wisely.

Here are a few things to keep in mind and also some of our favs.

1. Practical- Things to consider: Pockets for creams, cell phone, change, binkys and bottles. Can you wipe it down or wash it easily?
   
2. Stylish- This is HUGE! Yes, it needs to be functional but it also can look good too! First, of all think of this as your new handbag. You will be carrying it for at least two years, it is worth a little splurging.
   
3. Quality- As stated earlier, this is a bag you will have for the next 2, maybe 3 years. And if you have another baby, even longer. So choose one that will hold up and last over time.

Our favorite is... the Nest whipstitch diaper bag
As seen on Heidi Klum and other celebs, these bag are great!
Why? The inside lining completely can be removed and can be machined washed. Comes in two colors.

Also, for those men who are bag-phobic, these man bags are perfect for a daddy outing!

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #11 The crib mirror

Some people LOVE the mobile as a visually stimulating "toy" for baby in the crib (and it definitely can be!) Another item I found was the crib mirror. It can be hours of fun for baby! My son seriously was staring at himself the first week we brought him home from the hospital. There are some great mirrors out there. Look for one that has some attached toys on it.

Our favorite: Sassy Crib Mirrors.
They have several colors and shades (yes, you can coordinate this with your bedding as well) and it will be a fun toy for baby to play and learn with.

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #10- The Mobile

Mobiles are tricky. Many people register for the mobile that matches their bedding. I agree that it does make the room look elegant and perfect, however let's not loose site of what the mobile is intended to do. The mobile is not just decoration, it is one of the first visual stimulating toys a baby will have. Both the brightly colored ones and ones with black and white contrast are proven to been seen more easily by baby. As much as bright primary colors may clash with your decor, remember the mobile is also a learning tool. It will only be in the crib until your baby can sit up and grab it. For us it was in the crib until she was 4 months old.

The Winner: Tiny Love Symphony-in-Motion Mobile.
Why We love it: Bright colors, designs and fun animals. 15 minutes of classical music. Circular motion, but is on an angle so that the animals move towards and away from baby and around.
The Cost: Between $40 and $50 depending on which model

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #9- The Highchair

Highchairs are something every baby needs. They range in prices from $30 to $300. Brand names from Graco to Inglesina Zuma. Whatever your budget you must have one! If you have a low budget you can get away with a cute space efficient booster seat.

Our picks:

Booster Seat- Recline and Grow 5 Stage Feeding Seat-Why we love it? It is easily strapped to a chair. It is space efficient. The best thing though is that it can seat an infant at 3 months to an older child. The tray fits in the dishwasher and the entire unit can be wiped down with a disinfecting cloth. the only bad thing about this is that is is bulky and not easy to travel with!

High Chair Winner- Peg Perego's Prima Pappa Diner - Why we love it? The colors of the wipable fabric are so nice and the nooks and crannies are a little easier to clean than the Chicco. The chair is also easy to fold up and store.

High Chair Runner-Up- Chicco Polly Highchair- Why we love it. It is a great comparison to the Peg and is about 30% cheaper. The only fault is that it is a little tougher to clean than the Peg.

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #8- BPA-free Bottles

There has been a lot of recent controversy over plastic bottles. There has been a chemical BPA (Bisphenol-A) that has been found most prevalent in water bottles, baby bottles, beverage can linings and dental sealants. It has been controversial, because the tests are not conclusive enough and the FDA is not updating their requirement for BPA in food. You can read more about BPA here.

The best idea , in our opinion is to keep away from BPA bottles. Here is a list of some of the bands of BPA-free bottles.:

1. Born-Free. They have wide mouth and regular bottles. Also they come in glass or BPA-free plastic. They run about $10 a bottle or you can buy a set of 8 bottles for $78. You can purchase them on their website.
2. Platex Nurser. These bottles have a drop in disposable lining. The disposable lining make cleaning easy and fast. The bottles are cheap, about $4, but remember you have to keep purchasing liners!
3. Dr. Browns Glass or Dr. Browns BPA free plastic bottles. If they don't think BPA is bad enough to recall their BPA bottles why make BPA free ones?
4. Adiri Natural Nurser. This bottle looks like a boob, but if you can get over the exposed look than it's a great option!
5. Evenflow Glass Bottles or Evenflow Classic Tinted Polypropylene bottles.
   
