Cradlesong

Securap by Infa-secure

2010-09-01T00:00:00-05:00

Rating: 5 out of 5

Every toddler finds a way to pull their arms out of the harness which is a potential hazard in an accident. The securap is designed to keep the harness together and reduce the occurrance of this when travelling by making it extremely difficult for children to pull their arms through the harness straps, hopefully discouraging them from trying in future.

This simple little device helps to put your mind at rest as a parent, by allowing you to focus on driving, knowing that your child is secure in their seat harness.

Features:
* Hinders children from removing car seat harness.
* Comfortable, very easy use.

Price approx $15

Steelcraft Strider 4 wheel pram

2010-05-11T00:00:00-05:00

Rating: 4 out of 5

Positives:

big basket underneath
easy to open and fold away
easy to steer/manoeuvre
baby can face forward or rearward
reclines to flat
no need to buy a separate bassinet (for newborns)

Negatives:

wide wheelbase (can be difficult in smaller shops)

RRP $429

Specifications:
Weight: 11.7kg
Suits: newborn to 17kg
Dimensions: 78x68x28cm (folded)
68cm wide (when open)
Wheel config: 2 x fixed single (large), 2 x swivel single (small)

Storage Pouch: Yes (on seat back)
Drink/Cup holder: No
Extra seat option: No
Interchangeable Bassinet: Yes (optional extra)
Reversible seat (forward or rearward facing): Yes
Reversible handle: No (Reverses baby direction by reversing seat only)
Basket: Yes - large
Height adjustable handle: Yes
Folding: Yes - folds in both forward/rearward positions
Reclining positions: 3
Foot/Boot cover: Yes (optional)
Standards: AS/NZS2088
Lockable wheels: Yes
Brake type: One link
Rain/Storm Cover: Yes (included)
Canopy: Yes (built-in canopy)
Sun shade: No
Mosquito Net: Yes (included)
Viewing window: Yes
Colours: Red or Slate
Warranty: 12 months

Steelcraft Strider Plus

2010-05-11T00:00:00-05:00

Rating: 4 out of 5

Positives:

Has detachable capsule for car so can be moved from car to pram without disturbing baby
Easy to fold and open
Easy to manoeuvre
Big basket underneath
Baby can face forward or rearward
Can seat two kids at once

Negatives:

Wide wheelbase (can be difficult to fit in small shops)
Difficult to fit in smaller vehicles

RRP $699

Specifications:
Weight: 13.4kg (without second seat)
Suits: newborn to 20kg, can seat one or two children
Dimensions: 83x70x30cm (folded without second seat)
70cm wide (when open)
Wheel config: 2 x fixed single (large), 2 x swivel single (small)
Storage Pouch: Yes - with pockets
Drink/Cup holder: Yes x 2
Extra seat option: Yes - seats 2 children
Interchangeable Bassinet: Yes (optional extra)
Reversible seat (forward or rearward facing): Yes
Reversible handle: No (Reverses baby direction by reversing seat only)
Basket: Yes - large
Height adjustable handle: Yes
Folding: Yes - folds in both forward/rearward positions
Reclining positions: 3
Foot/Boot cover: Yes (suits main seat or second seat)
Standards: AS/NZS2088
Lockable wheels: Yes
Brake type: One link
Rain/Storm Cover: Yes (included)
Canopy: Yes (large built-in canopy)
Sun shade: Yes - Mesh sunshade included with 99% UV protection
Mosquito Net: Yes (included)
Viewing window: Yes
Colours: Black, Kingfisher Blue, Toffee
Warranty: 12 months

Bugaboo Cameleon

2010-05-11T00:00:00-05:00

Rating: 5 out of 5

Positives:

Lightweight and compact
Fits in small cars
Easy to manoeuvre
Easy to fold up
Comfortable for baby
Baby can face forward or to the rear
Narrow wheel base, so fits easily through doorways and aisles

Negatives:

Price (relatively expensive, compared to other similar featured models)
Relatively small storage space
Removable basket not so easy to get to when using bassinet

RRP $1759.95

Specifcations:
Weight: 9kg
Suits: newborn to 17kg
Dimensions: 90x60x31cm (folded)
60cm wide (when open)
Wheel config: 2 x fixed single (large), 2 x swivel single (small)

Storage Pouch: Yes - includes underseat bag

Drink/Cup holder: No
Extra seat option: No
Standing wheeled board: Yes (optional)
Interchangeable Bassinet: Yes

