19 Weeks & the Obligatory Halfway Point Meltdown
May 27, 2008
So the pregnancy. It continues.
The baby kicks, mostly at night, when I'm already struggling to find a comfortable position and properly position a pillow between my legs and huffing and puffing like I'm in the third trimester or something. My belly is small and round and (if I must say) rather cute and I like it. It's high and all in front, just like last time, although I still feel curvier everywhere, and hate the way my thighs look in photos. I've only gained a couple pounds, just like last time, and I had to work for them, forcing myself to eat every few hours and not fighting the second serving of strawberry shortcake Jason insisted I eat last night, and oh, but life is SO HARD.
I'm also wracked with the same sort of hand-wringing anxiety as I was last time -- this ever-nagging wait for something to go wrong, for the worst-case scenario to happen. The lack of weight gain, far from being any kind of HA AM AWESOME bragging right, was scaring the crap out of me, and I convinced myself that my belly was far too small for this far along and clearly the baby had some kind of growth problem -- we should have known from those early ultrasounds that consistently measured small! woe! fie! -- until I finally dug up a photo of myself from about the same point last time, and...oh. I look exactly the same. Never mind.
One minute I refuse to let myself assume that we'll actually have a baby at the end of this, and the next minute I freak out because WE NEED TO ASSEMBLE FURNITURE! I HAVE TO ORGANIZE CLOSETS! GO GET THE SWING FROM THE ATTIC RIGHT THIS MINUTE SO I CAN GET THE SERIAL NUMBER AND SEARCH THE PRODUCT RECALL WEBSITES!
So. Yes. Also just like last time. Reruns! How boring!
In between the panic attacks, however, I've managed to spend quite a bit of time overthinking the few pieces of baby gear we need to purchase this time. Namely: slings/carriers and strollers.
EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ENJOY COMPULSIVELY OFFERING ADVICE RE: BABY GEAR PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WANDER AWAY NOW, BUT I KNOW THIS IS LIKE PORN FOR SOME OF YOU (AND MEEEEEE) SO THAT SORT OF PEOPLE SHOULD STICK AROUND.
Here's my current brilliant plan, and all I ask is that you be KIND when you rush in to point out its many flaws:
I'd like to avoid or, at the very least, put off a new stroller purchase for as long as possible. We made the mistake of buying a stroller while I was pregnant last time, after merrily wheeling it around the store for a few minutes. Not exactly a real-world road-test, when you're trying to drape a heavy diaper bag over the too-wide handles, or navigate over cracked pavement or through tiny city store aisles or fold and lift the damn thing while recovering from a c-section and lugging a 10-pound newborn in a carseat and ARRRGH I hated that stroller so very, very much.
(Peg Perego Aria XT, or something, in case you are curious. Our particular model was discontinued the following year. We picked it because it felt the lightest in the store, only to discover that once you load a baby and a bag onto it the front wheels would lift off the ground and you'd basically be trying to steer while stuck in a permanent wheelie mode. It folded flat but wide and was light but unwieldy and generally just sucked at existence.)
(After that we ordered some rugged European Bugaboo Wannabe called the i'Coo Infinity, sight unseen, because we became convinced that the crappy plastic wheels and lightweight frame on the Peg were the source of all our troubles. The thing weighed 400 fricking million pounds and would only stay folded if you took the time to buckle it shut and everywhere I went I left a path of destruction on either side of me because it was far too big to take anywhere that was not a wide open field, which is all the awesome online demonstration video had shown, ha ha suckers. Try wheeling it through the Gap and suddenly you're dragging three dresses and half the display of fabric belts behind you.)
So now we have a Maclaren umbrella stroller, the love of my life. Sure, it'll tip over if you leave your diaper bag hooked on the handles and remove your child, and the handlebars are starting to wear a bit and I'm not sure the brakes work so well anymore, but it folds up practically pocket-sized and you can sling it over your shoulder and I now every time I see a young, sleep-deprived couple out with a gigantic color-coordinated travel system that outweighs their newborn by a good 30 pounds I shake my head and give them six months before they realize that the crushing, pressing need to downsize totally trumps any prenatal belief that your preshus baybee needs to be surrounded by as much plastic and padding as possible at all times.
So. I plan to strap this next kid onto my body as much as possible for the first year or so. Noah honestly doesn't even ride in a stroller much anymore, and with a late October due date I'm thinking we can probably make it a good six months before the weather warms up enough to really deal with long outdoor two-kid activities that might require the use of a double or tandem stroller.
