Cold Feet Head First

There are a few basic things to know about baby clothes:

a) Your kid will grow out of everything quickly.  That adorable outfit that you’re saving for a special occasion?  Quit saving it – the kid will be too big tomorrow.  Depending on the size of your baby at birth and the rate of growth, a 0 – 3 month outfit may literally last them 0 – 3 months.  My daughter never wore size 9 month clothing.  Why?  I washed it as she was outgrowing her 6 month outfits, and by the time the load was finished, she had grown too big for the 9 month clothes.  I wish I were joking. The outfit in this picture?  This is the only time she wore it.  And it looks a little small, no?

b) Because of (a), you should really attempt to spend as little money as possible on baby clothes or get as many hand-me-downs as possible.  Yes, of course you want your little one to look adorable, but spending $50 on a dress she may or may not wear once?  I can’t recommend that.

c) That said, be careful what you buy, and still buy high quality products.  We got a onesie as a gift, and the first time Emma wore it, the snaps came apart so that there were suddenly these prongs unsheathed and coming for her thighs.  It was down-right dangerous.

d) What the heck is a onesie?  For those of us who were pre-teens or teenagers in 1990, essentially it’s a body suit for babies.  A onesie is a shirt that clasps under the baby’s tush so you don’t have to worry about a shirt riding up, and technically a baby could wear just that *one* piece as an article of clothing.  If cold legs is your thing. Even stylish faux-button downs come as onesies!

For whatever it’s worth, you can’t use onesies until the umbilical cord has fallen off.  Until then, you can get these types of tops (and by “get” I mean snag from the hospital).

e) No one gives you pants.  So many cute onesies, dresses, and maybe pajamas, but no pants.  The kid has legs, people!  Invest in some pants for your kid.

f) Get away with nightgowns as long as you can.  Technically they’re pajamas, yes, but they’re long (covering those otherwise cold legs) and it’s so easy to change your kid in a nightgown!  I’ve heard it’s fine to have boys in these all day, too, but I’ll defer to you on that.

g) If someone tells you nightgowns are not okay (for boys, for daytime, whatever), magnetic clothes like Magnificient Baby (http://www.magnificentbaby.com/Default.aspx?id=9) will be your saving grace.  Lining up all the snaps on outfits that snap all the way up is infuriating.  Zippers are slightly better, but they require a different level of attentiveness… magnets are like a gift.

h) Best brands: at the end of the day, you want clothes that are comfortable for your baby (read: soft and flexible) and easy for you as the parent.  Carters, Baby Gap, and Children’s Place win that challenge, hands down. 

Carters tends to run a little small (meaning your kid will likely be in Carters size 6 months a few weeks before they’re in size 6 months in another brand, and similarly will be out of the size earlier), but the quality and price can’t be beat.  Baby Gap is fantastic for great designs and stylish outfits (trust me, they’re better in the baby space than in the adult space), though a bit pricier than other options, and Children’s Place has great basics that your kid can wear again and again.  Other brands just don’t compete; either the neck is too tight, the waistband is too rigid, the clothes are too stiff or pill easily… or, worse yet, they’re dry clean only!  If you learn only one thing from me, let it be this: buy clothes you can wash any disgusting stain out of.  Again and again and again.  Which leads me to my last point…

i) Stock up on Dreft stain pens and spray.  It works just like a Tide stick or Shout wipe or whatever your choice stain treatment tool.  Baby clothes get dirty.  A lot.  With disgusting stuff that I won’t discuss.  And you can only do so much laundry in a day/week/month.  These Dreft tools are amazing: they get out any stain, and they’re gentle on your baby’s clothes and skin – just like the Dreft brand promise.

There are a bazillion toys out there on the market, and I'm pretty sure that's not an exaggeration.  So here's a cheat sheet to make gift-giving a little easier for the baby and toddler crew:

  0 - 12 months (yes, books, rings, balls, and soft toys, but also...):

Munchkin Mozart music cube - Music in a kid's toy that's not annoying!  It's a miracle.

Sesame Street Book Block - Not exactly great literature, but something about the size, colors, and characters is addictive for little hands.

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Learning Kitchen

Playful Pals Piano

Fisher-Price Stack & Roll - Maybe not meant to be used as a hat (below), but she looks pretty chill, eh?

Note that many of the above have been enjoyed by our daughter for much longer than 0 - 12 months!

  10 - 24 months (yes, baby dolls, doll strollers, and crayons, but also...):

Walker with blocks

Fisher-Price Little Superstar Step ‘n  Play Piano - If you have space... and if you're looking for a generous gift.

Puzzle rack (with puzzles, ideally) 

Mega Blocks

Cookie Monster "MP3 player" - I hate to admit it, but the Elmo song is kind of good.

  2 years + (yes, trains/trucks/cars, tool kits, and doctor's kits, but also...):

Magnatiles

Tegu blocks - These are sold in variously-sized sets, but the 8-piece set is perfect for sticking in a purse and killing time in a restaurant...though absurdly expensive.

Tickle Monster Laughter Kit (also great for older kids)

Cut fruit/veggies - Just a heads up that the Melissa and Doug version is gorgeous, but the included knife is a little sharp.

After a good six months of convincing me she was too old/too big for her high chair, my daughter did an about-face last week and decided she wants to eat in her high chair once again.  I have a feeling it's because she loves the challenge of climbing into it herself, but whatever the reason, it's made me newly reflective on the permanent fixture in our dining room.

We have a boon high chair, the Flair model.  It's sleek and modern - more so than any other piece of furniture we own.

It's amazingly easy to clean - just wipe it down after use!  (And, as you know, I have a thing for Clorox wipes.)  It's adjustable so you can change the height as your child grows and you can roll it over to the table (there are wheels under that silver base!).  It comes with two plastic tray covers, and that's a nice plus for someone keeping a kosher kitchen.  It has a big footprint, but aside from that, no complaints.  None of my friends have a high chair that I'd prefer... so is there anything better out there?

According to my local Manhattan buybuy BABY retailer, yes.  They've stopped carrying the boon!  Why?  Apparently not only is the base too big for most NYC customers, but the tray is also impressively small when compared to almost any other high chair on the market.  Huh.  I honestly never noticed.  It's absolutely true, but I never noticed.  So what are my other options?

The Stokke rep was conveniently visiting buybuy BABY and helped highlight aspects of the Tripp Trapp High Chair Complete that I had never previously appreciated.  

I'm not personally enamored with the design, and I can't say it looks comfortable, but one of the key selling points is that you can use this chair (sans tray and straps) as your child ages until it just becomes another chair as part of your seating arsenal.  While the High Chair Complete comes with a standard cushion and seat, if you want to customize the color and design, you can do so by buying each piece separately - a plus for people who love the wood, but really would prefer a zebra print cushion.

The Oxo Tot is an interesting hybrid of the Stokke and boon models.  It has a wooden base with an easy-to-clean plastic seat.  It's almost as though it's the high chair for folks who can't make up their mind which stylistic direction they want to take.  The tray was the easiest I've ever seen to remove, but the wood looks worn and poor quality. 

