Archive for the ‘Out and About’ Category

Claire from Loughborough is Mum to Rudy (3 months). Claire has been using the Kari Me sling since her son Rudy was only a few days old. Claire shares her thoughts upon this product.

I have been using the Kari Me sling since my son, Rudy was a few days old, initially using the front ‘cuddle’ position. This position made Rudy feel so secure and comfortable that he would often fall asleep whilst I pottered about.  The ‘cuddle’ position also allowed me to breast feed my son  ‘hands free’,  so I too could have a drink!

The Kari Me sling is beautifully made, mainly from strong, stretchy cotton (90%+) with no awkward buckles or straps. 

Once your baby is heavier and more alert (they must be over four months of age for their own health and safety) you can use the front facing out position, allowing them to investigate as you walk about. Rudy especially likes looking up at the trees from his supported place.  The Kari Me sling is fully adjustable to suit the user and allows many different positions, thus Rudy’s Dad is also able to use the Kari Me Sling without having to readjust straps.

Kari Me Slings are light and easy to pack up and to take out and about.  We’re looking forward to continuing using the sling as Rudy grows. The Kari Me Sling can be used from birth to three years.

The sling comes with a simple instruction booklet with diagrams fully explaining each position and how to wrap the sling. It is easy enough for even me to understand!  Although the sling is very simple and quick to put on it did take me a little practice to put Rudy into single handed, but it is easy enough once you’ve practiced a position a couple of times. I  highly recommend this product to other parents.

The Kari Me Sling is available in a wide range of colours, The Kari- Me Sling can be purchased online from www.kari-me.com for £37.95.

Having used and owned ten different prams, Amanda Armitage is a bit of  a ‘Pram Pro’. Amanda tells Mums Baby Magazine about her favourite Pram on the market.

Whilst choosing her fifth pram, Amanda had to select between two very similar models, The Silvercross 3D and the Mamas and Papas Pramette in Vertical. Upon viewing the Mamas and Papas Pramette in the shop, Amanda fell in ‘pram love’.

As this particular pram was in the sale at the time and was a neutral colour, it seemed to be the perfect choice. Amanda explained to MBM that the assistance provided at the Mama’s and Papa’s shop was ‘excellent’, the assistants demonstrated  exactly how the pram worked and once shown. Mamas and Papas even offered a guarantee which would not begin until her baby was born! Amanda decided that out of the two prams which she had in mind for purchase (the SX3D and the Mamas and Papas Pramette) that the Mamas and Papas Pramette certainly seemed to be the more beneficial.

Amanda outlined the pro’s of the Mamas and Papas Pramette

• It is easy to assemble
• The instructions are easy to follow
• Whilst in pramette mode, the baby is parent facing
• The pram is easy to push
• The Mamas and Papas Pramette has a large shopping basket which is easy to access
• The M&P Pramette has an inbuilt toddler step which comes in handy
• The handles are adjustable in height which is ideal for taller ‘pram pushers’
• The Pram seems quite robust 
         

As with every product on the market, there are some drawbacks to this item. Amanda explains that the cons of the M&P Pramette are:

• Once her baby was four months, they had to be forward facing as the pramette mode was no longer feasible due to the child’s size.
• The Toddler step can only be used when in forward facing mode (not the pramette mode)
• The Apron on the pramette was good, although it didn’t seem to work as well when forward facing.
• One of the hood springs popped out, luckily Amanda’s husband corrected this.

Although the ‘Vertical’ pattern is no longer available, Mamas and Papas still stock the Pilko Pramette in a wide range of other fabrics and designs. The images (left) shows the new ‘Mamas and Papas Pilko Pramette’ in City Scape. This currently retails at £295 from www.mamasandpapas.co.uk

It is however, almost identical in style, shape and design to the Silvercross 3D (images shown below).

The Silvercross 3D is currently retailing at £300 on the Silvercross Website. However, it is often available in other stores such as Babies R Us and Mothercare for much more reasonable prices.

 

Amanda has had two children and ten prams so far and the Mamas and Papas Pramette is so far Amanda’s favourite pushchair/ pram. Amanda’s daughter is currently seventeen months old and is still very comfortable in this pram.

During the early days of parenting, the size of changing bags tend not to be a huge issue, parents usually only need a few things when they are out and about to keep a newborn happy. However, as your little one begins to grow they begin to need more than just a bottle and a few nappies to keep them happy!

This is the time when parents find that they cannot carry everything they need to take with them in the average changing bag. Children who attend nursery often require a lot of baggage space as they need to have all the essentials with them throughout the day and for those parents who use reusable nappies (cloth nappies), it is often difficult to fit all the spare nappies, inserts, wash bags etc into a changing bag for a full day out… these are two valid reasons for upgrading your bag!

The ‘Hauck Blue and Brown Changing bag’ is available from www.childsplaysussex.com for only £17.88. MBM road tested this bag and found that it can fit all of the following into it with ease!

• Four cloth nappies and inserts.
• One changing bag.
• One packet wipes.
• 1 wrap.
• 2 bottles.
• 1 Milk Dispenser.
• 1 Sippy cup full of water.
• 1 Small bag of spare clothes (vest, tee-shirt, trousers, socks).
• 1 box containing two pacifiers.
• 1 tube Bonjela.
• 1 Box Sudocrem.
• 2 Sachets of Nurofen for Babies.
• Purse.
• Cheque Book.
• Mobile Phone.
• Drink (Usually small bottle of Coca Cola).
• Lipstick.
• Epipen.
• 1 Bag of food (including one bowl, two spoons, a yoghurt and raison snacks).
• 1 Toy, sometimes more if required (usually stuffed and quite large).
• 1 Nursery Book.
• 1 Pair sunglasses.
• 1 Pair baby sunglasses.
• 1 Bottle Sun Tan Lotion.
• 1 Muslin Cloth.

