Britax Car Seats on Sale!

Britax car seats are on sale at Amazon!  Check out these great deals of up to $70 off, plus FREE SHIPPING!!! 

Click here for more information!

  

A Green Stroller

Green, as in eco-friendly that is!  I'm talking about the UPPAbaby Vista Stroller. 

This stroller is as versatile as they come!  This stroller comes with a bassinet for infants and transforms into a regular full size stroller for older babies and toddlers.  It also has optional adaptors available to fit Graco, Peg Perego, and Chicco infant seats.  The Vista is a roomy stroller, yet lightweight and easy to maneuver.  It also has a telescoping handlebar, making it the perfect height for even tall parents to push with ease.     

As an environmentally conscious company, UPPAbaby has created an eco-friendly stroller.  The bassinet is made of organic materials and the carrier is fully lined with a soft and cozy blend of organic cotton and soybean fiber.  This all-natural material is a wholesome alternative to synthetic fabrics which keeps Baby warm and dry.  In addition, soybean protein fiber contains anti-bacterial agents to help keep your child clean and healthy.  All this, and great for tall people?  We're sold!

A 5 Star Double Stroller

As a parent of two young kids, a double stroller is a must in our house.  We use a double umbrella stroller for quick trips, but for anything more substantial, we use our Kolcraft Contours Double Stroller.  I can't tell you how much I - and our kids - love it!

The Kolcraft Contours Options Tandem Plus Stroller (wow, that's a mouthful!) has many different seating options.  Both seats can swivel to face forwards or backwards, creating a total of seven different seating options!  Both children can face forward (as shown in the picture), face the parent, face each other, or sit back to back.  The back seat can even be removed completely to create a single stroller with an abundance of storage in the back.  The infant car seat attachment accommodates most brands.  Completely adjustable sun canopies keep the sun off of both seats.

The Kolcraft Contours Options Tandem Plus Stroller has so many wonderful options, the list just goes on and on.  Our favorite feature, however, is the ability to revolve both seats to almost any position imaginable, including removing the back seat!  

 

What's your favorite double stroller and why?

A Tale of Two Sitties - Britax Marathon vs. Britax Roundabout

Sorry for the play on words there (cites - sitties) I just couldn't resist...

Anyway, when it comes to choosing the #1 top-quality convertible car seat, the jury is still out.  I'm constantly torn between the Britax Marathon and the Britax Roundabout.  They are both incredibly safe and comfortable car seats, each with their own features that make them both my top pick for convertible car seats.  Here's the lowdown:

The Marathon:

The Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat accommodates children rear facing from 5-35 pounds and forward facing from at least one year old and 20 pounds, up to 65 pounds.  It features a 5-point harness with 4 harness height adjustments to ensure a correct fit for each stage of your child's growth.  The Britax Marathon Convertible Baby Car Seat offers Side Impact Protection and is made in the USA with U.S. and global components.

Why we like it:  Britax is the Cadillac of car seats.  This company consistently makes products offering superior comfort and safety.  The Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat can be used for babies as small as 5 pounds all the way up to a 65 pound child!  It has one of the highest weight ratings among convertible car seats, meaning it will last you longer before needing to purchase a booster car seat, especially if you have a bigger child.  It boasts "tangle-free" harness straps that easily adjust to your child's height.  Most importantly, the Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat meets or exceeds all U.S. safety standards.  The Britax company states: "All Britax products undergo the most rigorous testing in our industry at five Britax testing facilities worldwide."  This car seat provides Side Impact Protection and features premium push-button LATCH connectors for easy and tight installations.  The Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat also has this nifty feature that keeps the harness straps to the sides while you place your child in the seat.  It comes in a variety of colors and patterns with washable covers.  This is undoubtedly a 5-star car seat! 

The Roundabout: 

The Britax Roundabout Convertible Car Seat can be used rear facing for babies from 5-33 pounds and forward facing for children from one year old and 20-40 pounds.  It features a 5-point harness with tangle-free polyester straps that are easily adjusted.  This car seat offers Side Impact Protection and is highly rated for overall safety.

Why we like it: No, we're not being paid by Britax to market their products.  We simply chose another Britax car seat out of unbiased research and the Britax Roundabout Convertible Car Seat makes the grade!  This seat is a bit smaller in size than its sister seat the Marathon and is perfect for compact cars.  We appreciate the tangle-free feature of the 5-point harness (if you've ever struggled with twisted straps in a car seat, you'll like this feature as well!) and easy height adjustments.  The LATCH connectors make for an easy installation into your car both rear and forward facing.  The Britax Roundabout Convertible Baby Car Seat also has this nifty feature that keeps the harness straps to the sides while you place your child in the seat.  No more sitting on the belts!  This model comes in a variety of colors and patterns with washable covers. 

A Comfy Front Pack for Hot Days

It's June and it's HOT!  So how do you carry your baby in his front pack, so you're both comfortable?  First, you have to start with the right front pack. 

My top pick for these hot summer days is the Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier Air.  This baby carrier is light enough so the two of you don't burn up in each other's body heat thanks to the soft and breathable mesh material of which it's made up.  The Bjorn Air has the same features you've grown to know and love with the traditional Baby Bjorn, such as the ability to completely open the front, allowing you to easily remove your sleeping baby.  This one also folds up into a pouch for easy storage -- it'll easily fit in your diaper bag! 

And how about sun coverage?  Although I haven't come across a product that is designed to go along with front carriers to block your little one from the sun, I always uses a light towel or burp cloth and draped it over my baby's head.  Of course a hat serves the same purpose and looks a lot cuter, but being sun-paranoid as I am, I tried to cover little arms and legs too.  Do any of you have sun coverage ideas?  I've always found I get the best ideas from other parents! 

Happy Summer!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful, loving, and hardworking Dads out there!  I hope you're having a great day!

Something You Don't Need...

Preparing for the arrival of a new baby can be overwhelming.  Between LaMaze classes, heartburn, nesting, and researching baby gear, this can easily become a time of stress and discomfort.  Don't let that happen to you!  When it comes to the stuff you'll need for Baby, start with the basics, then work your way out.  (It's like the proper order in which to use your silverware...think Jack at Rose's table on the Titanic.  Oh how easily I can get off topic!) 

So back to the baby.  Once you've got your car seat (first priority), your crib or bassinet (more on my thoughts on that in a later post), and possibly a stroller, you can start to expand your baby gear repertoire.  When I was pregnant, I went a bit overboard and bought way too much "stuff" and wasted a lot of time and money.  And now that we have kids, we have neither time nor money, so I'm here to help you now!

Here's my first post on what not to buy: anything that you have to pay for that helps prop your baby up for tummytime.  I bought a cute little lily pad-shaped blanket, with a miniature pillow that the baby was supposed to lay on and play with his toys.  Unfortunately, he spent much more time either simply on the floor or blanket, both of which we already had!  Oh, and don't waste your money on any blankets either, you'll get more than you could ever need at your baby shower!  If your baby hates tummytime, as many babies do, you can help him by simply rolling a small towel and propping it under his chest and draping his arms over it.  Then choose some exciting, bold-colored toys or a mirror for him to play with and look at while he develops head and muscle control. 

It's really that simple.  Don't get sucked into buying every cute baby item you see.  I know it's hard to pass up the cuteness, but in the long run, you'll thank me.