Strollers, car seats and cribs OH MY!!!!

gdamore11 · October 2014

I went to Babies R Us to start my registry and left there feeling overwhelmed and stressed! Like we are supposed to suddenly know what all this stuff is because we're pregnant?!?!? Lol In all seriousness, what products have the veteran moms found most useful? I was thinking I'd like to have a car seat that then clicks into a stroller base so I don't need quite so many things, but I'm just not sure what I'm going to like the most. Do most car seats turn into carriers at least? Which are the easiest to use? Do you really even need a crib anymore with all these different pack-n-plays and baby rockers?? I have been researching different products but it's so hard to know what really works best until it's too late. Any recommendations and advice would be greatly appreciated!

tabitha722 · October 2014

Go pick up Baby Bargains. I found it to be a great resource for me when I was a FTM.

IMHO, I prefer an infant seat that clicks into a stroller. Some like the convertable seats, but I don't like to wake a sleeping baby. I do baby wear whenever possible though... so that will be something that you figure out. Not all carseats are carriers. Some stay in the car.

Regarding a crib, "they" recommend that a baby use a PNP or baby rocker for naps only and not sleep... but I believe that it's hard to determine what is napping and what is sleep for newborns/infants. That being said, I am not purchasing a crib. We cosleep/use a PNP.

The other thing is you really don't need to buy everything right away. Get what you need. If you have the room, get a crib. There is one at every price point. Get a carseat. Strollers are optional, but a lifesaver. If you have any mom friends, maybe see if they will let you test our their products (drive the stroller, try to install the carseat).

TarheelRPh · October 2014

Google "Lucie's List", extensive recommendations on everything from car seats to clothing. I felt so overwhelmed until I found this thanks to some STM recommendations.

melleasndrs · October 2014

I was pointed in the direction of Lucie's List from the ladies here. The website is amazing and helped me calm down.

ruemorgan · October 2014

Theres also a thread where STMs talked about which products they *actually* used. I found that one really helpful.

gdamore11 · October 2014

Thanks ladies! I was starting to feel like I failed as a woman!!!

DragonflyDreaming · October 2014

Yeah, I loved Lucie's list!

I personally went with the chicco keyfit (infant car seat) with a pack n' go stroller, after reading a lot of info and hearing a lot of recommendations. After baby outgrows the infant car seat, I will move to a convertible car seat, the Graco 4ever (at babies r us with 20% off coupon, it was pretty reasonable).

Remember that if you use two vehicles regularly (like we do) you might want to get two convertible car seats (if you go that route) since they're pretty heavy and.tough to move. The infant car seat, we will just be getting two bases since that is easy to remove.

Bought a crib I liked from Buy Buy baby, but actually found the mattresses harder to choose between than the crib itself! We will be using a pack n ' play at the beginning then moving to a crib.

I have NO idea on strollers. That is where I am totally stuck. I am starting to really like the Mama & Papas brand

CrystalTrues · October 2014

ruemorgan said:
Theres also a thread where STMs talked about which products they *actually* used. I found that one really helpful.

I agree see if you can find this thread it will help.
For us the crib was barely ever used until DS was about 5 1/2 months old, then used almost exclusively until 2 months ago (he is now 3 years and 9 months old). We bought him a convertible crib, so technically we are still using it. When he was ready (or rather when my back couldn't take it much longer) we converted it into a toddler bed which he took to right away since it was so familiar with it. Now it is the headboard for his full size "big boy" bed. Everyone is different and every child is different what works for one may not work for another.

gdamore11 · October 2014

@DragonflyDreaming‌ wow you really seem to have this all figured out already!!! I just started reading Lucie's List and it's definitely helping. I did notice the Graco car seat and Chicco strollers and remembered liking them. I'm just terrified of making the wrong choice and wasting a bunch of money on things that I really don't like using after all!

rachyrach06 · October 2014

I'm a FTM so i know next to nothing at this point, but my brother and his fiance are having a baby a few months before me (this will be his 2nd child). He's a chiropractor and a health nut and they are getting me the same car seat/stroller combo that he's getting for their baby... its made by graco and it goes into toddler age and it has 10 different riding options. you can use one finger to fold up the stroller and its all super ergonomic friendly. Even if he weren't buying it for me i say the price is definitely worth being able to keep the same stroller until they are like 7 or 8 and the same car seat for atleast 2 years if not more before needing to get the next size. here's the link for it:

https://www.gracobaby.com/products/pages/modes-click-connect-travel-system-antiquity.aspx

cafecreme · October 2014

We have the Graco Travel System- it was awesome to just be able to snap into the base, and then take it out and snap it into the stroller. It was amazing for the first 9 months. And yes, its a carrier too. We didn't buy a normal car seat until she was 9 months, and we just have a Evenflo Tribute, which is one of the cheapest ones you can buy.

My daughter was in her crib since day 1. We have a Stork Craft with a built in changer, although I think the changer being attached to it is unnecessary. PnP was out for a few months in the living room, and would take occasional naps in it, up until about 5-6 months, when she would cry to be in her crib. She loved her crib, and at 16 months she still has and uses her glo-worm soother.

wishiwaspreggo · October 2014

I, too, am using Lucie's List. She's great at breaking everything down. I am going against her advice with the travel kit, I think, because I found one that got great reviews for $160 and says it's really lightweight (which is why LL advised against it in the first place, because she said they're too heavy).

