The Kissing Hand

I have to be honest.  I have not read this book.  I have only read excerpts from it and reviews that other parents have written.  But I can also honestly say, this is the book for me!  I clearly remember not wanting to leave my mom when it was time to go to school.  And now, as my oldest sets off on his new adventure of starting nursery school next week, perhaps it is I who will have the hardest time letting go.  Either way, The Kissing Hand is a sweet and reassuring book for children (and their parents?!) apprehensive about the start of school.  I know for myself, I will be ordering this book pronto! 

Who are we, anyway?!

My husband, Jim, came up with the idea for Best-Baby-Gear in 2008.  Our son was a year old and we'd already been through the rigamarole of researching, registering, and trying out countless makes and models of baby gear.  Our friends were beginning to start their families too and we felt that the insight we'd gained from our experience (both trial and error) could help others save their own time and money.

Jim started researching website design and development and I began the task of expanding our research of the already hundreds of baby products we'd previously tested out ourselves.  I interviewed friends, read books, researched online reviews and began to formulate what has become today's Best-Baby-Gear website.  Our site went "live" on the web in 2009 and we plan on continuing it for years to come. 

As are most things in life, our site is a work in progress, as we are constantly growing - expanding our buying guides, reviews, and products we promote.  You may ask why we only highlight four or five products under each category when we've actually reviewed dozens of similar baby products?  Best-Baby-Gear.com strives to sift through the hundreds of baby gear products and only promote the handful that stand out at the top.  We feel that this saves you the hassle of reading through reviews of products that don't make the grade. 

Jim and I are committed to doing the best for our family.  And we hope that by showing you the best baby gear, we will be bringing the best to your family too.

Britax Car Seat Sale at Amazon Just Got Better!

Now, select Britax convertible car seats are on sale at Amazon for up to $110 off, plus FREE SHIPPING! 

As we all know, Britax car seats are among the best in the biz, but they are pricey.  Hurry on over to Amazon to save! 

Click here for more information.

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.