droolicious : graco

First Look: Graco SnugRide32 Infant Car Seat

Nicole Feliciano — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:30:00 GMT

An infant car seat built to last the first year.

Graco fans were bummed when thier babies quickly outgrew the popular SnugRide infant seat. When junior reached 29” or 22 lbs, it used to be time to give up this cushy ride for a heavier and less portable car seat option.

Enter the SnugRide 32. This car seat's got all the features parents loved from the original (EPS foam, 5-point harness, correct install indicator, comfortable handle, etc.) but now this seat now accommodates a child up to 32 lbs and 32” tall.

According to Graco, the SnugRide32 fits 97% of one year-olds making it easier to meet safety recommendations of riding rear facing for one full year. (In fact, the AAP just released new research indicating that toddlers are safer riding rear-facing up to their second birthday). The SnugRide32 weighs in at 15.7 pounds and sells for $169.99.

Star Baby: Naomi Watts Mixes and Matches

SunnyChanel — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:23:00 GMT

Naomi Watts took her sons for a spin the other day. Watts strolled 2-month-old son Samuel “Sammy” Kai in a unit that was mixed and matched. Sammy has nestled in a Graco Infant SafeStep Step 1 baby carrier, stroller attaching car seat. Watts then matched the Graco with a MacClaren Easy Traveller Car Seat Frame which not only works with this Graco Snug Ride but also infant car seats from Peg Perego, Evenflo, Cosco, Britax and Combi.

With the amount that this jet setting family travels, having lightweight and practical pieces of baby gear is not just convenient but imperative.
You can pick up the MacClaren Easy Traveller Car Seat here for $79.95 (on sale from $109.99) and you can purchase the Graco Infant SafeStep Step 1 from Amazon here for $155.99.

Photo: Celebrity Baby Scoop

Star Baby: Donald Trump Jr. Plays with the Stroller / Diaper Bag Ratios

SunnyChanel — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:30:00 GMT

What’s wrong with this picture? The stroller to diaper bag ratio is way off. Generally, the stroller cost is in line with the cost of the diaper bag that mom carries. For example, if baby has a Bugaboo Stroller (retail price $759) then mom might splurge on a Prada Diaper Bag (retail price $1100) and if they have a Chico stroller (retail price $69.99) then they’ll probably go sensible with a Skip Hop Diaper Bag ($79). It's simple math.

Here Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Vanessa (who just had their second child this week), were shown blatantly toying with the ratio when they ventured out with a Graco Metrolite Stroller (retail price $159 - on sale now for $89.99 ) and a Gucci Diaper bag ($975). Yup, the ratio is off, way off. If you want to dabble in either end of the spectrum, check out the Graco from Albee's Baby here or the Gucci Diaper Bag from Neiman Marcus here.

Clearance: Travel Lite Crib & Pack'n'Play

AmandaHill — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:00:00 GMT

You may remember this great Travel Lite Crib by Graco was highlighted here in August in a Graco Playard review. Right now, this hit from Graco is on clearance at Target along with the Graco Pack'n'Play Playard. Click behind the fold to see more pictures and the great clearance prices.

Right now, the Travel Lite Crib is 30% off of the normal prices. So you can pick one up for $69.99. The Graco Pack'nPlay is 20% off; so it can be purchased for $87.99. Both are really great deals from Target, especially if you are currently looking for a portable playard or crib of some sort.

First Look: Graco Twin IPO Stroller

Nicole Feliciano — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:31:00 GMT

Measuring fewer than 31” wide, parents with two kids in tow should check out the latest model from Graco.

The latest model from Graco isn’t just for twins. No matter the age differential, the IPO ($199.99) offers a compelling case for a side-by-side stroller. Most urban parents tend to think vertical when they consider how to stroll two kids about town. This lightweight model from Graco offers a new (and much less expensive) option.

The Graco Twin IPO Stroller debuted at the end of the 2008. The sturdy ride can handle two children up to 50 pounds each—making it a dream for parents of twins or anyone else with a pair of non-walkers. It’s also city friendly thanks to petite dimensions.

No, it doesn’t have pneumatic tires, but Graco offers other creature comforts: reclining seats, accessible storage basket, individual canopies with peek-a-boo windows and tinted sun visors, adjustable leg rests and padded handles.

