Jamison Rody

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Throw A New Double Stroller Into The Mix

I know yesterday I told you how I thought for sure we were going to get a Baby Trend double stroller, quite possibly the jogger. But my wife made a brilliant observation. Women tend to do that.

Anyway, she said with the jogger the kids sit next to each other, which I said could be a positive allowing them in interact. And while I was right in my assessment, I overlooked one small (OK not so small) drawback. Side by side means a wider stroller. And in some cases that means it won't fit very well through some doors. Maybe not at all.

So we're back to getting one where the seats are in line. We really like the Sit and Stand, but as you know I also like Chicco products. And the Chicco double stroller has a lot going for it.

It's fairly lightweight and really easy to steer, and the kids can sit comfortably. But what I really like about this stroller is how the handles adjust.

I'm fairly tall, and most strollers force me to lean over to push. After a while that gets tough on the back.

But that's not the case here. I can actually raise the handle so it fits my size. No more bending over and no more banging my knees on the stroller as I walk the babies.

Women, if you have a tall husband, then you really need to take a look and see if the stroller you are considering has this feature. Some do, but not all. And you don't want to be the one pushing all the time do you?

Check out more of the features and benefits of this stroller at my new Squidoo lens.

Kids Love Castles

In our quest to get our home ready for the new grand kids that are due in February, we have to be careful not to neglect our current grand children. We certainly don't want them to feel left out as we continually purchase stuff for the babies. So we like to have new things for them to play with when they come over.

We've already expressed out liking for Fisher Price Imaginext products, so it should come as no surprise that the Imaginext Eagle Talon Castle is on our list of things we have put away to give the grands when they come over after the new babies are born.

This thing is really cool, and I'm pretty sure both boys and girls will love it.

First of all, it's huge. Turrets, drawbridges, towers, flags and ladders are all in there. And you can set it up in four different ways.

And there's so many accessories and figures that you can add later that we'll never be at a loss for what to buy next. Each time they come over we can add a new figure for them. An ogre, a dragon, or a catapult are among the many things you can add.

The realistic sounds are also another selling point that the kids should love.

If you want to see and learn more about the Eagle Talon Castle be sure to check out my new Squidoo lens.

Change A Diaper Where?

I have to admit, I don't like changing diapers. But then again, who does? Even the most maternal of people don't actually enjoy this chore that has to be done.

To make the job easier you need a place to actually change the diaper. A place that's safe, the right height, and holds everything you'll need. Basically you need to check out the many diaper changing tables available.

And when I say many, that's not an exaggeration. All provide the same basic function, so it depends on what you need. Do you need one that acts as a dresser to save room space? Do you need one with a hamper? Do you need one that matches the existing furniture in the nursery? Do you need one with an attached hutch? Do you need a diaper changing table that's portable so you can move it from room to room? There's so many questions you need to answer before you make your purchase.

Fortunately there are changing tables available to meet any criteria you may have.

This is not a decision that should be taken lightly. It's important to know what you want and what you need before you buy.

To help us out we carefully studied everything that is available. To help you out we've put all that information into our new Squidoo lens.

Check it out.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Two New Grand Kids Means I Need A Double Stroller

No, my wife and I are not having twins, but with two grand babies due within two weeks of each other, we're going to need a way to transport them around. If we're watching both at the same time a single stroller obviously won't do. That's why we're getting a Baby Trend double stroller.

The question is, which one should we get.

We'll probably end up with the Sit and Stand stroller, but we're seriously considering the double jogger. We don't jog, but I've always like the way the single front wheel maneuvered. It always seemed easier to me than the traditional 4 wheel stroller.

But there's a lot to like about this one besides the easy maneuverability (although that's a big plus). I also like the adjustable canopy and the fact that the seats can be easily adjusted too. The fact that the kids sit side by side seems like a plus because it allows them to easily interact while out. That seems better than having one in the front and one in the back.

