Sprout High Chair by OXO

The Sprout High Chair by OXO is a very compact, clean lined basic high chair.  The dimensions are 24.25″ x 19″ x 37″.  It comes in Orange/Birch, Taupe/Birch, Green/Walnut and Pink/Walnut.  As you can tell from the site, I kind of like orange, so the Orange/Birch is right up my ally.  I think this is a great chair, very solid, and I wouldn’t mind looking at it everyday.

OXO - Sprout High ChairAs with many of the products I like, this chair is for the long-haul – 6 mos to 5 years (or up to 60lb).  At $250, this is a great product.

Additional Features:

  • 3 levels of seat height and depth adjustment that grow with the child
  • Crotch post, tray and straps are removable for older children
  • 4 footrest settings adjust independently of seat height
  • Depth-adjustable tray for children of all sizes
  • 5-point harness for added stability and security
  • Chair is scaled for dining table height
  • Cushions are removable for thorough cleaning
  • Holds up to 60 lbs
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Bloom Luxo Sleep

I’m really loving the company Bloom right now.  They were started by 4 dads who wanted to bring function and form together.  And they did.  They have a number of products that I’ll be showcasing, but the first is their Bloom Luxo Sleep™ which comes with adjustable sides or not.  The size is small, slightly larger than the Stokke and Leaner cribs (mostly in length) coming in at 55.25″W x 29.75″D x 36.25″H.  As with the Stokke and Leander, the Luxo also grows with your child from age 0 to age 5.

While the Luxo is a bit larger, it does come with a smaller price tag – $990 from Giggle which is not bad if you keep it through the toddler years.  There is a conversion piece to make it into the toddler bed for an additional $200 although I can’t tell from the write-ups whether it is imperative to have it.

This crib comes in three colors – Coconut White, Cappuccino/White mix (see here) and Espresso.

Additional Features:

  • Open slats all the way around for good airflow
  • 2 Adjustable mattress heights for growing babies
  • Comes in an adjustable or fixed side rail
  • Folds up for storage
  • Holds a max of 50lbs
  • Low voc baby safe finishes
  • The Luxo line comes with a matching dresser and changing tray

So bravo to the 4 dads at Bloom – the Luxo bed is form, function and stylish.

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Peep’s High Chair – Stokke Tripp Trapp

My office threw me a great baby shower about 3 weeks before I gave birth.  My dear friend insisted that instead of individual gifts, they all pitch in and get me one nice thing (she knew my theory on fewer, better items).  I hadn’t registered for a highchair, but she steered the group that way.  They bought me the Stokke Tripp Trapp in bright red.  I loved the chair, but did exchange it for the Cherry to match our dining room. It has proved to be a great chair, and is still used daily.

Pros:

  • Small footprint – 13.3″ x 30.7″ x 18.1″ (DxHxW)
  • Pulls right to the table – just move one chair out and slide this one in – really allows child to be a part of the meal
  • Grows with child
  • Easy to adjust – just a loosen/tighten of a screw or two
  • Attractive – nothing big and plastic!
  • Easy to clean (see cushion “con” below)
  • Even comfortable for adults to sit in (granted, I’m only 5’ – my 6’2″ husband might disagree here)

Cons:

  • No tray – I did love to pull my daughter up to the table, but there were times I wanted to just sit her in something with a tray (I did just see this tray for sale – it’s not by Stokke, but is made for the Tripp Trapp – MAJOR PLUS!!)
  • Harness – I found it awkwardly placed – too low to go comfortably over the shoulders
  • The cushion – while it added to the design, a cloth cushion on a baby/toddler/kids seat is really just added laundry

To see what another Mom has to say, here is a link to a review by BostonMamas.com.

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Leander 4-in-1 Convertible Crib from Tulip

I’ve seen this Leander 4-in-1 Convertible Crib from Tulip in a couple of store, and it is beautiful.  The curvy lines are lovely.  And it’s compact.  The dimensions (48L x 28D x 38H) are just an inch or two smaller than the Stokke Sleepi.  One of the best features is that it converts from a newborn crib to a junior bed and everything you need is included when you purchase it.  The ability for one child to grow with it for such a long time really makes this bed.  The last thing anyone wants is to keep buying beds!

 

The colors available are Walnut, White or Whitewash (which is close to Natural). You can purchase it from Tulip’s website here, and the price is $1,598.  As with any different sized crib, you are beholden to then purchase their sheets.  Currently, you can purchase a set of two, also from their website, for $59.

 

Additional Features:

  • 3 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty
  • Made in the European Union
  • Non-full size (48″ x 28″ x 38″)
  • 2 fixed, stationary sides
  • Molded European beech
  • Surface treated with a water based finish
  • Mattress height adjustable in two (2) positions
  • 4 pieces of furniture in one design – crib, daybed, transition bed & junior bed (all components are included)
  • Comforting – primary sleep unit accompanies and grows with child from infant to tween

I might have a bit of crib envy over this one.

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Humidifiers for the Winter

Once the heat turns on, I forget how dry my apartment becomes.  The static hair should be my first clue, but every year I forget.  Humidifiers for the apartment and especially one at night makes all the difference – particularly when your little one gets a cold (as in they get it in November and it goes away in May).  Most that you can buy today are cool mist, although I chose a warm mist one as it helped my daughter’s colds more.  Here are a few that I love – some for adult space and some for kids.