So far, the boon is still winning in my book.

Here's where it comes in handy to talk to the buybuy BABY experts; Jose (my new BFF sales associate) showed me the Peg Perego and Joovy high chairs.  On the shelf, they looked like any standard chair, so I was ready to write them off.  But Jose took them out to give me a test drive and, whoa mama!  

The Siesta high chair by Peg Perego was described by Jose as the "Mercedes of high chairs" for the NYC consumer.  (Yes, I did notice that my recent posts all have car comparisons...)  It's priced (expensively) to compete with the Stokke and boon at $300 a pop, but it looks like a standard high chair rather than a wooden or space age anomalous design.

Looks can be deceiving!  Yes, it reclines and adjusts height and has a nice cushiony seat like your grandma's high chair, but there are also some major design enhancements: a) it's a "leatherette" seat cushion, so it has the benefit of being plush while also immensely easy to wipe down; b) it folds and stands on its own while folded (perfect for NYC!); c) the wheel-lock feature is a "stop & go" button on the armrest - far more convenient than most high chair models.

So the Peg Perego is practical in all the right ways, but it's still really pricey.  Enter the Joovy.  This thing is awesome (aside from the lack of wheels - not so awesome).  At $120, it's far cheaper than any other model, but it has all of the same functionality.  It has the same "leatherette" seat cushion as the Peg Perego, and it folds with just one push of a button!  But the best feature by far is the brilliant tray design.  The most annoying part of any high chair tray is what to do with it after you've removed it (to put your kid in or out of the chair).  Half of the time you need to move it, it's dirty, and if it's got a weird bar on the bottom (which most of them do), it's tough to put down.  All in all, a headache.  Not the Joovy!  The Nook High Chair by Joovy has the perfect tray design: with one click, it opens sideways but stays attached to the base. 

Many of us cluster around the same books we cherished as children when shopping for our friends' kids or our own:

Good Night Moon, of course

Caps for Sale

and Eric Carle classics like:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Quiet Cricket (excellent for putting your child to sleep!)

Brown Bear, Brown Bear

And, without a doubt, the Dr. Seuss library, most specifically: 

Green Eggs and Ham

Mr. Brown Can Moo!  Can You?

  And we love them because they're fantastic.  There are a whole boatload of "classics" that are less entertaining, but those listed above are go-to wins every time.  But that also means every kid has them, so you probably already own them.  If you're in need of a great new book for your rotation (or maybe it's birthday season and you need some gifts), try out one of these lesser-known (in my unscientific research) classics:

Love You Forever (I dare you to read it without crying)

Guess How Much I Love You (ditto on the crying)

The Empty Pot

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Each Peach Pear Plum

Or try one of these newer books...destined to be considered classics by your kid:

Knuffle Bunny (and the sequels: Knuffle Bunny Too and Knuffle Bunny Free... let it be known that almost any Mo Willems book will be a good bet)

Moo, Baa, La La La

But Not the Hippopotamus

Good Night, Gorilla (particularly excellent for multi-lingual families)

Hug (I'm fairly confident my daughter's 4th word was "hug" as a result of this book)

Llama Llama Red Pajama

Too Princessy

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Tickle Monster Laughter Kit (don't judge a book by its author's TV past)

Counting Kisses

You need a porta-crib.  Maybe it's only used when you visit grandparents, or maybe you use it in lieu of a bassinet, but either way, you need one.  

We joked that our Graco Pack 'n Play was the Cadillac of porta-cribs, and we loved it.  Rather than getting a separate bassinet, we got a Graco Pack 'n Play with Newborn Napper, so there was a cozy nook for the baby to sleep comfortably.  Apparently regular cribs feel huge for babies, hence the trend for bassinets as a pre-crib "gateway" bed.  The Newborn Napper allowed us to minimize our purchases without sacrificing our daughter's comfort.  Check out this pic - she seems okay, right? (She did that herself with her arms.  Cracks me up every time.)

You may notice the top of a wipes container and a Desitin jar slightly below the napping pod.  That's because the other half of our Pack 'n Play was a changing station.  Our use:

This, too, was invaluable.  Our Pack 'n Play had an end-cap with room for about 10 diapers, cream, and some wipes, but we frequently just left the wipes below on the unused mattress for easier access.  It was so phenomenal to be able to quickly move the baby between napping station and changing station, and they were both at waist level so it was much more comfortable for parents or babysitters (rather than bending over to put your kid to sleep in a deep or low bassinet -- trust me on this one).  Here's what the changing station looks like inserted on its own, courtesy of buybuy BABY's showroom:

And then this is the full package (sans baby):

There are loads of porta-cribs (aka playards) out there, and Graco themselves make a ton with different add-on options, but I can't recommend our Pack 'n Play highly enough.  If you like the idea of the napper and changing station, but you want a little more changing station storage, opt for the Graco Pack 'n Play with "Napper Elite".  It's got at least 3 times the amount of side storage space as the regular Napper model (see below), and it also has a built in vibrate function (as opposed to the attachment you need to use with the regular model... we never used it).  

There's about a $40 price difference at buybuy BABY, and I'm not sure the differences make it worthwhile, but up to you!

buybuy BABY has a decent selection of porta-cribs, but you'll get a much broader variety (colors, styles, add-ons) by shopping online at buybuybaby.com.  (NYC only has so much retail space.)  

The non-Graco product that seemed most popular with shopping moms during my most recent buybuy BABY visit was the 4moms Breeze Playard with a changing table and bassinet combo:

The mattress may be more comfortable than the Graco bassinet mattress (though not the Graco napper), and it's really easy to open/close - just 1-step!  But it's $110 more expensive than the Napper Elite.  And you can only use one function at a time (meaning, either it's a changing table or it's a sleep station, but you need to attach or separate the top piece depending on which you want to use it as at any given time).  So I give it a "meh" rating.

If I had only needed the porta-crib for travel, I would likely have gone with the basic, no frills Graco Pack 'n Play.  At $70 it's still cheaper than almost any other product, plus you get the great reputation and manufacturing of Graco.

I'm pretty sure my daughter only tolerates her bib because of the pocket that catches her excess crumbs (it's like Christmas come early when she finds an extra piece of cereal in there).  I have a slightly higher bar.  

We have a few cloth bibs made by a friend, and they're gorgeous, but you basically have to wash them after every meal.  Impractical.  So I got a few plastic alternatives: Bumkins and Kushies.  They met my requirements: super cute (hey, I've got to look at the them multiple times daily), plastic, and with a pocket.  I wipe them down after every meal, so plastic is great for easy cleaning, and the pocket is key because, well, have you seen a baby eat?  I like to pretend it keeps her pants and my floor a little cleaner.

But here's the gosh-awful truth no one told me: the plastic bibs start smelling.  You clean them regularly - soap and water, Clorox wipes, whatever - and still, they smell.  The Clorox makes it better, in my experience, but it's something about the wet plastic (post-cleaning) and the drying process that just leaves them ultimately smelling... gross.  So, out with the old and in with the new!

