phil & teds

It took me almost a year, but I'd like to think I now have dining out with my 11-month-old down to an art form. High chair, Puffs, and a clean surface are immediate necessities, but there are a handful of items that I now consider my restaurant lifesavers. If you dine out as often as my hubby and I do (usually with a very hungry baby whose desire to eat never ceases to amaze me), consider stocking your diaper bag with the following five items, and believe me, your dining experience will go much more smoothly!

Clockwise from top left
1. Pampers Disposable Bibsters ($2–$8): Your place mat is eco-friendly, so go for ease with these bibs. Available in three sizes, they have their own fold-in pockets that catch spills and solid foods and a leak-proof liner.
2. Phil & Teds MeToo High Chair ($50): You don't get more portable and easy than this high chair, which weighs only two pounds but can hold a child of up to 33 pounds! It folds flat to fit into your diaper bag and is supersafe thank to vice clamps, an aluminum frame, and a five-point safety harness.
3. Itzy Ritzy Snack Happened Mini ($13): Not only is this snack bag supercute, it's also washable, making it the perfect, space-conscious way to tote snacks, including fruit.
4. Skip Hop Bento Mealtime Kit ($24): While a bit more expensive than many snack carriers, this is a diaper bag must have. The 14-piece kit comes with containers that can be used separately or clicked together and are the perfect size for toting baby food and finger foods. The insulated cooler bag and reusable freezer pack make packing up quick and easy.
5. Tiny Diner From Summer Infant ($9): Though disposable place mats are nice, this is a more eco-friendly option that has some awesome extras. It rolls up for easy storage, five suction cups hold it securely to the table, and it also has an outer scoop that keeps food off the floor.

Two's the way to cruise! The rumble seat, a chair that attaches below the stroller seat to carry a second child, is becoming the way to roll. Moms with two or more tots can push easy in this narrower approach (compared to side-by-side strollers) to doubling up.

When Phil & Teds first introduced the concept, moms snatched the cool buggies up and other companies took notice. The compact design since been adopted by companies like Baby Jogger and Uppa Baby.

The latest to enter the fold will be the Mima Kobi, created by a new Spanish baby product company that plans to introduce its sleek and adaptable buggy later this Summer. Designed by the man behind the Bloom Fresco high chair, the Kobi can be configured with one seat, two seats, or a seat and a bassinet and will easily convert back and forth from a seat to a bassinet.

Check out other rumble seat rides below!

The difference between a mad woman and a happy mother? Her stroller. I'd go so far as to say it's the single most important material purchase parents make for their baby since they use it all the time. As we prep for baby number three, we'll be purchasing our fourth buggy. Clueless of what to look for, we went through two with our daughter. First, we shelled out for an elaborate system that couldn't handle the city streets and had poor shocks and squeaky wheels after our first lengthy walk. Then, we invested in a jogging stroller that was great...until we had to turn it — its front wheel was stationary.

While expecting my son, I did my research before buying (the then largely unknown) phil & teds E3 with the doubles kit. For three years, the amazing invention rolled everywhere from Lake Tahoe's nature trails to my husband taking it off-roading over rocks in Golden Gate Park. The orange fabric has endured more than a few mud and chocolate milk splashes and my lil guy eventually preferred to walk (read run) everywhere so the beloved buggy has retired to our garage. To see what I need in our next set of wheels and to offer your recommendations, read more