Baby Gear for Glam-Ma

With my curiousity awakened as to the "new" parenting mode I asked my daughter what I should be buying for the Glam-Ma come-to-visit nursery.

My daughter and her friends (all in various stages of motherhood and pre-motherhood) shared their likes and dislikes. She suggested that I start first of all with The Consumer Reports Best Baby Products book written by Sandra Gordon and the Editors of Consumer Reports.

This very comprehensive guide takes the mother (grandmother) through the entire litany of baby products from Autos (kid friendly vehicles) to Zebras & Other Stuffed Animals. Best yet, within the Introduction section, the authors have a two page list of "Baby Basics," a virtual shopping list for the home and nursery. This made it easy for me to figure out what the glam-ma would and wouldn't need.

I figured that when Meg (my grandaughter) came to visit, her mom would bring the clothing, stroller and car seat. What I would need at my home, however would be a crib, mattress, crib sheets, waterproof liners and mattress pads along with bathroom essentials for bathing. The rest of the gear was optional but I felt a high chair and pack and play would make the visit easier on my daughter and Meg.

If this is your first grandchild you will be saying...what is a pack 'n play... where is the playpen? In essence, the playpen has been redesigned for safety and style and morphed into a combo bassinette and play yard and like calling all copiers Xerox Machines, the play yard is often called by the Graco Company's name: Pack'n Play. In the interest of correct journalism both product names should have the registration symbol after them, but I don't know how to do that ...so just imagine it is there. Other companies making good play yards (recommended by Consumer Reports Best Baby Products) are Baby Trend, Evenflo, Fisher-Price and J. Mason.

On to the list of favs from my daughter's friends:

Graco Swing - You can move it around the house or apartment and is good for dinnertime when they are too young to be in the high chair

Graco Pack'n Play - This is the one I bought Packn_play_central_park

Bebe Pod Infant Seat The baby can sit up in this seat as soon as she can support her head.

Baby Bjorn Active Carrier Great for walks after the baby is 8 lbs.

Graco Travel Lite Bouncer : It even vibrates.

Graco Baby Einstein Entertainer or Evenflo Ultrasaucer
Peg Perego Prima Papa Highchair

Kick and Play Gimini: Mat for playing on the floor

Baby Monitor: Different ones work in different houses

Baby Stroller: So many models. Check out Consumer Reports and try them out.

Car Seat: Depends on your car but most like the Graco Snugrideand the Britax Marathon for when they get bigger. One tip. Don't buy more than one car seat, just buy extra car seat bases that the car seat can snap into.