I trekked down to buybuy BABY today for new bibs.  They've got quite the selection:

Where to begin?  Cloth bibs are a waste unless you're purely buying drool bibs.  Or unless you own stock in Dreft.  

So then there's the plastic.  I still believe this is the best option - you can quickly wipe them down for a cleaning and then use them again a few hours later at the next meal.  And the pocket is absolutely clutch.  I honestly don't know why manufacturers bother making bibs without pockets.  Stuff falls!

In talking to one of the buybuy BABY sales associates, it sounds like maybe the bibs I got - while maximizing the adorable quotient - were a little on the flimsy and cheap side.  He encouraged me to look for the sturdiest plastic I could find, as the thicker products tend to be better quality (and better for cleaning, making them less likely to smell).  Well, the sturdiest of the bunch is the Baby Bjorn:

It's probably the best to clean, as it's very sturdy plastic.  That said, we (the sales associate and I, as well as a random mom passer-by) all agreed that the neck is too stiff and too small - it's unlikely that a kid is going to tolerate this for very long.  That, and the solid bib sticks out in an odd way from the body.  Great for catching crumbs, I'm sure, but really awkward and distracting for a finicky toddler eater.

There were more Bumkins, of course, and JJ Cole (perhaps best known for their phenomenal Bundle Me product) has a very similar bib line, though theirs has a snap closure rather than the Velcro used by many other brands.  Most toddlers I know love to rip off their bibs at the end of the meal, and Velcro is key to that process.  For my daughter, it's closure to the meal.  So snaps were a deal-breaker for me (as well as the thin plastic, as I've now sworn that off).  That said, for some parents, if they want to be sure a rebellious child doesn't pull of a bib mid-meal, the snaps might seem a saving grace...

There's the dura-bib Geo Bib which certainly looks more durable as a canvas and plastic combo, but I wasn't convinced it would be any better on the smelling front and it looked pretty stiff.  And it's fairly pricey - $10 for one, as opposed to $15 for 3 of most other bibs.

So I went with the sales associate's recommendation of Green Sprouts bibs.  It's a thicker plastic than the Bumkins or JJ Cole, and better yet, they have bigger sizes for older kids - what a novelty!  (Yes, manufacturers, my 2 year old *is* bigger than when she was 1.)  There's this odd feature where you need to flip the pocket "to catch more mess" - it would be nice if the bib were just designed so no flipping was necessary - but all in all this seems like the best compromise for sturdy plastic (but not too sturdy) at the right price.

We have all been there. One day your baby is happy and healthy and the next morning, out of nowhere – a runny nose! A cough! A fever! And what’s worse, a miserable child. Like most kids, my almost-two-year-old, Ollie, has had his fair share of colds and high fevers. Aside from letting the cold run its messy course, I’ve found a few tried and true remedies to help combat his symptoms and get us both through bouts of illness. 

Whether it’s teething related or a nasty cold, a runny nose is a sure sign that something is bothering your kid. Constantly swiping at your baby’s nose with a tissue will likely infuriate them and make their little noses very red and very sore, very quickly. Enter Boogie Wipes and cue the chorus singing "Hallelujah." Boogie wipes are essentially fancy tissues, moistened with saline, which means they’re gentle AND they do a great job of “grabbing” said boogers and cleaning out the nose. This means you’ll be wiping less frequently and more effectively – a plus for both you and your child. Boogie Wipes may seem like an overpriced tissue but really, they work and I can’t recommend them enough. A true must-have for the times when you‘re in the runny-nose trenches.

On a related note: always keep a tube of Aquaphor on hand. Even though the Boogie Wipes are magic, it’s still a good idea to slather some soothing Aquaphor on your baby’s chapped nose. Like most kids, Ollie doesn’t know what’s good for him and resists the Aquaphor application. So, instead of forcing it on him throughout the day, I make sure he’s well covered before his nap and at bedtime. This keeps his overworked nose in tip top shape and eliminates any further discomfort while he’s sick.

Sticking with the nose, I recommend using a Nasal Aspirator like this one for when your child is all stuffed up. When blowing your nose is not an option (hi, babies and toddlers), a nasal aspirator really gets the job done. Let’s be honest, using a nasal aspirator is pleasant for no one. No one. But it really does help and provide relief for your child. I like this hospital styled version because even though Ollie hates when we use it on him (who wouldn’t?), I know we’re not actually hurting him and instead, really helping him breath easier.  I have some mommy friends who are super fans of the NoseFrida Snotsucker but sucking the snot out of my child’s nose with my mouth seems like further torture for both of us. That being said, many people do recommend it so if you’re up for it, it may be worth a shot.

Another tip? Turn on the shower as hot as it will possibly go and leave it running (shower curtain open) with the door closed for a few minutes. Once it’s super steamy in there, carry your baby in and do whatever you can (Bounce! Sing! Bring toys!) to stay put for a few minutes, long enough for the steam to do its job. All that moisture will get the nose running and send the snot on its way.

TYLENOL. I so believe in giving your baby/toddler a dose when they really need it. Don’t let them suffer! When I have a head cold or a temperature, a dose of Tylenol really takes the edge off and eleviates the worst of the worst. I imagine it does the same for our kids. I use Little Remedies Relievers and I find it really gets the job done. Within fifteen minutes of giving Ollie a dose, I always notice an upswing in his mood and a decrease in his temperature.

Speaking of taking your baby’s temperature, my pediatrician discourages the use of any sort of thermometer. His theory is that either your baby is hot or not and you can tell by pressing your forehead to your baby's skin. I agree that the best way to tell if your baby has a fever is face to face contact but if you’re anything like me, you want to know the number. Before Ollie was born, we purchased the pricey Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer after hearing rave reviews about how easy it was to use (“a gentle forehead scan”) and its accurate reading. I did not find either of these to be the case and instead, I much prefer the basic but oh-so-reliable thermometer given to us at the hospital when Ollie was born. I hold Ollie in my lap, squeeze the thermometer in his armpit and bribe him to stay still with Elmo videos and boxes of raisins. So I’m recommending a hospital-style thermometer and bribery as a way to tell if your child is running a low-grade fever or something more serious.

As a new mom, I planned to write a book entitled "Pumping Sucks and Other Truths of Motherhood."  Whenever I told people I was returning to work and planned to pump, the resounding and unanimous response was "oh, pumping sucks."  I was prepared for the worst when I pumped that first time, but it turned out the stress of bottle-feeding (see below) was far worse than the act of pumping itself.  "Not bad," I thought.  "I can handle this," I thought.  "I'm obviously just tougher than those other moms," I thought.  Then I did it again and again.  And again.  And then I thought, "pumping sucks." 