Thus, mah questions, for the four of you who made it through all that yakkity and are still with us:
1) Recommendations for a good newborn sling or wrap? One that is easy to figure out and would allow me to nurse while the baby is all snuggled in? I've been leaning towards the Moby but am a little concerned about how hot all that fabric might be in the DC humidity and also that I might be kind of too dumb for it, since I've seen mothers at the playgrounds with them and they're practically walking pieces of cotton origami and the kid is still dangling somewhat precariously off their body. Then there's the K'tan and Hotslings and all sorts of gorgeous homemade ones and wheeeeeeee, I'm off to silently rock in a corner now.
2) Recommendations for a six-months-and-up carrier? I know the slings promise to be so ultra-versatile you can carry your kid to college in them, but I still think I'd like a Bjorn or an Ergo for when I don't feel like swaddling up like a mummy. Plus, I know Jason would be more comfortable with something more...uh...buckle-ly and manly. We had a Bjorn last time but not, apparently, the RIGHT Bjorn, the expensive one with the back support, so it killed my back and Noah outgrew it in length awfully quickly. So I'm curious if anyone has used both the Bjorn and the Ergo, and which one you'd recommend.
And while we're at it, we might as well talk strollers too. Side-by-side doubles are just...no, for us, but I have still managed to come up with a frillion different possibilities. A literal frillion! True story!
3) Anyone have the Joovy Caboose? How do you like it out and about in the real world? Is it easy to steer? Noah really dug it at the store but alas, we've learned our lesson that linoleum does not really exist out in nature and the stroller aisles at Babies 'R Us are about four times as wide as a REAL store aisle and they do this on PURPOSE. Because it is all a RACKET and they HATE YOU. Also, is there really any difference between the regular and the lightweight model? Because neither one felt all that lightweight to me, frankly.
4) Jason saw a Phil & Ted's tandem stroller this weekend and fell in love on the spot, but I am loathe to spend that kind of money on YET ANOTHER GODDAMNED STROLLER MAKE IT STOP. Particularly since we just don't use a stroller that much, and I have all these Grand Plans Of Babywearing. But. I could possibly be talked into it, if it's the greatest stroller ever and makes all other strollers look like Hitler. Plus there's a local consignment store that always has the ultra-expensive strollers for sale, so between that and Craigslist I could probably get one used.
5) My OTHER grand idea is to just keep the Maclaren and attach one of those little wheeled platforms onto the back of it. The obvious downside is that Noah couldn't sit down, and I know that once he sees the new baby getting pushed around everywhere he may regress a bit and suddenly WANT to ride in the stroller. Or he might not, or he might constantly try to step off the platform and drive me insane and I'll wonder why I ever passed up the chance to have him buckled in with a 27-point harness or something.
6) Oh. And thoughts on a used Snap-n-Go? For any infant pushing emergencies? This was the one piece of baby gear we DIDN'T get last time and I really regretted it, but I wonder how useful it would be the second time around, since I certainly couldn't use it while out by myself with both kids. UNLESS! The wheeled platform works with it? But by that point maybe I should just get over myself and buy a new damn stroller already?
Okay. I think that's it. I remember that I will need 4,586,029 cloth diapers and about the same number of Soothies nursing gel pads; that there will be very little sleep and that there is nothing wrong with shoving a pacifier in a cryhole if you need to, unless you are okay with a non-hungry-but-screaming newborn using YOU as a pacifier for six hours at a time, and seriously, I let Noah do that to me at the hospital and even became FURIOUS when I found a pacifier in his bassinet after they brought him back from a checkup or something, but then again the hospital lactation consultant came in, took a peek at my bloody butcher's-counter nipples and said yep, everything looks okay here! and then sent me home.
Oh, and the hospital now has a whole new wing with private rooms, so I will not have to deal with someone else's diarrhea and the endless drama that it can cause.
(SHE WOULDN'T FLUSH THE TOILET BECAUSE SHE WANTED THE NURSE TO LOOK AT HER RUNNY POOP FOR SIGNS OF INTERNAL BLEEDING. THE TOILET THAT I HAD TO USE AS WELL.)
Oh God. I kind of repressed that one. Quick, assvice me up, babies. Help me spend my non-existent money before I wonder what exactly I have gotten myself into here.
Heya,
2 boys here, 4 and 1. I say hold off on any strollers. I use the "sit n stand" (like a joovy) but only at the mall, and that is not very often. My older one much prefers to walk, but it is handy to have the sit n stand when needed. I use my trusty umbrella the most. I also had a Moby, which I both loved and hated. Once you get it on right, it is comfortable - but good lord is it a pain to put on (quickly). It is also not very portable. I say get a hotsling for those first few months - then go to the lower back support bjorn. I do love my double jogger (it is side/side) but I only use it for walks around the neighborhood. It's a schwinn... and it rocks. Much like a "bob" but without the cost. I also love the huge moveable canopy that I can block all the sun with. Hope this helps - just go with the less is more...you'll be happy you did. (oh - and as far as the snap/go - I say go for it - it's reasonable - and you will be carting that baby around far more than you did with Noah.)
