Buggies and Babies Blog

2011 Holiday Gift Ideas at Buggies and Babies!

2011-11-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

Here are just a few Gift giving ideas that you can find at Buggies and Babies! You can always purchase gift certificates which help to make shopping quick and easy!

Personal gift ideas
•   Happy Blankie "One to love, one to give." Happy Blankie are cute, animal print blankies and are perfect for little ones! They make fun comfort blankets especially for nap times! The Happy Blankie company was built on their foundation of gifting a blanket to a child in need for every blanket purchased. Not only is this a great way to help another little one but their blankets make wonderful gifts as each are really soft, comfy, and cute! Buggies and Babies will host a Happy Blankie event on Friday November 25, 2011 from 1 pm - 3 pm click here for more details about Happy Blankie
•    Designs by Janessa Charm Prints – have your baby’s thumb or toe print engraved forever on a charm that you can gift to a family member or friend. The print kits are only $10 at Buggies and Babies then you forward the mold to Designs by Janessa, select your charm, and Janessa will mail your gift directly to you. Also the price of the kit will be taken off your final charm costs.
•    Doodlebug Designs Ceramic plates – these plates will feature your lil one’s hands and/or feet on a plate. You choose the plate size, shape, color as well as the inscription on the plate. You can also include other siblings or your own hands and/or feet. For our Christmas in store event Sunday December 4th 12 – 2 PM Doodlebug Designs will also have holiday ornaments, mugs, picture frames to choose from. These make great personal, timeless keepsakes.
•    Design Me Chalkboard Cross – these 8.5” x 11” wooden crosses are painted with Black chalkboard paint and include chalk which lets you or child write their own message on the cross. Great for Baby’s 1st Christmas or babies being born or baptized around the holiday time.
•    Holiday photo shoot – our family does this every year. It’s a great time of the year to get our family together for a photography session. This year we did it outside my parent’s house in the pouring rain, it was beautiful but COLD! Also the professional pictures make great additions to your holiday greeting cards. We really suggest local photographers Photos by Leyna or Stills by Hill. We've worked with both companies and love their work! Book them soon!

Holiday Gift ideas
•    Mud Pie Holiday Attire and accessories are always hit every Holiday season. Their adorable bloomers, tights, legwarmers are to DIE FOR! Also, for Boys the Santa Longalls, knit hats, knit booties, or holiday socks are cool and practical.
•    Baby Legs leg warmers are great stocking stuffers and will come in handy during our cold nights. Buggies and Babies carries newborn sizes and one size fits most, which really do fit most (even past 5 years old!)
•    Buggies and Babies features many custom made products of local vendors such as custom baby blankets, beanies, booties, hair accessories, and much more! Custom made gifts are always unique and thoughtful gifts
•    Ju Ju Be wallets and accessories – such as the Be Quick, Mighty Be, Be Major, Be Light are smart practical bags that are not pricey but will make any Mom very pleased. The Be Quick can be used for light diaper bag essentials (wipes and a couple diapers) or for Moms own personal things (like how I use my Be Quick’s).
•    Aden and Anais slumber packs or sleeping bags are a popular gift year round, so, of course you can’t go wrong with their products for Holiday gifts. The muslin weave of Aden and Anais products make their material breathable and provide just the right amount of warmth. If you opt for the Bamboo fabric you’ll get extra softness and comfort. The Aden and Anais cozy sleep sacks are great for bed time – with 4 layers of muslin babies will be sure to sleep soundly and warmly.

Buggies and Babies certainly hopes this guide helps you come up with great gift ideas. Our family, each year, creates a list of who we are giving gifts to, which is sorted by age. This helps me to know which stores I should check out and which gift ideas I can select from. Anything to minimize the time I spend in a busy mall is great for me!
The Otay Ranch Town Center in East Chula Vista will have great Black Friday specials. The mall is also not as crazy busy as other malls so come check us out!

Happy Halloween! My DIY Costume!