The truth is, if you get a good pump, the pumping itself is not all that bad, and it's more of the process of getting everything together, ensuring you pump enough, preserving the liquid gold, and getting everything cleaned... that's the part that becomes the bane of your existence.  So what's a good pump?  I was lucky/crazy enough to have four (count 'em, four) pumps and found that different pumps were optimal for different situations.  buybuy BABY associates at my midtown Manhattan location are fantastic about helping find the right pump for you based on your particular circumstances (do you drive or walk to work?  will you pump at work or at home or both? etc.).   

That's just one corner of one shelf of many, many options buybuy BABY has.  Walking through the Medela website is also a useful exercise - they ask you similar questions to help identify the optimal pump for you.  Many women rent hospital-grade pumps, and that's excellent for effective pumping experiences.  On the consumer-grade side, here's what I found from personal use:

Get a Medela.  Yes, there are other brands, but it's definitely the industry-leader, and they have an expansive array of accessories, tools, and expertise to help you.  

Pump In Style Advanced with Metro Bag: The pump is separate from the carry bag, and the bag has plenty of room for the pump, a cooler bag, spare bottles, and parts.  I love, love, love this.  A friend passed it down (I got my own parts, of course, for hygienic purposes), and my gratitude runs far deeper than I ever imagined possible.  The pump is amazingly powerful and efficient, and the flexibility to pump single- or double-sided is highly valuable.  It's definitely heavy, and so I was glad to be lucky enough to leave the pump itself at work... the bag itself is heavy with filled bottles.  This is absolutely my go-to choice for daily pumping, especially if a) you're not worried about the extra weight and/or b) you're able to leave the pump at work. 

Pump In Style Advanced with On the Go Tote: The pump is built into the bag, and there's a storage compartment big enough for bottles and parts, as well.  My sister-in-law passed down this pump to me (again, I got my own parts), and I was excited about the compact nature of the pump-in-bag model.  Easy set-up, easy use, and great for the commute.  That said, the bag was - again - heavy, and this time I didn't have the flexibility to remove the pump if necessary.  I also didn't find the extra storage space quite big enough for *both* a cooler bag and also spare parts/bottles.  Somehow the pump itself didn't seem quite as powerful as the Metro Bag version (though I know it's supposed to be exactly the same), so I saved this bag for home use or travel.  Which leads me to my last point: when going through airport security, this bag consistently raises red flags for its built-in electrical component.  Totally fine if you don't mind yelling out "breast pump!" at security or if you don't mind miming how it's used in foreign countries (no, really), but something to be mindful of nonetheless.

Medela Swing Breastpump: A single-sided electrical hand pump.  This was an emergency purchase when my On the Go pump blew out while traveling for work in India.  It was my mistake completely - I think I used the wrong converter for Asia - and I didn't travel with the extra battery pack to use for my On the Go (big regret!), so I needed to buy a new pump to get me through a week away from home.  I liked that the Swing was electric (and came with a battery pack, too, so I could still use it back in the States), and I wasn't willing to shell out the rupies for third double-electric.  The Swing was surprisingly effective, but something about the pumping mechanism made it less comfortable to use than the Pump in Style options.  It felt like it had to work a little harder.  It was great for pumping in a pinch, and this became my go-to pump if I was going to be away from home and work (read: my two Pumps In Style) for one-off instances.

Medela Harmony Manual Pump: A single-sided manual hand pump.  Some of us are occasionally in situations without electricity or batteries.  (Crazy but true.)  I got the Harmony for those situations, and it works.  It absolutely works.  Some people use it to express a little milk before nursing if their baby has a tough time latching or getting started nursing.  But manual pumping is just not that pleasant, people.  I'm glad I had the pump; it's a cheap peace-of-mind purchase and it came in handy more often than I'd like to admit.  But if you have the option,  electric is much more efficient and is more comfortable.

Buy the Easy Expression Bustier!  This is particularly useful if you're pumping double-sided so you can truly go "hands-free" (for adjusting the pump, or doing something totally unrelated like typing out work emails), but even if you're pumping single-sided, I found the bustier immensely helpful for positioning purposes to help ensure the most effective pumping.

We're thrilled to announce that this marks the first of many product reviews courtesy of buybuy BABY in midtown Manhattan.  Our sincere thanks to BJ and his team for allowing us to test products and answer our questions!

First stop, gliders and rockers.  (I know, tough life, sitting and gliding in various chairs...)  Let me start with the basics: you're getting a glider, and not a rocker.  Even though you likely grew up with a rocker yourself, gliders are a much safer bet - nothing for kids (or your) fingers or toes to get smushed under, and unlikely to tip over accidentally.  It's virtually impossible to find a true rocking chair in a baby store anymore, so glider it is.

When buying my first glider years ago, I quickly settled on the Dutailier Ultramotion Sleigh Glider and Ottoman.  There was no question I was getting a Dutailier - it was well respected as the best brand in the market, everyone I knew had one, and a quick trial of various models in the store confirmed this chair was solid enough for comfortable breast-feeding, but comfortable enough to sit in for long periods of time.  When we got it, my husband literally said "why did we wait to have a baby to get this chair?"  What I didn't realize at the time was just how much time we'd spend in this chair.  We easily sit here more than anywhere else in our home: between rocking, reading, or playing, this chair gets a lot of love.

And yet, after many nights rocking (or, excuse me, gliding) my daughter to sleep or nursing at length, my one regret was not having a glider that *also* reclined.  There were countless times when it would have been so nice to just lean back and take a quick nap, and I'm just not nimble enough to comfortably sleep sitting up.  I tried sitting in our regular recliner with my daughter, but it just didn't cut it.  *She* wanted to rock, even if I wanted to recline, so I really needed some kind of miraculous combo.

So I set out to buybuy BABY earlier this week with that goal in mind.  Find a glider that's great quality, super comfortable, but also reclines.

Turns out Dutailier seems to have gotten my message.  The Ultramotion Sleigh Glider now comes with a reclining feature!  It's not as deep a recline as if you bought a straight-up recliner, but it would certainly get the job done and allow to you feel safe if you accidentally fell asleep while rocking the baby.  (Quick disclaimer: I don't endorse sleeping with your infant - I might have done it once or twice, but that doesn't mean it's okay for you!)

I really loved the Tryp Upholstered Glider by Best Chairs if you're looking for an amazingly comfortable, big chair almost like a mini couch.  It apparently reclines, but I had a really hard time figuring out how to activate that feature.  Turns out there's a lever hidden in the cushion, but I didn't find it so easy or intuitive.  (I might be in the minority on this one, and it was a tough call, for the record.  You should check out the chair yourself.)

Interestingly, all the moms testing out chairs while I was visiting the store really loved the Sleepytime Series by Best Chairs for a standard glider, and the sales folks didn't discourage them... it's a basic glider without a reclining feature, but it's got nice detailing and it has a really straight back for excellent nursing support.  Not good for napping, and not good if you need to recline while nursing (which I had to do for my baby's first three months of existence... more on that another time), but if you're looking for a basic chair at a good price (around $400 without the ottoman, I believe), this is a good option.

