Bonjour!
One of the pleasures of pregnancy has been le nesting (cleaning! organizing! shopping!) and preparing the nursery for le bébé. And wearing stretchy maternity pants. And napping. And eating snacks.
But I digress. Once L’Husband and I knew we were good and pregnant after fertility treatment and the first trimester, we were comfortable investing (more emotionally than financially) in bébé gear. And so we set up a de facto playroom in our otherwise-empty dining room (because, you know, cool people don’t have a proper dining table and chairs).
Sourcing Baby Gear in the Pandemic
Due to the pandemic-induced supply-chain fiasco (le sigh), we’ve been slowly collecting various baby gear so we’re not caught up the creek without a car seat, as it were, on Due Day later this June.
But, bien sûr, we could never get anything new without the full inspection and approval of Le Chien. The dachshund’s discerning eye and capable sniffer are ever the arbiters of good taste, and examining new supplies for le bébé was no exception!
Like any good lawyer-slash-librarian, I did my own extensive research and chose these items because they (will hopefully) work for ma famille. Exploring a whole new world of car seats and strollers was truly eye-opening and entertaining, especially noticing the Big Maternity push towards the most expensive and, dare I say, bougie products over the practical.
I am happy to share more about my bébé gear search and offer tips and advice. Please feel free to share this post or contact me!
Baby Gear that Passed the Dachshund Sniff Test
N.B.: I have not monetized Joie de Vivre and do not receive any kickbacks for shilling products.
Infant Car Seat – Graco SnugRide 35 Lite Infant Car Seat. This lightweight infant car seat snaps in and out of its base and has a carry handle. We purchased its directly from Graco.
Convertible Car Seat – Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat. A convertible car seat does not snap in and out of a base or have a carry handle but will work from infant to toddler. We purchased it on sale from Amazon.
Playpen – Graco Pack ‘n Play On The Go Playard. To my surprise, there are beaucoup kinds of the classic Pack ‘n Play. I landed on one that collapses easily and has a carrying case and wheels for use at home and on the road. This playpen was a gift from newlywed cousins and fellow parents-to-be, Niko and Angela.
Stroller – UppaBaby Vista. I lucked out Big Time and purchased this stroller from my friend, neighbor, and fellow maman-to-be, Emily. Buying a stroller secondhand is a great way to be more sustainable and eco-friendly, and we also reused/repurposed several things in the nursery too.
The Vista has a bassinet and convertible seat and so many accessories (tray, bar, cup holders, I could go on). And it’s a fancy stroller for a fancy dog (le wink)!
Swing – Graco Simple Sway Swing. I did an inordinate amount of reading about swings, bouncers, and seats, and finally landed on a swing that also vibrates to try. We love this baby shower gift from Nana and Papa.
What changes (and shopping sprees) are you anticipating this year?
Merci for reading and please subscribe and share!
À votre santé,
Katie
Joie de Vivre 