I had a Moby. HATED it. I felt claustrophobic, trapped, panicky (perhaps those are redundant, but my feelings were strong), and like it was more of a hassle to strap him in it than to just freaking carry him in my arms. It was awful, and I SO wanted to like it, too.
I ADORED my Over-The-Shoulder-Baby-Holder, which was a hand-me-down from my sister, who also loved it. I took it everywhere and could nurse it in without a problem.
After that I gave up on carriers, but I have several friends who "can't live without" their Ergos. I even have a friend who still carries her 3 yo son in it AND nurses him in it, which is a WHOLE other topic but, suffice to say, it must be pretty great and comfy.
I tried the sling route, but since I had a 9.5 lb baby by C-section, I had a hard time finding one that didn't hurt my incision. Then, by the time I could handle the pressure on my scar, he was no longer insterested in being bundled up like that. I ended up using the Snugli carrier a lot of loved it.
No idea on stroller situation, I have a jogging stroller that I shouldn't have - hard to steer - I never use it. And we each have a cheapie umbrella stroller in our vehicles. Which works for one, but probably not for 2.
you need some kind of Mai Tai -- I used an Eden and it was wonderful for all ages - I loved when I figured out how to get the baby on my back! As for a wrap, I could never get the hang of a moby -- but I have a fairly light weight non-stretchy one - an ellaroo -- and I am so attached to this that I cannot get rid of it even though my kids refuse to be warm now ... I spent way too much time at thebabywearer.com and if you want to investigate, you should too!
Um, here's a thing to think about when you're choosing a double stroller (Like you needed more to worry about): when the baby gets old enough to sit up and grab things, he will sit forward and grab his brother's hair. A LOT. So make sure that both the front and back seats of the stroller in whatever kind you get are big enough to hold either child. Otherwise, you are in for one hell of a walk/stroll when the youngest keeps scalping the oldest.
Aww wow, the "Snap and Go". Totally awesome. We bought it used for 20 bucks and we used it everyday. The basket is huge for storage, it weighs little, and it lays flat pretty nicely in your car. And it's the only piece of baby gear we got that I can undo with one hand. Am I the only one out there that can't undo an umbrella stroller without using both hands..and also without wanting to chuck it mid-air then stomp on it?
Anyway..LOL Where was I?
Oh yeah, the Snap and Go is awesome. Our son was almost 2 and our infant was only a few months old when we bought it. The only thing is that it's useless after the baby's first year.
I will be concise:
Get the hotsling - you won't use it very long, but it's not much money and is easy to use.
Get the Joovy Caboose - but get it early and you can also use it as a Snap-n-go. I have the Phil & Ted and love it but it's not as useful as the Caboose would be.
I have two bjorns and an ergo. If you are planning on using it from 6mos+, get the ergo, much more comfy. If you want to use it earlier, get the bjorn active. And people are always selling them used on DCUM. (Are you delivering at Shady Grove this time? Probably better than Sibley which I did not like who also tried to overcharge me.)
I have a 4yr old, 2 yr old and 7 month old FWIW so apply advice (or don't apply ;) accordingly.
Good luck!
okay, let me say sorry, i didn't read the rest of that entry because i got to number 4 and had to say: the phil and ted is the best damn tandom stroller ever. your newborn can lay flat (which is important for newborns) and noah will have a sweet seat. and then they ride together. i sold our bob stroller for the phil and ted and i am 100 % happy. it's got the locking swivel wheel. of course my husband wishes it had a hand break and the shocks like the bob but whatever. it is so damn smooth in and out of the gap. i also had the bjorn with my first and the ergo with my second. i used the ergo with the newborn cushion a lot and still use the ergo with my 3.5 year old. it's like a piggy back ride without being strangled. i remember picking my baby up with that newborn cushion around her and placing her in the crib. good luck. love your blog.
I too have the SlingRider. Super cheap, and easy to use. All the other slings looked too complex for my postpartum brain. You just lay the baby in it, strap her/him in with the velcro, and then lift the whole thing over your head and one sholder. I haven't tried nursing my daughter in it, but the box swears that you can. Again, I'm just not that coordinated right now.
I truly believe anyone who says they nursed in a sling is a liar.
I first got a Hotsling. LOVED it for carrying the new baby while feeding/playing with 2-year-old. Bought it so I could nurse hands-free. HA! I never once successfully breastfed in that thing. But did love it for the cuddly carrying and she loved it and had a Pavlovian response to it and was asleep within 2.5 seconds of being put in it.
