Monday, June 29th, 2009 at
5:00 am
A rocking horse
is one of the best gifts you can get for your toddler. It not only is a great toy but also will probably become a true imaginary friend with its own personality. For a toddler though you’ll want to take a few precautions compared to hobby horses for older children.
Your child’s first rocking horse should have a few features to it. First off get one that’s low to the ground. Sure, you’ll be supervising the kid while he’s riding it but accidents can happen. Make sure you get a hobby horse that’s low to the ground to limit any injuries.
The next thing to consider is if you want a plush or hard toy. Both have their benefits. A plush toy is more comfortable and soft. A hard wooden horse though is easy to clean and much more durable. All you have to do is wipe it down. Go with a wooden or plastic horse if you’re overly concerned about sanitation.
Another thing to consider is the actual rocking mechanism. A standard rocker mechanism similar to a rocking chair is the most common. Just be sure that your child can’t get pinched when it’s rocking. There are older units that are mounted within a framework and have springs holding the horse up. DO NOT get these! The last thing you want is your child getting pinched between some springs. They can be very, very dangerous to small children.
Overall the choice is yours. If you want a rocking horse that can become an heirloom then go for a hand crafted wooden hobby horse. They’ll last for generations to come. If that isn’t as important to you then go with a commercial wood or plastic model. If you’re looking for something softer go with a plush stuffed animal style. Selecting a hobby or rocking horse for your toddler is an easy task that your child will appreciate as a favorite toy.
Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at
4:42 am
Cars are cramped enough when trying to lug around everything needed to care for a baby.
That’s why you will greatly appreciate the Safety 1st Acella Sport Travel System
. It combines a stroller with a car seat. You will really like not having to lug around a separate stroller and baby seat.
The Safety 1st Acella Sport Travel System comes with a lot of features for a really low price compared to other popular name brands you may have looked at.
Assembly out of the box was really simple it only takes about thirty minutes to set up. Once you get everything put together and take it out for a test run you may be surprised at how stable it is. It’s a tricycle model and that can make many people a bit nervous about stability.
Luckily thought the front wheel is a dual system so it tracks and pushes effortlessly. Trying to juggle a child, stroller and car seat is a challenge that’s why we were so impressed with the one hand fold system. It made breaking it down for storage in the trunk a real breeze. It was just as easy to set back up once we got it out of the car. As an added safety feature there is an audible click when all the parts engage and lock. This little bit of extra assurance let us know it was safe for the baby to be in the stroller.
You will love the overall style, function and design of the Safety 1st Acella Travel Systems
. It costs much less than the bigger brands but has really solid construction. Honestly, you may find yourself quite surprised with how much quality you get when you open the box and put the unit together.
What We Like:
- The five-point harness for the car seat is rugged, but easily adjustable.
- The stroller has a built in tray that we really liked for holding sippy cups and other drinks. It kept our hands free and didn’t load down the diaper bag
This stroller has received mixed reviews on the new, with some users being absolutely delighted and others found that the car seat somewhat heavy to carry with the baby inside.
Monday, June 15th, 2009 at
6:15 am
We all know how expensive babies can be. You’re going to shell out a lot of money in clothes, diapers etcetera. So should you buy a used baby crib to save a little money? Well yes! There’s no real reason not to.
The first concern of any parent is the health of their child. You might be worried about what sort of germs your baby will pick up if you buy a used crib. It really shouldn’t be that big a concern. You can buy and clean a used crib for a lot cheaper than you can pick up a new one.
When shopping for a used crib try and buy one from a private seller, preferably a friend. By buying privately you can get a good feel for what condition the crib actually is in. If the current owner’s home is filthy you’ll want to stay clear of the baby crib.
Look for a crib that still has a UL listing. An antique crib might look gorgeous in your home but it won’t be as safe for the baby as a newer unit. This is one case where newer is better.
One thing you will want to do is change the crib bedding for new bedding. You don’t know how well the previous users diaper has held up. By just changing out the mattress you can eliminate the major source of any germs.
For cleaning just use a very mild bleach solution to sterilize everything. Let it dry out then rinse it down with fresh water a few times to ensure there’s nothing toxic left behind.
So there really isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t buy a used baby crib. A little bit of research and cleaning is all you need to save some money that can then be spent on diapers and baby food.
Monday, June 8th, 2009 at
11:52 am
Buying a crib bed for your baby is such an important part of making sure your baby has a safe place to sleep. And as babies grow quickly you will want to make sure that your purchase will last the distance.
When it comes to choosing a baby bed, the DaVinci Parker Crib
is one that will last. The reason for this is that the DaVinci Parker Crib is not only a crib, but it can also convert into a toddler bed, a daybed and eventually a full-sized bed.
So you see, it’s one piece of furniture that will be able to last your child for years.
Considering all the other things your child will grow out of quickly, it will be nice to be have one thing that will last for quite some time.
When you are ready to adjust it from a crib into a bed, you remove the rails, replace them with other pieces that will turn it into a toddler bed, and adjust the mattress downwards to make it easier for your little one to get into and out of.
What We Like
- that the adjustability of the 4 position mattress support that allows this bed to grow with your child right through to a full size bed.
- It has a nice sturdy feel to it.
- Includes the toddler bed conversion guard rail
- Includes a headboard and footboard for a full-size bed
- The mattress height adjusts to four levels to allow for versatile crib size and conversion to toddler and full-size bed
- Meets or exceeds all U.S. standards
- No moving parts, all sides are stationary
Other Things to Consider
- The instructions are in an obscure place they are attached to the bottom of the springs
- The drawer is shallow but ideal for nappies
CLICK HERE to BUY or read what others are saying about the Da Vinci Convertible Crib
Monday, June 1st, 2009 at
6:45 am
Round baby cribs offer a unique alternative to rectangular cribs and are perfect for a nursery where space is at a premium. Stylish and well designed, round cribs are a beautiful way of showing off your baby to the world.
Your baby’s crib will be one of the most expensive items you will purchase and will need to last for up to three years or until your baby is ready to move into a toddler bed. It is important then that you purchase a crib that is durable to last. Your baby will spend most of their time in that crib so you will want to be both comfortable and appealing for your baby.
Round cribs offer a 360° view of your baby and can be placed in the center of a room allowing you to utilize all four walls in the nursery. Round baby cribs also allow you to pick up your baby from any angle of the crib, and as round cribs have no corners or concussion points they provide added safety for both you and your baby.
A round baby crib is an attractive alternative to a regular crib. Most are manufactured in a four poster style which creates a fairly tale look to a nursery. Round baby cribs are available in a number of styles and you can have a round crib specifically manufactured to your needs. Many round cribs come with a canopy frame which when topped off with soft drapery and tiebacks, creates a really lovely look and feel to the nursery. A round crib with beautiful crib bedding will always get looks of awe from visitors.
Baby cribs manufactured in the US today are required to meet certain safety standards. If you are purchasing a used crib it is important to note that it may not meet current standards and could be a danger to your baby.
Round crib bedding is now widely available in a great range of styles, colors and designs so you will never have a problem in finding the appropriate bedding. Crib sets including a comforter, ruffle, crib bumper and fitted sheet are fairly standard and you can also purchase matching accessories such as wall hangings, musical mobiles, window valances, diaper stackers, drapery and more.