Recommend: V-tech Move and Crawl Ball

Price: $14.99

This was one of those items I purchased when i got really excited that Jude was expressing interest in toys. After buying it and realizing that they box was right - it's not meant for a 3 month old, it went into his toy basket and sat there for awhile. The box indicates it's intended for 6+ months. Jude is almost 6 months now and has been using it for a couple of weeks.

The purpose of the ball is to encourage crawling. There are electronic weights on the bottom of the ball that move on their own. The lights and sounds get baby's attention and encourage him to reach for the ball. After tapping on it/hitting buttons, etc, the ball begins to move just a little and encourages baby to follow it. Jude is not crawling yet, but he rolls after it a little and just seems to enjoy pushing buttons, etc. Also there is a little lady bug on top that he likes to flick at.

Pros:
- develops motor skills and is educational.
- comes with batteries
- reasonably priced/reputable brand
- two different auditory levels
- each button has two or three different "sayings". So, you're not always hearing the same thing. I will also add that when we first started playing with this toy, I would put it in front of Jude and push the buttons for him and he'd watch it. I'd get tired of it after a few minutes and let it go. It seemed at first that it just kept repeating it's self. However, as Jude begins to play with it more, it starts to "unlock" new songs/sounds, etc. So, the more he plays with it, the more it encourages him to keep playing.
- turns off on it's own after a few minutes of being in active to save batteries.


Cons:
- the automatic turn off could happen a little later. Some times I wish it would keep going to keep Jude interested for a few more seconds. Sometimes when it just shuts off, he stops paying attention... it's a catch 22.



Would I Recommend: Yes. If you're looking for one of those toys to get baby moving around this is one that I'd recommend. As I said, he's not crawling, but I'll put Jude on his belly in front of this and as it moves he goes from belly, to back, to side spinning it around. I know there are a few out there, but for the price, you almost can't beat it.

Recommend: Baby Einstein Stationary Entertainer

Price: $79.99

I/Jude LOVE this product! This is one of the few things I can currently put Jude in and he'll occupy himself for awhile! there are lots of fun things for him to play with chew on and learn with. There are lots of textures, colors, etc that just continue to catch his eye and inspire the senses!



Pros:
- gender neutral
- reasonably priced in comparison to other similar items.
- reputable brand
- 3 height adjustment and locks to keep the saucer from wobbling
- chair spins fairly easy
- 360 degrees of fun!
- Taller toys bend back and forth so he can bring them to his mouth and chew on them, other toys stay put and spin to encourage motor skills.
- Not like a traditional walker - it stays put for safety (we have a walker as well which we haven't really used much of yet).


Cons:
- the white 'tray' portion that goes around the outside of the seat (and that the toys are attached to) is very narrow. when Jude spits up while he's in this, it's hard to really get in the space to clean it out well.
- I might sound really lazy, but it requires batteries and we have yet to put them in there. The screw is super tiny and we don't have a screw driver that will fit in the hole. As a result there is a color wheel with buttons he can push that doesn't work.



Would I Recommend: Yes! We love this. Ryan uses it regularly, I use it and Jude loves it! The fact that Ryan and I both use it really says something as we typically disagree on which items we prefer. It's fun to see how every time he goes in it he seems to figure out how to use something else.

Update: Hot Sling Carrier vs. Chicco Front Infant Carrier vs. Becco Carrier

Price: $47.99

When picking out a carrier I just couldn’t see myself using one of the back-pack style ones. Ryan had made it clear that he thought they were pretty lame, so I knew he wouldn’t be using it either. As a matter of fact, I’m not 100% sure I put any carrier of any sort on my registry specifically because I couldn’t see myself using it. I think it was actually when I went in after my baby shower to pick items up that I purchased the hot sling carrier. I’m very glad I did! I specifically picked this brand because I liked the material it came in more than some of the other sling-type carrier options.

