LilSugar

Six Baby Items That Grow With Your Child

LilSugar — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 06:00:00 -0700

See how far you can stretch that dollar. New parents spend a lot of dough on products that are typically designed to last a matter of months. Some manufacturers are aware of the frustration parents feel when their lil ones outgrow the crib, high chair, or swing that they spent their hard-earned money on, and are designing items that evolve as the children grow. From infant recliners that convert into high chairs to changing tables that turn into homework desks, check out six items that will stay in your home for more than one year and can be used for multiple children.

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Dine Like the Rich and Famous in a Tripp Trapp

babysugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:00:50 -0700

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)

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Strollin': Stokke Xplory

babysugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:00:00 -0700

If Jane Jetson was your role model growing up, the Stokke Xplory ($1200) may be for you. Though the Orbit Baby title probably suits the space lady better, the Xplory is a suitable choice for the futuristic fashionista.

The innovative design allows parents to push their tots at a higher level via telescoping capabilities, or lower depending on preference, making it less of a back bender for the pusher and a better view for the babe. And, common to many other brands, the Xplory allows for forward or rear-facing positioning.

To learn more about the Stokke Xplory, read more.

Like other travel system strollers, the Stokke Xplory offers a bassinet feature so newborns can snooze on the go. As babies outgrow the bassinet, parents can trade up to the reclining seated position that is height adjustable. In addition to the seats being height adjustable, the footrest can also be tailored to the child's liking and the handlebar to the parent's.

The pros of the Stokke Xplory are the sleek design, the bassinet feature, and the raised placement. The basket on the base of the frame is fantastic for storage and adds additional stability to the elevated buggy. The height of the patented four-wheeled wonder gives many parents reason enough to not buy a high chair as the stroller itself can be wheeled up to the table and locked for stationary dining.

However, there are some cons to the Xplory, too. Number one -the price is quite steep at $1200. Number two - it doesn't have the life expectancy that many of its competitors do. Most travel system strollers last through four-years-old or 60 pounds where a child will outgrow a Stokke at three-years-of-age or 45 pounds. Last - I'd personally worry a bit about tipping the stroller if I added too much weight to the handle or not enough to the basket.

The Xplory easily folds in half (with the seat in place) making it simple to stow away. Like many others, your arms will get a workout as the compact system weighs 23 pounds. The adapter for the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP and Grace Snugride are both available to make the car seats compatible with the stroller frame. The splashy pushchair is available in six basic colors - black, cream, olive, orange, turquoise and red.

We will be finishing off our mini season of original stroller reviews with a special giveaway in October. Stay tuned for more details.

Mommy Alert! Stokke Stroller Recall

LilSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:00:54 -0800

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Stokke, LLC announced a voluntary recall of 2,000 Xplory Baby Strollers sold between September 2003 and December 2006 for about $770 due to a safety hazard.

A bolt that attaches the front wheel can loosen or come off and pose a falling hazard to children. Thus far, 14 incidents have been reported in the U.S, and an additional 224 internationally. Luckily, the extent of injury was a scratch on the head. The press release said:

"Only Xplory baby strollers with serial numbers between 1 and 28,097 and with grey handles are included in the recall. The serial number is located under the foot plate. Strollers with white handles are not included in this recall."

If you have a recalled stroller, contact Stokke for a wheel replacement kit.

Simple or Swank: Natural Wooden High Chairs

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:00:31 -0700

Well made wooden highchairs are back in style . . . only this time they grow with child! The chair's neutral tone that blend with the rest of the family's dining set and their ability to fit snugly under the table make them a smart choice for mamas desiring a streamlined kitchen area.

Simple: The natural wood Keekaroo high chair ($149) features an adjustable seat that can be used for children from six months old on up.

Swank: The Stokke Tripp Trapp ($249) started the "grow-with-me" high-chair phenomenon with its adjustable height and footrest and the ease with which it can be pulled right up to the table. Which do you prefer?

10 Swanky Supper Seats

babysugar — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Mama and papa get to dine in swanky digs every now and then so why not give baby a daily dose? Parents looking to treat their sweet buns to a posh seat need not look any further than these 10 high-end high chairs. Mums willing to drop a few Benjamins will love the eye candy in these drool-worthy table additions.

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Incredibly Cool, But Lacking Baby Products

babysugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:00:29 -0700

Chic moms at the playground want to be the trendsetters of baby paraphernalia. You can spot them - the Orbit pushing, latte sipping, couture wearing mamas. They try all of the latest, but not always greatest, baby products and then report back to their entourage on the "must haves" and "steer clears." Check out my slideshow of some of the cool products that I wouldn't recommend and why.

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Compact Zzapper High Chair: Ga Ga or Gag?

babysugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:00:25 -0700

Who doesn't appreciate parents trying to add modern flair to their kid-friendly abodes and prohibit heinous plastics from their living rooms? But, do some items push the envelope? Though the Compact Care electric green wooden Zzapper high chair would be ideal for Judy Jetson and moms with similar decor taste, other parents may find the design and its $818 price tag far less palatable - especially when the Stokke Svan has a strong resemblance for $260. What's your take on this high chair?

Mini Cribs Save Money and Space

LilSugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:00:52 -0700

A crib may be the centerpiece of the nursery, but when space and money are an issue, a sleigh crib isn't an option. With much of the nation still uncomfortable with where this recession will take them, many expectant families are postponing moves to new abodes and planning on their tots double or triple bunking. For those mamas looking for a way to fit an additional sleeping space in a room, these mini – or portable – cribs may be the way to go.

The Dream on Me Folding Two-in-One ($140) has two mattress positions, making it useful as a playpen when tots grow too big for it.
Stokke's Sleepi™ Mini Crib ($1,000) is a smaller version of its popular full-sized oval crib. Beginning as a bassinet, the Sleepi converts to a crib with four different mattress heights.
Da Vinci's Alpha Mini Rocking Crib ($190) has traditional crib styling at a fraction of the size.
The Da Vinci Annabelle Mini Convertible Crib ($230) is a bit more modern than the Alpha version and can be converted into a twin bed for long-term use.
This Dream on Me Folding Two-in-One ($125) also folds up nicely for easy storage when not in use.
L.A. Baby's Deluxe Compact Crib ($135) is similar to the ones used by many hotel chains.

Strollin': Travel System Strollers Worth Taking for a Spin

babysugar — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:00:59 -0700

One of the toughest baby gear decisions a mother-to-be has to make is which stroller to buy. With all the options available, it's near impossible to test drive every ride. So, I am reviewing a vast assortment of buggies for all of you mommies in a stroller quandary. This past week I explored a small army of travel systems, which you can see below. Tune in all this month for reviews of singles, doubles and jogger systems!

Peg Perego Skate Review	Quinny Buzz Review	Stokke Xplory Review
Orbit Baby Review	Bugaboo Cameleon Review	Review Overview