2011-10-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

This year, now that both our girls our older, we decided to do a theme for our Halloween costumes. In the past our girls were always princesses and my husband and I would put on whatever old clothes we can put together OR not dress up at all. This year we decided on the Toy Story theme – fun! We bought our girls’ costumes last month at a Halloween store. Our 5 year old will be Jessie and our 3 year old is Little Bo Beep – cute! Our girls opted for the female characters, so I do hope others will understand our theme since we don’t have a Woody or Buzz. Maybe we can find Woody and Buzz Light Year costumes for our dogs (although our Lab is a female – oh well!)
For hubby and me, we will be Mr and Mrs Potato Head. Since, I’m 5 months preggo being Mr and Mrs Potato Head seems much more comfortable than doing Ken and Barbie. Anyhow, to save money I decided to make our own costumes. I figured it couldn’t be too hard for me to sew the brown “potato” dress, and the cut outs could also easily be traced and copied. Well, here are the results – our costumes didn’t turn out to bad, right?? I’m excited I finished them – in one day too! It helped big time that my brother is a great artist who helped me trace out the face parts.

Click here to see more images of my work and our costumes (will post more soon!!)

Here are the details of what I spent and used to make our costumes:

3 yards of brown cotton fabric (I know my dress is darker than the actual Potato Head characters but I liked this color of brown)

¼ to ½ yard each of the following felt colors: black, white, red, pink, and purple

Total spent $24.04 at yardage town

Sign4Baby Classes hosted by Buggies and Babies

2011-07-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

Buggies and Babies has had the honor of hosting Sign4Baby classes taught by certified Signing Time instructor, Ms Joann W. since January 2011. Since then, we've enjoyed one 6 week session after another! Sign4Baby is a all-around fun, educational, social, and energetic class. It's a great time to enjoy one-on-one time with your child plus you'll get to meet other families with their little ones. Sign4Baby is intended for babies 5 months to toddlers up to 20 months. This class is designed to build an early communication for your little one and will jump start their verbal skills as well. We offer this class every 6 weeks on Wednesdays at 9:30 AM in our store. For more info on our class visit our website events page under Categories or ask one of our associates whenever you come to visit us at the Otay Ranch Town Center.

Here's a great review from one of our families who has taken 2 session of the Sign4Baby class with us:

"My daughter and I started attending Joann's Sign4Baby classes at Buggies and Babies when she was 10 months old. I think registering for baby sign language class was one of the best decisions we have made. The weekly classes were so much fun, integrating play, song and learning to sign. My little one loved it, and would always get excited about going every week. During class it seemed as if her attention was focused on learning only part of the time, but when she hit 12 months old, the signs began to flow! She is quite a signing chatterbox! Everything from the usual 'more', 'all done', and 'milk' to fun signs including 'flower', 'monkey', 'butterfly', and 'apple'. One of her favorite activities is pointing to objects or pictures in books, signing the item and having me tell her the word and repeat the sign. She is such a fast learner, so it seems like she is learning a new sign everyday. It's amazing and very exciting watching her and being able to communicate. I am so grateful to Sign4Baby and Buggies and Babies for making this available to our community."

ERGObaby Carrier Giveaway

2011-01-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

We are starting off the new year with an ERGObaby Carrier!! ERGObaby carriers are one of the best carriers available! Buggies and Babies loves the ERGObaby for it's ease of use, comfort, and safety. You will truly save your back and your arms. My mom has used our ERGO to carry our lil one and she was even surprised how simple and safe it was. We can't tell everyone enough how much an ERGO is worth it but hopefully this contest will help spread the word :)

Contest details:
Earn 5 entries for every $25 spent
Earn 1 entry for each of the following:
Join our Facebook page
Follow us on Twitter
Join our Mailing List
Refer a friend to our Facebook page, Twitter account, or Mailing List
When you or friend join any of our social media accounts make sure to comment "I'm entering to win the ERGO" - it'll serve as a reminder for us :)
WE will select one entry on January 17, 2011 Monday. The winner will be notified and will have their choice of a Cranberry, Camel, or Black ERGObaby carrier. If you're not local, we will ship the carrier to you.
Contest ends Sunday January 16 2011 at midnight.

Good luck everyone!!

Buggies and Babies Birthday!