Note: as you can probably tell from my picture and the product image (me: left, product image: right - LOL) I use it a little differently. Instead of placing it over my shoulder it hits around my neck. As he gets heavier I can see using it on my shoulder as being a more convenient way to balance his weight.

Update: I did in fact transition to using this on my shoulder more. When I did this, it made my arm less mobile. Considering the goal is to be hands free - it wasn't quite doing it's job. As Jude got heavier, the off balance weight got harder on me and put more strain on one side then the other. I still use this as a quick throw on carrier when Jude's fussy and I'm trying to get something done, but it's no longer by fall back (see below for new carrier).

Pro:
- Pretty pattern
- Very heavy/durable material
- Able to hold baby in a variety of ways. Comes with an instruction DVD (I never watched it) and a “how to” flyer to show all positions and recommends weights/sizes for each carrying position.
- Folds up super small so you can fit it in your diaper bag and pull it out when you need it. (perfect if you’re walking through the mall and baby wants to be held instead of sitting in the stroller).
- Very light so it doesn’t add extra weight to baby (if you can carry baby, you can carry baby in sling)
- Holds baby close to you
- Right now he’s still small enough that I can throw a burp cloth, pacifier, receiving blanket, whatever into the sling with him if I don’t think I’ll need his whole diaper bag.
- Comes in a variety of sizes to fit people of different height/weight.
- I’ve used it while cooking in the kitchen, taking him for walks, shopping, etc – makes things easily hands free.

Cons:
- Not adjustable, the size you get is the size you get – unless you know people who are the same size as you, it doesn’t transfer well from person to person.
- Can be warm in the hot weather – but not hotter than any other carrier.
- If we go for a walk with him in the carrier, he usually falls asleep – getting him out when we get home usually wakes him back up. Sometimes his bum gets caught when trying to lift him out, so pulling the sling down while lifting him can be a little tricky on your own.
- Most slings come in pretty feminine materials, but the inside is black and could probably be reversed.
- Pretty expensive considering it’s just fabric (A craft person could probably make one on their own).

Would I Recommend: Yes. I love my carrier and Jude seems to like being in it. But I would also like to experiment further with other carriers in the future as he gets older and takes up more and more space. But it definitely is something I’ll get plenty of use out of and is a great and simple alternative to carrying him around in his travel system.

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Chicco Ultra Soft Front Infant Carrier
Price: $49.99












Pros:
-pretty easy to adjust with baby inside
-baby can be forward facing or facing inward
-comes with a detachable spit-up cloth
-male-friendly
-handy "cuddle pocket"
-straps are padded

Cons:
-can not wear on back
-only 2 carrying positions available
-difficult to remove baby by oneself unless you have a couch (or the like) nearby to assist
-I'm not sure what the weight limit is but I don't think this carrier is designed for a lot of weight(but then again I don't know how weight effects any of the other carriers either. This may just depend on the person carrying the baby)

Would I Recommend: If what you're interested in is a "front carrier" (as opposed to a sling, wrap, or backpack) then yes, I would recommend this product. It's pretty basic and treated me well. I can not give the male's perspective, as my husband refused to wear it (although I do recall one time when he put our dog in it). I may try the Moby wrap next time around.

Becco Carrier

Price: $139.99

Hot Sling Carrier
This carrier has become my new "go to" carrier. It's always in my car or with my diaper bag when I go out the door. I rarely put Jude in his stroller and so it's nice to have something to put him in while out and about.

Before purchasing a second carrier, I went to a "babywearing" class to experiment with different styles to find the one that's right for me. I tried on a few and this was the first one I put Jude in that he didn't try to fuss his way out of.

The link above is to the web page I purchased my carrier from. There are a number of other online retailers that sell this brand but every where I went, the price was always the same. I believe I chose this specific retailer because they offered free shipping, but some others had free give aways with purchases, etc.