Although I'm realistic enough to realize that the interactivity between the two could potentially, given the situation, also end up being a negative.

So it's something to ponder as a wrote in a Squidoo lens on this stroller. Be sure to check it out.

The Beco Baby Carrier Is An Easy Way To Carry Your Infant

As the due dates for our grand kids fast approaches you can expect a string of posts on baby items. This one is on the Beco baby carrier.

Yes they had baby carriers when we were young parents, so I don't want to hear any jokes about our age. No we didn't take a blanket and wrap it around the baby and ourselves. On the other hand I wish I had known about these things when our kids were young.

Perhaps the baby carriers we used had all these features, but they certainly weren't advertised this way. The Becos are cool because they can be used to carry your baby on your chest, on your back, or on your hip. As far as I can recall ours only came with one option.

Then there's the ergonomic design that's supposed to distribute the baby's weight evenly. Again, perhaps ours did that, but ergonomics wasn't even a word then I don't believe.

And these are also made out of organic cotton. Of course when we were young organics was definitely around, but it was hardly a selling point at that time.

I always believed that a baby carrier was better than a stroller simply because it was easier. And I was aware that having the baby on your chest allowed it to hear the comforting heart beat of the parent.

In any case, Beco is one of the best selling brands out there for a reason. If my daughters don't get one, I'll be getting one for myself and my wife to carry around the child.

If you want to find out more be sure to check out my new Squidoo lens.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Speaking of Little People - Let's Check Out The Taling Zoo

Kids love the zoo. And it's a fascination that never seems to go away. As an adult, I love it too. And taking my grand children to the zoo is a wonderful way to spend time with them in an interesting and educational environment.

Playing zoo can be just as fun, and it's something we've been doing a lot lately thanks to the Fisher Price Little People Zoo Talkers.

It's a large zoo to be sure. It weighs over 6 pounds so it's pretty tough to knock over.
And the handle on top makes it easy for parents to move when it comes time to vacuum the floors.

But what makes this zoo so special is not the zoo itself but the huge number of animals you can get for it. Children will learn what environment each animal lives in since you get four of them with the zoo unit itself.

That's great, but making it even more special is the fact that all these animals talk with the help of the zoo itself. There's a special post on the zoo. If you place the animal on it, it recognizes the animal and makes realistic animal sounds. And we're not just talking lions, tigers and bears. Monkeys, elephants, dolphins, kangaroos and many, many more are available.

There are literally dozens of them, and they are all purchased separately allowing your zoo to expand and grow slowly over time.

I loved the zoo when I first saw it, but then when I saw all the extras you can get I was really blown away. You probably will be too.

Check it out at my new Squidoo lens.

For Little People and Hands There's Fisher Price My First Dollhouse

Even as adults people tend to be fascinated with dollhouses. I'm not sure what it is that makes this so. Perhaps it's the alternate world we can create or the beautiful home we can create without being restricted by money and available space.

Of course kids love them too, but for little kids the small objects can sometimes be a little hard to handle. Getting those forming hands to move small objects into position in a small room can be tricky. That's where the Fisher Price My First Dollhouse comes in.

Like many other dollhouses, it's large. But there's a difference. It has 5 rooms, all large enough to allow unsteady hands to place the furnishings in with ease. And yet kids are not restricted with amounts of figures and options to play with. There's so many extras your child may never run out of creative ways to arrange and play.

Parents will love watching their little one create all kids of different stories with this dollhouse. Just sit and watch for a while and be amazed at the things you little girl will say and do. And be amazed at the wonderful things she'll be having the characters say and do as well.

All in all, its a great toy for young girls and one she'll be enjoying for years until she's ready to move on to something more sophisticated. But that day won't necessarily come. She may just be loving this one until she's ready to stop playing with dollhouses altogether. Of course that say may never come either.

If you're interested in seeing all that this wonderful dollhouse has to offer you can check out my new Squidoo lens on the topic.