phil&teds has just raised the bar with modular strollers once again with their newest addition the Promenade.

The Promenade is more classy than sporty and is truly a versatile stroller that will grow with your children. With standout features such as toddler seats that transform into flat bed seat (like a stroller bassinet!) and a handle that telescopes out far enough that you will not kick the doubles kit, this is one stroller you need to take notice of.

Let’s start in singles mode. The seat accommodates up to 40 lbs and measure 12″ wide with a 19″ seatback and 22″ seatback to canopy measurement. While the canopy height isn’t very tall, you can slide the canopy up the frame of the seat to give more headroom for your taller riders. We found that the seat was roomy and a child up to at least 4 years old can fit in it comfortably. The adjustable, padded, 5-point harness keeps your baby safe in the seat while the hard-to-do buckle (for a toddler!) keeps them IN the seat.

The adjustable footrest is a unique feature for a stroller seat that transforms into a flat bed seat and the one-handed recline is fabulous! The seat reclines back into 2 additional positions, including fully reclined.

The most notable feature of the seat is that it transforms from toddler seat to flat bed seat by unbuckling 2 buckles. Just to clarify, phil&teds refers to it as a “flat bed seat” because it is not meant to work off of the stroller. Read: You can’t take this seat off and use it as a free-standing bassinet/carrycot. We aren’t crazy about the term “flat bed seat” so we are going to continue to call it a “bassinet”. Just remember it can’t be used off the stroller. It’s a stroller bassinet! Cool? That’s it – two buckles and you have yourself a bassinet! Not need to purchase one separately. No need to store the bassinet when baby outgrows it. The bassinet is the toddler seat and the toddler seat is the bassinet. Brilliant.

Like most luxury strollers, the Promenade gives you the option to reverse the seat. This one is a little different than most because you have a second set of adapters to use when reversing the seat to parent-face. The adapters are super easy to attach and we love that the seat/bassinet is raised higher and closer to mom when parent-facing.

We all know that canopy size most definitely matters. The Promenade is well endowed in the canopy arena. While at first glance it’s not huge, but unzip the zipper down the center and the canopy really opens up. It becomes a full-coverage canopy with a large mesh window for air to circulate through the seat and a peek-a-boo window to keep an eye on your little rider.

The handle bar telescopes out to accommodate a long stride and when you attach the doubles kit – it telescopes out even more. This handle bar really goes the extra mile for those long-legged parents to prevent them from kicking the frame or the rear seat.

With a huge basket underneath the seat, you will have a place to put all your baby essentials.  There is serious storage space under there but there has to be because the doubles kit does take up quite a bit of basket room.  Not to worry though because even with the doubles kit attached, there is still some basket real estate to spare for some loose essentials.

The stroller rolls on 7 1/2″ front tires and 11″ rear tires both being foam so there is no worry of a flat. The front wheels are swivel wheels for one-handed maneuverability around the tightest corners but can lock straight to tackle some all-terrain such as grass, playground mulch and gravel. The suspension system absorbs some of the bumps giving baby a smooth ride and the one-step, flip-flop friendly brake is a nice touch.

When it’s time to use the Promenade in doubles mode, this buggy really shines. A doubles kit (sold separately) attaches behind the front seat easily and quickly. The doubles kit is just as great as the main seat as it transforms from toddler seat to bassinet and can accommodate all the way up to 40 lbs. If that isn’t enough, the doubles kit also reclines into two additional positions including all the way back.

Versatility is the name of the game with the Promenade! It can accommodate a car seat to become a travel system or you can set up the seats/bassinet into 7 additional configurations.  With configurations such as two bassinets or a car seat and a bassinet, we highly recommend this stroller for twins.

The stroller weighs in a 28 lbs in singles mode and 35 lbs in doubles mode which makes it pretty average in the full-size, modular, all-terrain(ish) type of strollers. It’s definitely not light but isn’t going to break your back either. The doubles kit has to be removed when folding, so you will never need to lift the 35 lb double stroller all in one piece into your trunk anyway.

Folding the stroller is really very simple but you will need both hands. It folds into a rather compact package (not tiny – but will fit in a sedan trunk!). To make the folded package even smaller, just remove the bumper bar and pop off the wheels. 