Pros:
- After being 'properly educated' on what's good and bad for baby, I was informed that as far as posture is concerned, this is great for mom and baby. Carrier rests on mom's hips and takes a lot of the weight off her back. Well padded shoulders make it comfortable to wear. For baby, it supports the back and bottom well to support their spine shape.
- Comes in a variety of styles and colors.
- Has a detachable hood that can be used to while baby is napping. Apparently some children's heads fall 'back' and it helps to hold it in. Jude's head seems to fall 'in' and lays on my chest, so we use the hood mostly to block the sun while he's resting.
- The snap on the shoulder have an extra lock so baby can't unhook himself.
- There was another similar carrier that I looked at called the "ergo carrier" that boasts the same features. The Ergo however basically had you put the baby directly on you and used the flap to hold baby in place. This carrier however has an extra layer between you and baby, so baby is actually sitting in the carrier. It's extra support and in my opinion better.
- adjustable from one parent to another.
- There is an infant insert. Other similar style carrier required baby to be around 12-14 lbs to start using them. The infant insert that's provided with this carrier allows you to begin using this carrier at 7lbs. I personally do not have experience with this insert as Jude was big enough to use the carrier with out it.
- can transition from front carrier to back carrier which could be nice as baby gets larger. I personally have not used it as a back carrier to this point.
- Can even hold toddlers in a piggy back fashion while still keeping you hands free.
- I've heard that they hold their value well. If you put money out for it, you should be able to get a good bit back out of it if you ever go to sell it (this could also be a con if you're trying to find one used).

Cons:
- When talking to other mothers who had this carrier they complained about not being able to nurse their child while he/she is in it (this was the single biggest complaint I heard). As I said above, there is a thin layer of fabric between you and baby which is what's inableing that. I personally had no desire to nurse while carrying Jude, so this was not an issue for me.
- There are a lot of straps and buckles (one around the waist, one across the shoulder blades, it adjusts around the arms, the part that holding Jude in adjusts, etc). After a few times wearing it, I got very comfortable taking it on and off, but in the beginning, give yourself time to get situated. I'm still trying to work out the sizing 100%, but different layers of clothing, whether Jude's asleep or awake, etc can all have an influence on how he fits in it from day to day. If you plan to swap back and forth between you and your husband I can see it getting annoying to constantly have to re-adjust (but I'm guessing this is the case with any carrier other than a wrap like the Moby that barbie linked to above). Personally I'm fortunate enough to have a husband who has no interest in wearing it.

Would I Recommend: With out a doubt yes. I have been so pleased with it!

I'll also note that there was previously a Becco one. The model I got was the second and through my discussion with another mother it is much better! So, be careful if you plan to purchase a pre-owned carrier that you check which model it is.

Combi Cosmo EX Umbrella Stroller - A Double Take

Price: $129.99

Barbie's Take: We didn't start using this stroller until Trent was over 5 months old. Right away I loved the stroller because its so easy to open and close, and its so lightweight. What I didn't like, however, was that the seat (where the butt goes) seemed to be slanted downward. I felt like the harness strap was the only thing keeping him from slowing sliding forward. I assumed this was something I could adjust and fix, but I was never able to find a lever to help me fix this. I'm assuming it's just the way the stroller was made. Bummer. As months passed and Trent gained more control over his posture and gained mobility this became less and less of an issue. Now he purposely leans forward most of the time just because he wants to. Now that my son is almost a year old and I've gotten some real use out of this stroller, I can say that I now wish I got a "lightweight stroller" that came with a tray for the baby and a tray for the mommy. Sometimes when we are out and about I want to give my son some food, but it's difficult to do since he doesn't have a tray. I did some research, in hopes they sold a tray separately, but I couldn't find anything on the web or in the BRU store. Also, when out and about, mommy might have a beverage, cell phone, and/or keys, but no place to put them. It would be nice if there was a cup holder, at least. This stroller does come with a cup holder for the baby, but I have yet to use this feature. There is also a decent sized storage compartment under the seat. Not quite big enough for my hefty diaper bag, but big enough for an average store bag or purse. In conclusion, I absolutely love how easy it is to open and close this stroller, and i love how lightweight it is, but I would have to shop around before really saying "yes i recommend this item" or "no, i don't".