Somehow I missed the memo that a playmat (i.e. “activity mat”) can be a really helpful thing to have for your newborn/infant. It wasn’t on any of the baby “must-haves” lists that friends and family passed along because that’s the thing – it’s not a must-have. It’s absolutely important lay your baby down and give him a chance to explore his newfound senses but in my opinion, this is an area where you can get creative. When it came time to lay Ollie down for some good old baby stimulation, I improvised. And, for the most part, had a lot of success. Here’s a peek at what went in to my homemade, make-shift playmat:

- When Ollie was born a friend gifted us with a beautiful (and soft) handmade quilt. This became the thick, padded layer that Ollie rested on. It was also large enough that once Ollie mastered rolling over, he had ample room to practice his new skill.

- On top of the quilt, I laid an Aden and Anais swaddle blanket. The blanket served as a layer of protection against spit up and other baby bodily functions. At the end of a messy play session, I tossed the blanket in the hamper. You can also use these blankets to cheat during tummy time by rolling the blanket up and propping it under your baby’s chest to give them a little extra lift/help. (I’m admitting to nothing).

- No “playmat” set up was complete without Sophie the giraffe in close range. Sophie’s skinny giraffe legs and long neck made it easy for Ollie to practice grasping and he found every part of this four-legged squeaky toy perfect to gnaw on. So many sense indulged!

- For as long as there have been babies, there have been rattles, right? And that’s for good reason. Rattles are easy to grip and require little effort to, um, rattle. During playtime, I often kept a small, colorful rattle within Ollie’s reach and also used wrist and ankle rattle straps to give his kicking and wayward arm movements some jingle.

- Keeping an extra-soft stuffed animal with a lovable face close by is always a plus. Your kid may be too young to identify what animal he’s looking at, but babies know a friendly face when they see one. A stuffed animal also gives you the chance to practice your animal sounds and encourage those highly sought after baby smiles and giggles. I used a Baby Einstein Press and Play Pal because as an added perk, he plays music.

- Speaking of music, there’s no reason you and your baby can’t both enjoy some tunes during playtime. I kept Pandora on constantly during those first weeks of motherhood and found music to be great company for me and a great soother and stimulator for Ollie. And singing along is always a good thing. Some of our favorite channels included Elizabeth Mitchell, The Indigo Girls and James Taylor.

- A mirror is key when setting the stage for your baby’s play time. Mirrors open up a whole world for them as they examine their own faces and discover their features and expressions.

All the items I used to set up Ollie’s makeshift playmat certainly added up in price but I already had them all on hand and was able to re-purpose them around the house - unlike the features attached to a playmat. That being said, when it came time for playtime, I had to gather up all the elements and set up shop each time. If you have the patience for that, creativity is the way to go. If not, purchasing a paymat is certainly not a waste of money. It’s definitely a more low-maintenance option (flip a switch for music, another for lights, etc.), which is sometimes just what you need when you’re in the throes of parenthood. Next time around I might consider this Fisher Price model (to match my bouncy seat) or I may decide to just go with a soft, cushioned mat like this one.

  Overwhelmed by the number of choices for every single baby product out there?  Think back to the very beginning… the pregnancy test.  This post might not help many current moms, but for those of you trying to get pregnant, I vote for First Response.

Let me clarify up front for anyone reading this who might know me personally: I’m not currently pregnant.  But I’ve been pregnant multiple times before and, more importantly for the sake of this post, I’ve wanted to be pregnant many times.

So you go to the drugstore in hope (or fear, as the case may be) and stare at the shelves.  Who knew it could be so tough?  Do you go with:

e.p.t.  and its “+” and “–“ signs?

First Response:  with its “over 99%” accuracy, telling you results “6 days before your missed period”, and parallel lines?

First Response Rapid Result: all that in 1 minute, and detecting “both forms of the pregnancy hormone” (who knew there were two forms?)

Clearblue digital test and its “yes” and “no”?  (To be fair, any digital test I know of gives a “yes” or “no”, so comments below shouldn’t be restricted to Clearblue.)

I was swayed by “unsurpassed accuracy” and early detection, so I first tried First Response.  Peeing on a stick is basically all it’s cracked up to be, and then you wait and watch.  Okay, there’s a pink line, great, and… hmm… there might be some more color over there… no?  What if I tilt the stick?  Maybe?  And that basically sums up the negative test response.  I found with both First Response and e.p.t. that what they really sell you is hope.  A little screen displaying one line or maybe two is actually a lot more ambiguous than you might imagine, so you twist and turn and wait and pee again on another stick because, well, that just wasn’t clear at all, so maybe you *are* pregnant!  And if you’re lucky enough to have the day come when you finally do have a positive test result, the truth is that the second line can be so faint, that it actually seems to validate all of those months you questioned the negative test result.  Keep reading…

You might think that all of this confusion would make the “yes” and “no” of a digital test seem more appealing.  I thought so.  But here’s the truth: it’s really blunt.  When you’re trying to get pregnant for months and months, that “no” of a negative test result is just harsh.  No hope, just a big fat “NO” staring you in the face.  Maybe if the language reflected your emotions (so something like “I’m so sorry” if you want to be pregnant or “go get a drink – you can!” if you don’t want to be pregnant) rather than those big bold letters, maybe then I’d feel differently.  But for now, I’ve decided I prefer the low-tech models instead.  They somehow seem more sympathetic.

I found e.p.t. just as… possibility-enhancing as First Response, so I went back to First Response given its superior accuracy and earlier detection.  (And at that point, e.p.t. didn’t have a cap for the stick while the test was processing while First Response did, though now they both have a cap.)  I tried First Response Rapid Result because when all you want to do is be pregnant, you start doing crazy things like wanting to find out 2 minutes earlier than if you take the regular test.    And I finally finally got a really light second pink line.  It wasn’t even solid.  It literally could’ve just been discoloration in the test.  I woke my husband and said, “I *think* you’re going to be a dad… I think…  maybe you should look at it?” 

(Not my test, but close enough.)

Let’s talk bouncy seats and how I think they’re non-negotiable but first, we’ll rewind real quick. The husband and I counted ourselves very lucky that his brother and sister-in-law passed down many a-baby items to us when they found out we were expecting. With a son just 11 months older than Ollie, all their gear was still in great shape and by no means antiqued (free of recalls, no yellowed fabric, etc.). They generously lent us key items such as a newborn bathtub, a bassinet and a lovely baby swing. I was incredibly grateful for all the money they’d saved us but even more, I knew the gear they’d sent our way had served them well and had their endorsement. That was priceless. They’d saved me agonizing research and given me a little extra peace of mind; what new parent doesn't need that?

I thought we were all set until two weeks after we arrived home from the hospital with Ollie. Mark was back at work and our parents had returned to their respective homes. That meant there was only one set of arms left to cradle Ollie: mine. And that worked great for, you know, ten hours of the day but what about when I needed to shower or (gasp) prepare a meal for myself? I had to put this child down. Where could I put him? Not the bassinet, that was for sleep. Not the couch, he might roll off. Not the swing, again, sleep! Ollie was also just starting to open his eyes more, spending small spurts of time awake. I needed to safely set him down somewhere he might actually enjoy while I went about my two-handed business. 