Amazon Deal Alert: Graco Pack 'N Plays $50 Off

Chris Ford — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:01:00 GMT

As a new or impending parent, a "pack 'n play" (or some sort of similar portable bed) is something you absolutely think you'll need, but in my experience it's something that you'll only use a few times. But, when you do need one - you really need one. Either way, if you're shopping for one you could do a lot worse than get one for $50 off.

The Pack 'N Plays from Graco that are usually $209.99 are on sale for $159.99 (from Amazon seller Right Start). There is also a more modern-looking option from Combi (the Combi Jazz Play Yard) that's also $50 off.

Check it out at this page on Amazon.com

The Sensible Stroller Purchased By The Scranton Branch On The Office

Chris Ford — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:01:00 GMT

A lot of people have commented on my post about the Orbit stroller Dwight Schrute punished unmercifully on last week's episode of the Office, and a lot of them agree with Dwight that a $900 stroller is way too expensive. This led me to think, "If the Orbit was so expensive, what kind of sensible stroller did the Dunder Mifflin Scranton office get for Jan and her new baby?" The answer - a much less expensive option, but by no means a cheap stroller at all.

The Scranton branch pooled their money together and purchased a stroller frame and infant car seat from Graco. The Graco SnugRider Infant Carseat Frame folds up nicely, has two parent cupholders and a basket underneath. More importantly, it only costs $59.99. The car seat they purchased is the Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat in the Sterling pattern. It has all the typical car seat stuff (five point harness, a base, a handle etc.) and is (according to Graco) "America's favorite infant car seat."

The car seat costs $99.99 bringing the total price tag on the gift to $159.98. Which is a pretty good gift for the baby shower of your bosses ex-girlfriend's baby (that isn't even your boss's baby in the first place).

Huh? You kind of have to watch the show.

You can buy stroller and the car seat from Babies R Us.

And check out the Office on NBC.

Also on Babble.com - The Office's Dwight Schrute Crash "Tests" An Orbit Stroller

Star Baby: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Twins Get Carried Away

SunnyChanel — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:20:00 GMT

Many people dress their twins in matching outfits. Here Angelina and Brad show that they take it one step further, and opt to carry their kids in matching car seats. The Pitt / Jolie brood was photographed at the Nice airport after a whirlwind trip to New York City and New Orleans. How do little Viv and Knox ride? In good old Graco SafeSeat Infant Car Seats style. Angelina and Brad went with the comforting coffee brown hues of the French Roast collection. You can get your own here from BabiesRUs here $139.99 (each).

20 Best Baby Deals on eBay – Save Thousands, Really!

SunnyChanel — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:05:00 GMT

In these days of stock turmoil, credit crunching and good old -fashioned recession style, saving a buck has never been so prudent and, sadly, necessary. If you have a newborn or a bun in the oven, it’s a bit late to “reschedule” that recent or impending birth for a more auspicous era. So although the future financial forecast includes rain, cloud and scattered storms, if you don’t do the standard baby shower route, don’t fret, you can get a significant discount on pert near everything you need for your baby.

Below are 20 baby necessities (not all of them are must haves, but all are popular with the parental units) that are in regular rotation from everyone’s favorite auction site eBay.com. You can get items that are brand spanking new or “gently” used and your savings can, seriously, be phenomenal. Let’s say you bought everything on this list,if you got it all at the retail sticker price you’d pay $3459.39. If you wisely went to eBay and got a mix of used and new items, you could pay as low as $1320.52 for all of it, I mean everything, saving more than $2000! Now that’s a recession friendly deal.

Petunia Picklebottom Diaper Bag
Regular Price = $175
eBay with a range from $36 used to $137.50 new

There are a lot of choices for diapers bags out there. Why did I pick this one? Because I had one and loved it. It has a zip out changing station, two generous sized side pockets, is easy to carry and also tres chic. There are lots of different styles, colors and patterns to choose from .

Medela Breat Pump - In Style with Bag (don't worry it's new!).
Regular Price = $350.99
eBay price range - $260.50 to $200

Yeah, this is something that would probably be best bought brand new. You could always save even more by renting one but if you know you'll get lots of use out of it, you might as well just make that investment.

Baby Bjorn Original Carrier in City Black
Regular Price = $89.99
eBay: $1.04 (used) to $84.99 (new)
The always popular and utterly classic Baby Bjorn is the go-to carrier for both moms and dads. It’s practical, safe and makes multitasking with a baby plausible and possible.

