Four Mommy Approved Baby Products

Finding products that do what they claim is always a challenge but, when you have a family, money matters.

I found a camera, a video monitor, a forward facing car seat and a GPS that meet all my criteria: do what they claim, make my life easier and worth the cost.

Family Camera

What I need most in a camera is one that transports easily and one that can take a picture while my son breaks the sound barrier while playing. The Panasonic digital Lumix camera is the size of a deck of cards, it fits into my already over-burdened purse and it has kid-friendly settings like ‘intellegent auto’ which combines several features to give you the best quality pictures. The Subject and Shake Detection features are fantastic because the while one part of the camera focuses on my son and automatically focuses on him, the anti-shake element will stabilize the visual so that the final photo is not a blur of limbs, which is what happens with most cameras while photographic children. Finally, the price range gives high value for the cost which retails between $260 and $300.

Video Monitor System

The Safety First High-Def Digital Monitor dual video monitor comes highly recommended by this mommy for two reasons, the monitors are portable and the second camera option extends the life of the product. When my son is napping I can take the monitor out into the backyard and get some gardening done or out to the mailbox and I can feel secure in knowing that a quick glance at the screen will tell me if he’s okay or if he needs me; it’s been a provider of great peace of mind for our family. Before we bought this monitor I would check on him mid-nap and inevitably disturb his sleep or wake him entirely and that makes for a grumpy baby and a mommy with less time to gather herself. Finally, the dual monitor option allows you to expand your family without having to purchase an entire new system, just buy another camera for your second baby’s room and the dual monitor system allows you to switch back and forth between the two. It’s a terrific system and considering the price range, well worth a family’s investment, retailing between $300 and $350.

Forward Facing Car Seat

I am irritated by baby products with layers of bells and whistles and endless faux options that you will never use so, when choosing a car seat I went with the higher end model that provided safety and simplicity. The Britax Frontier 2 in 1 Car Seat is a forward facing system that avoids the layering of head rests and shoulder gear and side paneling and roping that both mother and child become entangled. It’s simply a cushioned seat with a push button that adjusts the seatbelt for height and weight as your child grows. Normally, I have to say the Lords Prayer every time I have to put my son into his car seat because he loathes it so but, since we bought the Britax Frontier he barely even takes a swing at me. This car seat is good for up to sixty-five pounds and then as a booster up to one-hundred pounds so, I’ll have my boy strapped in until I drive him off to college. It’s important to note that the most up-to-date safety regulations require infants are reverse facing until they are one-year old.. The Britax Frontier 2 in 1 retails for between $320 - $380.

GPS

I can no longer live without a GPS; since becoming a mother for some reason I am constantly going to new places, new parks, previously unknown organizations and I tend to get lost in my own living room so, when my husband bought me the Garmin Nuvi 265WT GPS, I was suspicious but willing to try anything. What makes the latest model of the Garmin so great is that it has Bluetooth capabilities which leaves my hands and mind free to concentrate on driving and the screen is wider but, the absolute best new feature is the traffic alerts which allows me to take alternate routes to reach appointments on time and avoid lock jams with an infant in the backseat who hasn’t quite yet learned the art of disassociating to cope with grown up problems. For road trips and new destinations, I simply refuse to travel without this GPS because it means I don’t have to yell at my husband to ask for directions. The Garmin Nuvi 265WT retails for between $250 and $300.

I hope these reviews of family friendly products help you make the right choices for you and your little ones. All pricing is in Canadian currency.