This Summer European baby gear manufacturer Cybex announced that they would be bringing their lightweight, high quality strollers, multifunctional baby carriers and award winning car seats to North America.

Cybex’ collection is unique because 3 of their lightweight travel strollers accept an infant seat(Aton – available in early 2010) and carrycot, making it a great choice for birth to 3+ years.

A few weeks ago I received a Cybex Callisto to test.

Installation: Out of the box, all I needed to do to get started was pop the wheels on. Unpacking and installation only took about 5 minutes.

Getting started: Opening this stroller is a breeze. Just unclip the locking latch and lock the frame in place with your foot. To keep everything straight Cybex also includes a great instruction manual with the stroller that shows all of the features and how to use them in detail.

Features: The Callisto is loaded with many great features with the first being the spacious seat. For your baby’s comfort Cybex uses a 5-point harness that is covered at the top with a lightly padded headrest. My son loves this! The seat also has a one handed four position recline, which is both convenient and uncomplicated.

The Callisto’s canopy is one of the tallest I have reviewed, measuring an impressive 27 inches from the seat to the top. When opened, it can be adjusted to 3 positions and extended with the extractable sun visor. I also like that it detaches at the back to allow air to flow through the stroller. Parents can also remove the canopy altogether by undoing a clip on either side of the stroller.

Moms who like to shop or load their stroller up with stuff may not find the storage on the Callisto big enough. This under the seat basket will hold a medium size diaper bag, but not much more. It is, however, supported by a metal frame, which prevents your stuff from dragging on the ground.

The Callisto offers a very smooth ride thanks to a set of four 6” wheels with real aluminum rims and a rear wheel suspension system. Like most strollers, the front wheels are swivel wheels with the ability to lock for strolling on gravel or uneven roads.

When locking the stroller, there is a one-touch rear brake system that locks easily with just a step. I’m not sure if ours is just stiff because it’s brand new, but unlocking does take a bit of work.

Folding the stroller is just as easy as opening it. The handle has a button that together with a switch on the back frame collapses the whole thing forward. I wouldn’t call this a one-handed fold, but it is definitely easy enough to do.

For easy transportation, Cybex has added a handle on the side of the stroller. I love this and the fact that the stroller locks when collapsed. Nothing is worse that having your stroller fly open as you are moving it from one spot to another.

The Callisto is a great multifunctional stroller for all parents. It is loaded with many features that make strolling comfortable for baby and easy for mom and dad. I would not hesitate to recommend this stroller to any couple looking for a feature-rich product that pushes nicely and stores easily when not in use.

If asked, I would make 2 improvements, add a cupholder to the side(always) and make it so that the stroller could stand on it’s own.

Additional features:

• continuous, height adjustable handlebar for more mobility
• central one-pull harness system
• ultra-light aluminum frame
• folded: L41 x W12.5 x H17 inches
• price $349 – Available in 4 colors in the United States which are: Chili, Slate, Purple, and Indigo. (shown above)

*Thank you to Cybex for sending this stroller out for us to review*

The Tatamia is Peg Perego’s newest luxury highchair. Introduced earlier this year, this multifunctional seat does triple duty as a swing, highchair and a recliner.

For the last few weeks, my son has been testing it out. Here is what we found found:

Installation – Out of the box the Tatamia was ready to go. No installation needed, just unfold and go!

Getting started – The design of this chair is genius. When folded, it measures just 14 inches wide, making it a good choice for parents who are short on space. Once opened, the Tatamia is a full size feature rich chair that will accommodate a baby from newborn to toddler.

At first, I was a little overwhelmed by all of the steps needed to fold and unfold the chair, but the whole process quickly became second nature after I did it a few times.
For ease of use, Peg Perego has labelled all of the levers needed to convert the chair in red.

Features – For newborns, the Tatamia is a safe, easy place to lay the baby when you are making dinner or getting stuff done around the house. As a swing, I use it to soothe my son while I watch TV or feed my oldest son. Rather than being battery operated, the Tatamia’s swing is manual so that you can interact with your baby, while keeping them entertained.

In highchair mode, parents have 9 height positions for comfortable feeding. I like this because I can roll him up our island to eat or adjust it down for the kitchen table. If I’m sitting at the kiddie table feeding my oldest, I can drop it right down so that my youngest is at the same level as us. This is helpful when I’m feeding them both at the same time.

For the seat, Peg Perego uses a ‘leatherette’ that looks extremely close to the real thing. At first, feeding my son in such a luxe chair freaked me out a bit. I didn’t want to wreck it. After just a few messy meals, I learned that not much can damage this seat. The only downfall I have found is that the leatherette is not machine washable and the waist strap doesn’t come off at all for washing.

In the near future I plan to purchase the Tatamia Accessory Kit($80), which comes with a seat cover that is handwashable in cold water with mild detergent, a Ventilate Hood and a toy-filled Play Bar. This will give me piece of mind now that my son is getting to the stage where he wants to feed himself and cover everything in food in the process.

