quick clicks

babies today articles

babies today q&a

toddlers today articles

toddlers today q&a

breastfeed.com articles

breastfeed.com q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Buying For Baby?

Fasten Your Seatbelt!

By Julia Rosien

Stroller Tips Be wary when buying strollers at garage sales or accepting hand-me-downs. Go through the same checklist as you would with a new model, and treat it like you would a used car. Walk around it, kicking the tires and checking for loose screws. Read product reviews and make sure the model you're looking at hasn't been recalled.

Many parents enjoy having their baby close with hands free to vacuum, push an older child on a swing or grocery shop. Two options for carrying an infant hands-free are slings and front-pack carriers.

Slings slip on and off easily, making it easy to place a sleeping infant in a crib. They also allow nursing mothers to breastfeed discretely. Many fussy newborns quiet quickly when placed in the sling with their ears close to a parent's heartbeat.

Carriers allow a baby to look around while being supported upright. They distribute weight more evenly and let the shoulders and back share the burden. Some carriers can be switched to a backpack when your child reaches 6 months of age.

"Both of our children were preemies and needed close contact. Our second fussed constantly and the Snugli gave me the time to play with the older one," says Chris Bruhm of Ontario. "Both babies pent weeks in the hospital at birth and the Snugli helped us bond while doing everyday things that needed to be done once they came home."

Want to see more?

• Get tips on surviving baby's first year financially in Having the Baby Without Breaking the Bank
• Check out the iParenting Recalls section to make sure your baby equipment has not been recalled.
• Read Clip This: How and Why to Use a Locking Clip for more car seat safety information.
• Read Read Carseat Safety Tips for more car seat safety information.
• Learn about stroller safety

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.