Enter the bouncy seat. I’m going to be honest: I did not read tons of reviews or even ask around about which model might be best. Rather, I tasked the husband with finding a solution and finding it quick. That he did, and thanks to Amazon prime, The Fisher Price Rainforest Bouncer arrived two days later.

It was love at first sight for all of us. Well, okay, the colorful rainforest theme might not have matched my living room décor but the seat itself immediately met my needs. Here’s what the seat has to offer:

·         A vibrating mode that both surprises and soothes your little baby. Baby's fussy? Let the vibration lull him. Baby needs some entertainment? Let the vibration spark his curiosity - what IS this new sensation I'm feeling?

·         A bouncing mechanism (obviously) that allows you to gently bounce your baby (with your hand or your um, foot). That slow, repetitive movement is second best to your arms. And as your baby gets bigger, a little of their light kicking will also do the trick to get the seat bouncing, providing exercise and some cause/effect education! 

·         An easy-to-use seat belt (safety first!), which is not so necessary for baby blob-hood but definitely becomes a must as your kid grows and becomes more mobile (re: squirmy).

·         A removable toy bar that features the friendly faces of a toucan and a monkey. The bar also includes a few dangling toys that encourage hand/eye coordination. In addition, with the flip of a switch the bar lights up cool blue and plays music. How's that for indulging the senses?

·        It's lightweight! At only 8.4 lbs. the chair is easy to move from room to room (including the bathroom for shower time) or if you’re crazy like us, throw it in the trunk and bring it to grandma’s. 

What I liked most about the seat was that it allowed Ollie and I to interact face to face but also, it gave Ollie his first taste of exploring on his own. With the toy bar on, he swatted at colorful objects and his eyes widened with excitement each time I flipped the switch to turn the music on. With the bar removed, he focused on my face while I sang him songs or, he enjoyed some relaxing downtime as I actually managed to get a thing (or two) done around the house. 

My kid is a lot like me in the sense that he really can’t stand to be inside the house for more than a couple hours without going completely stir crazy. We both like to get out, see people, interact with the world. While running around the park or visiting a friend’s house/playspace is ideal, even just a stroll down the street does the trick, the fresh air does us good. So what happens when weather or sickness keeps us indoors for hours on end? Snow, rain, extreme temps in either direction or a contagious cold can mean a full day on lockdown and it can get ugly. This long winter has taught me a few tricks of the trade on how to entertain your child when the option of going out is well, out. 

Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty: Use pudding as finger paint. Get the ready-made stuff or whip up some instant pudding and set up an “art space” at the kitchen table. This will entertain your kid until the pudding runs out. Another perk? Clean-up is fun, easy and tasty too. If painting is a success, consider setting out all your art supplies (crayons, playdough, stickers) and spend some time going from each activity to the next. Your kid won’t have a chance to get bored and at the end of the day, they’ll have quite the portfolio to show off (on the refrigerator).

Make a dictionary.  Flip through old magazines with your child and ask them to help you pick out items starting with each letter (e.g., horse, hat, house for "H").  You cut out the picture and your toddler can use a glue stick to affix the image to construction paper.  You outline the letter "H" for the kiddo to color in, and then it’s onto the next letter.  This is a great project to last for multiple days (or start in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon), as most kids only have patience for a couple of letters in one sitting. Fun and educational!

Get moving: Teach your kid how to do jumping jacks.  The movements take a little while for little bodies to master so it's a great way for them (and you) to burn energy indoors and work on their coordination. Plus it's entertaining to watch. If jumping jacks are a hit, consider making a “circuit training course” in your living room, spending a few minutes on various exercises like the ski slope jump (side to side), toe-touching and kicking. Then start all over again.

Play Duck, Duck, Goose with your kid's stuffed animals. And by "play" I mean, make your kid set the game up and encourage them to do the work, using their imagination. Start by asking them to collect all their stuffed animals and then help them set them up in a circle. If done right, this game will include lots of running around the house/apartment as the stuffed animals "chase" toddler.

Baby fetch. Yeah, I said it. All you need is a ball, a willing participant (your kid) and the patience to keep tossing/throwing a ball. It’s simple, use a hallway in your home or in your apartment building and really, just throw the ball (gently) while shouting encouraging words (“Go get it!”) while your child chases after said ball and throws or delivers it back to you. The more enthusiastic you are, the more fun your kid will have and the longer the game will go on.

Who doesn’t like a good dance party? Don’t be afraid to get silly. Put on some music that you and your kid likes and work. It. Out. Show your kid all your moves and encourage them to mimic you. Try bouncing, spinning, waving your hands in the air. Trust me, even if you look ridiculous, toddlers have a different idea of “cool” and will likely be very impressed. Another option: if you need some inspiration, look up music videos on YouTube and imitate the dancers. Throw in some dress up clothes (hats, scarves) and you got yourself a for real dance party.

My son often wants to bake or cook with me but when working with multiple ingredients and measurements, it can be tricky. The Burlap Bag has found a great solution with “Two Ingredient Cookies.” Start by mixing 2 ripe bananas with a cup of oats and then add in whatever else you like (cinnamon, chocolate chips). I often set up on the floor so that Ollie has easy access to the bowl and ingredients. Let your kid peel and mash the bananas and pour in the oatmeal. Have them sprinkle in the cinnamon. With no raw egg in the mix, taste testing is perfectly fine. Help them roll the batter into balls and after a few minutes in the oven, they get to eat their tasty (and healthy) creation.

Put your kid to work doing the dishes. Kind of. Pull a chair up to the kitchen sink and fill it with plastic bowls, metal spoons and some sippy cups (maybe you have a few extras). Let the water run for a few seconds to fill up the bowls and cups and then let your kid splash and stir, etc.  Be sure to stay close by to spot him/her while on the chair but let them enjoy playing in the water and pretending to cook and clean. Even better? Remove the onesie and let this be a diaper-only activity. Into the water works? Do an early bath. There’s no reason you can’t fill up the tub any time of day, pour in some bubbles and have your kid play away. 

Teach them a new song. Even better, teach them a song that has hand movements or if you have to, make some up. Go line by line, helping your kid learn the words. Even more fun? Make up a song. Pick a simple tune like Row Row Row Your Boat or Wheels on the Bus and plug in familiar activities and the names of family and friends.    

If all else fails, put on some Elmo. Or Sid or whoever else makes your kid smile. Rainy days, cold days, sick days are hopefully not the norm so a little extra entertainment will do no harm. It’s all about getting through the day and even more, enjoying it.

My husband swears that if I buy another sippy cup, it’s grounds for divorce. A bit harsh, yes, but if you saw my sippy cup collection, a box overflowing with toddler drinking apparatuses in every shape, size and color, you might side with him. My house is where sippy cups go to die but the good news is that I’ve done the work for you and hopefully, what follows will help guide you, appease your baby and save your marriage.