Native Baby Sling
Regular Price: $54.00
eBay: $8.07 (used) to $34.99
For those of you who prefer to sling instead of Bjorn (or perhaps you play both sides of the baby carrier field) there are many options in slings out there and almost all of them are listed on eBay. I picked the Native Baby Sling since that is the one I used with my daughter and we both loved it. Simple, no straps, buttons, or zippers. Just cloth, baby and me.

Britax Marathon Car Seat New - Various covers
Regular: $279.99
eBay: $92.74 to $279.99

Your newborn won’t be able to cold chill in the Britax Marathon Car Seat right away, but one thing about those kids, they grow quick. So having a car seat ready to go when they suddenly grow out of their infant seat is a good thing to keep in your basement. I’m a fan of the popular Britax Marathon Car Seat. Not only is it sturdy and safe, but it comes in many interesting patterns and hues.

Mobile -
Regular: Wide, wide range
eBay .81cents to $69.00
(one pictured above is $39.99)
When my daughter was a baby, I was convinced the mobile was what was keeping her up at night. So I pretty much immediately tore it off her crib. Other parents swear by them. There is an extremely wide range of mobiles from modern to Mickey.

Fisher-Price Butterfly Garden Papasan Cradle Swing
Regular: $160
eBay: $36 (used) to $129.99
The Fisher-Price Papasan series of swings are a great way to cradle and keep your baby safe so you can do crazy things like brush your teeth, make a meal or just sit down and space out for a couple minutes. Babies grow out of these pretty quickly so getting one in good condition on the second hand market is a pretty easy feat.

Graco Quattro Tour Travel System
Regular: $239.99
eBay: $49.99 (used) to $239.99
The Graco Quattro Tour Travel System will take your baby on their first car trip home from the hosptial to strolling them when they're a big-ole toddler. The set comes with a car seat base, infant car seat and the "tour "stroller (which the car seat easily snaps into). The above pictured unit is in the Kasbah pattern but there are a variety of hues and patterns to choose from .

BebeSounds Flat Screen Baby Monitor:
Regular: $200
eBay: $127.50
Things have certainly gotten high tech in the world of baby monitors. Instead of just listening for your baby's cries, you can peek in on your little one with a petite video monitoring device, and via a flat screen at that. When you don't need to watch them in their crib anymore, just put the camera next to the cookie jar.

Huggies Diapers Jumbo Pack
Regular: $12.92 (56 diapers) to $62.00 (220 diapers)
eBay: $5.50 (56 diapers) to $26.11 (192 diapers)
Yes, you can even buy diapers on eBay. There are a variety of brands, styles and sizes. Although you may take a toll on shipping, but even so the price may be much better than at your local drugstore.

Prince Lionheart Diaper Warmer
Regular Price: $23.00
eBay: $2.99 (used) to $21.99 (new)
If you choose to warm up those wipes for your baby's bum, the Prince Lionheart will keep them moist and warm.

Baby Trend Diaper Champ
Regular Price: $29.99
eBay: $8.99 to $19.50 (new)
There are several disposable diaper contraptions out there. But my favorite is the diaper champ since you can use whatever bag you want and don’t have to buy any kind of special replacements. You can risk buying a used one, but you risk also purchasing some lingering smells. I’d splurge here and buy new.

Stokke Tripp Trap Highchair
Regular Price: $249
eBay: $128 (used) to $227.50 (new)
If you’re fond of the convertible furniture pieces, than you may be a fan of the simplicity and multi-aged usage aspect of the Stokke Tripp Trap highchair. You can get padding to cradle the youngin’s and you can adjust the chair to grow with them. Plus, it’s just so damn Swedish looking.

Bugaboo Cameleon Stroller
Regular Price: $899
eBay: $355.55 (used) to $835 (new)

Yeah, this is the big ticket item on the list. But if you’ve lusted after the celebrity style of the highfalutin Bugaboo, for god’s sake, don’t buy one for $899. Seeing one recently sell for $355.55 almost makes it affordable.

Baby Einstein Activity Gym
Regular Price: $49.99
eBay: $3.25 (used) $41.00 (new)
The activity gym is another great item to keep your immobile kid active and interested. It’s soft, colorful and portable. Mine used the Baby Einstein one and loved it. But it is another item that has a short lifespan in babyhood, so picked up a used one isn’t a bad idea, just look for one sans spit-up.

Fisher Price Zen Collection Luxury Gliding Bassinet
Regular Price: $219.99
eBay: $170 to $219.99
An attractive peaceful place for your baby to lay their pliable little head. The "Zen" provides a smoothing enviroment that features music, nature sounds, and even womb sounds and has a smooth gliding motion to rock the baby to sleep. Man, I think I need one of those for myself.

