Conference moira::parenting

    - Car seat: essential; we had a rear facing one first that 
    doubled as a regular indoor baby seat since it was removable.
    Very useful. We got the big one from friends - when Charlotte was
    20 pounds we switched.
    
    - "Snugli" front carrier - very useful for little hikes to the 
    store when the pram/stroller would have been awkward. Stopped using
    this when Charlotte was about 14 pounds - too much on my bad back.
    
    - Peg-Prego stroller/pram - still in use, a little bit big to drag around,
    we have plans to buy an umbrella stroller now that Charlotte is
    bigger,  and it will be more handy when packing the car for a big
    trip (the Prego takes a lot of hatch space).
    
    Monica
    
    

    
    
    My infant carrier (seat that they lay in with handles that you
    can bring the baby around the house with you) was a lifesaver
    for me.  I had a "Snugli" front carrier but found that to be
    useless because my baby was 10lbs at birth and the strain was
    too much on my back.
    
    -Chris

	Second the infant car seats, which double as indoor seats.

	It was so easy to go anywhere with Emily when she was still
	in that seat.

	Ditto the previous comments on the Snuggli (front carrier) for
	babies once they are over 12 pounds.

	We bought a baby back pack (Gerry) which is WONDERFUL.  I use
	it everytime we go to the grocery store.  The only drawback I
	can think of is how to get it onto your back.  We have a station
	wagon, so I put it in the back, put Emily in it, then sit on
	the edge of the wagon and slip it onto my back.  The weight
	is distributed onto your hips, not your back.  I have yet to
	have any discomfort using this, and Emily's about 20 pounds now.
	
	We have an umbrella stroller that has been useful, though Emily
	will sit in the back pack 5 times longer than the stroller.


	Karen

	PS - one other small drawback - Emily mauls my hair when she's in
	the pack.

    Re Backpacks: Mine both loved it.  Only drawbacks we found were they
    may drool on you!  Or, kick you in the back.  Ouch, when they are
    wearing those little white hard-soled shoes.
    
    The umbrella strollers are good if you ride a bus often, because they
    fold up easily.  But they don't hold up as long as the sturdier
    pram-type strollers.  If you are thinking of having more than one
    child, buy good stuff.  Even if it costs a little more now, you can use
    it through two kids.
    
    One comment, borrow anything you can.  Babies breeze through the
    different stages so quickly, that by age 2, you probably won't use the
    crib, walker, and many other things. A car seat that faces backward
    (newborns) and then can be reverted to foreward, is great.  One of mine
    loved the Snuggli, the other one hated it.
    
    Good luck. It's always a juggling act!
    Kathleen
    

You won't need everything right away, so don't feel you have to have
one of everything you see.  You will most likely need a car seat to take the baby
home.  My advice is to get one early.  Don't open it and tape the receipt to the
box.  Then find it on sale somewhere else and return it.  Head for the store 
where the new one is on sale.  Before you get there, go into labor.  It worked 
for me :-)

I, too, had one of the infant car seats which doubles as an infant carrier.
At almost 8 months, Noelle is only just now outgrowing it.  I had a Snugli
front-pack (Escort model).  I didn't use it at the very beginning because I 
worried about the lack of head support.  I didn't use it much later because it 
hurt my back.  There were times, however, that the *only* way to get Noelle to 
stop crying was to carry her.  If I used the Snugli, at least my hands were free.
Some magazine article I read advised that you borrow different types to find one 
you like before you invest.  Sounds good if you have enough friends with babies!  

We bought a stroller (regular, not umbrella) fairly quickly, so you might want
that on hand ahead of time.  The features we liked:
	- adjustable height handles (my husband is 6'4", I'm 5'4")
	- double wheels front and back (maneuvers (sp?) easier)
Both of you should test-walk it.  My husband really liked one particular model
until he tested it and couldn't seem to avoid kicking the wheels as he walked.

    
    1) 	Car seat - The John Radcliffe Hospital won't let you home until they
    	have seen the car seat!! 
    
    	Faces rear of car (sits on front seat) for for 6 months/20 lbs. Can
    	also be used indoors and some can rock. 
    	Then you upgrade to front facing seat that sits in back of car.
    	You can buy seats that will last from birth to 4 (you swap
    	positions at 6 months).
    