Overall, we can tell that phil&teds really thought about mom/dad and baby when designing this stroller. With transforming seats, a handlebar that really telescopes to get the job done, a full-coverage canopy, and 8 different configurations to accommodate and grow with not only one rider but two, the Promenade is a winner in our book!  That isn’t to say that this winner isn’t pricey.  It is. Retailing for $849 in singles mode and an additional $149 for the doubles kit, you are getting a luxury stroller stocked with features for a luxury price.

To watch our full in-depth video review of the promenade, click on the video below:

Anyone else have kids who act as if they haven’t been fed for days but dinner is still a solid 30 minutes away? Its a tough situation because I understand that kids can’t control their hunger but I don’t want them to spoil their dinner with snacks.  When I am on top of my game I can offer some fresh veggies but let’s face it most days I am not.  I need something quick, small, and hopefully healthy.

My new favorite go to pre-dinner snacks are made by Crispy Green.  They make delicious freeze-dried fruit crisps with no added sugar.  Some unique fruit choices are available like Cantaloupe and Mango!  They have the classics too though like Apple, Pear, Pineapple and my kid’s absolute favorite: Banana!  I love these snacks because they are 100% fruit and each bag contains only one ingredient.

Try this tasty treat for less.  Amazon offers a 15% discount when you use subscribe and save.  Right now they also have a coupon for an extra 15% off.  That brings the price down to 93 cents a pack or as I like to think of it 93 cents for an extra 30 minutes of peace and quiet.  Totally worth it!

If you are looking for a great gift for a baby 6 months to about 18 months, the Fisher-Price Lil’ Zoomers Spinnin’ Sounds Speedway just might do the trick.  It’s not a quiet toy but it sure does keep our little baby testers busy. Take a look at our quick video review below:

SHOP Fisher-Price Lil’ Zoomers Spinnin’ Sounds Speedway HERE

Our Baby Gizmo family has been growing so it’s time to meet another  new Baby Gizmo writer!  Jessica is one of our newest Baby Gizmo Team Mamas! She lives in DC with her husband and two darling girls.  Let’s give her a warm welcome and get ready for her fun sense of humor!

Jessica lives in the Washington, DC metropolitan area with her husband and two girls. Once upon a time, pre-motherhood, she did important things as a very “important” writer who managed to successfully balance a reality TV addiction with the pursuit of a graduate degree in English. Now she’s a stay at home mom who fantasizes about minivans, the perfect double stroller, and sleep. She enjoys (among many other things) dancing to 80s music, photography, laughing out loud (at, usually, inappropriate moments), and writing about motherhood, the tough and sweet spots of raising children, and life on her blog MOMMYHOOD NEXT RIGHT.

We thought her post “Don’t Blame Me for a Buying a Blames” would be a great way to introduce her to all our Baby Gizmo friends!

I didn’t start thinking about a high chair until I absolutely had to, or when my first daughter was around 10-months-old and absolutely couldn’t fit in her Bumbo seat anymore. And, when I did start looking for high chairs, my standards were mostly low. I just wanted something that was reasonably priced and that looked good in my kitchen. I know. Bad standards. But, I promise I didn’t know any better.

The first high chair that I saw that fit that bill was the Blames.

We “locked” eyes on a trip I made to IKEA one night and it was high chair love at first sight. I didn’t buy the Blames in our first meeting, however. I bought it after reading maybe three positive reviews online. I didn’t do a more extensive check because I didn’t need to. I was in love and that chair was beautiful and I needed it in my kitchen.

Some of its most attractive features are that:

• It looks and feels sturdy with its classic, Scandinavian wooden exterior (only the tray is plastic).
• It looks like a real piece of furniture that you’d actually want in your kitchen.
• It is available in black or red and is smaller than most traditional American high chairs (Product dimensions: Width: 20 1/8 “, Depth: 21 1/4 “, Height: 36 5/8 “, Seat width: 11 3/4 “, Seat depth: 9 1/2 “, Seat height: 22)
• It is easy to assemble. It took my husband and I all of twenty minutes to put the chair together.

While the Blames looked perfect in my kitchen. Our love affair began to become, well, iffy whenever my daughter got involved. Yes, it was then that I realized that while a beautiful chair, the Blames does not work for the average, mealtime resisting toddler.

