Baby

When Cathy Sanna went shopping for gear for her baby-to-be, she figured she was well prepared. After all, she operated a daycare from her home in Oakville, Ontario and was no stranger to baby stuff. And yet, dizzied by the variety of products, she made some purchases she regretted later - a high chair without wheels, for one. Unfortunately,most expectant parents don't have even Sanna's experience. With that in mind, here's a rundown of the most popular baby items, with the features you should look for.

Infant Car Seats

Infant car seats are designed for babies up to 9 or 10 kg (20 or 22 lb.), depending on the model. They should always be used in the rear seat of your vehicle, facing backwards. Convertible seats can be used for both infants (rear-facing) and toddlers (front-facing) up to 18 kg (40 lb.), but most parents say the seats specially designed for infants offer better support and comfort.

In the past few years, models with a removable seat and permanently anchored base have become popular. Parents like the stability and the ease with which they can detach the seat from the car and place it in a matching stroller frame. "The baby car seat snaps right in so we don't need to disturb Liam when he's asleep," says Susan Gibson of Brantford, Ontario about her Evenflo On My Way Travel System. Century, Baby Trend and Graco, among other manufacturers, also make this type.

Worth Considering

• Canopies are great for keeping your baby out of direct sun.
• Check that the seat fits your car, especially if you drive a foreign model. The seat belts in the back may be too short.
• Make sure you can get your baby in and out of the seat easily. If you don't have a baby with you when you're buying the seat, bring a doll.
• Look for metal parts near the baby's skin; they can hurt when they get hot from the sun.
• The seat must be easy to clean. Spit-up and soggy animal crackers can make a real mess. Look for washable cloth covers (vinyl can get hot, too).

Cribs

Canadian cribs manufactured after 1986 must adhere to federal safety standards, so they are all of decent quality. Older cribs might have small detachable parts that a child could choke on, spacing wider than six centimetres between the bars (through which a child's body can slip), or other hazards.

Spending more money gets you prettier designs and perhaps more flexibility - cribs that can be converted into toddler beds or even double beds, for example. Some of the higher-end models, like those by Morigeau, convert to full-sized beds, and can be purchased with matching dressers, desks and other furniture that your child will use as she grows. You might decide to save money on the crib itself, and splurge on the best mattress. Remember to check the quality of the vinyl that covers the mattress; seams that are joined by piping are stronger than heat-sealed seams.

Worth Considering

• You may not even use a crib if you decide to have your baby sleep with you. Some parents use a bassinet or basket for the first few months, and decide on a family bed later. Lynne Fraser, a mother of five in Oakville, Ontario, admits that their crib has been used only slightly. All of her children slept in their parents' bed as infants, then moved to a toddler bed. Fraser suggests that a crib that converts to a toddler bed could be a good buy.
• Do you really need a French provincial canopy over the crib? Your baby doesn't care; that frill is for you.
• Some cribs have a terribly noisy drop-side mechanism, so try before you buy. And make sure you can raise and lower the side with one hand - remember, you'll have a baby in your arms.
• Cribs with two drop sides usually cost more. Make sure you need this feature before parting with your money.

Strollers

Pity the parent who buys a cheap stroller and then has two more kids. A bargain buggy whose frame cracks or wheels snap off is no bargain. It's better to get a sturdy, well-constructed vehicle, particularly if you walk a lot, and if you plan to have more than one child.

There are lots of stroller styles: car seat strollers, lightweight umbrella types (great for frequent flyers), carriages (ideal for infants, but pricey and hard to push), and off-road/jogging strollers. Some allow you to change which way the baby faces. Robin Gooch, owner of Cribs 'n More stores in Ancaster and Oakville, suggests that parents who plan to use the stroller mainly in malls buy a compact model with swivel wheels. It will be easy to steer with one hand. For outdoors, she suggests single wheels, along with a good suspension system. Cathy Sanna would second that - she likes her Peg Perego, but says if she were buying all over again, she would have splurged on a model with bigger wheels, for better shock absorption.

Worth Considering

• Make sure everything works: Does the brake actually stop the stroller? Can you fold it easily? (Test the locking mechanism that keeps the stroller from collapsing.) Does it fit in the trunk of your car?
• If you'll be carrying extra cargo (diaper bag, groceries), look for a roomy storage basket. The most stable strollers position these underneath.
• A generous canopy will protect baby from the sun. A bug net is also a good option if you spend a lot of time outdoors.
• Buy from a manufacturer that stands behind its products. If a wheel breaks, you want a replacement - fast and free.
• If you're in the market for a two-seater, keep in mind that tandem models are easier to manoeuvre than side-by-side strollers, which are intended for children of the same weight. Try picking up a second-hand tandem stroller if you plan to use it for only a few months.
• Combo strollers can also function as a bassinet in the house.
• If you're tall, make sure handles are long enough. (Extenders are available.)
• Umbrella strollers do not offer enough support for infants under six months.
• Watch for sharp metal or plastic edges.
• Do you really need this year's hottest colour? Save bucks by buying last year's model.

High Chairs

Your baby will spend more time in the high chair than you think - for meals, snacks and sometimes to play while the rest of the family dines. So, as with a stroller, it pays to buy quality. Safety is also a factor here - high chairs with a wide base are less likely to be knocked over.

Wheels are handy if you often move the high chair from kitchen to dining room. Michele Crocker of Edmonton, who has three children under seven, likes the Playskool 1-2-3 model. "It can convert to a booster seat, or you can lower it so the baby can sit at a small table. You can take the tray off so the baby can sit at the table. And the tray and cushion are really easy to clean."

Worth Considering

• Remember that you're going to have to clean the tray, and perhaps the seat and footrest, just about every time. So you want a chair with removable cushions that are easily washed and dried.
• Look for a wraparound tray that you can pop off with one hand (your baby will be in the other).
• The T-harness should be easy for an adult to do and undo, but not for a baby to manage. Some high chairs now sport a fixed crotch bar to keep baby in, but you still need to do up the strap.
• Ensure that you can adjust the height and the footrest, and that there's a reliable locking mechanism for folding parts.
• Make sure all corners are rounded and that there are no sharp edges.
• Some trays stain easily. Look for a non-porous, easy-to-clean finish.
• Think about buying a "splat mat" to place under the high chair if you have carpeting.

Resources

Health Canada's Web site lists crib standards, plus safety tips about car seats, high chairs, strollers and other gear.

December/January 2001