Monday, April 19, 2010

Great design for baby backpack carrier - I like it better than a sling!

I'm a huge fan of baby carriers - my little daughter is due at the peak of Savannah summer heat, so I planned on buying a framed backpack carrier for her. I do think baby slings and front carriers are a design essential for civilized humans in the first six months of life - but then, with my first child, I found my kid got heavy and curious - onto the shoulders he went - and stayed happy there for the next few years.

I really liked using the camping-style backpack carrier - though too often I found some models were too complicated and fussy for my needs. We liked the Gerry carrier with the aluminum frame that acts as a kickstand.

I don't know anyone who's personally tried the  KokoPax City Baby Carrier but it sure is cute!

It's on my wishlist for some steep discount pricing.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Best Parenting or New Mom Book?

As a book lover convinced that all questions and problems can be discovered through careful research and reading, when I had my first child I spent a lot of time finding books to help guide my parenting strategies.

The Baby Book by William Sears is one of my top recommendation to new parents. The first time I heard the term "nighttime parenting" was from this book. Not only did Dr. Sear's advice affirm my instincts that babies needed attention and love not just in the day, but also through the night. But he gave real strategies for making this time more loving and relaxing for both mom (dad) and baby.

There is a lot of practical advice in the book, dealing with bathing baby, immunizations, personality types, etc. It's a go-to sort of manual that works like the Dr. Spock books of an earlier generation. It's hard to imagine how many little questions you'll have throughout the early years, but it's nice to have a place to find answeres. By the time I was ready to pass my original copy on to friends, it was well-worn and only a bit stained with pureed carrots.

I'm always looking for more smart books about raising kids. Especially now that we've entered the school-age years, I'd love to find some good books for that age group.

Please share your recommendations!