Reversible seat (forward or rearward facing): Yes
Reversible handle: Yes
Basket: No (includes underseat bag)
Height adjustable handle: Yes
Folding: Yes
Reclining positions: 3
Foot/Boot cover: Yes (optional)
Standards: AS/NZS2088
Lockable wheels: Yes
Brake type: One link

Rain/Storm Cover: Yes (included)
Canopy: Yes (option on seat, included with bassinet)

Sun shade: No
Mosquito Net: Yes (included)
Viewing window: Yes
Colours: Red or Slate
Warranty: 2 years

From the Bugaboo website:
Bugaboo Cameleon

The ultimate in versatility for parents who want it all.

The Bugaboo Cameleon is ready to go – for infants and toddlers, to the city or to the beach, and in winter or in summer.

Customisable
You can create a Bugaboo Cameleon that is just right for you – by choosing the colour, the fabric, the seat or bassinet and even the height of the handlebar.

Modular
Our first modular pushchair is incredibly simple to use. The reversible and independent seat and bassinet enable you to turn the pushchair around so your child is either facing you or facing the world. The height of the handlebar is easy to adjust and a car seat can be clicked into the chassis so you're ready to go in no time.

Multi-terrain
Small swivel wheels at the front help you to navigate tight spaces using just one hand as you're strolling through the city, while the adjustable suspension keeps you rolling smoothly whatever the terrain. On rougher roads, you can reverse the handlebar so the big wheels are at the front – making it easy to glide over any bumps that come your way. And, when you're at the beach, you can click the pushchair into a two-wheel position to make easy work of sand – the same position is also ideal for travelling over snow.

Brewer Swimming (Sydney

2010-04-09T00:00:00-05:00

Rating: 5 out of 5
Brewer Swimming provides swimming lessons and squad training at St Ignatius College Riverview and Riverside Corporate Park (Sydney's North Shore). We have taken part in the parent/toddler classes and have had a wonderful experience. The swimming classes are fun, geared to the right level and the instructors are friendly, professional and understanding when a toddler just isn't having a great day. The office have always been helpful and professional when booking classes or organising make up classes. All in all we have had a wonderful experience and it's been a great introduction for Sophie to swimming and water safety. Brewer Swimming specialise in Learn to Swim and offer a development Squad Program with carefully graded classes in stroke perfection. Brewer Swimming encourages all swimmers to pursue their sport towards individual goals which range from water competence, health and fitness, still water competition, multi sports and triathlon, surf-lifesaving, open water and ocean swimming. It's proprietors Graeme and Narelle Brewer have a wealth of experience to offer. Graeme is an Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimming medalist and Narelle has 10 years experience as an Early Childhood Director prior to managing the swim school. Bookings and Enquiries 1300 363 019 www.brewerswimming.com.au

Corner Cubbyhouse Play Centre

2010-02-14T00:00:00-05:00

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Corner Cubbyhouse is a new indoor play centre. It has an area for younger children (under 4 years), an amazing large area for older children (3 - 12 years), a big trampoline, a jumping castle, a three lane slide and a giant "spiderweb" for climbing up. It has seating inside the area for younger kids for parents/carers and outside of the play areas there were plenty of chairs, tables and high chairs and a nice cafe. The temperature is good too - not too hot and not too cold.

Everything has been well thought out. With good practical facilities including a change room and babies kitchen. You even get a membership card that acts as a tab during your visit. So you pay for everything in one go as you leave. This helps to keep the queues shorter at the cafe and makes life easier for all. It's a great setup that works well for both the children and the adults.

9.30am - 5pm weekdays
9.30am - 5.30pm weekends and public holidays

Admission for under 2's and adults - free
Admission for over 2's - $14.90 for unlimited play

Angelbub Maternity Wear

2010-02-10T00:00:00-05:00

Rating: 5 out of 5
Angelbub is a new maternity boutique in Lane Cove, NSW (and soon an online store too). It caters for all occasions, whether it be the beach, work or that evening function that you have nothing to wear to. They have a great selection ranging from work suits, to swimwear, to glamorous evening dresses, to casual day wear, to nursing bras and even beautiful nursing pyjamas with matching baby suit for your hospital stay. They have clothes from great labels such as Olian Inc Maternity (from the US), Ripe and LillyB. They also have a selection of handmade toys which make great gifts. If the selection of clothes isn't enough they also offer service that is friendly, helpful and welcome older siblings (even offering a change room with safety gate so you can shop without distraction).