Getting started on a sippy cup can be a bit daunting.  It’s a big change from the breast or bottle that you and your baby have relied on for so many months. So, start off slow. No, really – choose a cup with a “slow flow” spout that won’t let too much water out when your baby bravely goes in for a sip. When Ollie was six months old, we introduced him to the Playtex First Sipster after a recommendation from my sister-in-law.

While I admit that my kid was hesitant to drink water from this cup (or any cup for that matter but more on that in a bit), I’d still suggest this as a great starter cup. It has a valve component that controls the amount of water released when your baby sips, which means we all avoid a red-faced, watery eyed, coughing child. Thumbs up. The cup also has easy-to-grip handles, giving your baby the chance to get comfortable holding the cup for herself.  A similar model, the Gerber Graduates Starter Cup, offers comparable features but has a slightly softer mouthpiece, which your baby might find more appealing, and more like a bottle’s nipple, when they’re just getting started.

My view is that it’s important to get your kid comfortable drinking from a variety of cups. It’s great when you find a product your child likes but it’s also comforting (and crucial) to know that they won’t go on a water strike if their favorite sippy cup is dirty or lost. So, when you’re ready to venture into more sophisticated sippy cup territory, the Munchkin Click Count Trainer Cup is a smooth transition.

Designed for babies 6-months and up, this cup is insulated and most importantly, will not spill. Most sippy cups these days claim to be entirely spill proof but this cup is the real deal, which is why I felt comfortable filling it with milk and not just water. I agree that it’s not worth crying over spilt milk but I still try my best to avoid it. This cup also has a baby friendly grip and an easy-to-master spout. Despite all these wonderful features offered to him, my son continued to wage war against all things non bottle. And so, we moved on.  

Determined to find a solution to Ollie’s sippy cup stand-off, I made an impulse purchase and bought the Philips Avent Natural Drinking Cup.  

Do yourself a favor and skip this one altogether. This cup has no spout or straw; Rather, Philips advertises that with this cup “Toddlers can drink from all around the rim which allows for an easy transition to grown up drinking.” Uh, no. Ollie was just more confused when I tried to coax him into this one. Plus, it will be months, maybe even years, until your toddler is able to drink like a grown-up without dousing themselves in water. Let’s move on.

Now we’ve reached that point where my husband starts looking around at the accumulating sippy cups and tries to tell me that it’s not a matter of sippy cup model but rather an issue of time. When Ollie is ready, he’ll drink from a sippy cup. I wasn’t buying that but I did continue to buy sippy cups. Next up, I purchased The First Years Take and Toss Spill Proof Cups – 4 cups for $5!

These cups come in fun colors or decorated with familiar cartoon characters and because these are non-handled cups, they’re definitely intended for a slightly older baby (think 11 months and up). These cups are semi-disposable in that they can be used a few times and then when they get too beat up, toss them. My main fault with this cup is that I didn’t find them to be entirely spill proof so they’re actually not so great on the “take” part.  So what are they good for? It’s nice to have a stash of cheap cups that you can use at home during meals. You can keep a pack at your in-laws and even though they’re not meant to last forever, they’re still dishwasher safe. Ollie, perhaps enticed by Elmo’s face plastered to the cup or just very thirsty, finally began to partake in sippy cup drinking.

But I didn’t stop there (nope, sorry husband). I needed an everyday cup that would meet all my needs and also, I was now trying to appease a toddler, not a baby – two totally different animals. I went for the Munchkin Straw Cup and it has become my go-to, favorite cup.

The hourglass shaped bottle is easy to hold and the soft, straw spout is perfect for your thirsty toddler. They don’t have to work too hard for a sip but the water still doesn’t rush out. The cup is spill proof and super easy to wash (all the models I’ve mentioned are dishwasher safe). You can even purchase this cup with a straw cover, which will ensure that the mouthpiece stays clean and sanitary in between uses. 

Lastly, I’d be withholding information if I didn’t mention the kid version of the CamelBak Bottle that I bought for Ollie as a last hurrah.

This is definitely the most expensive cup I purchased - $13 – but it’s pretty great. It’s super durable for when it falls off (gets thrown) from the high chair and it’s great for a kid that’s ready to really quench his thirst with a faster flow spout. The bite down valve makes it very easy to get water and who wouldn’t like the cool looking bottle (that matches mom’s)? This is by no means a necessary purchase but Ollie has certainly enjoyed his and since it’s made so well, I’m fairly confident it will outlast a few of his other sippy cups.

The short version: Avoid buying every sippy cup on the market (uh, like me) and start with a cup similar to the Playtex First Sipster – stick with easy-to-grip handles and slow flow - and then make your way to the Munchkin Straw Cup. Throw in a couple Take and Toss Cups to have on hand and you’re good to go.

It wasn’t until my daughter was 5 weeks old that I read up on introducing baby bottles.  Many sources said you should wait at least 4 weeks before introducing a bottle to ensure you avoid “nipple confusion,” and other sources insisted that if you waited until your child was 6 weeks old (or older), they would “never” accept a bottle.  Which led me to hollering at my husband, “take the baby – I need to pump right NOW!!!”

We only had one bottle at the time – a classic, glass Evenflo bottle we’d been given as a gift.  I was not overly optimistic, I’ll admit.  I’m a klutz, and I was nervous the glass would break in any of a variety of scenarios.  That, and I couldn’t for my life figure out how to affix the nipple to the bottle.  We had to look it up online, and it turns out we weren’t the only confused folks (super efficient packaging hides the necessary parts).  Once we got the bottle prepared, it leaked significantly during feeding.  And by “feeding” I mean as I tipped the bottle and tried to get my kid to open her mouth.  Which she had no interest in doing.  In fact, she looked at me as if I were crazy.  “Seriously?  You’ve got the real stuff right there, and you want me to suck on this?” her eyes seemed to say.  Yes, I made the amateur mistake of being in the room when she tried the bottle the first time.  I didn’t do that again.  But regardless of our additional attempts, she did not take to this bottle (we tried two or three days in a row), so off we went to Buy Buy Baby to stock up on as many bottles as possible.

We tried Dr. Brown’s, Playtex Drop-ins, Medela, Nuk, and Avent bottles for our experiments.  We put everything in boiling water to sterilize the bottle parts before using them, and the Playtex didn’t survive that first step.  RIP!  (Lesson learned: follow sterilizing and/or pre-use instructions on each individual bottle.)  The Dr. Brown’s bottle had lots of parts that I found tricky to clean, but the other bottles seemed largely the same.  We tried each for two or three days in a row, with various coaxing methods to get Emma to take the bottle.  I really wanted the Medela to work.  I imagined how easy it would make my life – pumping straight into the very bottles she was drinking from – but she found them too small or plastic-y or something.  I’m not sure, she didn’t tell me other than to twist and contort her face until we stopped trying it. (Side note: Dana’s son, Ollie, has used Medela bottles happily since the beginning.  Some people have all the luck.)