    2)  Snugli - great for carrying baby about when you don't want to use a 
    	buggy. Mine had a head support and Rebecca first used it at a week
        old. You'll only get a lot of use from one of these if the baby is
        small. Can upgrade to back pack once baby is bigger and can support
        its head. Back pack great for sight-seeing, shows, shopping in crowds 
        (eg at Christmas). We have taken Rebecca into London on the train/tube 
    	in her back-pack and she was fine.
    
    3)	Buggy - we got a Mothercare 4-wheel drive that you can (and we do)
    	take across fields. It's very heavy (difficult for me to lift into
    	the car), but should outlast all of us!! Town dwellers with pavements 
    	need only 2 wheel drive. You won't need a carry cot with a summer baby.
        We were about to  buy one and the woman in Mothercare said it was not 
       	needed for a spring/summer baby if you had a moses basket for the baby 
    	to sleep in. Buggies with two positions are good - baby lies flat 
    	facing pusher for first 5 months or so, then turned round and sits
        up facing forward. I see no point in buying an old fashioned pram. 
    
    4)	Boucing chair (folds down for visiting) - great for calming baby and
    	for somewhere safe to leave the baby while you do the chores. Only
    	use on the floor. Great for visiting and for first solid feeds when too
    	small to go in high chair.
    
        Hope this helps.
    
        Celia
    

    I didn't have an infant car seat for my first. I decided to get one
    for my second and boy was it great. I should have got one for the
    first. It is so convenient. If they fall asleep in the car, you can
    just pop it out and carry them in the house without waking them.
    I also used it sometimes to feed him in. They are very useful.
    
    -Sheila
    

my only advice is - if you buy a backpack, make sure you get one with a hip
band.  When the kid gets over 15 pounds, your shoulders will get very sore and
tired from supporting the weight.  With a hip band, your hips are supporting the
weight and your shoulders are only stabilizing.


Pat

    
    This is a subject my husband is a little fabactical on... hence the
    list...
    
    Infant car seat.  If our current one broke (removable seat - whichc is
    VERY heavy!) I would just take advantage of the rental programs most
    hospitals have.  I'd take what I save from the rental to get a GOOD
    larger seat, which you'll use for 2.5 - 3.5 years.
    
    I never figured out how to use snugli's.. but other friends have loved
    theirs.
    
    Baby-jogger stroller. like a 4-wheel drive for babies. Ours will go
    anywhere!  Useful even if you dont jog.  The newer models seem to be
    less expensive and also (key ppint!) are foldable.  The only downside is
    there's vey little room for baggage.
    
    Backpack: The tough traveler (TM) for large kids fits about 6 mos & up. 
    It comes with a rain/sun hood, so you can feel better about being out in
    potentially inclement weather. it also has a pouch that is VERY handy
    for extra diapers and wipes, and a treat or two!.  
    I wish we ALSO had the smaller Gerry version!   Anothe thing: The Tough 
    traveller has a hip band and can be easily adjusted for different wearers.
    
    Play and Pak playpen/crib.  GREAT for when you want to visit friends
    and stay late past the little one's bedtime.  You can set these up in
    about 90 seconds: teardown and repack in about 3 minutes.  We have the
    Graco: I've heard the FP one is not quite as well engineered.  These
    also travel well in cars, planes, etc. 
    
    
    Baby bugger ( I *Did* mention a little fanaticism, didn't I?)  from
    about 6 months on, 8-9 if you're cautious like me, your little one
    will be able to sit up and enjoy being trailered around to her favorite
    parks, ponds, etc.   We chose the Century version: it has a screen
    netting that blocks nearly all the wind and much of the sun. It also
    will fit two childen, and also has a back area that can be used for
    diaper bags, etc, and inside pockets so the kids can get their oen
    treats.
    
    Jamd

    
    I had a snugli but never used it nor did I like the idea of a
    back-pack.  What I found here in the states was something called a
    Sara's Ride.  A mom designed it and I can still use it - my daughter is
    now 3 years old (30 lbs).  
    
