Baby bouncers are relatively inexpensive and make great baby shower gifts. Your newborn can recline on the slanted bouncer while you do other activities such as writing birth announcements or taking a bath. The baby bouncer is very lightweight so you can carry it anywhere.
Just be sure you don’t put the baby bouncer on a table or a bed or any surface that your baby could bounce off of. Also make sure when your baby is in the bouncer that she can’t reach furniture, curtain pull cords or any hot things like an oven or radiator.
The bouncer seat responds to your little one’s movements with a gentle springy up-and-down motion. Not only is your child satisfied with the movement, but she’s also building muscles as she kicks. Those will be necessary for crawling later on. In addition the motion of the bouncer seat has a calming effect and your baby might often fall asleep.
As with many products, baby bouncer seats come with a range of options. You can choose from a simple model or one that’s battery powered. The battery operated type has a little motor that simulates a car ride with gentle movement. Some other features to look for include a detachable toy bar, a canopy, music and multiple recline positions. All baby bouncers have a buckle to safely restrain even the most active little ones.
Most baby bouncers will take a baby up to 25 pounds. Be sure to buy one you’ll get the most use from, with the features you want.
Filed under: Baby Gear on December 28th, 2007 | No Comments »
Just because you have a baby doesn’t mean you have to stay at home. New baby carriers and baby slings give you travel options like never before. Where you plan to go and what activities you want to do will help determine the right style of baby carrier you need.
A standard baby carrier is a simple design that lets you do day-to-day activities around the house or outside. You carry your little one while keeping your hands free. The baby carrier proides back and neck support and gives you good mobility. You do need to be careful bending ovoer. Usually you’d want to squat down so you keep baby upright. You can use this regular baby carrier for up to 12 months. Many include adjustments to allow for your baby’s changing size.
A baby sling holds your small baby close to your body making her feel secure. Plus a baby sling is very comfortable to wear. It’s ideal if you are nursing your baby. The baby sling can be adjusted in a number of positions including hip, back and “kangaroo”. They are also handy as a light blanket.
Hiking baby carriers are great for taking baby on fun outdoor adventures. The standard carriers are generally not suited for more physical activity such as hiking so a special carrier is preferred. A hiking baby carrier is lightweight and comfortable for both you and your baby. Note that your baby needs to be at least 6 months old and able to sit up alone. Hiking carriers have pretty sophisticated designs including a suspension system that lets you and your baby enjoy long days on the trail.
Backpack carriers offer no head and neck support so your baby needs to be old enough to sit up and hold her head steady. With baby on your back you need to be careful of low hanging objects. Also as baby gets older and more active, she may throw you off balance when she shifts her weight. Ideally a good backback baby carier will have a safety harness, plenty of padding, stirrups, a sun/rain hood, collapsible frame with a kick stand and cargo space to store gear.
Filed under: Baby Gear on December 21st, 2007 | No Comments »
Keep your little one safe and secure in an infant car seat when you travel. When buying a baby car seat, you have a choice between two basic styles for an infant who weighs less than 20 lbs. and is less than a year old: infant car seats (which experts consider the safest) and infant-toddler car seats.
Infant-toddler seats are also called convertible car seats because they can face forward or backward. They can be used by both infants and older children up to 40 lbs. Install the baby car seat in the back seat of your vehicle, if your baby is under a year old. The seat should be rear-facing until your baby is at least a year old. When your baby weighs at least 20 lbs. and is at least 1 year old, you can turn the seat around to face forward, though child safety experts recommend keeping your child rear-facing as long as possible. Why? Because in an accident situation, your baby’s spine and head will be much better supported if she’s facing the rear of the vehicle and in the back seat.
If you keep your baby in the baby car seat past her first birthday, it’s important to be sure you’re using a seat designed to accommodate a child of her weight. Most newer convertible seats can handle young ones up to about 30 lbs. in a rear-facing position. Plus they’re useful for babies who reach 20 lbs. before age one.
What to look for when buying a baby car seat
- Easy installation: Choose a baby car seat that doesn’t require an engineering degree to be able to install it. It’s not enough to just buckle the seat into place. It needs to be secured so it doesn’t move more than one inch and also needs to be at the right angle for maximum protection.
- Adequate restraints: For the best protection for your baby, look for an infant car seat that has a five-point safety harness. The straps go over each shoulder and over each leg. They attach to the seat at five-points, hence the name. Other less secure options have three-point; some have only plastic shields or T-bar restraints (generally found in used seats). Due to safety considerations, buying a used seat is not recommended.
- Belt adjustments: With some car seats you adjust the buckle from the back of the seat, which can be troublesome. Other seats allow easier adjustments from the front. Some even adjust automatically.
- Tethers: All new child safety seats made since September 2002 are compatible with the LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). This system makes it easier and safer to install a baby car seat by attaching it directly to the vehicle instead of holding it in place with a seat belt. If you have a newer vehicle, you’ll be able to secure the seat with the LATCH system.
- Washability: Look for a car seat with a removeable, machine-washable pad cover. Apparently some manufacturers don’t realize that babies make messes and attach the pad covers permanently.
- Comfort: Pick a well-padded seat with lots of head and back support for your baby. She’ll ride in comfort if she can move her arms freely and check out the view.
Filed under: Car Seats on December 17th, 2007 | No Comments »