Our little one is three and a half months old, and she is clearly getting bored. She wants to be upright and she wants to be entertained. I’m thinking that it is time for an exersaucer. Unfortunately, I gave away our old one because it was so bulky to store, and I’m now scrambling to find new one. I’m really disappointed, however, that with all the hip, modern baby gear on the market, no one seems to make an exersaucer or entertainment center that isn’t obnoxious beyond belief.

I had just about given up hope when I came across this new Evenflo model. While it isn’t the hip modern look I was hoping for, it is something I think we can live with. The colors and shapes are subdued, and the little toys are actually pretty cute. The downside is that, at least according to the Target Web site, this product won’t be available for another 2-6 weeks. I’m not sure we can wait that long! You can check this product out at Target.com. The retail price is $99. And, if anyone knows of a hip Scandinavian-inspired play center, I’d love to hear about it!

 
The fourth item on my list of necessities for baby is a stroller. If you’re not into pushing your baby around in a buggy and you travel by foot as often as I do, I think a carrier of some sort is in order. You’ve got to have your hands free (and save your back and arms) at some point in time and for that, I have a Mei Tai. However, I also have Evenflo Congo Journey Travel System. We have dragged this thing through mud, muck, rain, snow, gravel and whatever else dares to cross our paths for over 3 years and it is still in good shape. The front tires had to be reinforced but otherwise, nothing is awry.

My favorite features are the bug net, relatively simple folding system, and smooth steering. It is rather bulky but great for long treks and durable (we’re on our second son.) The front piece lifts, making getting your child in and out simpler, and there’s even a detachable piece that stores away underneath to keep legs and feet protected until they’re too big to be kept in. The car seat attaches to the top and is a handy carrier and travel rocking chair for baby. It comes with a canopy and head cushions to keep baby’s head steady. We paid much more than the $129.99 price tag on Amazon.com but, happily, it was worth it.  

The first breast pump I purchased last time around was a Medela Pump in Style.  When I got tired of dragging it between home and work, I decided to invest in a slightly less expensive pump to keep at home.  I ended up purchasing the Evenflo Elan Dual Electric Breast Pump, and was very impressed.  I actually found it to be a little quicker and more efficient than my Medela, which surprised me.

The pump comes with everything you need to get started, including a special handle to make it easier to pump both breasts at once, should you so choose.  It also comes with a few extras, like an LCD panel to help you keep track of how long you pumped and at what time of day, etc.  I thought this would just be a gimmicky feature, but I discovered that I actually liked having it, particularly to see how long I had been pumping each session.

There are a few things about the pump that I wasn’t completely crazy about.  It comes with horn inserts that are supposed to provide comfort, but I actually found them painful (they pinched my skin).  Once I realized I could remove them, I was much happier.  I also find the two-part bag to be cumbersome.  Others may like the design, which allows you to detach the cooler section and leave the pump in another location (work for example), but since I didn’t want to detach them, I found that it makes the bag a bit unwieldy.

Overall, I highly recommend this pump, especially if your budget is limited.  I truly find it to be on par with much pricier models and will definitely use it again in the future.  You can purchase one on sale for $139.95 at breastpumpsdirect.com.

Recently, when my 4 year old son had just tipped the scales at 41 lbs. and had therefore outgrown his old car seat, it was time to shop for a booster seat. There are so many available, however, that it can be a tad confusing. After going to Babies ‘r’ Us, comparing the safety specifications, and feeling the padding on each seat, I chose this Evenflo Big Kid Harmony Booster Seat. Out of all of the average, mid-priced boosters, the Evenflo seemed to me (and to my son, who helped shop for his own seat) to have the most padding and therefore had the potential to be the most comfortable. I also liked the “side flaps” around the head to provide extra cushioning, almost like a car seat for a smaller child.

Other extra features included in this carseat are cupholders that slide out from each side of the base of the seat (and slide back in when not in use); and small lights around the head area, in case your little traveler wants to color, read, or just needs a light for security during nighttime traveling. The seat also has 5 position height adjustment, and will accommodate children from 30 to 100 lbs., so it really does grow with your child.

Another nice feature of the Evenflo is that it converts to a backless booster seat when the need arises. You can view this booster seat, which is priced nicely at $39.99, at BabiesRUs.com.