a sort of spinoff...if I wanted to purchase a crib/stroller/babywhatchamacallit ABROAD, are there restrictions about this???

we are going to Italy in two weeks. I KNOW my dh is going to want to get some things.

there are certain famous brands here that are from there, and I may end up getting a stroller or some other "functional" item as well as cute (but gender neutral ) baby things for Newton.

so my question is, will buying something like that over there give me a problem....will it not go through customs for any reason? will it not be "regulation" here?

anyone have any thoughts/experience with this?

I am personally not worried about anything over there...I don't think they take child safety any less seriously than we do here to that is not an issue for me.

paying a nice chunk of change for something that I can't use ultimately IS.

TIA

Re: a sort of spinoff...if I wanted to purchase a crib/stroller/babywhatchamacallit ABROAD, are there restrictions about this???

i think safety standard are differnet in the US than in other countries and although they may have the same Brand name, the differences may be different depending on requirements necessary in other countries.

Re: a sort of spinoff...if I wanted to purchase a crib/stroller/babywhatchamacallit ABROAD, are there restrictions about this???

Re: a sort of spinoff...if I wanted to purchase a crib/stroller/babywhatchamacallit ABROAD, are there restrictions about this???

You may have to claim it all if it is over a certain amount of money. But my parents brought everything from my sisters shower over to Aruba and didn't have ant probelns, just 100 hundred suitcases

Re: a sort of spinoff...if I wanted to purchase a crib/stroller/babywhatchamacallit ABROAD, are there restrictions about this???

there are some safety standards that are different - and even if you don't care about them, it may be considered 'illegal' to use them in the US. This is especially true of car seats. As for strollers and cribs - there isn't all that much difference, as you say people over here take things just as seriously as they do in the US. BUT if you were to buy a stroller in Europe and expect to use a US car seat with it (if you're going for any kind of travel system, etc) they may not be compatible, or you may have to get certain adaptors to make them work together (which may or may not be hard to find, or expensive to buy).

FM me if you have any questions about specific models and I'll see what I can find!

ETA: I don't think customs can stop you from bringing in any kind of equipment based on safety or regulations of any sort - it's a stroller, not a salami! But they may make you pay duty on it.

Message edited 4/23/2009 5:22:12 AM.

Re: a sort of spinoff...if I wanted to purchase a crib/stroller/babywhatchamacallit ABROAD, are there restrictions about this???

You should not use a car seat from another country in the US, it is actually illegal, and the big worry in my opinion is that not that it isn't safe, but if you have an accident, and your car seat is technically illegal, your insurance won't pay out. What kind of stroller are you looking to buy in Europe? We have most of the same ones as they do in the states, I can't think of a Europe only pushchair that you don't have in the states....

From my own experiences, people in Europe don't sort of care about crib safety, we don't have any kind of baby bargains book. I suppose its brand name over anything else, for instance Mommas & Papas is the big name here, but I think its style over anything here. I would stick with bringing clothes, and other small baby items home with you...

Message edited 4/23/2009 6:19:33 AM.

Re: a sort of spinoff...if I wanted to purchase a crib/stroller/babywhatchamacallit ABROAD, are there restrictions about this???

I did not read that you do not care about child safety regulations. Your statement implied that you would assume Italy would have the same child safety regulations we would. As would I, but I see your concern about not being able to use an item in the states.

I'm sure you can check with the vendor there either online or a customer service phone line. Would you be carrying it through customs yourself or have it shipped. How would it be any different from ordering it from the states and having it shipped?

And yes, most brands sold in Europe are sold in the states but they can be manufactured differently with different features. Even if you bought a Graco high chair in K-Mart vs. a Graco high chair in BBB, same model, there will be a variation in materials used for construction. I've read or seen that pushchairs in London are made much more rugged and sturdy for all the walking on cobbled terrain that is done.

All that being rambled... I would not see why you could not purchase something and bring it home for personal use. As long as you do not have fresh produce or a rare tree monkey stowed in the under carriage basket and you're not bringing a cargo bin load with intention to distribute, I think you'd be fine.

I agree with staying away from car seats. As far as a crib... here are crib safety tips to keep in mind while shopping. If you do get a crib in Italy, be sure to also purchase the mattress there so it's the right tight fit. Their crib measurements may be different than ours and you could have trouble finding a mattress or sheets so would have order online.

Same thing for strollers. Check the safety features here before hand to look for that you'd want. I don't think you're required to have a 3 or 5 point harness but you may want to.

My cousin conceived and gave birth in Hong Kong during a two year business venture and has some things from there but she did have a shower here and got most of her things here and brought there with no problems.

Anywho... Have fun and I hope you find nice stuff!!!

Re: a sort of spinoff...if I wanted to purchase a crib/stroller/babywhatchamacallit ABROAD, are there restrictions about this???

Just an FYI, a Maclaren pushchair is the same the world round, as is a Bugaboo, and all the rest.

Re: a sort of spinoff...if I wanted to purchase a crib/stroller/babywhatchamacallit ABROAD, are there restrictions about this???

thank you ladies.

yes, I would NEVER buy a car seat in Europe. I should have put that in my OP. and it's not b/c I think they are unsafe or have lesser standards, but more so b/c they are designed and geared towards the cars driven there, which are not always the same as those driven here.

a stroller or pushchair would probably be the main thing I would purchase, maybe a cradle or something as well.

thanks everyone for your help.

farah, if I see anything before hand I'll give you a holla.

denise, that you for the crib info. that is exactly something I would take with me...

Message edited 4/23/2009 10:43:48 AM.