The Best Double Stroller

Are you expecting baby number two? There are some different things to consider when the bun in your oven is being added to a family of three!

First, allow me to allay one of your fears - you will, in fact, love your second child as much as your first, and you will not, in fact, forget about your first child. You have enough love to go around. I can pretty much guarantee it.

Ok, now that that's out of the way, let's get down to the fun stuff! And by that, I mean, the stuff. You know, of course, that you'll need clothes, diapers, all those things. What can you get away with reusing, and what new things have you not yet considered? We'll talk about bedding later (don't worry!) but... What about a stroller?

A double stroller is a fantastic buy, if you ever use a stroller. Even if you usually wear your baby, a lot of moms use the stroller if they're out for a long day, or even to carry groceries! (And in that vein, don't forget that it will make your life a lot easier if you wear your newborn while chasing after your older child!)

If you're looking for a fantastic deal, the City Mini Double is less than double the cost of a single stroller. It's just as easy to fold as the regular City Mini, but the downside is - it's wide.

City Mini double in green

If you're looking for something more stylish, what about the Donkey by Bugaboo? It has three different ways to configure - it's pretty amazing! While it is a side by side, you can do so much with it it's worth considering!

Twins; One older child and one younger; One child and a storage bin!

And of course, one of our favorites is the City Select with stadium seating, so both children can see where they're going! And if you already have a City Select, you can just buy the extra seat to add on.

City Select with stadium seating

Are you wondering about the infant car seat? You can use it with any of these strollers, along with your big kid being in the big seat!

Wondering which of these are convertible (you can use them with one child, then add a seat?) The Donkey and the City Select both are!

Wondering which have a glider board (a board your older child can stand on)? City and Bugaboo both do!

Wondering about Dana's stroller philosophy?
* Big wheeled strollers (Bugaboo Cameleon, Uppa Vista, Stokke Xplory, etc.) will mostly be used during the first year with the infant car seat. These strollers are fabulous, and they drive great... but they are bulky, and break down into two pieces. If you buy one of these, know you'll probably ultimately buy another stroller. (That being said, Dana rolls with a Stokke Xplory - if you want something fabulous to show off your gorgeous new bundle, think Bugaboo or Stokke!)
* If you want a stroller that will last you the whole way through, try a small wheeled stroller with a lot of features - the Bugaboo Bee, the Uppa Cruz, the Baby Jogger Versa, the City Mini.

Wondering how you'll deal with assembly with a new baby? At Daisy Baby we always put them together for you and give you a stroller tutorial!

Wondering which is the best choice for you? Come on in and talk to our staff!

Baby Carriers & Slings

You probably know something about babywearing, but unless you're an experienced babywearing parent, it can be hard to know how to go about it! Aren't they hard to use? What are the benefits? Aren't they dangerous? Are they comfortable? What is the right carrier? Which carrier should you use at which age?

At Daisy Baby, we love babywearing. It can make a big difference to a new mom, or an experienced mom - if you have a fussy baby, wear him. If you are chasing an older child, wear the newborn. If you need both hands free, wear the baby! It can help with breastfeeding, and help baby regulate his temperature - along with giving a boost to bonding and providing the closeness baby craves. It makes babies and parents happier, so what's not to like?

There are many, many types of carriers. Let's stick with a few basics to simplify. Soft wraps include carriers like the Moby, and the Baby K'tan. Pouch and ring slings are also traditional soft carriers. Soft structured carriers include traditional carriers like the mei tai, and more modern carriers like the Ergo and the Boba. We carry the Baby K'tan, which is good for those first few newborn months (it's soft, it's easy to use, and it keeps baby snuggled on your chest), as well as the Boba, which is good from newborn all the way through the toddler years.

We love the Baby K'tan for its ease and versatility. There is no wrapping, no buckling, and it can be used in multiple positions (you can even breastfeed in it!) It's two simple loops of soft cotton, sized just to you and your baby - and it's great for the first few months when you really want baby snuggled up close and soft. It's great for walks around town, light household chores, and everything between. It's a good transition for both of you from baby in the womb to baby in your arms!

Baby K'tan in the black Breeze (sports fabric to keep you cool!)

We love the Boba 3G carrier for its practicality - this carrier has it all. It will adjust to work for a newborn with no inserts, no added contraptions. It will work for a toddler until you can no longer comfortably carry him on your back (for me, that was about age 3.5). It has little foot straps to keep your toddler from kicking things (like his sister). Most importantly, it's a one-size-fits most deal - it fits my husband at 6'5" and me at 5'7", and has also been worn by the kids' sitter - and we've used it for our kids from about 3 weeks up to age 4. It's comfortable for long hikes, but convenient for quick trips to the grocery store. It's a good long-term, all-purpose carrier.

Boba 3G carrier in Soho

Here's a little info about babywearing safety from Babywearing International. (Hint: yes, it's safe!)

You may be wondering why I'm not trying to sell you the popular forward-facing carriers. That's because it's come to our attention that it's probably not very good for baby's back and hips. Below is a graphic from the International Hip Dysplasia Institute that shows just the difference in hip placement - baby's knees should be level with or above his hips. Think about how your baby snuggles you when you hold him, like a little froggy - that's how he should be when he's snuggled on you in a carrier!

I hope this has been helpful - we've chosen these carriers particularly because we love them, and feel they're safe, practical, helpful and fun. We hope you will too!

Pack the Perfect Diaper Bag

Do you feel confident leaving the house with your newborn? Are you worried you might not have quite the right stuff? Well, worry no more. Here's the Daisy Mommies' Guide to packing the perfect diaper bag!

Start with the perfect diaper bag:

How about the Grommet Bag by Nest?

Add about one diaper for every two hours you're out.

One cute wipes container:

Like the Aquarius wipes container by Lilicouture?f

A changing pad:

Blueberry changing pad from Ah Goo Baby

Your keys, wallet, extra money, chapstick, any important phone numbers - any mommy stuff you need!

Two pacifiers, if your baby takes them

A gorgeous burp cloth:

Aqua/lime burp cloth pattern from Wiggle and Scoot

A light, sweet blanket:

Gorgeous monogrammed plaid blanket from A Soft Idea

Bottles and formula, or a beautiful nursing cover:

Bebe au Lait nursing cover in Jaipur

An adorable hat, if it's cool:

Charlie hat from Blueberry Hill

Plastic bags to store dirty disposable diapers or dirty clothing, or a wet bag if you're using cloth diapers (actually a wet bag, usually pretty polyurethane laminated fabric bag, is nice to store anything wet or dirty)

Extra nursing pads

That's just about it.  How do you feel now? More confident? Good. Grab a diaper bag, pack it up, and take your baby somewhere fun! (How about visiting us at Daisy Baby, for a start?)