Then tried the Moby wrap when she was a little bigger. Same Pavlovian response, same inability to nurse in it. And trust me, I tried.
So all in all, love me some slings but can't nurse in them at all.
we currently have the graco snugrider (graco's version of snap and go) and we LOVE LOVE LOVE it. so incredibly convenient when baby is asleep in the carseat and i'm running errands. so compact, lightweight, and easy to fold/lift in and out of my SUV.
i have a bjorn active and HATE it. love wearing baby, but it's incredibly uncomfortable, despite the "extra" support. stay far far away from it! i am currently in the market for a new carrier - likely the ergo or the beco, which mommy friends of mine swear by.
hope this helps!
With our first we had an "Ultimate Baby Carrier"(not so ultimate in my opinion but my husband liked it), an Over-the-shoulder sling which I loved except that the padded shoulder was a little bulky and the patterns available at the time were all kind of frumpy, and a snugli front carrier that we both hated and quickly sold. I always wanted to try the Ergo and have many friends who swear by it but I felt that we already had too damn many carriers.
I am now 22 weeks pregnant with number 2 and we were just given a Moby wrap by a friend who loves hers and I think I will break down and get an Ergo. My husband uses the Moby as a backpack carrier for our toddler now and they both seem pretty happy with it. Our son is kind of a light-weight (26 pounds at 2 and a half) but we have not noticed any problems with the material stretching.
I am trying to avoid buying a double stroller as long as possible, we rarely used our single stroller with our first so I doubt getting an enormous one will make me any more likely to use it (knock on wood). Good luck deciding, its not easy with the 3 million carrier options out there!
We have an Ergo, a Snap and Go (I guess this is the name for the stroller frame your infant car seat goes into?) and Phil and Ted's single stroller.
The Ergo is really great, and worth every penny. The Bjorn was not only neck and back torture for me, it also had clasps that landed squarely on my newly-raw nipples and then proceeded to rub with every postpartum step I took. So the Ergo, which we started using at 3 mos., was great. Also my son was 26 lbs. at 6 months and almost 30 now at a year, and we're still using the Ergo.
The infant stroller frame was great for the, like, 2 weeks when he was a little tiny baby, and very very handy for traveling. We were stripping him practically naked to fit him in it at the end, but it was so convenient for plane trips. But if you get a Phil and Ted's you can also click the car seat into that. I live in downtown Philadelphia and the Phil and Ted's is great for us, even though we only have one kid and it's a really big stroller. I like it so much mainly because it drives like an SUV over the horrible sidewalks in our crappy neighborhood. Also I can see the advantages of a smaller stroller footprint with 2 kids, though if you're in a suburb with nice sidewalks, I'm not sure it's such a big deal. Also, it is not that easy to fold up (and once folded up not sure to stay that way) and does not drive easily with one hand and it's heavy. These are not such big issues for us because we have one kid and rarely drive, so there's not much lifting or folding (for steps, the Phil and Ted's has big enough wheels to be pulled up pretty easily step-by-step).
Oh, one last thing: we have BumGenius cloth diapers and they're great. Happy shopping!
I'm glad I'm not the only person with one child and four strollers. Yep, we did the exact same thing.
I've seen that Phil and Ted stroller and yeah, it looks pretty awesome. But I wouldn't want to spend that either. Maybe call some consignment stores and see if they have any? If you have no objection to used stuff.
I am currently trying to get pregnant with number 2, but I already have AWESOME plans that are similar to yours. Cause nothing beats a little advance planning for a kid you aren't even sure you can have.
Anyway, I was completely convinced I needed a stroller that folded totally flat with my son. And I hardly used anything but my bjorn for the first 5 months. After
Moby is very nice when they're so small. There's a cheap alternative called 'ultimate baby wrap.' I suppose in the summer a gauze wrap would be nice- and you can make one (though I haven't) there are some nice websites like www.mamatoto.org with info about that. Also you have to dress accordingly- baby and mama! I think the moby or other 'stretchy wrap' is worth it for the first months even if you move to e.g. an ergo after that. The Bjorn...uh.. is not nice.
I got a snap 'n go on craigslist for $15 and I used it for daily walks through the Boston winter and it is fabulously worth it- I do agree that you want to check that the wheels are still good and it's comfy but it rocked.
I don't have a mclaren but bought an uppababy umbrella stroller at their factory store since it's relatively close- and you might want to check out their full-scale stroller. Bugaboo-ish but less money and well-designed. You can now get a car seat adapter for it. (and a bassinet and a seat). That said, the phil and teds looks so lovely as well...
-yours in (beginning) mommyblogging-
Sorry. 2 year old hit the post button.