I've been texting my friends and they think it's *hilarious* that C and I are so clueless about everything. I'm sorry, but I've never given birth to nor raised a child before so yes, all this shit is very foreign to me. I'll be sure to razz them when they work on college applications and FAFSA for their kids :P

kellbell1982 · October 2014

You will be surprised by how much stuff you don't actually need and especially in the beginning. This is my second baby but since my Daughter is almost ten I have nothing left over for this baby. All I'm purchasing before birth is a pack n play for sleeping, car seat which is a travel system so it has a stroller, a breast pump and accessories related to bfing, diapers, a few outfits mostly pajama type things, swaddling blankets, a carrier, and my big splurge the mamaroo. Don't feel overwhelmed, babies really don't need as much as the advertising agencies lead you to believe.

Haps92907 · October 2014

Agree that Lucie's List is a great place to start. I relied on it a lot when choosing things for DD, especially for figuring out what we actually needed, vs the ridiculously long list of "must haves" on registry checklists.

My best advice is to take your time, read a lot of reviews online about different products, go see them at the store. Don't feel like you are supposed to know all this stuff right away. It takes time to figure it out. I always felt overwhelmed at Babies R Us because of the sheer amount of stuff. I found it more useful to focus on one thing at a time and do the research online. It took a while to build the whole registry, but it was a calmer process.

In terms of cribs, I would definitely consider Ikea. Their cribs are less expensive and better quality than a lot of what you find at Babies R Us. They also have excellent safety ratings. I got an Ikea crib for DD and painted it gray like those beautiful oeuf cribs. It's been great!

kcbizme · October 2014

Thank you for Lucie's List. That helps me out A LOT!

Aeml1985 · October 2014

I'm a first time mom but after 2 years of TTC we're pretty decided. Million dollar baby crib if ifs a boy and bratt decor iron crib if it's a girl. Uppa baby vista stroller (new 2015 comes out in dec), peg preggo prima viaggio (sp) infant seat, Tripp trapp high chair and mamaroo swing. We have a heirloom bassinet for in our room and will get a p&p for grandmas and a travel space saver high chair for there as well.

071115 · October 2014

I prefer the infent seat that clicks into the base in the car and the stroller. I use a crib and that is all we pretty much us, unless we go to grammas then we us a play pen.

All of this really depends on how you plan to use it.
Everyone is stressed out when buying big ticket items for baby. Take a deep breath, reasurch and figure out how you will use things.

daizedoo · October 2014

I am also in decision making hell over these items, and I have the baby bargains book! The book has been helpful, but so much info overload. I find myself avoiding it now.

We saw this combo at BRU and put it on our registry for reference.

https://www.gracobaby.com/products/pages/aire3-click-connect-travel-system-poseidon.aspx

But I'm not sure if there's a more affordable, just as good (just as light, I'm a weakling!) option.

janda426 · October 2014

We got the uppa baby vista stroller but we were going to get the Britax b agile + b safe car seat/stroller combo had that not worked out.

We're getting the chicco keyfit 30 car seat and will use an adaptor to snap it into our stroller.

Britax marathon convertible car seat

Pack n play with an infant lounger, rock n play we are registered for

We registered for the mama roo swing but will be keeping the receipt cause I know it's usually a hate it or love it thing for babies. If that doesn't work out we'll get a regular swing if he seems to like swings

We got the Kendall fixed gate crib from pottery barn in white

Everything else seems to just be preference. I got all my choices from Lucies list and liked how she just had like 3 options. I want to know what has the best ratings and reviews and don't care about much else. I get too overwhelmed with options aka why I didn't register in the store but online from the comfort of my own bed where I could take my time and read reviews

mangomimosa · October 2014

Lucie's List is amazing. I have been dying to know what the point of breathable crib bumpers is...they look so stupid. But now I know. And zip sheets?! AMAZING. How did I not yet find these??

I'm a first timer but we went to BBB & tried out the Britax B Agile travel system vs. Chicco Key Fit. Hubby vetoed the Chicco b/c it just seemed so complicated whereas the B Agile was sleek and simple. I'm sure after getting used to the Chicco he would have been fine, but he was like - absolutely not. I wanted Britax anyway so I'm cool with that.

gdamore11 · October 2014

Thank you so much ladies!!!! You have all been super helpful and made me chill about it for now! I've got more studying to do now :x

peeppeeppeep · October 2014

Crib: Ikea Gulliver in white

Dresser: Ikea Malm in turquoise

Stroller: City Mini GT in blue (possibly also getting a snap and go for the car)

Car seat - would have gone with Chicco Keyfit, but a generous friend is giving us her Peg Perego.

Bouncer, swing, and rock and play - all fisher price "snugabunny" - used and given by same friend - definitely would have bought the bouncer and the rock and play anyway, would have tried to borrow a swing to test it out.)

jpavenski · October 2014

I think you def need a carrier car seat with the base. Along with the snap & go stroller that it just clicks in it's so easy. And I go by the theory of never wake a sleeping baby! My son was a peanut & loved napping in his car seat, so we used it until like 15 months. He slept in his swing for his first two months due to reflux, then moved to the bassinet then to his room in the crib at 5 months. He just went to a twin bed at 3.5. He also napped in the pack & play for like 2 years. And in the beggining the pack & play is great for using the changing table on top.

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Strollers, car seats and cribs OH MY!!!!

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