I've recently started looking *obsessing* over finding the best baby items that are reasonably priced. For all the moms out there, you realize this is somewhat of an oxymoron. Nothing is well-priced because its a sellers market and they know that. Even with all the various brands out there, cute things don't come cheap. From strollers, to cribs, to high chairs- I have gone through about a million reviews and reports (even subscribing to consumer reports). Yes, I realize I'm only 14 weeks. So, I'm a little excited. Sue me.
No, actually, please don't. We need the money for a crib.
So what I need is advice. Obviously, everyone has their 'favorite' things, but I'm interested in the opinions. I think I have a crib picked out and I think its really well-priced so I'm excited. While I'm at it, I'll share what ideas I have for the nursery. Then, maybe some of y'all can direct me to the right places for other things based on the style. We have decided not to register until we know the sex, but I'm too psychotic to wait until then to do the research.
Here's the potential crib:
taylor (my fabulous, artistic brother) is building baby squirrel a fabulous tree that looks similar to this one up the wall and over the crib... our tree will of course be bigger and better... Ha. Take that, tiffany amber thiessens' nursery.
hanging from the branches in a few places i plan on hanging these little guys (this is where needing to know if its a boy/girl thing will come in handy).
if its a girl...
if its a boy...
or at least, something of the sort. not sold on either of these, but i like the ideas. i think they are cute and for either sex, i'm doing a million bright, funky colors in the nursery- so this would work. i just love the anthropologie feel to these little dudes. i'll keep ya posted.
oh, and while i'm at it, if you are interested in purchasing this rug from anthropologie for me, i'd be thrilled. just tickled to pieces. i want it more than ice cream and its a tad (okay, a lot) more expensive than we'll ever be paying for a rug in a nursery. but geeeez, its fabulous.
oh! and also, the stroller situation. i think i've got it narrowed down to the uppababy vista. i went and played with it and loved the way it handled and the whole travel system idea. any of you have it and care to share your experiences with it, i'd appreciate it. :)
so what i need from y'all is help with high chairs, crib mattresses (which i didn't even THINK to think of until now), car seats, and unique bedding. i might just have to get it made. fabrics are fabulous and the stuff at babiesrus isn't cutting it for me.
whew.. alright. that's it for now. have a fabulous friday (yay for four day weeks!) and a great and relaxing weekend! (and send me those opinions!)
peace,
erin
Sooooo, I may not have a babe of my own, but I do have some observations. What I know about the stroller situation is that it seems really important to be able to put the carseat straight to the stroller in the early days. So my opinion/suggestion/thought/2 cents is to make sure you can do that so you're not tranferring a sleeping baby.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Taylor is going to rock that tree. I love it. But don't knock Kelly Kapowski, bad karma sister! ;) xoxo
Don't feel like you're crazy for starting this early--you never know if you'll go into pre-term labor, like me, and then not have a chance to do research!
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning, having a travel system so you don't have to take the baby out of the car seat is nice. But then think about if you'll want to go jogging/walking on trails in the future, because then you'll want a jogging stroller. There are some joggers that have car seat attachments, which I would recommend so you don't have 2 strollers...and then you might want an umbrella stroller for travel, shopping, quick trips, etc., unless the one stroller you choose is compact enough for this job, too. It's a lot to think about, but we made the mistake of ending up with 3 different strollers, something I said I'd never do (and now we need a double...)!! Good luck! And if I think of anything else then I'll let you know :)
I totally agree with the two comments before me: a travel system that your car seat can seamlessly go into is awesome (and a necessity at first). But then you also have the joggers and then double strollers...
ReplyDeleteWe had a Peg Perego car seat/stroller (Pliko) and high chair (Prima Pappa). While I know these are on the higher end of the money scale, I really did love them. The stroller folded up fabulously and fit into the trunk of my then Altima really well. The highchair adjusted to different heights, reclined and even rocked (weird, I know). We used all them thru both boys and they were great.
http://us.pegperego.com/babyproducts-site/home/
CONGRATULATIONS, Erin! My husband jokes that I spent more time researching our car seat/stroller than our car. I went with the Peg Perego car seat (love) and the Snap n Go frame for the car/running errands. Then, I have the BOB stroller for jogging/parks/etc. I love the BOB but wouldn't want to deal with it on an every day basis in and out of the car. Katie B has the Vista if you want to check in with her.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have a good contact to make your custom bedding if you go that route. She made mine. Here are some pics: http://thejordanjourneys.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html
thank you ALL! i will be contacting each of you to further discuss when thing slow down schedule wise...probably next week! all of this is so helpful. :) and of course, just when i 'think' i have something figured out, i realize there are 5000 more options!!!
ReplyDeletewell well well.... It has been almost two weeks with no new blog. Not that you haven't been busy the last couple of weeks or anything, but COME ON! And I know that baby has grown some inside of you these last 2 weeks so a new belly picture is requested as well! that's all.
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