Dwell Studio 3-Piece Zoo Crib Set
Regular Price: $79.99
eBay: $14.99 to $41.00
Who doesn’t love Dwell? I know we at Babble sure do. Their simple, modern designs are pert near perfect for any nursery. And with their line for Target, the beddings were finally affordable. Add eBay into the mix and it gets darn right cheap. The above pictured set is in the Zoo pattern and includes a fitted crib sheet, comforter and a bumper pad.

Graco Pack 'N' Play Portable Play Yard
Regular Price: $179.99
eBay: $35.00 (for a simple used one) to $129.99 (for one like the item above)
I personally didn’t use a Pack N’ Play but I know many, many parents who swear by them. If you travel, bring your kids places where the environment may not be baby proofed or if you just need to put them down for a second, the Pack n’ Play seems to fit the bill. There are oddles of styles on ebay from old-school versions for dirt cheap prices to ones with all the bells and whistles.

Boppy Nursing Pillow
Regular Price: $34.99
eBay: $2.99 (used) to $19.99 (new)
If you nurse, then you bop. The breast feeding pillow, like the above Boppy Nursing Pillow and the My Breast Friend, makes nursing a much more comfortable affair for both mom and the baby. There are lots of Boppy covers out there so if you don’t like the cheap Boppy you found on eBay you can always buy it and then bid on a more stylish cover.

Fisher-Price Rainforest Jumperoo
Regular Price: $89.99
eBay: $20.50 (Used) to $79.95
Yes, yet another tool to occupy your baby. Personally, I’m fond of the Jumperoo, they get to strengthen those leg muscles, get their wiggles out and pretty much just jump for joy. And I prefer the stand alone version rather than the kind that just fastens preciously from your door frame. And seeing the bidding wars for these on eBay, it looks like I’m not the only one who is a fan.

The Droolicious Shopping Guide: Graco Playards

Chloe20022 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:29:00 GMT

Graco knows what you need…a break. Feeding, changing, rocking—you're exhausted and need a place to put that baby down. Finding a safe a convenient spot to set your little squawker (mommy needs a shower and daddy needs some coffee) is the trick. Graco’s got dozens of playard models--some loaded with features, some bare bones—designed to keep baby out of trouble. We put the newest, the Suite Solutions up against Graco’s tried and true.

Placing baby in a sturdy Pack 'N Play (Graco’s trademark term for a playard) makes everybody happy; baby’s cozy and mommy’s got her hands free. If you plan on putting off your crib purchase for a while, the Suite Solutions can get you through the first few months. The elevated oval bassinet is an ideal spot for a newborn’s nap. Wide awake and ready to explore? Busy babes will coo for the Suite Solutions’ built-in entertainment center. Graco calls it the “soothe n’ amuse machine,” we call it mommy’s secret sleep weapon thanks to the vibrations, music, and nature sounds. While we think the prints are fussy and long for more contemporary looks, we love the Suite Solutions’ practical touches. ($229)

Pros: Accessories galore! Bassinet, shelves, changing table, sun canopy, and integrated soothers.

Cons: Expensive and bulky (this model weighs more than 30 pounds and measures 39H x 29.8W x 41L"), the Suite Solutions is too convoluted for travel.

Best For: Any home with multiple floors where an all-in-one baby station would come in handy.

Silhouette Pack 'N Play: Versatile and sturdy, this playard on wheels can be pushed in and out of rooms to accommodate baby’s schedule. ($149.99-$199.99 dependent upon print)

Pros: Update patterns (love the Deco print) combined with baby soothing system and changing stationmake this an ideal mini bedroom.

Cons: Still heavy (nearly 30 pounds) and with all the extras attached, this model is a pain to take on trips.

Best For: A cozy nest at grandma’s house.

Travel Lite Crib: Lightweight Pack 'N Play model with a few extras, such as canopy and dangling soft toys. ($79.99)

Pros: Weighs less than 20 pounds and is 20% smaller than a traditional Pack ‘n Play. Easy to break down and set up.

Cons: NBA players beware: The 32” length may squish your leggy babes.

Best for: Travel with a tiny baby.

Pack ‘N Play Playard: Roomy, square playard without accessories. ($84.99)

Pros: Easy set up (30 seconds).