2010-08-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

One year ago this same time, we added a new addition to our family! Our store, Buggies and Babies, was born! Well, a year ago we were known as San Diego Baby Gear Exchange. Just a quick story on our name - we wanted something fun and catchy, but just like when you name your child...it's hard! We went with a web friendly, searchable name and that's how we came up with our former name. However, I wasn't pleased with the name but we had to come up with something fast. A few months later, I thought of our current name but we weren't a 100% sure. Anyhow, we asked our close friend and family and our oldest daughter what they thought. They all voted on Buggies and Babies and so when we moved to our new location this past February we decided it was the right time to make the change.
So, now, a year later our store is triple the size (our 1st space was really small! some of you know!) We carry many more great products and essentials. We are growing slowly for surely and hope we can continue to grow and expand. We love being a part of this community and offering our resources, producs, and experiences with our customers.
If you haven't done so already, please join our mailing list for updates of our products, new products, and upcoming promiations. This month we have a great speical going on in honor our Buggies and Babies 1st birthday!

My New Favorite Diaper Bag

2010-07-24T14:22:00.001-07:00

My Favorite New Diaper Bag!
Of course, I am Ju-Ju-Be loyal – why not they have all the features a Mom or Dad needs from a diaper bag. In fact, Ju-Ju-Be bags have features I did not even think I needed or wanted! Anyhow, my new favorite is the BeTween. As a retailer I first thought the bag was too small especially for its price. Anyhow, over the past few months I have noticed more and more Moms with a BeTween. I even talked to a Mom that had 2 little ones and she said she loved her BeTween. I was not sure it would work for me because I carry SO many things with me – often, I have 2 – 3 bags wherever I go! At the same time I am a babywearer (for convenience and comfort) and carry my little one on my back with the ERGObaby Carrier all the time. For that reason, I need a light, messenger style bag so it’s doesn’t add more weight to my back AND is out of my daughter’s way…the BeTween is the PERFECT match!! Surprisingly, just like other Ju-Ju-Be bags the BeTween holds a ton of things. I was able to fit a change of clothes for both girls, 4 diapers, wipes, socks, sun block, and their sunglasses AS WELL AS have a zippered front pocket for ALL of my essentials. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Oh, on top of all this, I got the new pattern in Marvelous Mums that matches perfectly with my Bumbleride Seagrass Flite.
Think price is too much? Bring in your used baby gear product(s) to sell or trade-in. We love quality, gently used products and offer consignment or store credit towards our new products.

BOB Gear Revolution are in!

2010-07-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

After 4 months of being on backorder we got in just a few Single Revolutions today. If anyone is in the market for a single BOB Gear Revolution, Buggies and Babies is your source. Please call or email to reserve yours. Remaining in stock now is Black, Navy, and Mesa Orange - they're going fast! We should be getting other colors and doubles in by mid July.

http://www.buggiesandbabies.com/category_5/BOB-Gear.htm

Breastfeeding Facts - actual stats and my own

2010-04-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

For expecting moms that plan or are not sure of nursing their baby’s here are some facts and some of my own personal experiences :)
• Studies show that women who breastfeed are 50% less likely to develop breast cancer
• Worldwide, the average age that babies stop breastfeeding is 3 to 4 years
(my oldest stopped at 15 months and my little one dtill nurses at 19 months)
• The average cost of breastfeeding per year is about $300 – which I assume is for the cost of nursing bras, nursing pads, a good pump, nursing cover, etc
• The average cost of formulate feeding per year is between $1000 and $2000
• Research has shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS as well as child’s likelihood to develop allergies, ear infections and asthma

Here are a few other personal facts that I experienced:
*You burn over 500 calories every time you nurse – you will lose your baby weight fast! Of course, you still need to eat healthy. Nursing makes you hungry AND very thirsty. Definitely drink tons of water – we had to invest in water delivery after I started nursing because I drank so much water and was tired of buying all the bottled waters. Plus bottles = not eco-friendly :)
You get hungry – I honestly ate more as a nursing mom than an expecting mom. You need to eat a lot but make sure you eat a LOT of healthy food – you still need all the good nutrients so they can be passed on to your little one.
*Your hubby never has to get up in the middle of the night to heat up a bottle – they’ll love that. In fact, you never have to get out of bed either. Well maybe for a few minutes to pick up baby or put them back to their bed after nursing. Unless you co-sleep like we did – I fall asleep while nursing…I need my sleep!
*One of my downsides – I am a modest person and am self-conscious. I was totally embarrassed to nurse in public or even pump in a public area. I used to prefer nursing in my car than at a booth in a restaurant even with a shawl! If you feel the same way – it’s okay. I realized that really no one is looking at me if anything they probably just think my baby is sleeping under a blanket. Right?? Remember it is the LAW for a mother to breastfeed her child in ANY location, public or private California Civil Code 43.3
Now with our 2nd one I’m okay but I still use my shawl – of course!
If you are nursing and/or are having troubles attend local breastfeeding support groups. They have meetings everywhere and they’re fun - you can share your fears, concerns, or advice. I’ve attended a few La Leche Leage meetings – they’re very welcoming and supportive. Good luck to you!!

