| Hi,
I'm due in September and am baby product obsessed and have read about every review and interviewed loads of Moms.
Stroller/car-seat. I opted for the Quinny Zap. Its 6kg so pretty light weight and sturdy. Its currently on sale at Mothercare and B2B. The baby car seat maxi cosi cabrio straps into this stroller. After the baby is greater than 6 months, then you can use the regular seat. My Chic Mom-friends who have 4 strollers tell me this is the only they use b/c of how light it is. Its also really snazzy looking. B/c this stroller is light, I've heard its best of flat smooth surfaces like shopping malls & grocery stores. Its not ideal for walking about Soho and LKF, but then only the Mountain Buggy seems equipped for those steep surfaces and that's when people use the Baby Bjorn.
Am tempted to also to get the Quinny Buzz. This has bassinet option so the baby can lie flat and the seat reclines to 3 levels. This is heavier, but is the only one that I've tested that can be opened and closed with one hand easily. Its really cool. Its currently on sale at Mothercare, but did not buy yet b/c the baby can only use one stroller at a time and I think that we will be fine with the Zap. If I find that I also need to the Buzz, I'll buy it when the time comes or they may be something even better on the market then.
Baby Bjorn: Moms tell me its a must, but can get heavy for long hauls and really hot in the summer. If you have a baby less than six months, its not a good idea to keep it upright in the sling for a long time b/c its spine is not yet strong enough to sit up properly and babies usually end up slouching in the sling. There are also studies that suggest the for the first 6 months babies need to lie flat so that their spines properly develop which is why alot of people suggest that a stroller they can lie flat in is best. I don't plan to be out with my child so much in the first 6 months and don't believe that their growth will be stunted by short naps in its baby carrier when we are out.
There is a book printed in the States called "Baby Bargains". I resisted buying it, but my sister bought me a copy when I on holiday. It only covers US brands, but its like a consumer reports and a review by real Moms. Its my shopping bible. Although it doesn't cover the Quinny b/c its not sold in the US, it has a review on almost everything you could possibly need that is baby related. Don't let the title fool you as it reviews all the high-end products too.
Good luck!  |