Alicia's Take: When I first pulled it out of the box (as we were on our way out the door), I assumed it'd take seconds to put together (maybe even already be together!). Unfortunately, it was a little more difficult than expected. Perhaps the hardest part was trying to get it unfolded! I tried for about 30 minutes (all the while trying to get out the door to go for a walk) before I felt like tossing it out the back door. Then after a minute or two I realized that there was a little hook in the front that released it to open. DUH!

So, after figuring out how to open it up we were out the door. For the most part I've been pleased with it. It was much cheaper than a lot of the McLaren strollers that are comparable in style. It is also a lot smaller and more compact than the travel system stroller. It seems to glide nicely and get the job done. For someone looking for a nicer umbrella-style stroller I would recommend this with out a doubt.

I personally don't use it very often, but in the situation that I need a stroller I would grab this before going for my travel system.

Pros:
- reasonably priced compared to some light weight strollers
- easy to open/close/use (once you figure it out)
- doesn't take up nearly as much trunk space as a travel system
-back is adjustable (reclines) which is not a feature all lightweight strollers have.

Cons:
- Issues with the seat position for Barbie
- no tray for mom or baby

Recommend: bumbo chair

Alicia's Take:

Price: $39.99
Play Tray: $10.99

This was kind of a spontaneous purchase for me. I had heard that it was great for helping babies to sit up on their own and since we were working on that milestone, we decided to go for it while at BRU one day. We used it quite regularly when we first purchased it, but over time it's been getting used less and less (we seem to go through spurts on different items in our home based on where they're placed in the living room). Originally I would use it mostly with his tummy time mat. I would sit him next to the mat so that he could reach the toys hanging and he seemed to love it. Ryan also used it regularly to put Jude in while he was in the shower. I'm not sure why we don't use it as much any more, but I'm sure we're not completely done with it.

I'll also note that there are a number of different options (manufacturers) when it comes to these style chairs. I believe we chose the Bumbo brand because I liked the color green it came in and it was the name that stood out most. What I found neat was that they also sell a food tray to go with it (we never purchased it. we expected to go back when Jude started eating solids, but so far the high chair is my go-to seat for feedings).


(Barbie covered some pros and cons below, here are a few things I might add):

Pros:
- helps with stability and posture when learning to sit
- an nice alternative to tummy time for young babies who don't like being on their stomachs, while still keeping them off their backs.
- wide base keeps chair stable.

Cons:

- as Barbie will mention below it might not fit all babies well. Jude is on the slender-to-average side and fits well in the chair, but I could see how another baby may not. I really don't think I can imagine a 14 month old in this chair. I will note though, that because it's helping with posture, I think it's supposed to be a 'snug' fit AND because the material is flexible enough to give when moving baby in and out.
- Maybe not a con, but there was a recall on the packaging of this item which showed parents using this on a high surface. As with any other child items, don't use on tables, couches, counters, etc unless your child is supervised and within arms reach. It's just as 'dangerous' as anything else.
- when Jude would get tired of sitting up he would start to try and wiggle his way out. He would try to arch his back which would push him up in the chair. He was never able to get himself out, but it seems possible that a larger/stronger baby could.


Would I Recommend: Sure. If you are stretching for gifts, I'd tell you to recommend someone buy it for you. If you're strapped for money try and borrow it from a friend or skip it all together (especially depending on the size of you baby). Because it's such a simple design and durable material I'd even say this is an ideal item to pick up second hand if you ever come across one, there aren't any straps or safety features that could be compromised with prior use.