Bumbleride 2010 Indie photos

2010-03-17T21:35:00.000-07:00

Last week we posted pics of a 2010 Bumbleride Indie Twin and thought we should add pics of an Indie as well. Again, as we mentioned in our previous post the 2010 updates are really great! We own a 2009 Indie Twin so we know first hand how much the new upgrades are an improvement to last year's Indie Twin. All in all, the Indie and Indie Twin are very practical, secure, and comfortable strollers. We tell everyone that they're "parent" as well as "kid-friendly". We love our Indie Twin - our children are now 4 years old and 17 months, we use ours often - walks, trips to amusement parks, mall, church, museums, etc.

Everything you need for a new baby!

2010-03-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

Most first time expecting parents are overwhelmed and are very unsure about what a new baby needs. I came across a great article in a parenting magazine – I get a ton in the mail so I’m not 100% sure which parenting magazine this comes from. This is a great guide and I had to share it. According to the article there are 5 essential items that a new baby needs – I have to agree if you have these items you really don’t need anything else.
1)A Car Seat - either a convertible style or the infant car seat style. We started with an infant car seat and 2 bases for the 1st year. After our daughter turned 1, we switched to a convertible seat.
2) A place for baby to sleep – pack and play’s or co-sleepers are GREAT for this. They feature a changing table and a bassinette. The bassinette can be removed when the baby is bigger for sleeping or for play. Also, they’re easy to fold up to use for travel or store away. With a pack and play and/or co-sleeper you really don’t need a crib, which helps save money.
3) Stroller and/or baby carrier – Definitely do your research here. You might invest quite a few hundred dollars but a practical/functional/ comfortable stroller and/or carrier is a MUST!! The brands we carry have the highest reviews among parents – our BOB Gear and Bumbleride strollers are extremely practical as you can use them from the time your baby is born well into their toddler age. Also, they’re perfect for different activities and in different weather zones. They’re easy to push, great on rough terrains, and easy to clean
Also, our baby carriers are the most comfortable and reasonably priced available. Please check out our page about our carriers. The Moby Wrap is very comfortable and has the best price at less than $40. The ERGObaby is our higher end carrier but worth EVERY penny as you can use it until your baby is well over 30 pounds! The ERGO baby carrier and the Moby are designed so one carrier will fit most parents and mostly (I feel) to make life a little more convenient!
4) Diapers and basic clothing – of course! Make sure to get newborn sizes. Even a 10lb baby can fit in the newborn size, at least for the first 3 – 4 weeks.
5) Lastly, an infant health kit is a MUST. The kit that has a thermometer, nail clippers, nasal aspirator, etc. These come in handy!

AS long as you have at least one of each item above then this is all you need! Again, just do your research about what product is best for you and will meet your needs and your budget. You can always register for the big ticket items, which especially helps new parents. Good luck to any expecting parents!!

2010 Bumbleride Indie and Indie Twin

2010-03-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

The new and improved Bumbleride 2010 Indie and Indie Twin are available now. We are very pleased with the changes made to the 2010 models. First, the canopy is AWESOME! It truly goes down all the way to your baby's feet - very similar to the 2008 version but with a much more secure ratchet system. We love the bumper bar/car seat adapter bar. There is a push button for the bar that allows the bumper bar to adjust up and down. Thus, you can adjust the bar depending on the size of your child or if you will use it with a car seat. We are so pleased that Bumbleride brought back the bumper bar for the Indie and even more so that it doubles as the car seat adapter bar.

