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Babies: 3 - 6 Months
CactusGirl
member
Two questions from a soon-to-be mom
CactusGirl
member
Alright ladies, I have two questions that I hope you can help me out with.
1. Is a changing table really necessary? We aren't planning on purchasing a changing table and I am wondering if maybe we should consider it. Do you use yours enough?
2. I like the carseat that attaches to the stroller (don't know the technical name for them). However, they look huge and I am afraid that it won't fit in the small trunk of my Chevy Cobalt. If you have this carseat/stroller combo, do you like it? And also, do you have any problems fitting it into a car?
Thanks ahead of time for the responses!!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Two questions from a soon-to-be mom
1. I use a dresser with a changing pad on it. I use it every time I change her, so yes, it gets used enough.
2. I have a Cobalt and a Kia Sportage. I haven't used the Cobalt with our travel system. I think the stroller would fit, but the passenger seat would have to be moved way up for the car seat to have room. Also, with the stroller in the trunk, you may not have enough room for bags when you shop.
We do use our changing table. Mostly because it's a spot to park all our diapers, wipes, creams, etc....
I think the car seat stroller combo would be a good idea if you're having your baby in the summer months. If you have a new baby they can't just usually be sat right in the stroller.
And yes! We have a Chevy Cobalt Supercharge! Once the stroller is folded up it does fit in the trunk. Back seat is also fine for the car seat (although it's kinda annoying to put it back there with only a 2 door car)
1. When Kate was really litte (younger than a month) we changed her on our laps. Now, we change every diaper on her changing table. So, I think it is necessary. We had an antique buffet refinished and put a changing pad on top of it - so you can get creative but I think it is a necessity.
2. You can buy a snap and go frame that is very small and takes a carseat. Then, when your LO is out of their infant seat you can get a small, lighter weight stroller.
We do not have a travel system but our stroller (UppaBaby Vista) has an attachment that allows our carseat to snap on to it.
1. We found cheap, but great changing pads at Ikea. I think they were $7.99 and the covers were an additional $5.99ish. We have two--one for both floors of the house. After LO was about 8 weeks, he was rolling, so we had to put them on the floor. Before then it was up on his dresser.
2. Do yourself a HUGE favor and get an awesome stroller that can be converted to a snap 'n go. I totally recommend the Baby Jogger City Mini. You can buy an attachment so you can place any car seat in it. I got a travel system and it is bulky and annoying. I love love love my City Mini and wish I would have just spend the money there in the first place. Get a separate car seat of your choice.
1. We have a changing pad on the top of the dresser in the nursery.
That being said, DH changes the girls on the floor and I change them on the couch. The changing pad has become a cat bed.
2. Do you have a BRU nearby? They would let us take their stroller/carseat floor models out to the car to check if we had enough space in the trunk/backseat area. All we had to do was leave our drivers licenses at the customer service desk.
Unable to even.
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1. We have a change pad set up on top of a tall dresser (Ikea Hemnes) in the nursery and we use it for every diaper change. I love having one spot for all of my diaper changing supplies, baby's clothes, garbage can, and laundry hamper.
Extra clothes and the laundry hamper nearby are pretty much essential when there's a diaper blow-out! Plus, I don't care if his change pad gets dirty... I can just wash the cover, but if we were trying to change him on the floor/bed/couch... ick.
It also saves my back to have him up on the dresser where I don't need to bend over.
2. I have a Chevy Cobalt too and I got the Baby Jogger City Mini and bought the Chicco car seat adapter for it. LOVE this combo and it fits easily in the trunk. I even have room left over for groceries!
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living my baby you'll be.
- Robert Munsch
1. We purchased a good quality dresser rather than a standard changing table with the thought that we can use this much longer. A changing pad and a basket with diaper/supplies and voila! It's perfect. And we do use it everyday. Total necessity in my book.
2. We don't have that type of carseat/stroller, so I'm no help there.
We love our universal stroller - it was $44 at Burlington Coat Factory ($66 at BRU) it folds small and has a nice size basket. It fits any infant car seat. Then we bought a nice all terrain type stroller to use after she outgrows the infant car seat. We weren't interested in the travel system this time around - been there done that. . . our travel system took up our entire trunk with DD#1-2, we ended up using a nice umbrella stroller for DD#2 as soon as she outgrew her carseat.