Barbie's Take


(see Alicia's review of this product for pricing info and a link to the item)


I was lucky enough to have a friend let me borrow her bumbo chair for as long as I liked. This saved me a good amount of money, so I am very thankful.



Pros:

-its made of a great material.

-durable

-easy to wipe clean

-comfortable material

-comes in a few great colors. nothing too obnoxious.
-easy to transport.
-great to use during mealtime, or anytime


Cons:
-pricey
-the manufacturer says its good for babies ages 3-14 months. This is not at all true if you have a baby that is even slightly large. I don't think we were able to use it for longer than 3 months, tops (from months 3-6-ish)
-if your child has chubby legs his/her legs will probably not want to lift out of the chair with ease

Recommend: Yes, I would recommend this item. This is one of those items that I would try to borrow from a close friend before buying (obviously, since thats what I did). This is also a great item to ask someone for as a gift. I would definitely recommend someone throw it on their registry.

Recommend: Graco My Ride 65 Convertible Car Seat

List Price: $159.99

Several months ago we had to upgrade to a convertible car seat for our son, as he had outgrown the infant car seat we were using (see Baby Trend travel system review). I did some research and tried to find the best quality car seat that was in our budget. I was repeatedly led back to this car seat. We purchased one for my car, and several weeks later we went back and got a second one for my husbands vehicle. Overall we are very pleased.

Pros:
~comfortable
~easy to install
~feels very secure when installed
~i found that it is almost always on sale
~gender neutral color
~also available in pink
~comes with an extra pad for when use with an infant
~2 cup holders
~easy to tighten & loosen the straps
~reputable brand name
~easy to use harness system
~comes with a pillow attachment (which we never used)
~comes with shoulder strap pads (which we never used)
~great weight range (5-65lbs)
~"approved for airplane use" - not something that we looked for, but the description of the item mentioned it so i thought i should as well.


Cons:
~big (though not necessarily bigger than other convertible car seats)
~difficult to adjust (rise and lower) the shoulder straps

So far we are very happy with the car seat. Yes, I would recommend it

Fish Price Rearview Mirror

Price: Approximately $14.99

The above link, and the picture, are not the exact mirror I have, but its extremely similar and by the same brand name

The carseat inspection officer (not really an officer, I just want to make him sound official) frowned upon the rearview baby mirror we have - but i LOVE it. I understand that looking at your baby through the rearview mirror while driving can be extremely dangerous, but it's nice to have when at a stop light or what have you. I was unable to use it for a week when we went to OBX (it didn't cooperate with the vehicle we were using) and I really missed having it.

Pros:

-allows you to easily check on your baby/child

-fun for the child to look at

-bendable strap that allows for (almost) universal use, and secure positioning

-does not take up alot of your rearview mirror space, or your rearview window space

-the mirror is made of a flexible reflective surface. not your classic mirror. if you are in a car accident this mirror will not shatter and do the same damage that a classic mirror would do. I don't think it would do much of any damage actually.

Cons:

-The mirror is made from a flexible reflective material that distorts the baby's face (much like a funhouse mirror).

-I couldn't figure out how to use it in an SUV. perhaps I didn't try hard enough

Since it's deemed "unsafe" I will not recommend it. I will, however, say that I really like this item and have been using it for almost a year now. I plan to continue to use it for Baby #2.

Do Not Recommend: Fisher Price Corner Tub Caddy

I was unable to find a link, picture, and price for this item on babiesrus.com (the store it was purchased from), but I was able to find it on amazon.com

List Price: $14.99

Pros:
-reputable brand name
-cute to look at. fun.
-good size for those smaller bath toys
-gender neutral

Cons:
-small, in my opinion (but maybe we have too many toys in the tub?)
-suction doesn't hold at all

The bottom line for me is that this item doesn't stick to the wall. It doesn't stick when there are toys inside and it doesn't stick when it's empty. I attempted to use it on several different occasions and never did it stick for longer than a minute. I personally am very disappointed in this item and would not recommend it.