LilSugar

Know When to Fold 'Em: 7 Collapsible Baby Items For Space-Starved Families

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:03:57 PDT

Try as we might, once baby arrives, our space is invaded by all of their necessities. Cribs, baths, swings, and highchair are all space-gobbling pieces that mama's buy to keep their lil ones comfortable and happy. But when not in use, the baby items can be space-eating giants that leave little room for mom and tot to play. Manufacturers have taken note of this phenomenon and are creating more products that collapse for easy storage when not in use. Take a look at seven such pieces designed to give families more space.

Kuster K1 Highchair Merges Style and Eco-Consciousness

LilSugar — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:00:51 PDT

Looking to bring some green design into the kitchen? Make way for the Kuster K1 Highchair.

The stylish wood chair is made in the UK from German Beech wood and is designed to suit lil ones up to six years old. Its curved wood and high back are designed to encourage good posture in tots, regardless of their age, and its adjustable foot rest can be moved as its user's legs grow. The under-chair mesh storage basket will certainly come in handy for storing wipes, toys and other items needed to entertain a fussy toddler during mealtime. Though the chair looks to be rather large, it is foldable so it can be stored flat when not in use. But such beauty and convenience come at a price – the K1 is $250, making it a bit of an indulgence.

Silver Cross's Doodle Offers Longevity in a High chair

LilSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:00:07 PDT

We spend so much time researching baby gear that we often don't see the forest through the trees. Most of the products are used for such a short period of time that before we know it, they are sent to storage until another tot is ready to use it. Silver Cross, the British company best known for its celeb-endorsed prams, is introducing a new solution to the time-sensitive high chair. The Silver Cross Doodle Chair ($220), which is set to hit stores this month, quickly and easily converts from a high chair to a tot-sized table and chairs with little more than a few clicks. As a high chair, the Doodle features a five-point harness system, wipeable cushions, and an adjustable seat. Once transformed into a play table, it has an underneath storage tray and detachable crayon and pencil cups. With its clean modern lines and neutral color options, the Doodle may be the ideal solution to baby gear that grows with your lil one.

Dine Like the Rich and Famous in a Tripp Trapp

babysugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:00:50 PDT

Getting a reservation at Nobu or the Waverly Inn may leave mainstream mamas dining at local eateries, but there's hardly a velvet rope when it comes to a child's dining spot. Even Alexander Schreiber seems to eat like the rest of our tots - in a high chair.

Sure his seating may be on the nicer side, but it's not gold plated or bedazzled with diamonds. Instead, his glamorous mama Naomi Watts picked up a Stokke Tripp Trapp for his eating pleasure. Having seen the chair in action, it's a pretty nifty contraption - the adjustable height and footrest allow a child to grow with it. Unlike many other high chairs, the Tripp Trapp lacks the bulky plastic parts, making it eye candy instead of an eye sore, especially when pulling it up to your dining room table.

Stokke Tripp Trapp ($250)	Stokke Tripp Trapp ($250)
Stokke Tripp Trapp ($250)	Stokke Tripp Trapp ($250)
Stokke Tripp Trapp ($250)	Stokke Tripp Trapp ($250)

Flynet

Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding: Tot-Tye

babysugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:00:51 PDT

Can't keep your kid seated at the dinner table? Maybe you should give Tribal Green's Tot-Tye a tug. The organic cotton device ($28) ties children to their seats with two straps.

For parents in a bind, the Tot-Tye may provide temporary relief, but some wee ones would probably still manage to wiggle their way out of the restraint.

What do you think of the Tot-Tye?

Pimp Your Crib: Kaboost Gets a Boost

babysugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:00:09 PDT

I recently gave the Kaboost ($38) chair booster a whirl.

Looking at the box, I was concerned it wouldn't fit my chair, but was surprised that the springs in the base made it painless and speedy.