The buttons to adjust the handlebar and footrests have been modified - they are bigger and easier to push. Also, the mesh peek-a-boo window is great as well. The material creates better shade for your little one and still allows you to see your baby from above. Plus the material stays cooler then plastic.
Overall, the 2010 improvements make, in our opinion, the Indie and Indie Twin PERFECT! I can't think of any other updates that can be done to make it better. We're also happy that Bumbleride kept the 2009 colors for the 2010 version, which are very stylish and fun!

We posted some pics here for those customers that are curious about the changes made to the 2010 Bumbleride Indie and Indie Twin.

Baby Carrier - Give Away

2010-02-07T00:12:00.000-08:00

In celebration of our move, we are offering a few promotions this month. The first promotion is a give away of a brand new My Baby Nest carrier in your choice of size and color! This is a $79.90 value!! We love this carrier (see blog entry below) and would love to give one lucky customer that chance to win a My Baby Nest. To submit your entry form simply visit our site and complete a mailing list entry form (even if you’ve submitted an entry before) and in the comments type “My Baby Nest”. On February 28 we will pick a winner who will be announced and notified Monday March 1st.
Please visit the My Baby Nest website below to view more info about the carrier and to see their available colors and sizes.
Mailing List entry form
http://www.buggiesandbabies.com/pages/MailingList.htm

My Baby Nest Website
http://www.mybabynest.com/

New Product added - My Baby Nest Carrier

2010-02-06T23:57:00.000-08:00

We love the “wrap” style to carry our baby – it is really comfortable. I have to say hands down this is the best, most comfortable, most natural way for a parent to hold a baby. When I saw the “My Baby Nest” at a recent baby expo I became quickly intrigued because it creates the same hold and concept as the very popular Moby Wrap yet there is no wrapping! I purchased a sample for my self to “test” out the carrier – as a mom I have to know first hand the quality of a product. I tried it out – it took me only two attempts to get it right. I was AMAZED at how the My Baby Nest really is easy and comfortable to use. At the time I tested it out my daughter was 15 months, 23 pounds and, truly, we were both comfortable. I then had the hubby try it on. Although the S/M was quite snug for him (he’s 240 lbs 6 ft tall) he did say that the baby fit comfortably. He said that one size bigger would probably be perfect for him.
To test it out further I brought the carrier to my daughter’s class and had other mom’s try it on. These moms had 3 – 5 month old babies - they all agreed that it was very comfortable and really easy to put on. I could tell their babies were happy in the sling because they weren’t fussy at all. The true test to a good carrier – if they baby falls asleep or is at least relaxed (no fussing) after a few minutes then they love the carrier. Of course, if it’s comfortable for you and easy to put it then it’s a winner!
Besides the comfort of the My Baby Nest the quality of the fabric is amazing. It’s cotton with stretch lycra – it’s the strong breathable, thin type of cotton. Very similar to those really nice, seamless sports bras. Also the fabric is made with hypoallergenic and non-toxic dyes – which makes it safer for moms and babies.
We love this carrier – this is perfect for parents that want a quality wrap carrier without having to do all the wrapping.
We’ve included the link to the My Baby Nest website so you can check out more info about their carriers, the available colors, and the size chart to find the right fit for you.

http://www.mybabynest.com/

Featured in thebump.com

2009-11-06T15:44:00.000-08:00

If you’ve heard of and love the Knot, an excellent invaluable magazine that helps brides plan and prepare for the big day well then you will love the Bump. From the editors and creators of the Knot, the Bump provides another exceptional local and online tool for expectant mothers and new parents. Baby Gear Exchange is now featured as one of their local resources for baby gear in San Diego. The Bump’s online tool is really amazing. You can register to chat or participate in message boards with other new and expecting parents. This allows you to get advice or share experiences with other local moms. which is so great because it helps to know that others are going through the same thing you are. You can ask real questions and get honest answers from other moms and dads. I love all the other great resources on their web site – ovulation calendar tool for those that want to conceive, pregnancy month by month guide for those that are expecting, and newborn month by month guides for those with little ones. You will find so many great articles, reviews, tips, charts, etc for you to answer your questions whether you’re a mom (or dad)-to-be, a new parent, a breastfeeding mom, or hope to be a parent soon.
We love the section about local guides (which is where you will find us) – this provides all the local, one of kind businesses throughout San Diego that you need to find your baby products. We found a photographer last year that captured AMAZING maternity photos of me as well as newborn pictures of my little one. We also found businesses that we didn’t even know existed in San Diego.
We love the Bump’s magazine as well. It is distributed in various OBGYN’s offices as well as other baby retailers. The magazine features great stories about other parent’s experiences along with guides and tips as expecting mothers or current parents. It’s a great magazine and we are proud to be advertising in the Bump.
Their next magazine will be distributed in May 2010, which will include our ad. Until then we can found on their website under the “Local Guides” and/or “Local Deals”. Anyone that registers on their website will be able to use the special reward we offer to the Bump members only