Cons: One height setting. Pack 'N Play sheets won’t fit the 38” x 38” space so it's hard to keep mat clean.

Best for: Giving junior a safe place for quiet play while Mommy wolfs down a meal.

Pack ‘N Play Playard in Safari Friends: Value-priced travel companion. ($59.99)

Pros: Roomy sleep space (nearly 40” long) yet compact and light. Push-button fold is a cinch to operate.

Cons: While on the road, you’ll need a separate changing station.

Best for: Family vacations with baby in tow.

Star Baby: How Does Jamie Lynn Spear's Baby Roll?

SunnyChanel — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:00:00 GMT

One thing makes me really mad about the above photo of Jamie Lynn Spears, the ex-Disney starlet, sibling of the one and only Britney and teen mom. It’s not that she parked in the Fire Lane, not that she looks so good in her short shorts less than two months after having her daughter Maddie, but that she had her kid in time to get the cherry blossom patterned Graco MetroLite Travel System ($239.99 from Babiesrus.com).

First off I should mention that I’m totally backing the MetroLite Travel System. It’s convenient, practical and affordable. The one I had was the basic black and gray version, but this one with the stylish, simple and perfectly pink in a non- “look it’s a girl!” way would have been my go-to style had it been available. No, it’s not time to have another girl, I’ll just have to live vicariously thru Mommy Spears.

(via Just Jared)

5 Gifts for the Angelina Jolie- Brad Pitt Twins

SunnyChanel — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Wondering what to get Brad and Angelina a welcome gift for their new twins? Not that 10 million dollars (the amount reportedly being paid for the photos of the new babes) wouldn’t buy a whole bunch of onesies. Everyone loves a free gift!
Here are five cool twin gifts to get the new celebrity spawn.

The “tw” and “in” Twin shirt set.
So the world will know they’re a set. Just make sure they always stand in the right position cos “in tw” doesn’t make much sense now does it? ($36.99 here)

Bosom Baby Nursing Pillow
This oversized nursing pillow by Luna Lullaby is big enough to do some double duty while breastfeeding. Much larger (and softer) then the My Breast Friend or Boppy, this will surely keep the twins well fed. $64.95 here.

The Graco Pack ‘n Play Portable Playard with Twin Bassinet
With the amount of gallivanting that the Jolie-Pitt crew does, having the convenience of a Pack N Play like this one is key on keep the babies confined and comfy. From Amazon for $175.75

Macclarin Twin Triumph Stroller
I love Macclarin stollers. They’re light weight, easy to open and close and really sturdy. I like it so much I’m betting Brad Pitt will too. In a “Coffee Bown” this side by side stroller is practical and also, important for this family, stylish. $244.99 from Amazon.com

The Maximom Twin and Triplet Baby Carrier.
Now Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon can both be carried snuggly against Angelina’s bosom at the same time (or Brad’s for that matter) with the twin carrier by Maximom. The carriers can be detached and will transform into two separate carriers, just in case your already aching back can’t take two bundles of joy anymore. $99.95 here.

Big Deal: 15% off all Graco

elizabeth leach — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Babycenterstore is taking 15% off all Graco for two weeks and if you spend $59 the shipping is free. This includes strollers, high chairs, monitors, activity centers, car seats, pack and plays, etc. If you're in the market for something made by Graco, now's the time.

After the jump is a great looking pack and play in "sorbet". I wish I would have known about it before I bought mine...

The Tot Block in sorbet (above) would work so well with my Skip Hop play mat. (sigh). (I have the Tot Block in primary colors which I highly recommend.)

Shop all Graco at Babycenterstore here.

My Play-Pen Success Story

elizabeth leach — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:04:00 GMT

I finally broke down and bought a pack-n-play. My eleven month-old is crawling like crazy and we’re in the middle of renovations…. I won’t bore you with the details…. Basically, I need a place to put her where she won’t get into trouble but I didn’t want a pack-n-play in the middle of the living room. So, here it is... It's not bad looking and, more importantly, she loves it!

Graco's Pack 'n Play Portable Playard in Bugs Quilt is roomier than most pack-n-plays. It's more of a play-pen than a portable crib but can be used for both purposes. And it looks a lot better than those pastel, safari-themed ones. There's a bug on and each side and each does something different: one has a mirror, one squeaks, one rattles, and one crinkles. She plays happily and I can get things done in the same room. I should have bought it months ago!