Stadler Form Fred Humidifier by Azzuro (comes in multiple colors)

Raindrop Cool Mist Humidifier (comes in multiple colors)

OSKAR Humidifier by Stadler Form (comes in black and white)

Penguin Humidifier by Crane (this also comes in elephants, owls, frogs, pigs etc.)

Ultrasonic Cool Mist Elephant by Kids Line (comes in other animal choices)

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Peep’s Sweet Ride – The Bugaboo Cameleon

As I mentioned in a post about Peep’s crib my husband I had made the decision to purchase fewer, more expensive items that we loved instead of many things we only sort of liked.  This was how we ended up with the Bugaboo Cameleon.

The Bugaboo company was founded in 1999 headquartered in Amsterdam and brought to the US in 2003.  I didn’t start seeing them until just before I got pregnant at the end of 2006.  Today’s strollers as we know them did not exist. (It’s hard to believe how far strollers have come in 4-5 years.)

The Bugaboo was cool, modern, techy, expensive and I WANTED one. The good news is that so did my husband.  We ended up buying the Cameleon mainly because I’m 5′ and he’s 6’2″ and the Cameleon has a height adjustable handlebar.

One of the unforeseen benefits to this was the bassinet.  I had an unplanned c-section and so wasn’t supposed to carry my daughter.  With our one floor apartment, I just wheeled her around.  This then turned out to be her co-sleeper next to me at night, her place for naps out in the living room, and when she was cranky, you could just rock her back and forth like a cradle (after I recovered, I could do this with just my foot).  Really, I’d buy it again just for those reasons.

 

I loved our Bugaboo. It was narrow and easy to push. We don’t use it that much anymore (at age 4) because Peep is such a strong walker (and I’m NOT discouraging that!) but I definitely see older kids in them all the time.  This is again, one of the items that can be purchased and used for a long time.

 

 

Pros:

  • Modular, 3-in-1 design – car seat adaptable, reversible bassinet, reversible seat
  • Bassinet – see above for all the reasons I used it!
  • 3 position tilting seat
  • Machine washable fabric which comes in great vibrant colors that you can mix and match
  • Height adjustable handlebar
  • Adjustable suspension (this one got my husband’s interest) which actually is amazing on bumpy sidewalks
  • Go see the website for more amazing pros – really, it’s a fun website!

Cons:

  • It’s 2 pieces to break it down.  I thought this would be no big deal, but when you want to make it smaller and tuck it away at a restaurant, it is a pain.  There are other Bugaboo products like the Bee, that is all one piece.
  • While I do rave about it being narrow and stylish, there are smaller strollers on the market
  • Price – it is the Cadillac of strollers…
  • Looks from other parents – maybe I was just sensitive, but driving around in the Cadillac of strollers, you do get looks.  It’s like pushing money.

 

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The Skip Hop Pronto…the one thing I couldn’t live without

Peep was kind of a grab and go kid.  I breastfed. She didn’t spit up or have huge diaper accidents.  If I left with her, I could literally just leave with some diapers, wipes, my breasts and her.  Which meant that I was pretty free to use any bag I wanted.  The Skip Hop Pronto! changing station was the best thing I owned during this time.  I cannot say enough great things about it – it has just enough room for about four diapers, some wipes and a couple of other small things like extra socks or gas medicine.  It is probably the one thing that we used from the day she came home until the day she was potty trained.  It is also a GREAT shower gift.

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Peep’s Changing Area

I’ve never understood having separate changing tables.  I suppose if you have a lot of space they make sense but it always seemed like bringing in another piece of furniture that had a very short shelf life.

We chose to get a short, 3 drawer dresser from Ikea and put the changing pad on top of that.  This worked very well for us.  The top drawer of the dresser was filled with diaper needs.  I used organizing boxes (again from Ikea) in the drawer for diapers, creams, medicines, etc.

Now that Peep’s 4, and we’re totally out of diapers, the dresser is just a dresser and it still has enough space for all of her clothes.

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Peep’s Crib – The Stokke Sleepi

My daughter’s room is a converted porch measuring 7.5’ by 11’ which should be plenty of room for one small child.  It is a very sweet room that is only accessed through our bedroom.  It also comes with 6 windows, 2 doors, a radiator and a built in window seat.  There is no wall that doesn’t have some design challenge and there was no way a huge crib would fit.  We also were not interested in the design of these cribs.  This was 4.5 years ago and the options were slim.

When I started to research smaller cribs, there wasn’t much available besides the Stokke Sleepi. Honestly, I also stopped researching after I found it because my husband and I both fell in love with it.  It ended up in the middle of the room with bright orange bedding and the rest of the room fell in around it.  Our decision to purchase this also guided our philosophy that we would purchase fewer, more expensive items that we loved instead of many things we only sort of liked. (This was how we ended up with the Bugaboo Chameleon, but that is another post.)

The Stokke crib is a great crib for small to medium sized spaces.  There are smaller cribs that will fit better into nooks and tiny spaces.

Pros:

  • Small footprint – 29.1″ x 50″ x 34.6″ (DxWxH)
  • The oval design is plain, simple and unique
  • There are 2 adjustable mattress levels for the baby
  • One side can be removed for an active toddler
  • Grows with your child – can be fully converted into a junior bed (with additional purchase of an extension kit)
  • Easy to re-sell once you are out of the crib stage

Cons:

  • Expensive but in line with most mid/high end cribs
  • Must purchase oval sheets which are harder to find, expensive and not always the design you covet
  • That’s it, I loved it.
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