Baby item reviews/recommendations

I haven't successfully found a thread like this, so maybe we can start one???? I know that after the holidays I am going to start registering and have NO idea which stroller, car seat, bottle, nipple for the bottle or pacifier is GOOD and which one is BAD!!!!


So,with or without pics, which item do you have to rant/rave about?????

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

The book Baby Bargains was SOOOOO helpful for me when registering...

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

i have:

car seat - graco snugride 32


snap n go - baby trend


stroller - maclaren triumph (havent used it yet)


swing - FP My Little Lamb (highly recommend!!)


pack n play - graco moderne playyard


bottles - playtex ventaire


so far this is all ive really used.

Message edited 11/19/2009 9:13:38 AM.

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

IMO You need:

Rainforest or Sweetpeace swing-both plug in.

FP Infant to Toddler Rocker-my kids slept in this, napped in it and now they have their bottles in it.

If you are going to BF get an E-Z to nurse pillow

You also shoudl have a boppy and 2 covers to prop baby

A tummy time mat with toys overhead they can kick

A bumbo

An exersaucer

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

I agree with the Baby Bargains book. It was like my bible at times.

The items I found I couldn't do without:
-snap & go
-bouncer
-swing (DS liked it later on)
-jumperoo

I didn't register for a travel system. Instead, I registered for a Graco infant carseat, snap & go, and a regular stroller. I have the Peg Perego Pliko P3. I love it.

Also, I have the Summer Infant 3 stage super seat (instead of a Bumbo). I loved this seat! I use it as a high chair at times. Now, DS sits in it and watches tv in the morning while I am getting ready for work. He also loves the toys that come with it.

Message edited 11/19/2009 9:41:30 AM.

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

Oh and the Summer Infant best view video monitor:

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

The Snap & Go FOR SURE...so easy to use.

Playtex Ventaire bottles. Easy to use & clean, go right into the dishwasher. Come in both standard and wide nipples. I despise Dr. Brown's bottles the parts are a nightmare.

The Fisher Price Little Lamb Swing ( a GOD SEND!)

The Fisher Price Rainforest Bouncy Seat

Swaddle Me Blankets

Circo brand clothes from Target

Target Up & Up wipes

I am annoyed at one thing I did though - I bought a travel system and truthfully, I like the car seat, it goes right into the Snap & Go BUT - I wish I didn't buy the big bulky stroller. I will probably wind up buying a MacLaren or Jeep stroller.

I also got a huge diaper bag (a Vera Bradley). I do like it and will use it for weekend trips, etc but it really isn't good for every day trips to the store. I wound up buying a Land's End diaper bag for every day use. It's only $25 bucks and it fits on the handle of the Snap & Go.

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

this isn't a recommendation for something, more like a recommendation to NOT get it...do not get the peg perego car seat...wayyyyy too heavy in my opinon...we kept it now, but for the second one I think we're going to get the Graco! The FP Rainforest Bouncer was my savior and for later on the jumparoo was so much fun for her!!!

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

here are my recomendations...

- get yourself a baby bjorn when your baby goes through that phase of wanting to be held 24/7 it will make life a whole heck of a lot easier since you will have 2 hands to get things done. (i recommend the bjorn because it feel it totally supports a newborns head and neck, i had the chicco version and couldnt use it as a newborn her head was all over i ended up going to once upon a child to get a bjorn)

- snap-n-go all the way this has to be one of the absolute BEST products out there. im so sad to pack it up till its time for #2

- fisher price infant to toddler rocker/ precious planets bouncy chair. I have both. and i have to say i wish i would have listened to the boards on the infant to toddler rocker. My dd is a very big baby. and grew out of the bouncy seat at 3.5 months old. the top where her head is, was almost to the floor. so i had to go and get the infant to toddler rocker and its been fantasic and she LOOOVES it because she can reach the toys better. so i would prob eliminate the bouncy and just go for the infant to toddler rocker! (and it works great for toddlers my neice is 14 months and she was sitting in it and loving it when she was over!)

- Graco Snugride carseat. I love this seat. i had the snugride 32 and in myopnion was way too big and bulky to get in and out of my car with the baby in it. i was borrowing the 32. and gave it back and went and got myself the snugride and i love it. now that dd is 16lbs im actually putting her in the convertable since its become way too heavy for me to carry!

- dr.browns bottles either the wide or standard. i started out with drop ins and ventaire and dd rejected them and had awful gas issues from them. we changed to dr. browns and shes been doing fantastic!