Some of the specific issues that I had with the chair were that:

• The “removable” tray of the Blames does not remove as easily as it should, making clean up more stressful than necessary.
• Rather than a chest harness, the Blames features lap straps that are adjustable on both sides. I hated that these straps could not restrain my toddler. Even at the lowest/tightest setting, my toddler was able to escape within seconds of being in the chair. And this, along with her unwillingness to eat anything but lint and Walmart receipts, made mealtimes a nightmare!
• There is no cushion or pillow on the headrest to restrain the blows of chair-head-butting toddlers.  Maybe my child is exceptionally violent, but without a cushion or pillow or anything at the headrest, meal times would always end in a lot of tears.

Would I recommend this chair to other moms and dads?

The Blames is a beautiful chair. It’s kind of chair that will easily win the hearts and minds of parents who hope to show that, even with kids, they still have an eye for style and haven’t compromised all of their pre-baby home’s aesthetic. While beautiful, for mobile toddlers and weary parents, it’s not the best option. So, for this reason, I would not recommend the Blames to other moms and dads.

Achoo!  Hand me a tissue please.

Better yet, pass me The Sneezy Wheezy Day, the third installment of the COUGAR CUB TALES, an award-winning children’s book series written and illustrated by Sharon Cramer.

In The Sneezy Wheezy Day, when brother cub gets sick, he and his sister decide to seek their well-intentioned woodland friends for treatments and remedies to make him feel better. The King Stag instructs the cub, “Tickle your nose with the tail of a goose and do it before the next blue moon rise!”  Ultimately, he recovers after a much-needed nap and the love of his caring sister.

I eagerly sat down to read my review copy to my two year old son while he had the sniffles.  We had never read either of the other two Cougar Cub Tales.  My favorite part of this book is the watercolored illustrations on the right-hand pages.   I like the story concept because nobody enjoys being sick and most of us make lousy patients.  But I was disappointed that the friendly animals in the forest recommended quack cures for the cub’s cold that younger children might not understand.  In addition, the verse and some of the vocabulary might be too complex for some children.  It also bothered me that the cubs are nameless.

What’s most impressive is that Sharon Cramer, a nurse and mom of three, self-publishes her books.  Perhaps that’s why there appears to be a misprint in her bio on the last page of the 38 page book.

Over all, it makes me a bit queasy to say that this book is nothing to sneeze over.  Instead of buying it, I recommend getting the FREE download e-book on Amazon available between January 23-27, 2012.

Gazuntite!

Ugh, the winter weather has finally caught up with us. It’s all snow, rain and wind out there and all we have to wear is last year’s snow onesie that is clearly too small. I don’t know about you but my kids are growing like weeds and it seems even though I try and plan ahead in sizes — it never works out. Never! In fact one time, I think my son just skipped a size altogether…how does that happen? So now as we’re finally prepping to get into the snow, the gear we need is also now on sale. Yippee! So not only am I planning to buy for this year but also for next year. Here’s a few of my favorite snowy day looks that just can’t be beat in both cuteness and in price!

Even the littlest snow bunny will look adorable in this get-up and she’ll stay SO warm. Primigi Kids Giubbotto Hooded Snow Suit, $53.99 (originally $67) at Zappos.com 

These pants are so HOT they may melt the snow right out from under them — in fact, these are almost gender neutral so you can pass them from brother to sister, no problem! Cherokee Plaid Snow Pant, $13.98, at Target.com 

Personally, my son won’t wear anything unless it’s CARS related so I’m buying a pair of these for this year and one for next year too (assuming, he’s still the fanatic he is right now)! Disney/Pixar Cars Snow Boots, $23.97 (originally $45), at kohls.com, and for the Princess of the family, those are also on sale too. Disney Princess Light-Up Snow Boots, $23.97, at kohls.com.

Jackets are worn so much for the season, it makes sense to invest in a good one that will last. Adventure Parka, $64 (originally $89), at garnethill.com.

I just love this hat — any age, any gender — it reminds me of Kate Spade‘s cheeky snow hats for us moms! Snowboarding Goggle Sweater Hat, $15.49, at gymboree.com.

Have you found a great sale on snow gear? Do tell…!

I’m crushin’ on my son’s latest toy, B. Woofer Hound Dog Guitar.  From the minute we brought this tie-dyed blue dog home, it’s been music to our ears.  We’re actually able to strum his heart with our finger.  Plus, he has a funky, fashionable strap.