Here's the point - I am hoping to get by with a nice sling and this thing. Very cool - called the strolli, looks like a little bike that connects to a stroller. I know my son would go nuts for it - heck, I want to ride on it.
http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Swiss-Strolli-Rider-Switzerland/dp/B000H3PT9C
I have two Hotslings in pretty colors. I lovelovelove them. They make my life so much easier and come with a DVD showing you all the ways you can wear it.
I am also getting a Baby Bjorn, the gray and red one that is light and breathable.
Though you are not looking for a stoller I will tell you the Chicco travel systems are excellent. My stroller is light and moves easily, and the carseat fits into it too while Norah is teeny and still needs it.
Hope this helps!
I heartily recommend getting a Beco Butterfly. I use one with my newborn and it's awesome. Comfy, easy to use, it will last much longer than a Bjorn and it's cuter than an Ergo.
http://www.becobabycarrier.com/
For a snuggly wrap I have a Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Stretch Wrap. http://www.gypsymama.com/shop/stretch.htm
It's thinner and stronger than a Moby. It's not that tricky to learn to use and you can get lots of help at the BabyWearer Forums.http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/index.php
I'm in Israel, where the TINOKIS Baby Wrap is a big item. It actually looks identical to the Moby Wrap.
So... I tried various slings and wraps for 3 of my kids before I tried the Tinokis for #4... and never looked back. I have a lot of back problems and the Tinokis is the only wrap/sling I've been able to use which doesn't kill my shoulders and put a huge amount of strain on my back. Because you can distribute the fabric over your shoulders and back, the weight of the baby is well distributed and much better supported. The baby fits in very snugly and there's none of that dragging that I experienced with other slings.
So... my recommendation would be go for the Moby. You need to practise tying it a few times but you do get the hang of it quite quickly. And I used it up until my son was 20 months without any problems.
Re the stroller, I'm a big Maclaren pram, and after futzing with the Peg Venezia for a few months with the last baby, I caved and bought a Maclaren Techno XT. Jeez I love that thing. It came with all sorts of goody-gads that made it suitable from newborn up (extra cushion thingy to put inside for tiny babies, full rain cover, winter cover - like a sleeping bag over the legs, padded liner, etc). It goes down completely flat for newborns, the sunshade extends right over, it has a pocket on the hood, it's light, manoeuverable, compact... can you tell I love it?
Anyway because I think it's so great, what about the double version for you? Here's a link:
http://comfortfirst.com/p-42347-maclaren-2007-twin-techno-double-stroller-in-orange-closeout.aspx?kbid=3225
I had a double Maclaren buggy for 2 of my other kids, and it was a lifesaver. Also folded up flat and out the way, I could manage to get it in and out the car, it fitted through a regular doorway, etc.
So... those would be my recommendations. For what it's worth and if you get this far!
Oh one last thing: in Israel it's HOT, and in summer it's HUMID. SO we have similar weather factors to think of. COnsider all the above suggestions tried and tested for hot and humid climates. :-)
After tons of research, I couldn't find anyone with an Ergo who would recommend anything else (aside from possibly the Beco Butterfly, which is a bit more expensive and I think has had a few recall issues lately)...so we've got an Ergo and the infant insert - but haven't yet tested this as baby is still 8 weeks away. I also took advantage of a recent sale to buy a Peanut Shell sling - had heard a lot of positive things about them on a few other message boards. I figure between that and the Ergo, something ought to work for baby carrying.
I also did a ton of stroller obsessing at about the same point you are now, and there's actually a Yahoo group or two devoted to stroller talk. You may be able to get a lot of informed opinions (these people are SERIOUS about strollers...it was sort of amazing to me to discover that such groups existed) by looking through those groups and posting specific questions to them. They opened up my eyes to a wide variety of strollers far beyond what was easily available in the chain stores locally.
I had a crappy Snugli that we never really liked, so I can't speak to carriers. As to strollers, as a mom of 3 (first two are nearly 4 years apart, 2nd two are almost 3 years apart), we have never had anything other than a single stroller. We still have a Maclaren Techno Classic, but it's rare that the youngest ever uses it - he'd much rather walk like his big bro and sis. When he was born, his sister was d.o.n.e. with strollers. Save your $$$, or spend it on an awesome carrier, not a double stroller.
This cracked me up b/c I'm 10.5 wks with #4 and I'm bigger than you. (I was rather petite prior to this pregnancy.) Anyway, I've convinced myself that I have pre-preeclampsia and I begged my husband to buy a blood pressure cuff b/c I CAN'T POSSIBLY WAIT UNTIL MY THURSDAY APPT TO FIND OUT IF I'M BEING KILLED BY THIS PREGNANCY!!!!!
Pregnant women are crazy. Especially the ones who LOOOOVVVE being pregnant. They're the worst.