The Tatamia’s feeding tray is both spacious and easy to clean. It can be positioned two ways, the first with a lever on the front that moves it back and forth and secondly with two levers underneath the chair to get it closer to your child.

Storage – One of my favorite features of this chair is the fold. In just seconds, this full size highchair can be folded down to be small enough to fit in a corner or closet. Because our house is not huge, this is nice for us when we are having people over.

The Tatamia’s ability to function as 3 pieces of baby gear makes it a good choice for parents who do want to clutter their house with ’stuff’ that your baby will only use for a short time.

I highly recommend this highchair to anyone looking for a chair that will grow with your family. Both my boys use it at different times. My 10-month-old to eat in, my 4-year-old to watch tv and do crafts at the big table.

Additional Features:

• One handed 4 position seat recline
• 3 position foot rest
• attachable t-bar for your child’s safety

Last year Infantino introduced a new Pre-school line to their already extensive collection of toys.

Geared towards kids aged 12 months and up, this line of offers a lot of great toys that could strengthen important developmental skills like hand-eye coordination, creative play, independent Play and fine motor.

For the last few weeks my boys have been trying out the ‘Under The Big Top‘ Carnival. This cause and effect toy’s bright colors and animated noises have been a hit with my youngest son. He goes from one side to the other making everything move and shake.

To make the Carnival work, kids can press down the plunger to hear the popcorn ‘pop’, hammer the platform to make the elephant hit the bell, flip the switch to make the guy leave the cannon and twist the knob to teeter/totter the lion.

This all-in-one activity center is nicely designed for little ones. I like that there aren’t any small parts and that everything is just the right size for tiny hands.

I would recommend this collection of toys to anyone who is looking for a great gift idea that is reasonably priced.

WIN IT!! Infantino is offering 2 Growing Your Baby readers the opportunity to win either the Colors & Shapes Moover or Counting Penguin. Aren’t they adorable?

To enter, please comment here with your favorite toy from this line.

Extra Entrants:

• Blog about our giveaway! Tell your readers about our giveaway and then send us the link in a separate comment for an additional entrant to the giveaway.
• Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/growingyourbaby or ‘Tweet’ about our giveaway
• Regardless of outcome – ALL bloggers who blog about our giveaway will be linked back in our winners post.

New this year, Fisher-Price has introduced toy line called Stack n Surprise. These fun blocks feature a center piece that pops up to reveal a smiley face when stacked.

My favorite set in this collection is the Stack ’n Surprise™ Blocks Songs ’n Smiles Sillytown™($50) This toy is not only cute, but it is big enough that both of my kids can play with it at the same time. It’s 4 play sections all encourage kids to make things happen and foster an understanding of cause & effect.

My boys love all of the lights, songs and motion. The Songs ’n Smiles Sillytown comes with 8 peek-and-pop action blocks and plays over 16 songs and fun sounds. The workbench in the middle, which is activated by batting the roller, is super cute because all of the people play peek a boo, whether the blocks are stacked or not. Flipping the blocks to make the music go off and racing the car(included) down the track were also a hit with my 2.

I like that all of the toys can be stored under the ‘house’ when they’re not playing with it. It also comes with batteries to get you started right away.

Fisher-Price recommends this toy for kids 6 months and up and I agree. It is perfect for a newly sitting child because it is close to the ground. There are also a bunch of other toys that are included in this collection that fit into every budget. The smaller sets would make great stocking stuffers for little ones.

Pros -Encourages eye-hand coordination and enhances fine motor skills
Cons – doesn’t fold up for easy storage

Other Toys in the collection:

Peg Perego’s Si Stroller is an awesome lightweight stroller that has many full size stroller features. Weighing in at just under 17lbs, this compact, easy to operate stroller is a great fit for parents who need a product that will accommodate their growing needs. From birth it can be used as a travel system with an infant seat, then a regular day to day stroller that folds up nicely for traveling.

For the last few weeks we have been testing it from one side of the country to the other!

Here is what we found.

Installation – Out of the box the Si was pretty much ready to go. All I needed to do was clip on the storage basket and open it up.

If you have problems, the Si also comes with a great booklet that shows you everything your need – step by step.

Getting Started – Unfolding this stroller is really easy. All you need to do is unclip the lever on the left side of the stroller, give it a bit of a shake and then lock the bracket in the back.

Comfort and Features – The Si offers a lot of great features not normally seen in this stroller weight class. For safety, it has a five-point harness with the 2010 version adding a bumper bar. There is a 3 position(almost flat) seat recline, height adjustable handle bars and a 2 position foot rest.

For older children, the Si has a good size seat (13inches wide) and a high canopy that will keep taller toddlers(up to 45lbs) comfy without brushing their head. When opened fully, the Si’s canopy offers some of the best coverage I have seen on a lightweight stroller. Moms who want to keep track of their little ones will also like the peek-a-boo window.

