Travel Gear Reviews
If your family travels even half as much as ours does, then you can appreciate quality gear. Whether it be taking the infant car seat in-and-out of a two-door car (which we do, multiple times a day), or eating out (which we're forced to do quite often), having the right stuff can take your life from super-stressful to nearly enjoyable!
Car Seat Cover
If your baby is going to be riding in an infant seat during the cold months of winter, I would highly suggest getting a car seat cover. It's an elastic-rimmed blanket that slips over the entire car seat, and keeps your baby toast-roasty warm! "The Especially for Baby" brand, available at Babies R Us, worked great for our Chicco car seat, and matched nicely.
It zips up the middle, and has a peep-hole at the baby's face. Some car seat covers completely cover the baby, and this made me nervous! We just draped a blanket over the car seat's handle when we took Lucas outside. |
 |
Chicco Travel System
I'm going to give this item TWO thumbs up. While it is practically the most expensive car seat and stroller combo out there, it is MORE than worth the investment (From Babies R Us or Target). The car seat has one of the highest safety ratings, the car base is the most convenient I have EVER seen, and the car seat snaps securely into the stroller. The car seat can be used with or without a base. Most of the travel systems I have seen are not as durable or high quality as Chicco.
This system comes in a large variety of colors and patterns, and is completely machine washable. |
 |
2-in-1 cart and High Chair Cover
I'm giving this Cart and High Chair Cover (at Target or Babies R Us) a sideways thumb, not because it isn't a good product (because it is!), but more so because we don't really have too many practical uses for it. We use it occasionally when going to the grocery store, but because Lucas is still in an infant car seat, we often just plop that into the cart, Also, we have the Chicco Travel High Chair, so we never need this at restaurants to cover the high chair.
As Lucas gets older, and is in a toddler car seat, I can see us using this more at grocery stores, and in restaurants once he outgrows the travel high chair. |
 |
Chicco Travel High chair
Clinton and I looked into getting a travel high chair at Babies R Us, but they ran about $50.00, and around $33.00 at Target. We checked into a couple local resale shops, but they didn't have any in stock. A couple of friends of ours found one at a garage sale for $5.00! The fabric is completely removable and machine washable, so I was able to clean it up very easily, and it was like brand new! It breaks down flat, and comes with a carrying bag. It holds up to 37 pounds safely.
Now we carry it around in our trunk, and use it at every restaurant we go to. It fits on tables, as well as in booths, and Lucas never has to sit in a dirty public high chair ever again! |
 |
Seven Slings Baby Carrier
Though I was originally opposed to sling-style baby carriers, Clinton convinced me to purchase one at a mom-to-mom sale. When I started using it, I found it difficult and awkward, but Lucas loved it! He would stop fussing immediately upon being squeezed into the pouch, and sleep as long as he was inside. There are MANY ways to wear and carry your baby using a sling, from birth through toddler-aged!
I later came to realize that the sling carrier I was using was too big for my 5 foot tall frame. I received a promotional code for a free carrier from Seven Slings, which allows you to order a carrier based on your height and weight. I also own a Peanut Shell carrier, available at Target. |
 |