Kangaroo Korner slings! The answer to all of your problems! They come in cotton, nylon, or fleece, are simple to figure out. It goes over one shoulder, and baby just fits right into the pouch. I wear the cotton and fleece one (because they are patterned, and beautiful) and my husband likes the nylon one because it is cool and sport-y and he can get it dirty and I don't mind. My little guy is only two and a half months, so now good word on how long this will last, but rarely a day goes by that he doesn't go into the sling. Added bonus - if he's fussy, it totally calms him down.
Also, I hate my Phil and Ted's stroller. HATE.
I feel your pushchair pain! I uncharacteristically delegated the choice of baby-vehicle to Hubby. Nine months on, his purchase is colloquially known as Behemoth... So I went out and bought a lovely little stroller complete with parasol, sporting some very funky polka-dots. Hubby took one aghast look, reminded me that we have a BOY baby, and has flatly refused to be seen dead with it. He calls it the testicle-shriveller.
There may be no right answer...
We have two kinds of baby carriers: A hotsling and a mei tai from Baby Hawk.
With our almost-6-week-old daughter, I like the hotsling. But there is no way that my 6'1" husband and I (5'3") could wear the same size. He really likes the mei tai but I find it cumbersome (although I haven't practiced using it as much). I'm sure I'll get better with the mei tai since it carries bigger kids and distributes the weight more evenly than the hotsling.
Are you cloth diapering? If so, I *highly* recommend the Bum Genius 3.0. They are one-size and will grow with your kid - no need to buy sm, med, large, etc. We had to disposables at first since our daughter was a peanut (6 lbs. 12 oz.). The diapers say they fit from 7-35 lbs. but I found they didn't fit her well until she was 8. From that point forward, we haven't had any leaks.
If you're interested in cloth diapers/baby carriers and come up Baltimore way, there is a great store in Lauraville called Bediboo. Gretchen, the owner, sells baby wearing gear and diapers and is happy to show you how to use all sorts of wraps/carriers. As a bonus, there is a great candy store upstairs from Bediboo.
Uhhh...Joovy? Moby? Ergo? Beco? What is this, 'Star Wars'? And Phil & Ted? Yeah, right. I think you guys are just messing with us old ladies and making stuff up.
When you get the good advice tell me, because I have the same fears and I'm 2 1/2 weeks away. :-)
We did buy a Peg Perego double side by side. Came highly recommended from another mommy with the same age kids I will have. We bought ours on sale at albeebaby.com free shipping!
We had one of these and loved it. It only works in the infant carrier that snaps in the car, but it is easy and light weight with the convenience of a stroller.
http://lowestdollar.com/by1799.html
LOVE LOVE LOVE...YOU MUST MUST MUST HAVE...the Phil & Ted's tandem stroller!!! you just must!!! we have one and it quite possibly is singly the best investment we made with our daughter. We plan on number two but in the mean time, the second seat is handy for when we go places with friends and their child. we saw one at the zoo before we had our daughter and fell in love with that family's phil & ted's stroller, that we almost stole it from the stroller parking area at the monorail ride...but we didn't, don't worry!!! We bought our own. And love it! Did I mention the LOVE!?!?!?
I think it sounds like a fantastic plan.
But, since you asked, I will say this: My daughter hated the carrier - any kind of carrier - for the first 3 months of her life. HATED IT. She was quite opinionated from minute 1 (NO clue where she gets THAT. Ahem.) I had planned to carry her everywhere in a sling or Bjorn, and she simply would have nothing to do with it. She preferred to be in the stroller or facing forward or looking over my shoulder. Put her somewhere where she was snuggled up close and couldn't see ('cause, you know, their eyesight is so GOOD at 4 weeks) and she would scream until I repositioned her. Once she was old enough to ride in it facing forward, she was a happy camper.
So, yes, terrific plan. Just be prepared to change it if necessary.
i haven't even finished this post, and i see you're not lacking for input.
but: PHIL AND TED'S.
We're completely in love with our hug-a-bug sling (www.hugabug.com). It's easy to put on, feels very comfy and our son loves to be in there. The child is very well fixated and feels very close. So it's also great for powerwalking or hiking (I often went on 2 to 3 hour walks in the forest when he was still below 20 pounds and never had a backache afterwards).
We already had him in there when he was only 3 days old (the shoulder wraps give a good head support) and now with 2 years I still like sometimes to put him in there. Especially if I don't want to take the stroller with me or when he is sick and likes to feel me to calm down. The sling is also the best thing, if you go to very crowded places. No idea how I would have survived Christmas Shopping in London without it!
cottoncradles.com has all the different hug-a-bug styles in stock. Just ordered one there as a present for a friend in Phily who expects her baby in July.