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

my best advice:

buy rechargeable batteries and a battery charger!!!

many baby things take D batteries and they're expensive to keep replacing.

I have an energizer battery charger - it holds all battery sizes and charges 4 Ds at a time.

Purchased it at Target.


AND register for convertible carseats. Many people assume it'll be a long time before DC will be in it, so they don't register for it. My 3.5 month old DS is 17 lbs as of last week. I had abdominal surgery in Oct and I absolutely cannot carry his infant seat. We're putting the convertible in this weekend.

Message edited 11/19/2009 10:21:31 AM.

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

Lovin Hug Swing by Graco...DD loved it

Born Free Glass Bottles and the Playtex Drop Ins were my favorite and were great for DD's gas issues

We used the Graco SafeSeat and I like it alot...DD was able to use it until she was almost 11 months old.

I also used a Kolcraft Snap n Go which was great in the Beginning.

I looove my Bugaboo and my Maclaren Quest...I reccomend registering for both...also the Ingelsina Swift was a great alternative to a Maclaren and cheaper.

I have an Evenflo Triumph in our car as our main carseat and I like it alot...it got great crash test ratings and is less money than the Britax..

I also looooved my angelcare monitor...it was a Godsend.

Image Attachment(s):

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

my best suggestion is to look at the items and then go on the bru website and look at their reviews for them.. we found out that the pnp we liked people found would randmoly collapse.... there are alot more reviews there for each item so you get a more broader opinion

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

1. read the reviews on BRU
2. love love love the little lamb swing that PPs mentioned
3. you don't need all the bells and whistles on the PNP although the changing table is a MUST
4. love my snap and go stroller
5. i have the snugride 32 - it's kinda heavy, i don't know if they all are but i do like that it has the hood
6. avent pacifiers. love em.
7. dr. browns bottles - i like. you don't need the dr. browns brand bottle rack, you can get other brands which are much cheaper. i do recommend the dr. browns dishwasher baskets though
8. boppy pillow - MUST HAVE
9. receiving blankets - i go through so many of these - i use them for everything.
10. wipe warmer- i thought it was a waste and didn't register. well DS hated being changed. i added a mobile to the changing station and use the wipe warmer - much better.
11. pee pee tee pees - waste. DS kicks them off. wash cloths work better.
12. summer infant monitor. works great. only thing is i can see my neighbors kid on channel b
13. Baby Einstein - Baby Neptune Ocean Adventure Gym - DS LOVES this
14. Baby Jogger City Classic stroller. Super easy, lighweight and manuvers well. love it

Message edited 11/19/2009 12:03:25 PM.

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

I have the maxi cosi carseat. although I like it, I would probably have gotten the Graco Snugride instead (since it fits in most snap n go strollers)

We used the papasan swing for the 1st 6 months a lot.. it was very helpful.

Chloe looooved her fisher price bouncer and rainforest jumperoo

I love her Boon high-chair. It's so easy to clean, goes with our decor and rolls from room to room



I also loved her bassinet. We used it for 3 1/2 months, but the base becomes a toddler seat that she sits in while I take a shower and get ready



I have an Inglesina Zippy stroller that I like and a Macleran Volo for her umbrella stroller

ETA: I had the Kolcraft snap n go for the first few months that was very helpful. Also, another poster reminded me about the JJ Cole Bundle me. It was helpful with a february baby.

Also, we never used a pack n play in our house. We have a colonial and Chloe would nap downstairs in her swing in the beginning and now she naps in her crib

Message edited 11/19/2009 12:51:28 PM.

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

The two things I recommend to people are the Snap & Go stroller for the infant carrier instead of the travel system and the JJ Cole Bundle Me if your baby is a baby in the winter months. It's so convenient and much easier than dealing with loose blankets.

Other good items:

I also really like my video monitor. We have the Summer handheld color monitor. It's great to take around the house.

And I use the Mommy Hook on my stroller. It hooks on to the handle and you can hang bags from it while you shop. I have one of those reusable canvas bags from the supermarket and I use it when I'm shopping all the time. Tip: Buy one at Home Depot for $2.99 as opposed to $7.99 at BRU!

Image Attachment(s):

Re: Baby item reviews/recommendations

for us - the boppy lounger has been the single MOST used item (other than bottles). the thing is amazing! tummy time, feeding, sleeping, playing...just incredible!

the papasan swing was also a HUGE help in the beginning and honestly, still is!

we also use playtex ventaire bottles - the customer service is impeccable - i will be a playtex customer for life!