Building Blocks: Fun Classes for Little People (Lane Cove, NSW)

2009-12-10T00:00:00-05:00

Rating: 5 out of 5

Building Blocks classes run for 50 minutes and are for children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years, in four different age groups. Sophie has been attending the baby class which is for children from 6 to 14 months. The classes are structured and have a weekly theme music, growth & developmental concept and musical skill. The singing, dancing, percussion instruments, props, stories, body movement, and puppets in a given class relate to these weekly themes. The idea is to provide fun, stimulating and exciting classes to nurture and enrich a child’s physical, cognitive, language, creative, emotional and social development. Baby classes also include gross and fine motor play, parachute games and parent handouts on the weekly skill focus areas. Classes for older children (from about 12 to 14 months) include arts and crafts, with something to take home each week.

Sophie has really enjoyed each class. She loves the music and the chance to socialise with other babies. I've found the classes to have relaxed atmosphere while still being stimulating and educational. The classes seem to have helped not only with music skills, but also with social skills such as welcoming people, sharing toys, waiting in turn for instruments and giving them back nicely at the end of a song. There is a catchy welcome song to start off each class and a good bye song to finish up with. This and a basic structure to the class gives the babies a familiar routine to follow each week and Mum ends up humming the welcome song all the way home.

These classes have been a big hit with both baby and Mum and we will seriously consider signing up for next term!

9 week term fee: $180
www.buildingblocksclasses.com.au

Linda 3 in 1 Cot by Love N Care

2009-10-29T00:00:00-05:00

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
We bought this cot because of the 3-in-1 feature and the drawer. We really love the idea of being able to move our bub from a cot to a junior bed, simply by making a few small adjustments.

The cot came flatpacked, which meant it needed a little assembly, but overall it was easy to assemble.

We had a small problem with the dropside being slightly damaged, but the place we bought it from organised for Love N Care to provide a replacement. We were also missing 2 (seemingly insignificant) spacers which are required for the drawer to sit comfortably within the slide rails. Overall, Love N Care's service in rectifying these problems was great and made us quickly forget that we had encountered any problem at all.

With the problems out of the way and the cot assembled, it's a great cot, which we are very happy with.

The drawer is a real bonus and is extremely useful, and changing the base height was a quick and relatively simple process as our bub grew.

We bought a premium mattress for the cot as well, and have subsequently bought a teething rail (which I would recommend getting when you get the cot if you can).

Incidentally, we purchased the cot in white to try and match with our other nursery furniture (which is from various manufacturers) and it matches well.

Features:

Easy to assemble
Comes complete with a simple dropside mechanism to make it easier to place your baby to sleep or pick them up.
The cot mattress base adjusts to two levels to accomodate your growing child.
Underneath the cot, there is a single sliding storage drawer to store linen and/or baby clothes.
As a 3 in 1 cot, the Linda will convert from a standard cot, to a junior bed or a sofa, making it a better long term solution than simply buying a standard cot.
The recommended size mattress is 130cm X 69cm

Available Colors:

Baltic
Cherry
Golden Oak
Heritage teak
White
English Oak

Expect to pay: $299 - $349 [although I have seen these as high as $499] excluding mattress

Avent Express Microwave Steriliser

2009-10-29T00:00:00-05:00

Rating: 4 out of 5
There are a number of ways you can sterilise your baby's bottles, feeding spoons, food storage containers, breast pumps, and so on, from sterilising tablets to electronic sterilising units, through to simply boiling them on the stove.

We opted for a microwave steriliser for simplicity and time, and after much searching, settled on the Avent Express Microwave Steriliser (by Philips).

It is very easy to use.... (prepare yourself for the bad joke)

"Just add water!"

Oh yeah, and then pop it in the microwave for for a few minutes (dependent on the power of your microwave).

We have a relatively small Panasonic microwave and this fits in fine.

Features:

Holds up to 6 x 250ml bottles or 2 breast pump parts (or a combination)
Contents can be kept sterile for up to 24 hours if unopened
Lockable clips keep the lid securely on
Easy to clean
Dishwasher safe
28 cm wide and 16.6 cm high

The only downside I can think of with this unit (and frankly almost every other one I've seen) was the overall size. Not a big issue, but it does take up a bit of storage space in the cupboard.

Nonetheless, this is definitely a worthwhile purchase!

We paid $43.89 at Big W (on special)