Any opinions about baby backpacks and stroller systems?
On to strollers. I see alot of the stroller systems that come with the carseat carriers. Does anyone have an opinion whether they think the type that holds a carseat is better than just a regular stroller? I can see the benefits of both types. I would be a busy mom who be going on lots of walks and would also need to have one that would fold up nicely for the trunk of the car.Any other must haves for a baby?
Answer:
Baby backpacks: I liked them okay. My husband loved ours. He would carry our daughter around all the time. They get in the way if you're trying to do something (and you really can't bend over) but they're nice for walking around and shopping if you don't want a stroller.
Stroller: Get one with a car seat carrier. They are so nice. You have to have a car seat anyway so why not get one that can snap onto your stroller. Its good for an infant because you know their head is protected in the carseat and you can see them at all times because you put the carseat on facing you in the stroller. Also, when your child is too big for the car seat, you can just use the stroller as a regular stroller. We have a 17 month old and have both kinds. Both fit into our trunk nicely. Our Jeep stroller (which is for older kids kind of a more expensive umbrella stroller) is great for going to the store. Her other stroller is nice if he needs a nap because she can lay down in it. Other things to have are a bouncy seat, a swing (our daughter absolutely loved hers), and for hen s/he can walk a stationary set so s/he can stand and play at the same time. We also liked our jumparoo but some people say they're bad for kids' legs. There are many good things for a baby, but it's all about what's good for you and your baby.
the strollers with the car seats that clip in are the only way to go. As for the backpack carriers with metal frames. They are amazing. They don't hurt the shoulder and can carry kids up to 3 years old! They are great for hiking or anything that is all day and the kid can't walk that much. I love them. The snuggli ones for babies can hurt the back or shoulders. Their are so many new kids... but I hear now that the legs should be at a 90 degree angle or it is bad for the spine...
I have one of those carriers that is not metal and it can go on your front or back. I love it especially for grocery shopping. You just stick him on your front and have both arms to grab things and enough room in your grocery cart for all you need. I don't like the ones that are like pouches b/c they're head looked very uncomfortable! I think the type that I have is fine for like 1-2 hours but after a while your shoulders will hurt a little but not bad.
As for the stroller I have a sit-n-stroll and loooove it! It's an infant car seat, toddler seat, booster seat, airplane approved seat, stroller all in one. Definitly worth your buck, since you don't have to buy a toddler seat later. If you're a pretty weak woman you won't want it b/c you have to fold it and place it in the car or pull it out of the car and put the wheels down. Honestly it's not that heavy though. I had the stroller slash carseat with the base that stays in the car. After a few months the carseat wouldn't stick into the base anymore. Also it was annoying to have to get the stroller out of the backseat and bring it around. With the sit n stroll you just unbuckle the seat belt, pick it up, plop the wheels down and you're off.
I absolutely LOVE the travel system we got for my daughter. It's particularly nice because we can bundle her up and pack her in the carseat while she's still in the warm house, then the seat just snaps into the base already in the car. Very great in cold Cleveland winters. I also used a Snuggli carrier, and found it to be mostly useful when Mackenzie was fussy. I could put her in the carrier and still have hands free to do work, while she was getting to move around like she wanted. (My daughter hates sitting still for too long, she demands someone pick her up and move her around.)
I am not too sure about the snuggli carrier but we have been using a ERGO carrier and I love it my baby is 19lbs. now and I have carried him for 2 hours on it an had min. pain in my back. You can used it as a front/back/hip carrier. They also make an insert so you can use it on a newborn who can not hold his/her head up yet.
For the stroller I like the Graco snap in go.You use it with an infant car seat. We also an "umbrella" stroller now that our baby is bigger and wants to see everything. They both fold up a lot smaller than the lager strollers that the car seat snap in to.
I use a mei tai to carry my 10 month old that weighs 21 lbs. It's fantastic. I previously used a maya wrap, and loed it as well.
Check thebabywearer.com for more info on the different carriers.
Travel systems have lots of benefits... I didn't use one, so I can't tell you how well they work, but lots of my friends use them. I always carried my baby, he prefered that anyway!
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