    It is designed to just fit their bums (so not great for a tiny infant),
    you can wear it all in the front, or rear, or side.  I bought it for
    the side use (never used it any other way).  No stress on the back at
    all.  Just like carring your baby on your hip, and you can switch 
    sides.  
    
    It folds into itself and looks like a little purse and has a small
    strap and snap to hook onto your purse if baby starts out walking and 
    ends up wanting to be carried.  (Mine walked at 8 months.)
    
    I loved it!  
    
    Rose Marie 

Please also see the following notes for specifics on styles and additional
information:

 30        Car Seats, Booster Seats, Infant Carriers
 31        Strollers and Backpacks 
 32        Cribs, Playpens, Bunk Beds, misc equipment

          Carol duBois, PARENTING co-moderator    

    Thank you everyone for the replies.  There seems to be a definite
    pattern here, and reading what experienced parents really use is helping
    me to focus my mind much better while we're putting together our list
    of things to buy.

    Re: .-1 thank you for the pointer.  I've had a look at those notes too,
    and I think the information will be useful when we have a better idea
    what items we want to buy.

    Ali

    As a father I may have slightly different input: the Gerry back-pack
    was great--but then I never had any problem lifting it.  I would do
    dishes or mow the lawn with a baby in the back pack.
    
    The Snugli was nice for walks but got in the way and was hot in warm
    weather.
    
    The umbrella stroller was and is very userful, and has held up very
    well, but the handles don't adjust and I find myself holding it to 
    one side (i.e. holding the right handle in my left hand, not using
    the other hand)--if only they were six inches longer!
    
    I second the advice to wait and buy stuff when you know you want it.
    It also helps to let people know your wants--often someone else has
    just stopped using something.
    
    Finally, a "Sassy Seat" or other baby-seat-that-attaches-to-a-table
    is useful for visits and restaurants.  Our car has had the following
    in the back for some time:
    
    	umbrella stroller
    	Sassy Seat
    	back-pack
    	emergency disposable diapers
    
    			-John Bishop

    Is this too late?
    
    I positively couldn't exist with out my "Cart-A_kid".  It a fabric
    covered foam contraption.  It goes in the seat part of a shopping cart,
    and will work from newborn through a couple-plus years old.  I got mine
    at Child World, have since seen them at Toys R Us, and the Ames, and
    other discount type stores, and even Jordan Marsh.  
    
    In the first stage you lay the child across the seat, with the pillow
    it comes with, then as the child grows you gradually can sit the child
    up, still across the seat, as the child can sit unassisted, this thing
    wraps around the child's middle, and sortof hold the child in, they
    just can't escape. It also provides enought cusion so the metal parts
    of the cart won't dig into the little legs.
    
    I did buy a snugli, kept it in the car, he HATED it.  He screamed
    bloody murder everytime I tried to use it.  I also had both an
    umbroller, and a regular stroller.  The umbroller won hands down. 
    Stored well in the car, we had a compact car, did very well at the mall
    and in and around the closely packed racks. and in crowd situation it
    steered quite well.
    
    Oh and don't forget the head support roll.  I actually had two, one for
    the car seat, and one for the kangarockaroo.
    
    Lyn

    Hi,
    	I am looking for transport for my daughter (4 years) from my home
    at Imperial Gardens, Middlesex Street Lowell to Star of Bethlehem
    School at North Chelmsford. The school does not have a bus facility.
    If there is anyone whose child is also in the same school I would like 
    to share the car/taxi expenses. Currently she is going by LRTA bus. 
    Please contact me or my wife at 508-452-1684.
    
    
    Thanks and Regards,
    Samuel
    

My 4 year old daughter is currently enrolled in Meadowbrook Childrens Center for
preschool.  She goes MWF 12:15 - 2:45 pm.  I am looking for any kind of suitable
transportation - car pools, or to pay someone reliable to do it.

My daughter needs to be picked up at her sitters in Marlboro (near the Country 
Club) and brought to the preschool and then taken back to the sitters after 
school.  The school is on Church St. in Marlboro.

If you know of someone, pls contact me at:

				dtn:  297-3462
			     E-mail:  Nodex::gundewar

Thanks in advance,

Mrudula Gundewar