6. Medela
   
7. Nuby Standard Neck Non-Drip Bottle, Wide-Neck Non-Drip Bottle, Wide-Neck Bottle with Handles and Non-Drip Nipple, Standard Neck Bottle with Handles and Non-Drip Nipple, 3-Stage Wide Neck Easy Grip Feeding System with Non-Drip Nipple

Whatever bottle you choose just research them and make sure they are BPA free! Also there are alot more bottles that are deemed safe. You can check out a detailed list of bottles and sippy cups here!

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #7- Convertble Carseats

Toddler carseats, front facing or convertible carseats are often overlooked in a baby registry. New moms are so excited for that new infant carrier that they don't realize baby only sits in there until they reach a certain height or weight, which is most likely less than 1 year. For me, I was able to lug around the infant carrier until my little one was about 8 months old. Than I switched to the convertible carseat. The convertible seat is able to face rear or forward.

Here is the deal:
Infant carriers are nice- they are convenient and make life easy when the baby is small. Once the baby starts to get heavy- lugging around a 18lb child in a 13lb carrier is not so fun. Also- these are INFANT carriers. These are meant for babies who cannot support their neck. This is why baby is at a 45 degree angle in the seat when properly installed.

Once you are ready for the carseat you can use the convertible carseat and have the baby rear facing. After they are at least 1 year and 20lbs you can face them forward.

So, now that you realize your child will be in the convertible carseat for a longer percentage of time versus the infant carrier, you can see why it is important to register for a really nice one. When baby is about 1 year you may not feel like spending $200 on a carseat, but if you already have one from your shower, no worries!

Our favorite Convertible seat:

The Britax Roundabout Carseat

Why we love it:

• It holds a child from 5lbs to 40lbs (you can in get by with getting only this one seat - until they are ready for a booster!)
  
• Plush fabrics make it cozy
• Easy to install. We love easy!
• Seatbelt does not rub baby's neck like other seats
• High safety ratings
  

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #6 Infant car seats

Something I didn't realize before I had my baby was the fact that those infant car seats really only hold them for approximately 6-8 months. Once your baby either reaches a certain weight or height they have to switch to a convertible car seat. Although some do hold baby that weighs up to 22lbs, most likely you will NOT use the seat that long. Why? For one, once your baby can sit up completely on her own, she will want to see more while riding in the car. Two, the infant car seat is around 12 lbs, plus add the 15-17lbs of your 5 or 6 month old and you will not be able to carry that thing, at least not very far!
Many of my friends switched their baby around the age of 6 months. Some people love the convenience of the snap and go on the stroller systems and waited until 8 months but not many people I spoke with went much longer than that.
I do think you should get a top rated infant car seat- safety being the most important criteria, but that doesn't necessarily mean the most expensive one. You definitely should get a nice convertible car seat since your baby will be in that one for a longer period of time.

Don't worry about spending too much on the infant seat. Although the Peg is rated well for safety, but so is the Graco SnugRide and is almost half the price, not to mention the base is 50% less than the Peg base!

Another thing to take into account is how much each seat weighs on its own. I know the Britax one is also top rated, but it weighs about 3 lbs more than some of the other ones... ok, so 3lbs doesn't seem like a lot, but once you put your baby in it and try walking around town- you will notice the weight!

Our favorite infant car seat is: Graco SnugRide.
Top rated for safety and ease of use by leading consumer magazines, it's no wonder that the SnugRide® is America's favorite infant car seat. Equipped with a 5-point harness, an ergonomic carrying handle, a stay-in-car base, a canopy, and an infant head rest for added comfort and support, this SnugRide® infant car seat will serve you and your baby well.

Baby Registry 101- Lesson #5: The Pack-n-Play (or travel crib)

I don't think I have seen a registry without one on it! I know when I was registering for one I was clueless as to what features to look for, what price range to stay in and what brand to stick with. After much research and real life experience I have created this checklist to assist you while you pick out yours.

