Now that I put Amari down for the evening (we have begun sleep training, but more on that next week), I finally have the chance to reflect on my recent trip to the Big City Mom’s Biggest Baby Shower Expo. I had heard during my pregnancy that this expo was the who’s who and what’s what of all things baby, so you can imagine my excitement when JustaBXmom invited me to attend with her. I spent hours in this pavilion checking out so many new products that just hit the market and some that weren’t even out yet. After navigating through the yellow brick road of baby toys, strollers and high chairs oh my… I came across a few items that I couldn’t wait to talk to you guys about.
Amari and I originally arrived in our Doona Car Seat Stroller. If you know anything about me, you know I swear by my Doona (if you don’t know, check it out here). After giving an impromptu presentation of my stroller to everyone standing in the line waiting to get in, I was told that I had to check my stroller in at the door. Go figure…no strollers at the baby convention! This leads me to how I happened to come across my first favorite product.
Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier Mini – After a few minutes
of walking around with Amari in my arms trying to figure out how I was going to get around with no stroller, the people at the Baby Bjorn booth were kind enough to let me test out their baby carrier mini. Boy, was I glad they did. One of the reasons I generally stay away from carriers is because they tend to be bulky and cumbersome to put together. This carrier is so small yet supportive and unbelievably easy to use with a newborn. Unlike other carriers where you are fumbling around with fasteners because they are all on your back, this carrier has all its fasteners in the front where you can actually see what you are doing. Bjorn also color coded each fastener with its partner taking the guesswork out of which goes where. The freedom of longer having to ask strangers in the parking lot to clip me up in the back excited me alone! However, I was sold when it was time to change Amari’s diaper. You can remove the entire front section of the carrier without unfastening the straps around your arms. I unclipped him, changed his diaper and snapped him right back in. Overall the baby carrier mini a perfect product for the early days with your newborn when you want the desired closeness of your little one without the stress.
Peg Perego Siesta Highchair – Goodness this chair is sexy! 5 reclining seat positions, 9 different height positions, a 3 position adjustable seat rest, castor wheels so you can roll it into any room in the house, polyester fabric for the easiest of cleanups. However, what caught my eye the most was that the Siesta Highchair has a complete standalone fold that is so compact that you can store it virtually anywhere. It is perfect for the growing family with limited space. The Siesta Highchair is a bit on the expensive side for a chair, but it does grow with the child from newborn through toddlerhood making it a piece that will last.
Cybex Eezy S Twist – If have been searching for a stroller for your little one, at some point you have come across the Cybex line. Well known for their sleek curves and design it’s no wonder Cybex is a well sought-out line. Being part of the upper stroller echelon, they don’t come cheap, so I was pretty thrilled when they began to release a gold line that was a bit more affordable. The stroller that particularly caught my attention was the Cybex Eezy S Twist. It has a one hand rotating seat that can swivel in seconds so that your baby can face you or look out into the world. Its compact and light and folds (also with one hand) small enough to fit in an overhead airplane compartment and other small spaces. This type of convenience always piques the interest of the traveler in me. All of these nice compact features and Cybex still found a way to make it compatible with its car seat to make it a complete travel system. With this stroller accommodating up to 55 pounds, this seat is sure to stay with you for quite a while. But don’t take my word for it… check it out yourself on sale here, Cybex Eezy S Twist.
Ellison Diaper Bag by EC Knox – I’m not sure which I loved more, the diaper bag or Gavin, the owner and presenter of the bag! Gavin was so animated and enjoyable that I may have easily watched him present his “diaper bag for the stylish man” at least 4 times. Gavin says he built this diaper bag out of necessity because there was nothing for men out there, Yet men have been having babies for just as long as women right?! Like Gavin, any time I can present something to help the fathers, I’m game… after all, they are part of this village too right? Back to the bag; It is a messenger style diaper bag that converts to a bookbag. It has a space for EVERYTHING a man/dad needs. It’s made of durable ballistic nylon, has a zip-out changing pad, side pockets for wet wipes, laptop sleeve and a flashlight for desperate searches for a f#$*#&g pacifier (his words not mine). He also added 15 additional compartments to hold everything from diapers to flasks (again his words not mine). LOL, do you love him as much as I do yet?? This diaper bag is currently only available at Barneys and on their EC Knox website and has a bit of a tag at $395 but this bag functions as way more than just a diaper bag. It can literally be used even when the baby isn’t in tow. If that’s a bit more than you want to dish to for this awesome piece, word on the street is that they are currently working on a more affordable version that will be available next year for half the price. I’m not sure about you, but I can’t wait to purchase mine. FYI he also has a weekender bag that is even cooler. So if you are a traveler like I am, you will love that you can separately pack yours and your little one’s items so that everything can be found with ease. You can get a closer look at both bags here.
Are you bummed out that you weren’t able to attend the Biggest Baby Shower? Well, it’s not too late. The Big City Mom’s will be in Atlanta and a few other cities over the next few months. Check to see if they will be coming to a city near you.
**Follow more of Amari and my adventures on Instagram at @JustaNJMom**