http://www.thebump.com/

ERGObaby carrier - such a lifesaver

2009-11-05T15:17:00.000-08:00

If you are in the market for a new baby carrier or are unsatisfied with your current carrier, then the ERGObaby is your answer. I wish someone had told me about this carrier when I had my first baby, I tell everyone it is a MUST HAVE. Do not waste your money on those carriers you find at the super baby stores, trust me!
The reason I came across the ERGObaby is because I had done a search on a major online buying store for the best baby carrier. I could not stand my current baby carrier, but with a 2 year old and a bad back I desperately needed a good carrier. The ERGObaby had the top reviews, so many parents were raving about it. Seeing the carrier online brought up several concerns for me. I was concerned about the fact that it did not have any security buttons or locks to keep the baby in place. Also, I was not sure it would fit me comfortably. I found the nearest retailer (which was about 25 miles+ from me). At the time I tried the ERGObaby my little one was 6 months old and weighed 17 pounds, so I was a little skeptical that the carrier would comfortably fit my baby.
Anyhow, I tried on the carrier and it was AMAZING. It was not at all a challenge to figure out to wear the baby. I then tried it with my baby on my back, and again very comfortable! For me, it was a pricey purchase, but it was and has been worth every penny. My husband loves it too.
The real test factor was when I used it with my then 2 year old – she fit very comfortably in it too. In fact, at a trip to Disneyland my 2 year old wanted me to carry her while she napped. I strapped her on my back and carried her while she napped. This was during a mile and a half walk. Neither she nor I had any problems.
We’ve used the ERGObaby in places that don’t allow strollers or where strollers are just inconvenient to bring – San Diego Sports Arena, Padres baseball games, beach, and other amusement parks.
The other thing I love about the ERGObaby is that you can use it to nurse discreetly and anywhere. I am an “on the go” Mom and am always doing 5 things at once. With the ERGObaby we can be grocery shopping or waiting in line for a ride at Legoland and I snap over the hood and/or cover us with my nursing shawl and nurse wherever and whenever.
Today my little one is 13 months and weighs over 23 lbs., we still use our ERGObaby everywhere we go. We love it, and you will surely love it too!!

Baby Jogger City Classic

2009-09-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

I thought I would leave my own personal review of the new Baby Jogger City Classic that Baby Gear Exchange now carries for all you parents doing research for a new stroller. First of all, I know what it’s like to do serious research for a stroller. I spent weeks researching/testing double strollers. We definitely love the double we finally purchased, but during my search I really wanted to mix features from one brand with another and another, then I believe I would have had the PERFECT double stroller.

Anyhow, we specifically sought out Baby Jogger to be able to carry their line of strollers. We were able to arrange with them to sell their 2009 City Classics, which I am so pleased to feature. I love the Baby Jogger brand as their strollers have so many amazing, convenient features. My two most favorite aspects of the Baby Jogger are the multi position canopy and the patented fold. Other advantages of the stroller that I love are the lockable swivel wheel, so I can use it for light jogging. I love the roomy seat – if I have to spend hundreds of dollars on a stroller I hope that I can use the stroller for years to come. Some strollers only fit babies up to 35 lbs, but the Baby Jogger City Classic can hold up to 75 lbs and the seat is very roomy - a 5 year old could easily fit. For newborns you can add the baby bassinette so the baby is even more comfy in the stroller. Alternatively, you can purchase the car seat adapter and use City Classic as a travel stroller. There are so many add ons you can purchase for the Baby Jogger, which is why this brand is so convenient (check out their website for features of their available add-ons). I like the toddler jump seat, which is a little seat that attaches to essentially convert your single into a double stroller.