1. Lightweight. The point of a pack-n-play is that it is meant for travel. The lighter it is the more likely you will say "Let's bring the pack-n-play"
2. Easy to clean. When you see pack-n-plays at your local baby stores you will find some fun mattress designs. Remember though you will be covering that up with a mattress cover (or another pad) or a sheet. Also remember babies sometime leak through their diapers so having a wipe able mattress pad is essential!
3. Size. This is really a choice you need to think about. If you will only be using one for some travel or a few nights at grandma's than a compact one might be good. If you expect you will be traveling for long periods of time or using the pack-n-play at homes that are not baby proof, then it may make sense to get a larger one.
4. Sturdy. Make sure that the pack-n-play is sturdy and your 13 month cannot climb out! I know it's hard to imagine that far in the future, but it will be here FAST!
5. Fun Features. The only feature I have seen on a pack-n-play that seems worthwhile is a vibrating motor. This is only because my child loved her bouncy seat and we ending up using this feature on our Pack-n-play. A feature we didn't use? The AUX jack.

Graco and Baby trend make some great pack-n-plays. When you find one you like read reviews about them. You can find great reviews online or ask friends who have a baby to help you pick one out. After a few years of baby experience a mom can steer you in the right direction!

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #4 - Gender Specific Items

This has to be one of my biggest bet peeves....PINK strollers! Don't get me wrong. I love pink! However, on big ticket items it is best to pick a gender neutral color!
Items to keep neutral include the following:

• Strollers
• Highchairs
• Carseats (although it is recommended to get a new carseat every 2 years)
• Excersaucers
• Bouncy Seats

Let me state the obvious reason that is often overlooked...what if you have another child that is not the same gender?! People forget- you usually only get 1 baby shower! I just feel bad for all the little brothers out there that are strolling around town in their sister's PINK stroller! Another thing is that the pastel colors are not seen very well by babies. They see red and black first... If you know you are only going to have 1 baby then go all out and get PINK everything.

For those of you who REALLY want gender specific colors- pick a few key smaller items- a fab pink blanket, pink shoes, pink clothing- you get my point? Accesorize with pink or blue!

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #3 - The Pacifier

Pacifiers are often a mommy's saving grace in times of meltdowns! I was one of those moms who registered for one too many binkies! I didn't realize that the hospital usually sends at least one pacifier home with you and your little one may take a liking to the hospital's brand. If you are adamant about getting a certain brand of pacifier you can boil it and bring it with you to the hospital.

My daughter never ended up using a binky. We did use the hospital one a handful of times in the beginning, but that was about it. So, you have to consider that too! You child may not even want a binky, so registering for more than 1 or 2 might not be a good idea.

Please note that lactation consultants do not recommended that you give a newborn a pacifier if you are going to breast feed. My experience on that is, if the baby has problems learning how to "latch" you will want to avoid the pacifier. Once they have mastered how to nurse, it most likely will not interfere with nursing.

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #2 - The Baby Blanket

Lesson #2 - The Baby Blanket

The baby blanket is different from the receiving blanket. It is usually more luxurious and it is used to cover up baby in his crib, stroller, carseat or on your lap. I think that registering for 1 or 2 double lined blankets is a good idea. If you can find one that has a fleece or warm fabric on both sides- even better. You want a beautiful blanket with a great snuggle appeal! This blanket can also compliment your stroller.

I received a luxurious blanket as a shower gift. I never registered for one and I actually thought of returning it. It was an expensive blanket and I had already gotten a bundle of blankets. I ended up keeping it and it is our favorite blanket to take with us! It has also been a backdrop in many of my child's photo shoots!

Baby Registry 101: Lesson #1- The Receiving Blanket

After one too many views of all my friend's baby registry I began to cringe at their choices. This may appear to be "unwanted advice," but for new moms it's a necessity to know what you need and don't need. I was fortunate enough to have 3 pregnant friends while I was pregnant and we all helped each other research, register and recoup (yes- it is overwhelming!)

After printing off several friend's registry more than once and having to "edit" it, I have decided to share my thoughts with all of you and help those of you who are in registry melt-down! We will try to get out a lesson once a week. Please comment so we know what you think!

Lesson #1: The Receiving Blanket

Please DO NOT register for more than 2 receiving blankets! I have seen so many people register for 5-10 blankets, because they were told to by a large corporate chain of stores (no names here!) If anyone has EVER been to a baby shower they will tell you "You will get more than enough blankets!" People even use receiving blankets to wrap up gifts and be creative.

I didn't register for any receiving blankets, and went home with about 7. Now- I will suggest registering for one fabulously luxurious stroller blanket, but that's for another lesson!