I was immediately drawn to the Combi Coccoro Convertible Car Seat by its cool orange color and its unique modern styling. While color and style alone are not the best factors to consider in choosing a car seat, this seat has a lot going for it. One of its biggest selling points for families with multiple children is that it allows you to fit three car seats across in the back seat of most cars. I have one friend in particular who has been trying for several years to find a combination of car seats that will allow her to do this.

I am impressed by the safety feature which shows green or red to indicate whether the buckle is properly snapped. I love my Britax, but I have had it come unbuckled several times when I thought it was secure. This indicator would make me feel a lot safer. The seat is designed for both rear and forward-facing use, and from birth to 40 pounds. It comes in a number of shades, although I love this orange one (I’m just not sure we could keep it looking so pristine). This will definitely be on the short list of seats I’m considering for our baby when she outgrows her infant seat. You can purchase one for $199 at BabyAge.com.

I thought this Graco Lauren Convertible 4-in-1 crib was gorgeous when I laid eyes on it, with its architectural lines and simple elegance. The best thing is that this crib, which comes in three finishes—natural, white, or espresso—is on sale for $179.98 down from $239.99.  cribs.com is having a Super Sale and I must say saving $60 is not too shabby for a crib, toddler bed, daybed, and full size bed all in one. Also, they offer other cribs with exquisite details and dark finishes (like the Graco Sarah crib that will knock your socks off at $174.99).
 
However, if your budget is quite small, there are ways to get cribs for less. My mom and I went shopping for our crib before my first son was born. I’d spotted something I really liked in Sears but decided to check out Wal-Mart. They had something extremely similar for less and we saved even more by buying the floor model. They were about to get new models in and had to clear the floor; I got lucky that day but you can ask at your local stores and find out when they plan to refresh their stock. Just have a pro check it over to be sure all the parts are present.
 

The sleeves on this Cozy Cub™ Convertible Down Jacket are removable because it’s not always snowing. Versatility helps make our lives easier especially when we’re trying to prepare and provide for all our children’s needs.

This convertible and reversable down jacket will keep your child adequately warm and dry in cold, rainy or snow weather. I’m thinking of our family trips to Big Bear, California to give our “city” kids a chance to play in the snow. Once they would get good and tired (and wet) it was time to go into town for lunch. It would have been a convenient option to be able to zip off the wet sleeves.

This jacket comes in Light Pink and Navy, and is available in toddler sizes to 5T. It costs $59.95 at OneStepAhead.com.