Archive for the 'going out' Category

Portable Placemat or Weird Rubber Device

Sunday, May 7th, 2006

We’re not big spenders (at least we weren’t until we had Finn, who is very small, but needs a lot of gear). The one thing we do spend money on is eating out. We always ate out, we still eat out, and now Finn eats out, too. We don’t take her to expensive restaurants, but we don’t go to McDonalds either.

Our first dining experience with Finn was a casual place with an outdoor patio; we had pre-approval from the pediatrician. On one of the first doctor visits, we asked if we could take our tiny preemie to the Cowgirl. “Just don’t let her have a margarita,” was the answer. We went on a beautiful June afternoon; Finn was only a few weeks old, and spent half the time asleep in her carseat and half the time nursing.

It’s a little more difficult bringing an older baby out to eat; they’re a little bit messier, a little bit louder, and they require a little bit more attention. Luckily Santa Fe is kid-friendly, and Finn has charmed waiters and restaurant-goers all over town. And we have the Tiny Diner portable placemat.

(more…)

Posted in feeding, going out | 1 Comment »

Diaper Bag Blues

Monday, March 13th, 2006

Don’t buy the diaper bag we bought

It looks ok, like a basic messenger bag, all black; it’s something both David and I are willing to carry around. But it sucks in ways that didn’t become apparent until Finn was several months old.

For one thing, it’s way too small; it used to seem pretty big, but Finn’s toys and gear (we now tote bowls, cups, food and a restaurant high chair cover) have expanded along with her. (more…)

Posted in going out, pooping | 3 Comments »

Strollers for People Who Don’t Need to Impress Their Neighbors

Saturday, February 18th, 2006

Like the recent trend toward driving larger and larger and larger cars, it seems that strollers have expanded as well.

I guess that’s fine if you’re driving a giant SUV with a lots of storage space, and you live in a city that’s entirely flat so you don’t have to push the stroller uphill, and you’re six feet tall and can see over the top of the canopy, and are strong enough to lift the stroller in and out of the trunk. (And I hate to sound like a broken record, but those giant strollers with their cheesy printed fabrics are so ugly).

(more…)

Posted in going out | 1 Comment »

What they don’t tell you about carseats

Thursday, February 16th, 2006

The thing they DO tell you about carseats is that without one you can’t take your baby home from the hospital. Or to see the doctor, or out for a ride, or in the car at all. They also tell you that not until your baby is 20 lb. or 1 year old (whichever comes last) can they face forward in the car.

What they don’t tell you

• there are two types of infant carseats – the rear-facing type carrier and the convertible type (and the convertible type can be turned around when your baby hits that 20 lb. or 1 year mark)
• even if you’re tempted to get the convertible type, because then you only need one, you still probably need the rear-facing carrier type first precisely because it is a carrier (the convertible type doesn’t fit into a stroller attachment and you can’t take it out of the car and you probably can’t even lift it to carry it)
• that you will really, really want (need!) to take your sleeping baby out of the car still in the carseat (so forget about the convertible type until you have to get it)

(more…)

Posted in going out | No Comments »