ERGO! I LOVE my Ergo so much. I didn't get it until my daughter was past that newborn floppy stage, so I don't know about that (although I know they sell a newborn insert and lots of people use it). But I still use it all the time and she's 2 years old and can nurse in it great. It's harder now that she's taller and sits higher up in it, but still doable.
Mom got me a quinny + maxi cosi carseat. Am due with my first in Oct, BUT I have steered the quinny all around the house (with pooh in it) and gotten in and out of the tinyest of doorways in the house, no less. Also folds up very tiny, and carrier attaches to it super easy for the first few months. I also love the swanky modern design! Not doudy or overly cutesy at all.
I didn't even read the rest of the comments--I love my Moby wrap, in no small part because my kid is small small small and I could use the wrap from day one with him. But definitely go to http://www.iwearbaby.com/--she's in Vienna and you can try on various carriers and see what works best for your body and your baby. Everyone is different, so I really think this is your best bet.
I, like you, have a two year old and am 16 weeks pregnant with my second.
For my first, I bought a Bjorn (with the extra back support) and had a near 10lb baby. After about 4 months, it was useless. Way too painful. I also had a mei tai, which I LOVE and used until he was nearly 2.
I have spent hours (literally) researching strollers, and found that the Joovy Caboose Ultralight is rated quite highly, is light, easily mobile, and (when I tried it outside) was very nice.
I was thinking of the Phil and Ted's, but it is too much money (I have 3 strollers already), and my son is more interested in walking then the stroller anyways.
I have not read all of the responses, so others might have said the same thing. I'm only answering the carrier question.
My assvice is to get a pouch - I'd go for the Kangaroo Korner Fleece Pouch. Actually, I have about five of them I'd be willing to sell you cheap - all sizes! (Email me if buying stuff from people you don't know on the internet appeals to you!) The fleece might be a bit warm initially, but soon enough it will be fine. Super easy. Virtually no learning curve.
A Moby is also quite fine and very secure for your little one (I'll also sell you one of these - cheap!). However, it is time-consuming to put on - even when you're good at it - and it's practically impossible to put it on without part of it touching the ground - hello puddles in the parking lot! - and while we liked it fine, I mostly came back again and again to my pouch.
Another option is a mei tai (You'll be shocked to learn I can sell you one of these too! Seriously!), which is kind of somewhere between an Ergo and a Moby. I liked mine fine enough. Very versatile. Pretty comfortable.
Definitely get an Ergo once your baby has head control. We had our second daughter in it around 3.5 months. It is our workhorse carrier. We both still use it and love it. As proof of my undying devotion to it, I WILL NOT SELL IT TO YOU. lol
As for strollers, we're side-by-side people, so I don't know anything about the other kind. Hopefully you got some good assvice on that front!
But back to me and all my many carriers, it occurs to me that I could give you a good price on the whole lot - then you won't have to make a decision!
OMG...same stroller experience until we got the Maclaren. The Peg Pergo was for the birds. I recommend the snap and go, you'll appreciate its convenience. Good luck.
Real quick
yes to snap and go wheels - they are a life saver -esp if you have a sleeping baby. As for the Phil and Teds - Do it - its worth the money and its not actually that heavy - also its the normal size of a stroller so know unintentional shop lifting occurs - Also Phil and Teds are NZ company so have to root for them!
I have no viable advice whatsoever, because I'm still working on baby #1, but I've decided on the Maya Wrap (sewing my own, too, because I am clearly insane).
I do, however, have matching overthinky tendencies, so perhaps next time I'm awake at 3am because Jr. is working on his breakdance routine or his science project about bruising of internal organs, we can gmail-chat our obsessions. *twitch*
Umm, grain of salt b/c my kid isn't actually born yet (I'm 30 weeks along w/my first), but after much research this is what I decided:
1) ring sling for carrying teeny babies & nursing coverage
2)I've heard that the Ergo is much comfier, for much longer, than the Bjorn, so that's what we'll eventually get
3)also a mei tai-type carrier. The fabric panels on the one I got are printed with Sailor Jerry tattoo drawings of burning hearts and nearly naked chicks and I LOVE it.
Also, thanks for the Maclaren review - I think I'll be getting one of those eventually, but let us know if you find something better!
phil and teds. get it--sooooo worth it. we live in boston and are able to go places with it. it is great in terms of a newborn and a toddler and even better once the baby can sit in it. the only thing that drives me crazy is the sun shade (not useful).
ergo. ergo. ergo. get the ergo. it will just last and last. hot slings are also great and pretty easy to manage. but if your baby is a butterball like mine, you won't be able to deal with it after 18 pounds. the ergo will also work when noah wants to be picked up.
the snap and go will be crucial for preschool drop off. my baby was born in october and was popped into the snap and go every morning and afternoon for preschool drop off and pick up. much easier than dealing with a travel system or pulling him out of the car seat and putting him into the stroller. oh--and with the cold weather get the jjcole cover thingy so you don't have to bundle baby up just to drop noah off.