Here’s more features that makes Woofer so extra-special:

3 play modes: acoustic, electric or hound dog

8 musical buttons play C to C chords

Guitar strings play chord progressions or pre-recorded songs

Whammy Bone lets you make any song your own

20 sing-along favorites and 9 Peppy Puppy songs

Includes everyone’s best friend: a volume knob

Auto off after 2 minutes. Good doggy.

B. Woofer plays wells with children ages 2-6.

For every B. Toy purchased, 10 cents goes to Free The Children, the largest network of children helping children.

How much is that doggy in the window and other information can be obtained at

http://justb-byou.com/toys/lively/woofer/.

Like its products, the company’s website is well-designed, fun and makes you feel good.

“At the end of the day, our goal is to be bigger than a toy company. We want to be a voice to children that says it’s okay to be curious, to be pensive, to be loud, to be happy and sad all at the same time, to be generous, to be afraid, to be quiet, to be wild, to be fun, to be open, to be scientific, to be poetic, to be giddy, to be serious, to be smart, to be free, to be you.  Just B. Just you. B. you.”

I’m off to go play “Love Me Tender.”  I’ll try to do Elvis proud!  Let’s give this dog a bone.

As parents, we encourage our children’s creativity. Often times that comes with a cost. Usually when I’m pulling out the crayons, paint, markers, clay and/or other art supplies, I cringe thinking about where besides the paper these materials are going to wind up on.

My son received the Aquadoodle Classic Mat as a gift from his Aunt, Uncle and cousins because it was one of their favorites when they were his age.  In a matter of minutes, it became one of our favorites too.

Aquadoodle is an activity drawing toy primarily for toddler and preschool aged children that allows them to make great art with nothing more than water and a special mat that is divided into four colored sections (green, blue, pink and purple). No mess, no ink, no chemicals! The patented invention is based on a hydrochromatic ink which causes color change when the user draws with a water filled pen. The user’s drawings will remain for several minutes before gradually disappearing and then you can start all over again.

It’s ideal for travel since it’s light-weight, compact, keeps children entertained without requiring electricty, batteries and leaves no unwanted mess behind. Incorporate the latest modern technology by photographing the works of art before they dry up and disappear.

SHOP Aquadoodle HERE

The Peek Away 4 – in – 1 Nursing Kit is a product I recently came across that claims it helps women nurse in public while on the go. It is all of the following rolled into one- a nursing pillow, a nursing cover, a changing pad and a handbag, and retails for $43.95. What more could a woman want while out and about? I decided to put it to the test.

The bag is beautifully packaged, making it a great gift for someone. However, once I took it out, I was hit by a strong odor- I believed it was the plastic fabric of the changing pad. Although the company is an American company started by a couple with children, the product is made in China. So I contacted them via their website and received this email:

“Thank you for contacting us about your concern. Our manufacture did the production of our pillow kits right after the fabric was produced. They then packaged & sent them in a concealed container for their journey to the USA. They just need a bit of time to air our. You can always just wash it right away as well. I also would like to put your mind at ease, all the fabric use during this production was sent to a CPSIA accredited lab for testing. If there was any issues with the dies or the fabric it wouldn’t have passed. We wish our manufacture would have slowed down a bit during production, I think it would have made a huge difference on the whole product. We have currently let them go and have been in talks with a new manufacture that I’m sure will produce a much better product in time.”

So they state that it is the fabric smell and they are changing manufacturers.

I will now go into the specifics of the four parts of the bag, and my opinion.

The Handbag

• Subtle pockets to place keys, a cell phone and other small necessities inside
• Adjustable, detachable strap
• Measures 13″ x 6″ x 4.5″

It looks very cute, the prints are fun and it’s very lightweight. The material is a little thin, but I appreciate that it’s light for someone who is also trying to carry a baby. The pockets are strategically placed so you can reach them easily. However, there are a couple of loose threads, something I did not appreciate. I have taken a photo of the pockets sizing, so you can see there are two that my Blackberry phone has got lost in, showing that they have good room for keys, change, cards and a cell phone. The strap is easily adjustable and detachable.