I also appreciate the light weight of the stroller. The single is amazingly light – I can easily collapse, carry, and lift the City Classic with one hand (thanks to the patented wheel). The double is also light when compared to other doubles (much lighter than the BOB).

The under storage is ample – it’s easy to get to if you insert through the sides. I love the adjustable handle bars, the padded seats, the 5 point harness, and the FLAT recline. I’ve tested all strollers – NO stroller has a recline that compares to Baby Jogger’s. Also, the push is very smooth. It easily maneuvers in tight spaces. I can really go on and one about the City Classic. Overall, when compared to other joggers/strollers Baby Jogger stands out in the following features:
best recline, best canopy coverage, best/easiest fold, best price, best fit for babies (newborn – school age).

Please feel free to visit our store to test drive this stroller or email us if you have any questions about the features/pros/cons of the City Classic.

Please leave any comments to this entry – we love to hear any other stories/reviews from parents that love their Baby Jogger too.

Strollers, Strollers, Strollers

2009-07-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

When I was expecting our first baby I had no idea what stroller to get. All I knew was that the Bugaboo was the premier, top of the line stroller to get. All other strollers were simply just a stroller to push around the baby (so I thought). I did not know the importance of a good canopy, swivel wheel, snack tray, under storage, brakes, frame, height adjusting handlebars, or reversible handlebars. We went to the big name (and only local) baby store in our neighborhood and decided there were way too many strollers to decide upon. I figured the most priciest stroller would be the most ideal and most safe ??? We ended up with a very nice brand (I won’t name it here because I don’t want to influence or offend anyone else that might have the same one). Anyhow, after several months of using it, I realized overtime how I would have preferred a stroller with so many different features. This is how I learned, the hard way, about what strollers would fit different parents. I did not know strollers came with different features – oh, but they do.

Is one parent tall and the other short? - there are strollers where you can adjust the handlebars (WOW). Do you plan on having another baby but don’t want to invest in a hefty double stroller? There are strollers where you can add a Jump Seat, so you get the light weight single stroller with the added benefit of a double stroller. Are you interested in an all terrain stroller – where you can take to the beach, snow, parks, mall? Do you want a stroller that has the best sun coverage?

Every few days or so – I’ll add blogs to highlight the pros and cons of several different strollers that are in our inventory. As I mentioned, we’re only going to be carrying baby gear that is “parent preferred” so stay tuned to read about the best baby gear for Moms, Dads, and babies too.

Website live!

2009-07-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

San Diego Baby Gear Exchange is now live!! Our store will be open to the public very soon too. We're really looking forward to meeting our customers and sharing our experiences with different baby products together. As parents with two little ones, we feel we've learned the hard way about what products are a must have and which ones are a complete waste. At our store, you'll only find baby gear that not only do we approve of but have personally tried, own, or have owned. We're strong supporters of quality - even in this tough economy - we believe the extra money spent on an exceptional baby product is totally worth it. Especially if you plan on having 1 or 2 more kids, then you'll know the investment will last over a long period of time. We hope that from our site or if you visit us at the store, we can provide valuable information to expecting parents or new parents about what baby products are essential. Baby gear can add up, when I registered for my first daughter - I went crazy. I scanned anything and everything that either looked cute or seemed necessary. I must have registered for a dozen receiving blankets (although I received about a hundred), a bunch of onesies (also received a hundred of these), colorful bottles, and several pacifiers. Anyhow, I mention these particular products because I did not use ANY of these. No one told me that the colorful bottles leak, no one told me that in the summer a baby does not need a receiving blanket (nor could I figure out how to wrap her in one), lastly my daughter preferred to suck her own thumb not a pacifier. Needless to say I wasted a lot of people's and my own money on baby products that I was not aware I would not need :) We did donate and/or exchange the products that I did not end up using.

Please visit our site or email if you're wondering what you might need or don't need. Every family and even each parent is different, but at least here you can get an honest opinion about something from a family or families that have been there done that. Thanks again for visiting. We hope to see you here or at our store often.