Some questions for newer moms :)

[Beckmola24]

Well, I have a year (more or less) and my husband and I are going to try to start a family. I want to be completely prepared in every way and was wondering where I can find info on best strollers, car seats, high chairs etc... Are there any websites out there that are good sources for reviews and comparisons? Thanks in advance for any advice/help!

 

[NaH2O]

Personally, I like Consumer Reports. I've used them for a new car seat most recently. You can join the website for something like $5 for a month. Just remember...if your plan is to start "trying" to get pregnant in a year, it will be almost 2 years before you have the baby (assuming there aren't any complications in getting pregnant). I'd wait until you get closer to the time you are going to try to get pregnant, because the manufacturers may change designs, etc. of their products within that time. You may find and pick a product that you really like, only to find it is no longer available when you register for gifts.

Good luck!!! How exciting!

 

[spongebob lover]

ohh that's awesome !!!
I agree with Nikki, i'd wait until you know for sure you're pregnant and then go from there.
I never really searched on the best strollers, car seats and what not... i just directly went to babies r us and checked if they had reviews on their products, the same with walt mart, target.
For me there's no such a thing as the best stroller, car seat.... they all look the same and unless you're gonna be taking the baby the mud or dirt biking ... then i think whichever you pick should be fine.

 

[Beckmola24]

I may have said that wrong, but what I meant was that we might actually HAVE a family in a year. Meaning trying between now and the next few months. I have a lot to think about and plan for over the next year because I'll also be finishing up school here in the next few semesters too.

The main reason for wanting to compare brands for strollers, car seats etc. is for safety reasons and ease of use. My sis has had some strollers that I've just hated because they were either too heavy, too complicated to open/close etc etc... I want to avoid getting stuff that I'll hate lol

 

[Sparks]

my boy is now 3, and me and the wife went to burlington coat factory for a lot of stuff. cheaper than walmart for a lot baby stuff. Just stay on top of recalls from manufacturers (the recalled products r usually listed on their site)

I'd start at baby's r us to see the newest stuff, then compare that price elsewhere.

& since this is ur first kid, ill share this little known bit of wisdom with you:

If your husband was an ex-toy addict as a child, and he now feels he gets to start playing with toys again, like i did/do...

dont buy hardly any toys before they are born, or you will end up with a child's room that is completely filled to the brim.

And when the baby comes you will want to get them more and more stuff. as soon as we found out we were pregnant, we bought like $100-200 worth of "stuff" for the baby every paycheck. By age 1, my living room was a sea of toys a foot high(you don't want to know what his room is like), and now there are 2 bedroom closets were filled with tupperware full of baby stuff.

o and geo-trax are awesome, so don't show your husband.

 

[Beckmola24]

Lol my husband is an ex-toy addict. He would play with geo-trax like crazy. Yea, i agree with u on waiting until they are born to buy lots of toys. My sis had twins and her living room was CRAZY. 2 of everything fills up a room very quickly.

She never really researched stuff though if you're wondering why I'm not asking her. Plus the twins are now 6. That was awhile ago

 

[MikeS]

I'm not a Mom, but I am a Dad...

We always liked Graco stuff, pretty high quality. On the car seat, do a lot of research, look at saftey ratings, that's the one thing you don't want to skimp on at all, get the best one. And never, ever buy a used car seat. Always buy a brand new one.

Just remember...if your plan is to start "trying" to get pregnant in a year, it will be almost 2 years before you have the baby (assuming there aren't any complications in getting pregnant).

:lol: I got totally robbed on that deal...the doc said it usually takes 12-18 months of "trying" to get pregnant, and he encouraged "trying" as often as possible...I was looking forward to that, well, 3 weeks after she quit BC, she was pregnant...I was robbed...:lol:

MikeS

 

[Beckmola24]

Nikki, thanks for sending me to consumer reports. I've found some pretty helpful stuff on there in the non-subscription sections.

I didn't realize how costly baby stuff would be... I played around on potterybarnkids.com today just to see what type of ballpark I'm looking at for a room and furniture, and it was a little pricey once it was totaled in my shopping cart. That's what showers are for right?? lol

 

[MikeS]

potterybarn is really pricey....try JC Penney's or Sears...same quality, better prices

MikeS

 

[NaH2O]

Nikki, thanks for sending me to consumer reports. I've found some pretty helpful stuff on there in the non-subscription sections.

I didn't realize how costly baby stuff would be... I played around on potterybarnkids.com today just to see what type of ballpark I'm looking at for a room and furniture, and it was a little pricey once it was totaled in my shopping cart. That's what showers are for right?? lol

Ah...Pottery Barn Kids....well, my daughter's room is basically Pottery Barn Kids catalog. Crib, dresser, lamp, curtains, crib bumper (now bedding since she's older), clock, wall decorations...I could go on and on (can we talk bathroom and playroom?). Can you tell I'm a fan? lol.

Glad consumer reports was helpful. I used it for all the car seats we ever bought. Don't skimp on the car seat. But, like I said before....once you start trying (you mentioned a year) it will be another 10 months after you get pregnant before the baby is born. Just in case something changes in standards or safety in the next year before you start trying, I'd wait to do research until you are actually pregnant. What's all the rage currently, may not be in a year from now. I waited until I was pregnant before seriously looking into baby equipment. Doesn't mean you can't look

I, like MikeS, was told 12-18 months to get pregnant. I didn't know I was so fertile . I was in the same boat MikeS.....3 weeks later. I knew I was pregnant immediately because the morning-afternoon-evening sickness started right away.

 

[spongebob lover]

Well for me, i think pottery barn is nice but a little bit expensive.
We got almost everything from Babies r us (they have coupons for dipers and things ), we got the package from them which is car seat and the big stroller.
I think the big strollers use a lot of space but i like them because you can put things in the bag thingy, you can put the baby's car seat thingy on the stroller, so you don't have to take out the baby.
About car seats, i'd recomend the 2 in 1 (3-1?) car seat so you don't have to buy another car seat when he/she turns 1.
Also you wanna check around for breast pumps , go with one that uses batteris or that you can plug somewhere, so you don't have to be doing it yourself (when that day comes, you'll start feeling sorry for cows :lol: ).

I got totally robbed on that deal...the doc said it usually takes 12-18 months of "trying" to get pregnant, and he encouraged "trying" as often as possible...I was looking forward to that, well, 3 weeks after she quit BC, she was pregnant...I was robbed...

mine were surprices and i didn't know i was this fertile :lol:

 

[Slickdonkey]

Craigslist... you can find lots of used baby stuff. Do not, however, buy a used carseat. You always want a new one; they're constantly upgrading for safety.

 

[tike]

Not a mom either! But As a father that had to crate the kid around A LOT here are my fav's. Car seat: britax http://www.britaxusa.net/
They are buildt with safety in mind and are VERY easy to adjust. Most car seats are a pain to adjust the straps, which you will constantly be doing.
Stroller: Zooper http://www.zooperstrollers.com/
Light weight and breakdown very easily plus they manuver very well at places like parades and zoo's. We bought the Hula model that also has a reclining seat so the kid sleeps snugly on long walks.
HTH
willie

 

[NaH2O]

Britax is definately worth the cost for the carseat. However, I was very disappointed in the Britax car seat (booster) when mine outgrew her Round-a-bout. It doesn't have LATCH. I found a bigger carseat with latch, and 5-point harness for up to 65 pounds, and I'm really happy with it.

Baby Bjorn for a carrier...is one item I could not have been without. I didn't need the stroller as much by using it. I used a backpack diaper bag, so I wasn't lugging around one of those huge diaper bags. The backpack doubled as a purse, too.