Everything You Need to Know About Baby Gear

Welcome!

Convertible car seat for the city

• Natalie G. Hi Laura, If being able to attach the car seat to your stroller is important to you, then yes the Cosco Scenera Next is a great option. It's will work great for travel as it's easy to get it around the airport on the stroller and can be used on an airplane meaning you don't have to check it. This car seat is also lightweight and easy to install so it's great for the city and taxis. Since it's a budget-friendly car seat, it does not have a super plush seat but it's still comfortable and since most kids sleep so well in the car, I don't feel it would be an issue for your daughter to sleep in it during long trips.

One year old

• Natalie G. Hi Mishell! Happy First Birthday to your son and you! At one year old, toys that develop fine motor skills are great such as stacking toys (blocks and cups) and very simple puzzles. Pretend toys such as little people, cars, pretend food/plates are also great for development as your little one begins mimicking everything you do! Of course books are a fantastic gift for a one year old, especially ones that have textures or flaps throughout to keep their attention.

• Mishell Thank you!

Convertible car seat for smaller sedans

• Natalie G. While it may be a tight fit, your Marathon may just fit in your smaller car. And as your child gets older, you won't need to have the car seat reclined so deeply. But if it doesn't fit comfortably, the Diono Radian rxt is a great option. It's lower profile, narrow frame takes up a lot less space in the backseat.

Gift for 2 year old welcoming a new brother

• Natalie G. Hi Susan! How exciting! Baby dolls make for great big brother and sister gifts! This way they can take care of their baby while mom is busy taking care of a newborn. If he already has a baby doll, accessories such as a little stroller, crib or even a mini carrier to match mom's is a great gift. Ergo and Solly Baby make really cute ones. Another idea is age appropriate art materials. Non-toxic crayons such as Honeysticks which can be found on Amazon and jumbo sized coloring books, Melissa and Doug make nice ones. Art materials are great because they are only for "big kids" and they'll keep him occupied and happy while giving mom a few minutes too!

• Susan Thank you! I just ordered your suggestions 🤗

Packable carrier

• Natalie G. Hi Paula, Yes, the Boba Air is very easy to pack up! It's lightweight, folds into a carrying pouch and holds children up to 45lbs!

Colored time to wake up light

• Natalie G. Hi Noah! The Kid'Sleep Globetrotter is a great option for a 2 year because it's super simple. It also has an optional alarm clock setting you can eventually use, acts as a nightlight and it's portable. Another more expensive, tech-friendly option is the Hatch Baby Rest. It's compatible with smartphones and has many features including a nightlight, white noise, and also of course a 'time-to-rise' setting.

Strollers

• Natalie G. Hi Jessica! Strollers are one of the hardest pieces of gear to choose! It really depends on your personal needs and living situation. Both Nuna and UppaBaby are great, reliable brands with quality products. One way to make this decision is if you're planning to use your stroller as a travel system, meaning with a car seat, you might want to choose the car seat you like most and then choose the corresponding stroller. But a few things to think about: The weight of the stroller; getting it in and out of the car everyday or up and down stairs if you live in an apartment. The type of wheels depending on what type of terrain you will be strolling on or if you live somewhere where it snows a lot. And whether or not you want a stroller that grows with your family, meaning you can add a second seat eventually. Hope this helps. Please let me know if there are any other questions I can answer to help you pick!

• Jessica Thank you!!

Gift recommendations for newborn?

• Natalie G. Hi Amelia, That's a great question! She most likely has all the basics except boy clothes! I always think it's nice to purchase clothes a few sizes up or seasonal accessories that she may only have in pink! It could also be nice to gift her some new basics such as swaddles that are gender neutral/"boy" colors.

iPad Holder for Car & Plane

• Natalie G. Hi Lana! I recommend the AVAWO iPad case. It's easy for little hands to hold and it props up on the seat tray during airplane travel!

Booster Seat

• Natalie G. Hi Julie! OXO makes two great booster options, the Nest and Perch. What I like about both options is the longevity they offer. Both allow you to remove the straps when you're child no longer needs them but still needs a boost. The Nest is a classic booster seat and holds up to 50lbs and the Perch is portable if that's something that interests you and holds children up to 70lbs. Both wipe clean easily and don't have lots of crevices. Another option for your island is the Phil and Ted's Lobster. It only holds up to 37lbs so it wouldn't last you as long but is also portable and could be a fun option for your little one! But the OXO boosters should work on the chairs at both your kitchen island and table.

Infant Car Seat

• Natalie G. Hi Noel! While it's completely fine to reuse baby gear, I would just make sure that nothing has been recalled and that your car seat hasn't expired. You can find that info printed directly on the car seat. It's possible that the car seat may expire while in use with your second child if it's already 5 years old. Also, if you were ever in a car accident while using that car seat, you'll want to purchase a new one.