Featured in thebump.com

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

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

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

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!

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.