leo@cca.UUCP (Louise Osterman) (01/07/86)
Putting my plug in (as I did a few months back when this topic came up), have a cool-mist humidifier around, but when the baby/child has a cold/stuffy nose, the humidifier makes breathing a lot easier for the little one. (Works well for adults who pick up the little one's colds, too!) I agree with the person who said not to invest a whole lot on a baby carriage, but said to invest in a good stroller. If you plan on using the stroller a lot, look for wheels that can be replaced if they wear out! Regarding car seats, this discussion comes up frequently in this group. My only suggestion is against the One-Step, and for what may seem an odd reason: Lauren is in the 95th percentile for height and is long-torsoed which presented a problem with bringing the shield down over her head. I don't recall who put that carseat out (it was a gift from her paternal grandma). At any rate, I didn't get much use out of it. Another odd thing happened once when the weather was really cold - the lock didn't catch, but didn't come undone when I tugged at it. A few blocks away from home, I noticed that the shield was up. Given the way it goes up, I don't think I would trust it if the child's head was resting on it. When out of town once, I rented one that required more steps to secure it, and felt the extra time was worth the extra sense of security. An item that you may look at when the baby is a little older is a walker. Beware those that tip over easily. A Century Super-Coupe works well and has a tray to put play-things in. If you can find a second-hand one in good condition, buy it. They are another short-use item, but one that gives the baby a greater sense of freedom.