We use the baby's dresser as a changing table. We bought it at a garage sale 10 years ago, painted it white and attached the changing pad to it (there are tabs on it that nail into the back of the dresser). This is our third baby we've used it for. I personally like having a spot to change her - her clothes are right there, diaper pail next to it, laundry hamper etc. We've moved this piece of furniture from our dinning room to the girl's bedroom upstairs to our foyer and now it's currently in our master bedroom.
We have a changing pad on top of his dresser and we've used it maybe twice. It's not necessary IMO. He still sleeps in our room so we change him on the bed and I keep extra diapers and wipes in my night stand.
As for the travel system, I'd recommend a Snap and Go. It's a very lightweight stroller frame you attach the car seat to. I wanted the Chicco car seat but I don't care for their strollers, so we use the Snap and Go for now and in the spring we'll invest in a nice stroller for walks.
1. I use my changing table for every diaper change, and I love that it has 2 shelves for baskets for the stuff we use most frequently. It keeps all of the diaper changing supplies in one place and saves me from having to bring a changing pad wherever I am because my DS loves to pee when his diaper is off. I think it's definitely a necessity.
2. I haven't actually used a stroller yet. We have a travel system but he hates the car seat, so it didn't really work out. So far I just wear him. I'm sure I'll use the regular stroller part eventually, but I wish I hadn't bought the system until I knew for sure it would work for him.
1. I would consider the layout of your house. If you have two stories like us and the nursery is upstairs, I highly doubt that you will use the changing table as often. We spend most of our wake time downstairs and I find that I always use the pack in play changing station 95% of the time. You will survive without a changing table either way. They are nice but not a necessity. I would however invest in some sort of diaper organizer to keep your supplies together.
2. I never had a travel system because I found them cumbersome and bulky. I actually found myself wishing I had one when ds was a newborn though. However, I am glad now that I didn't invest in one because I wouldn't have gotten my money's worth.
1. Changing table is not necessary IMO, we hardly used ours.
2. We have twins so obviously we have a double stroller. The car seats snap into the stroller.. and I have a grand prix, the stroller doesn't fit
but I still love it.
1. We have a dresser that is changing table height and we use it every time. I would not buy a separate piece of furniture that takes up floor space and doesn't grow with your child.
2. We have a Graco travel system. The car seat is a snug fit in my Scion xD and the stroller takes up the entire hatch. If I had it to do over, I'd get a Baby Jogger with the attachment and skip the Graco stroller entirely.
Have fun looking! Baby gear is overwhelming!
1. We use our changing table all the time now that DD is in her own room, but we didn't use it at all until then.. I would suggest getting a waterproof pad, though.
2. I have a car seat that snaps onto a stroller and I LOVE it. It's nice not to have to take LO out of her car seat when she's napping.. I have a Ford Focus and there's more than enough room in my trunk for it.
Like PP's said, get a dresser and put a changing pad on top so you will be able to use the dresser in the future.
We have the Graco Quattro Tour travel system, we like it a lot and it is very easy to use. We don't have trouble fitting it in the trunk but I have a lexus ES which has a nice size trunk. If I had to do it again I would get a full size stroller that has a system that can use any car seat by that brand (I think the Graco Signature has this). Good luck!
Yes, IT IS!! I had no idea there was so much stuff for such a tiny little human.
1. A dedicated changing area, whether it be a changing table or on top of a dresser, or even pack-n-play bassinet while they're small, is necessary. You want a place to keep your diapers, wipes, creme set out. Make sure whatever you choose is a comfortable height for you to stand at. I'm 5'2'' so for me most dressers are too tall to use as a changing area.
2. Defintely get a stroller that you can attach your car seat to, its the best thing ever! You don't have to wake baby up to go into the mall, store, etc. I have a graco one, and the stroller does fit in the trunk of me dodge neon, but it pretty much takes up the whole space. I got an umbrella stroller to use when she gets bigger. If you plan on taking the stroller places alot, maybe get the snap and go frame- they fold up smaller.