Hi--- I guess I'm in the minority here, but I had a 2008 Phil and Teds, and I HATED IT for a few reasons: 1) the canopy is horrendous, there is no shade, that's why you see all these people walking around with bath towels draped above the second seat; 2) if you are tall, you will not be able to walk normally with it, but will kick it, even with the seemingly adjustable handle bar. This problem just gets worse with the second seat; 3) even the big seat may be a bit tight for a three year old. I know you hate the idea of side by side doubles, but my friend who just had her second loves her maclaren twin techno. The nice thing about it is that the seat is nice for a newborn, unlike most umbrella stroller seats. If you are considering spending more $, I'd check out the uppa baby vista. It is pram style, like the bugaboo, and allows you to add a board for your older kid. I find it more practical than the bugaboo (also had one of those-- am a stroller addict), because you can't really load much into the buagoo basket.
I love(d) my Hotsling. I'd just be sure to get the smallest one they make otherwise it'll hurt your back like a mofo. I ended up with a medium one and you know me, I'm no size MEDIUM.
I also dug my Joovy Caboose. It worked really well until my kids got too big for it (My guess is that the total weight limit in kid tonnage is around 50-60 lbs MAX otherwise you can't steer it to save your life.) The best part was that I bought it for $150 and sold it on Craig's List for $75 a year later. It felt like Joovy practically paid me to own it.
Without reading all the other comments...
I loved the Peanut Shell when my daughter was a newborn. She loved to be held and it was the only way I could do anything at all. I found that the Peanut Shell was the most secure feeling sling for me, but it seems to vary.
I love the Beco Butterfly. http://www.becobabycarrier.com/
Its all the best of a mai tai carrier without having to tie the straps. I have a BabyHawk too, and while I like it the straps can be a pain in the ass with a sqwirmy baby.
I hated my bulky travel system and got rid of it by the time my first baby was 7 months old. For #2 I got a snap and go and loved it--it was so nice to not have to wake the baby just to run a quick errand, and it was really light and compact. I wheeled it right down the airplane aisles and stuck it in the overhead compartment when we traveled. We had a big Peg Perego carriage thing for kid #1, so we got the buggy board thinking that would be great when # 2 came along, but I personally hated it. My toddler didn't like it much either. I'm not very tall (5'4), and it made pushing the carriage really awkward. I really liked my Maclaren Twin Traveler, and although it is side-by-side, I only had a few times where the width was a problem. I loved that Maclaren so much that I got a new single Techno XT for baby #3, and I've not regretted it. She still rides in it at 4. For joggers we've always had Baby Joggers with the big wheels (have owned a single, double and triple), because my husband actually enjoyed jogging with the kiddos. Go figure! I used them on walks, and although the wheels do not swivel, they push like a dream. I know they are technically not for newborns, but I did stick my babies in before the recommended age and at 9, 6 and 4, I'm pretty sure whatever problems we have with them are a result of shitty parenting and not because of their early rides in the jogger. I oogled all over the Phil and Ted's type strollers while we were in New Zealand, as they were everywhere there, but we were in the market for a triple jogger by then. (That, by the way, was another "luxury" purchase I never regretted, because it allowed me to go for walks every day without my oldest whining about being tired. It truly saved my sanity.)
I've got nothin' for ya in the sling department. As much as I wanted to be a wrap-mama, none of my babies ever really liked any of the ones I tried.
Ok, that's enough from me. Good thing I don't offer my assvice very often! Have fun shopping!
I highly recommend the Ergo over the Bjorn. The Ergo can actually be used for newborns, too. Apparently, also, you can nurse wearing the Ergo (and the baby...). I've never tried that, though.
Right, let me echo the general consensus here: the Phil & Ted's is like crack, that. Try it, and you will be hard-pressed to find a stroller that you love as well. The maneuverability is great (none sacrificed by adding the 2nd seat), it's light on its feet, is versatile, comfortable, and looks good.
It's heavy w/ a child in it, but I don't have much more of a frame of reference for its heaviness compared to others - sorry. :(
I would recommend, however, that you do NOT travel with it. While we bought ours a few years ago, and they've since improved the design (and maybe the construction), we took ours overseas and had slight damage to the frame and wheel alignment. This was not significant enough to impact our overall use of the stroller, but made it more work to jog w/ it or push it on a lateral incline.
Good luck!!