The two pockets in the bag

Travel Pillow

• pillow height provides just the right amount of support for baby’s head and body to ensure comfort
• adjustable, detachable strap can be used to go around the mother’s waist to hold the pillow in place while nursing
• adjustable strap measures 14″ – 27″ (may not fit all waists when used as the waist strap)
• measures 13″ x 6″ x 4.5″

This is small, light, and transportable, and it easily folds in and out of the handbag. What a great idea! I know many mothers will appreciate this as their babies need some help with positioning while nursing, and they are forced to carry around their Boppy or Brest Friend. My toddler is too old for me to test this, so a friend of mine whose baby is 7 months tried it and loved it! Bravo Peek Away!

No-Peek Nursing Cover

• viewing window at the top to maintain eye contact with baby during nursing and ensure a good latch
• oval shape to help provide mom with the extra privacy
• adjustable, detachable strap with metal clasps
• two minky pockets that act as a burp cloth
• cotton/polyester blend
• measures 26.5″ x 34″

This part I’m not so thrilled about. The cover is narrower at the top (where your breasts are) and wider at the bottom (where the baby is). It really does not cover much, and the viewing window is so wide you can pretty much see everything. I will not be using this cover, as it, sadly, doesn’t do the job. I have simply removed their cover and put my own in it. The adjustable straps for the nursing cover are the same straps that you would use to secure the nursing pillow around your waist, so keep in mind that if you want to use the nursing cover, you cannot use the strap around the pillow- it’s one or the other. You would need to place the pillow somewhere comfortable without having it secured to you.

Convertible Changing Pad, Wipe Case, and Diaper Storage

• 3-panel, cushioned change pad measures 25″ x 13″ x 1″
• removable white plastic wipes case and pocket measures 8″ x 5.5″
• magnetic closure storage pocket measures 4″ x 6″

The changing pad is long and well padded (given that it is also the travel pillow) and hence great to use on the go. The wipes case is a simple plastic case which has an opening for easy access, and I managed to fit a cloth diaper into the diaper section which is great.

Overall

Overall, I would suggest two changes to the manufacturers: to redesign the nursing cover as it really doesn’t cover anything and to use materials for the case and fabric that are of a higher quality. Other than that, I love the concept, and I think this is a great purchase for women on the go who want something easy and light instead of a diaper bag, especially for a mom who needs a pillow to help them nurse.

Buy the Peek Away 4-in-1 Essentials Nursing Kit HERE

Whoever invented the high chair must not have been thinking of the fun babies would have throwing food from so high. My daughter is currently at the stage where if she doesn’t like something, it ends up being thrown. Luckily, it is caught. Not by me (I know moms have superpowers, but I’m not that good) but by our dearly beloved splat mat. Lightweight, easy to clean, and available in a variety of colors, these mats are placed under the high chair to stop any mess from touching your floors. You can also use the mat under older children when they want to do art work, or you can even take them to the park to use for picnics. Bring on the Play-doh!

Sugarbooger Feeding Collection Jumbo Floor Mat – from $28.25

Made from laminated cotton canvas, this 42″ by 42″ mat comes in a variety of fun patterns and even has it’s own pouch which makes it handy when you need to take it to the grandparents’ house.Wipe clean, line dry.

Buy the Sugarbooger Feeding Collection Jumbo Floor Mat HERE

Jaq Jaq Bird Activity Mat – $35.00

Free of PVC, phthalates, and BPA, as well as being waterproof and stain resistant, this large 44″ x 44″ mat is a solid color in the middle with a patterned border. There are three patterns available- Dots, Roadway and Airplane. Wipe clean with mild soap and water.

Buy the Jaq Jaq Bird Activity Mat HERE

Booginhead Splat Mat – from $13.48

Not feeling so square? Booginhead have created a round 52″ splat mat that is phthalate and BPA free. It comes in two fancy designs- pink lace and brown flourish, and is easy to wipe clean.

Buy the Booginhead Splat Mat HERE

Disney Pooh Floor Topper Disposable Mats 5 pack – $5.49

Not only do these feature Pooh and his friends, but these mats are very lightweight and disposable, so you can leave one in your diaper bag for that time you might visit a friend’s house who doesn’t have kids and is still worried about food on the floor (I realized after having my daughter that I will always be stepping on something… somewhere). Some people are even kind enough to use these in restaurants. They measure 38″ by 38″ and there are 5 in a pack.

Buy the Disney Pooh Floor Topper Disposable Mats HERE