This is interesting. I'd love to see you all make a list of things actually necessary (and when to spend big vs when to go budget) for a new baby. As a pregnant woman, I have a vested interest.

You're a bugaboo man, and I'm a svan gal. We have both the bouncy seat and the high chair. The bouncy seat was great while it lasted - it is very portable, looks nice, and is comfy enough for baby to take a nice long nap - but it didn't last terribly long (our girl was sitting up by herself at 5 months). The high chair, though, is worth every freaking penny. It's gorgeous, easy to use, very easy to clean (no crappy cushions for crumbs and stuff to get stuck in, although if you're worried your kid doesn't have enough cushion somehow - I don't know about you but my kid wears diapers - you can buy a cushion), and comes with a plastic tray overlay that snaps on and off so you can whisk it away with ease yet baby can still sit there and play with a toy or eat her pretzel or whatever. Plus, it comes right up to the table when you take the tray off. AND it doesn't make my kitchen look like a daycare. We also have the Phil and Ted's Me Too chair (Jennifer, check it out!) for travel and it's the perfect solution for visiting friends and relatives as well as eating at restaurants. It even folds flat so you can stick it in luggage or a (large-ish) diaper bag.

Not a lot of stuff there for over $4,000.00 is there?  I like the Svan high chair and think it's worth the bucks, but I would live in fear of losing the expensive baby booties. I've lost too many booties to pay that kind of money.  

Jan from www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com

Those shoes can't be a competitor if they are made by Stride Rite which owns Robeez now?  

interesting u comment on conspicuous and ostentatious baby gear- when u yourself sport a status-symbol bugaboo!!!!!!!

pot calling the kettle.....

I see anyone's point.  In moderndaydad's defense I would like to say that if your occupation involves commentary on celebrities and the stuff that they use you might find it helpful to try some of the gear out that they are strolling, carrying or even wiping with.  

At one time I made a silk crib set for one of my girls, just because I was called upon to write an article about luxury items and I needed the experience to be able to comment.  Did I actually recommend it after my experience as a bargain or an easy care item?  No, I did not but that's beside the point.  

How can a columnist/blogger make an assessment of whether an expensive stroller is worth the bucks or not if he or she has not used one?  

If you read closely, moderndaydad shared some interesting info between the lines in the statement that the celebrity association was why he got his Bugaboo, not because it was the best...or am I reading too much into that?  

Jan