To see about my test drive of the Kaboost,

read more. A little worried about the stability of it, I tested it before I put my daughter on it. Confident in the product, I propped her on the chair and pushed her up to the table where we sat and colored for 30 minutes. Like any other booster chair, my babe may still be a tad young to use one as she would be incapable of getting down without my help and there is no attached seat restraint. But as long as I'm there to keep her company, I quite like the nifty contraption. One added bonus - the delightful booster isn't an eye sore in my dining room.

Simple or Swank: Highchairs

babysugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:00:39 PST

With so many highchairs out there in babyland, it's hard to choose one. The chic minimalist design seems to be quite popular these days. And, while highchair makers have taken note, the price tags on some of these bad boys run upwards of $400. We looked around and found two that look similar and serve the same purpose. Both are nicely designed, simple to store, and will complement the decor in any home.

Simple: IKEA has the Antilop chair ($18), which is a simple white plastic chair on four steel legs with a strap. Moms love it because there's no cushion or creases to mess up.

Swank: The sassy Nano highchair ($180) from Giggle has a similar look but lots more features and costs ten times as much. The bells and whistles include a tray, foot rest, and a micro-leather seat available in four fun colors. The chair also folds flat so you can store it in a corner.

The FunPod: Kid-Friendly or Are You Kidding?

Kate Stahl — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:33:32 PST

I love that my 10-month-old loves watching me in the kitchen. From her highchair, she will happily stuff her face with puffs and blueberries while I chop, mix, prep, and even empty the dishwasher. I've never considered that she might soon need a more interactive kitchen experience, but after seeing The FunPod from Luca & Company, I'm reconsidering. The unique kid product, developed by a mom from England, keeps your child in a safe spot - away from electrical and hot appliances - while you go about your kitchen business, but it also allows them to easily see what you're doing and even help. The pod is adjustable, with five settings to keep it at chest level for 12-month-olds to 5-year-olds.

The FunPod isn't cheap (buy it through BabyEarth for $190), but it's won multiple awards and has a loyal following. So would you invest in a FunPod for your lil one? Weigh in below.

What to Skip When Shopping For Baby

LearnVest — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:15:45 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

By the last few months of every woman’s third trimester, she’s inevitably faced with one of life’s most intimidating situations: baby shopping.

No matter whether you had your most recent child years ago or are currently expecting, I’m sure you’re familiar with the situation.

You walk into your local baby store brimming with excitement and confidence, ready to stock up for your little one. Ten minutes later, after seeing floor-to-ceiling walls of bottles, swaddling blankets, baby food containers and strollers of every variety, that confidence plummets. Or it morphs into apathy that has you reaching for the chocolate and telling yourself your baby would be fine sleeping in a box.

At least, that’s how it was with me.

Thankfully, you don’t need everything you see at the baby store-nor do you need to be drowning in debt to provide a happy home for your little one. As it turns out, a lot of the items listed on the “must buy for your baby” checklists given out by big box baby stores aren’t essential at all.

If you’re way past the baby stage, share your wisdom with other budding moms in LearnVest Discussions.

As for me, here’s what I’ve found you can skip:

Bottle Sterilizer

Keeping your baby’s bottles germ-free is the best way to prevent infection and upset tummies. But you don’t need to pay upwards of $80 for an electric sterilizer that will take up a lot of kitchen counter space. Instead, try this Munchkin one for $18. It fits all size bottles, takes up no space and sterilizes your feeding accessories in the microwave in three minutes.

Read on for more items to skip.

A Whole Lotta Lil in This Week's Links

LilSugar — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:21:52 PDT

Calling all Eric Carle fans: here's a Hungry Caterpillar party you won't want to miss!
Jessica Alba's baby was born in her amniotic sac. See what that really means.
10 DIY ideas for decorating for Halloween!
12 unglamorous but necessary items to have at home after giving birth.
New highchairs even design-oriented mamas will love!
These 10 tots have enviable talents!
Is Let's Rock Elmo the hot toy of the year? We tested it out!
Printable Halloween decor and partyware for your upcoming soiree!
Take a load off with products designed to make moms' lives easier.
Ethnic cuisine: what tots are eating around the world!

Source: The Mom Tog Diaries