The Hauck Blue and Brown Changing Bag has an adjustable strap, this is ideal for carrying the bag on the handle of a pram as it possible to tighten it to the correct height. This bag is made from padded material which is nice and stretchy for fitting in those last minute essentials, whilst still being small enough to be stored underneath the average pram.

The Hauck Blue and Brown Changing Bag has the following features:

• One large front pocket (which zips up and is ideal for personal items)
• Two back pockets wide enough to fit a pack of wipes into each pocket if not more.
• 3 inner waterproof bottle pockets
• 1 separate plastic zippy pocket ideal for wet clothing.
• 2 elasticated side pockets ideal for pacifiers, spare bottles or a small toy.
• 1 Changing Mat

Not only is this bag a bargain but it looks great and has plenty of room for the essentials!

Beautifully Kitsch designs from inside out, Pink Lining produce a wide range of stylish, designer changing bags for Mums who wish to add a splash of colour and elegance into the bag that they chose when ‘on the go’ with their little ones.

Although Pink Lining bags may seem slightly costly, the pure functionality of the storage and cute designs are enough to sway almost any bag savvy Mum to click ‘purchase’ without a second thought.

Featuring two stretchy pockets on each side of the bag and one magnetic clip pocket on the front of the bag, the Yummy Mummy Signature Bag makes items easy to access when out and about.

Inside the bag there are two stretchy, padded bottle pockets, one side pouch for small items, a zipped pocket for personal items and two large, stretchy pockets for nappies. A handy, detachable, makeup mirror is attached to the inside of the bag as well as a key/ pacifier fob, and a key loop.

Although this bag measures only 38cm x 28cm x14cm it can fit quite a fit bits and pieces into it. Here are the items which MBM managed to fit into the bag with ease.

1. Two cloth nappies and inserts
2. One spare wrap
3. Two bottles (Tomee Tippee 9oz Bottles)
4. Milk Dispenser
5. Box of two pacifiers
6. Small pot of suntan lotion
7. Purse/ wallet
8. Baby sunglasses
9. Bag of spare clothing
10. Sippy cup of water
11. Mobile Phone
12. Personal Accessories (Makeup, comb, tablets, lipstick)
13. Changing mat (included with the bag)
14. Pack of wipes
15. Small pack of tissues
16. One small tub Sudocrem
17. One small toy
18. Baby Sun Hat

The Yummy Mummy Changing Bag comes complete with a changing mat and clear, zip up pouch for wet clothing. The changing mat and bag follow the main design of the bag, the ‘Peppermint Signature Yummy Mummy Changing Bag’ features cute, cupcake print designs upon the bag and changing mat provided.

Available from www.amazon.co.uk for only £69.95, the Yummy Mummy Changing Bag is the ‘must have’ bag for Mum’s who wish to travel in style!

Julie McQuaid (29 years old) from Hillingdon, Middlex is Mum to Isabelle Dee (7 months old). Julie currently uses a 0-1 group car seat for Isabelle and drives a three door Corsa (55 reg). Julie shared her opinions upon this product with Mums Baby Magazine.

How easy is the seat to fix into the car?

With the base, this car seat is very easy to install into the car, I had Isabelle via C-Section and was fine installing and removing the Maxi Cosi Cabriofix Car Seat into and from the car postpartum. I  wouldn’t have coped in the first few months without this model of Car Seat with only having a three door car.

Is this Car Seat Isofix?

Yes

Does the car seat have washable covers?

Yes, although I have never had to wash them.

How easy is it to get your little one in and out of the car seat?

It is really simple and easy, the strap holders are also a great idea, this stops Isabelle from getting caught up in the straps when getting in and out from the car.

Which way does the car seat face?

As this car set is a Group 0-1, the seat rear faces.

Where did you get your car seat?

Mothercare

How much did you pay for your car seat?

£100

List five things you love about your car seat:

• It’s easy to put in and take out of the car
• The hood is great as it keeps the sun out and makes it easier for baby to sleep
• The newborn insert is useful as it kept her very flat when she was smaller
• I like how it clips onto my Loola Pushchair
• My baby likes to sleep in this car seat and the rocking function is useful when out and about for settling Isabelle.

Is there anything that you dislike about your car seat?

• As Isabelle has grown bigger, her head tips forward in the seat due to the angle of the Isofix installation
• The fabric gets all sorts of fluff and hair sticking to it
  

If you were to buy your car seat over again, would you chose the same model?
Yes!

 

The Maxi Cosi Cabriofix Car Seat is available from www.preciouslittleone.co.uk for only £99.00. The Maxi Cosi Cabriofix Car Seat is available  in a wide range of colours with Isofix or Seat Belt fittings,  this seat is suitable from birth to twelve months (0-13 kg) and has been awarded ‘best in test’ by the European Consumer Tests every year since 2007!

Mums Baby Magazine would like to thank Julie and Isabelle for their time. If you are interested in becoming a Top Tester for us then please email MBM on writeforus@mumsbabymagazine.com