Finally we tried the Avent.  It might have been that she really liked the bottle, but part of me thinks we just wore her down after two weeks of trying various bottles.  She took it on the first try, and we were set from then on.  We’d made a match!  Did she ever like the bottle as much as she liked nursing?  No, and as she got older, she would insist on being nursed rather than bottle-fed if she knew I was home, but the Avent got the job done.  It’s easy to clean, easy to hold, easy to warm, and has unique anti-colic and anti-gas features.  It comes with a size 2 nipple by default, and while they suggest changing nipple sizes depending on the age of the baby, we were lazy and stuck with the size 2 for the entire time she took a bottle. 

When it came to buying baby gear before the baby arrived, I was in the “less is more” camp. Sure, my bathroom cabinet was stocked with cotton balls and Aquaphor but as far as playmats and bouncy seats, that all came later. However, there was one exception:  the Baby Bjorn. When my mother-in-law offered to buy us a pre-baby gift, I immediately requested the original model of the Baby Bjorn. It wasn’t a hard choice – a) My non-mommy brain was only familiar with one brand of baby carrier and b) I was totally intrigued with the concept of baby-wearing. 

I remember arriving home from the hospital with baby Ollie, who weighed in at a healthy 7lbs, and lamenting to the husband just how terribly sad I was that our son wasn’t 8 lbs. yet, the required weight a child needs to be in order to safely travel in the Baby Bjorn. Woe was post-partum me. While I waited for my son to pack on the pound, I took a whirl with a borrowed Moby Wrap. There was way too much fabric and twists and turns for me. Blame it on my lack of coordination or limited patience (character flaw, oops) but I found it challenging to safely wrap myself and Ollie up in the Moby without an extra set of hands. I also tried my sister-in-law’s Maya Wrap Baby Sling and while I found it extremely comfortable, neurotic me never quite felt like I could move about freely without the fear that it would come loose and Ollie would slip out. Plus, he didn’t seem to like being so snuggly wrapped, his limbs restricted. I impatiently waited for the day when the Baby Bjorn and I would become one.

That day came soon enough and when Ollie hit that goal weight, off we went. Eagerly and easily (and a bit nervously), I slipped on the Baby Bjorn and carefully slotted my little baby, with his skinny frog legs and wobbly head, into the snug pouch. Our first outing was a walk around the block and while I spent most of that stroll worrying that his head was turned for optimal baby breathing, it felt incredibly liberating to have my hands free, to be able to move about without a clunky stroller. I'd like to admit that this walk was a sweaty one and not just because it was August. No matter the weather, wearing your baby can be a sweaty job. Their warm little bodies are pressed quite tightly against yours, and likely, if you’re wearing your baby, you’re also trying to get things done, moving about and getting heated. The good news is that Baby Bjorn (Original) is lightweight so, especially in the summer months, it’s quite wearable. After that first successful outing, I started to use the Baby Bjorn daily. Finally, Ollie and I took a trip to visit the husband at work in Midtown Manhattan and another day, we met a friend for coffee in Union Square, no longer held back by the challenges of taking a stroller on the subway. I was able to grocery shop, pushing a cart full of food and carrying my bags home with ease. And I soon discovered another Baby Bjorn perk: it is one of the only baby carriers that allows you the option of facing your baby inward toward you or, when they’re a bit older,  positioning your child so that he/she faces outward. It was a big day when Ollie had enough neck control that we were able to face him out in the Bjorn. He immediately loved the front-facing position, taking in the world one step at a time.

His love for facing outward became a challenge when, after 6 months of comfortably toting him around in the Baby Bjorn, my back started aching and I felt I needed a carrier that would place more weight on my hips and less on my neck and shoulders. Online reviews commiserated: dads were able to get much more longevity out of the Bjorn wanted to continue baby-wearing with heavier tots. I was lucky to have a borrowed Ergo hanging in the closet and was optimistic that Ollie and I could go on our baby-wearing way without a hitch but that was not the case. While I found the Ergo to be so (so) much more comfortable than the Bjorn, the Ergo isn’t designed for your baby to be worn in the front-facing position. Ollie found that quite upsetting, along with the fact that he couldn’t swing his legs or arms as freely as he had in his beloved Bjorn.  I gave it a few tries but he never really got the hang of it and our once enjoyable outings became rushed whining sessions. Fail for both of us. So, I went in search of a carrier that would be more waist-based and still give me the option of facing Ollie out. After much research I settled on the Bjorn Comfort Carrier - which included a hip belt, and extensive back support while still giving me the option of facing Ollie out.  I found the carrier to be a bit bulky, heavy, and awkward to put on (over the head) but for Ollie it was business as usual. I definitely felt an improvement with more of his weight transferred to my hips but before long, he was too heavy AGAIN (growing boy!) and I had all sorts of aches and pains. I gave up baby-wearing except for when it was really necessary and in those occasions, I opted for the Ergo and a less than pleased child.

So here's the bottom line, if I had to do it again, I’d go with the Ergo from day one. Get your baby used to facing in and don’t spoil them with the option of facing out! Plus, the Ergo does offer a few other wearing positions such as the side-carry and the back-carry (you’ll need to watch a YouTube video to figure these out) once your child is a bit older. The Ergo can be tricky to put on by yourself the first few times but once you run through it a couple times and adjust the waist and shoulder belts correctly, you’ll get the hang of it. Overall, the Ergo is really much more wearable for the big human and certainly very comfortable for the baby too. And, as your kid gets older, gaining neck control and growing taller, they will be able to turn their heads and look up and all around, taking in the sights, while still facing you. The Ergo’s price is certainly higher than the most basic Baby Bjorn but my feeling is that if you’re committed to some amount of baby-wearing,  Baby Bjorn will only get you so far (see: me). The Ergo is also great for travel as it’s easy to get on and off pretty quickly and it’s not too heavy to carry or pack. The fact that the Ergo is lightweight also helps with the baby-wearing heat factor. What doesn’t help with that is the Ergo’s “infant insert” meant to help the smallest of babies (7 lbs.) fit snuggly. The insert, which can be purchased separately, is essentially a very small, cone-shaped down comforter and unless it’s the dead of winter, your baby is going to get very hot very quickly and so are you. It can also be tricky to use (again, YouTube video necessary) so I’d suggest rolling up two baby blankets and cushioning the baby with those – Aden and Anais swaddle blankets work great and so do the Carter’s version. One last point in favor of the Ergo: It has a handy, easy-access zipper pocket to keep some Mum Mums, your cell phone and your keys for when you’re running a quick errand.

Baby-wearing is trial and error, finding out what works best for you and what your baby most enjoys. And both those things will change as your baby grows. But what will stay consistent is the need for comfort - for both of you. While the Baby Bjorn served me well in those first few months with a lightweight infant, the Ergo is the surest best, allowing for extended use and comfort all around.