7 Days of Car Seats: Graco Nautilus 3-in-1

Chris Ford — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:06:00 GMT

When I'm thinking about what makes the perfect car seat, I'm thinking about three things. How safe is it? How many years will I be able to use it (reasonably)? And does the color match my car? Since Erin already took my favorite Britax car seat for toddlers, I'll tell you about my other favorite - the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat.

So for the first criterion, I'm convinced it's very safe. The five point harness works up to 65 pounds, it's steel reinforced. and has a high back. It also lets the child sit more upright than a lot of toddler-only car seats out there which I like too.

As for how long it will last, the cool thing about this seat is that it's a convertible seat. It converts from a toddler seat (with the 5 point harness) to a high-back booster to a backless booster. You'll be getting use out of this one until your kid is old enough to sit up front, which is pretty cool.

And the colors are happily neutral. In my world, kid-stuff like car seats shouldn't match the kid, they should match the car. So if you're looking for ducks and bunnies this might not be for you, but for my car it's perfect.

Check out the Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat (it retails for around $150) at GracoBaby.com

Car Seat Covers Cuter Than A Duck's Butt

Chris Ford — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:03:00 GMT

Car seats are a necessity that we as parents all have to deal with, and like a lot of baby stuff they can be kind of an eyesore. Cuter Than A Duck's Butt makes reversible car seat covers in all sorts of patterns to match your car, child, or both.

At $119.99 for a seat cover they're probably more than they should be, but for something you'll probably look at every day for the next four years, it might be worth it. I'm partial to the black skull and crossbones pattern (detail pictured below) but they've got all other sorts of choices from pink camo to furry flowers. They're designed to go over your existing car seat cover, and supposedly work with all brands of car seats.

Cuter Than A Duck's Butt Car Seat Covers, $119.99 for Toddler or Infant from ctadbgear.com.

Get Out Your Pitchforks, It's the Regular Diaper Bag!

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:03:00 GMT

Our post from yesterday about a new Dwell diaper bag we're digging found Babble commenter Nolasmom raising an interesting question: We're always telling you about the most awesomest, coolest-looking new diaper bags, but really, aren't all these bags just expensive variations on the same generic tote with garish print? (Sorry, Nolasmom; realize we're paraphrasing.) Anyway, the comment also contained a challenge: "What does this mythical 'regular diaper bag' look like? No seriously, I'd like a photo posted."

[Cue ominous music.]

Below, from Graco (as it seems these things always are), is the archetypal Regular Diaper Bag. It's cheap; it works; but it also looks like a lunchbox with a kiddie print slapped on it. Full disclosure, this is just the bag that got my wife and me through two kids' worth of diapering, and we never had a problem with the thing. But one of the perks of doing this blog is getting to drool over stuff you wished you'd have been smart enough to register for, so here's hoping that whether it's from Dwell, DiaperDude, Skip*Hop or wherever, you've got the good sense to find something better (looking).

While we're on the subject, though, most diaper bags aimed at modern parents seem to follow one of three stylistic variations: the tote, the messenger bag/man-purse, or the modified backpack. Have you ever just used a regular old tote, messenger bag or backpack to carry baby's diapering essentials? I know I have, and it's saved me quite a bit of $$, too.

UPDATE: Seems this post has become a hot topic over at Diaper Bag Junkies -- which, by the way, rules if you're in the market for a bag of your own. Consider me schooled! Oh, and Teri at DBJ, I just might take you up on your offer to help shop for a new bag -- anything to get rid of the monstrosity I'm hauling around.

Parents Agree: Graco's iMonitor Stinks, Rules

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:02:00 GMT

If the Amazon.com customer reviews are any indication, the Graco Digital iMonitor ($59.99; or $89.99 for the deluxe, two-parent-unit version) is as wonderful a baby monitor as it isn't. Most of the complaints revolve around the monitor's rechargeable battery -- and, yeah, four hours' battery life isn't ideal if you're expecting to get a full night's sleep, although it's great if baby is napping and you want clear reception from within ranges analog monitors normally wouldn't cover (in this case, up to 2,000 feet away). And, yes, there's a docking station, so you're not bound to batteries alone.

The monitor's out-of-range alarm -- a beep that alerts you every time you lose the signal -- seems to have been designed by sadists, although it's ultimately a great feature. Even the critics agree, however, that the iMonitor offers some of the clearest reception they've ever heard in a baby monitor -- and if you've ever been kept awake by a crackling analog monitor, you'll know that pretty much trumps all other selling points.