Underneath the seat is a good size storage basket big enough to hold a large sized diaper bag. The only problem with this is that the basket will drag if your bag is too heavy. For this I suggest you strap your diaper bag to the handle bars and use the storage basket for lighter purchases, if out shopping. This works well if your child stays in the stroller. But not so great if you need to carry your baby. Because the stroller is so light, a weighted handle will cause the whole thing to tip backwards once your child is removed. While this sounds simple, it’s easy to forget. I have tipped this stroller quite a few times leaving the mall trying to rush.

Travel System – 2 cables that come with the 2009 version stroller allow the Si to be converted it into a travel system. While Peg Perego strollers are normally only compatible with the Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 Infant seat, the Si will accept most car seats that have a belt path on each side.

Folding – To avoid confusion, Peg Perego has numbered the two levers needed to close the stroller. I love this! No guess work – just pull here first and then here. Once closed, this stroller stands independently and it also features a carrying strap on the side.

This makes the Si a dream to travel with.

Cleaning – While on a recent trip, an unfortunate event ended with a whole breakfast landing on the seat of the stroller. Surprisingly enough, for the amount of food that landed on it, the stroller fared quite well. But when I got home and started to take it apart to fully clean it, I was surprised to find that it doesn’t come apart. It looks like it comes apart, but it doesn’t, unless I wanted to get into unscrewing stuff, which I don’t.

Improvements – With anything, there is always a wish list of thing you would like see improved.

I personally would love Peg Perego to make a good cupholder. The tiny one that comes with most of their strollers doesn’t many beverage cups, including my re-usable water bottle. Also, having some part of the seat come apart for easy cleaning would also be a bonus for parents who will be using this stroller everyday.

Overall, I like this stroller and I would recommend it to any parent who wants a nice looking stroller that can go anywhere.

$232.00 on Amazon

Peg Perego Si Specs:

• Width – 20″
• Seat Width – 13″
• Seat to top of Canopy – 25″
• Ground to Handle – 41″
• Stroller Length – 33.5″
• Folded Dimensions – 39″ x 13″ x 13″
• Front Wheel Size – 6.5″
• Weight – 16.8lbs – to get this I weighed myself holding the stroller and then subtracted that number from my weight alone

Lil’ Tag Alongs is a double-duty blanket that was created by a mom for moms.

This one-of-a-kind blanket is not only soft and cuddly, but it features grommets along 3 sides for parents to attach it to a stroller while out.

Every mom knows how hard it is to keep the toys inside the stroller. It’s a Game! Lil’ Tag Alongs solves this problem. Just attach your child’s top 3 or 4 toys with links to this blanket and then attach the blanket to the stroller.

While you stroll through the mall or park, they can play with all of their favorite stuff, without you having to worry that something will get tossed and you won’t see it.

We have the small blanket (15″ x 17″) , which is designed to fits most light weight strollers. It clips onto the frame easily and doesn’t drag if it flips over the side. My youngest likes that he has so many toys to choose from at a time.

Our Lil’ Tag Along blankie stays attached to our stroller and I rotate the toys so that my son doesn’t get bored.

This would be a great gift for a mom-to-be. It’s not something she would think of, but definitely something she would appreciate having – especially now that it’s starting to get cold.

Small 29.95, Large, 49.95 Both sizes come in 8 Modern, fresh fabric choices(5 for girls, 3 for boys).

All blankets are Handmade and have been tested and are in compliance with CPSIA laws.

*Thank you to Lil Tag Alongs for providing us with this blanket for review.*

Moms who are looking to express their milk on a budget normally choose a manual pump.

Even though pumping manually sometimes takes longer than their electric counterparts, you can get a nice efficient pump for under $40.

Here are some benefits of manual pumps:

• They are typically silent and thus more discreet than an electric pump, which can be quite noisy at times.
• Allow you to control the intensity of suction to mimic your baby’s sucking more closely.
• They are extremely lightweight and portable.
• Manual pumps cost a fraction of what some more elaborate electric models do.

For the last few weeks, I have been using Lanisoh’s manual breast pump. This reasonably priced option is not only efficient, but easy to use. I also like Lansinoh’s ergonomic handle and lightweight compact design.

Out of the box, I was able to start pumping in less than 5 minutes(including bottle wash time). The kit came with the pump, ComfortSeal cushion, two standard bottles, two extra valves, two bottle rings and two sealing disks, one cleaning bra, one extra silicone diaphram and a base to support the unit when not in use. To get me started, a couple of collection bags were also included just in case I was looking to freeze my ‘gold’.

While manual pumping can sometimes be tedious and uncomfortable, I haven’t found that either is an issue with this product.

In contrast, this pump is just as quick as it’s electric counterparts, while collecting the same amount of milk. It is comfortable and is compatible with other types of bottles.

I would recommend this pump to moms who are looking to pump occasionally, maybe once a day. This would not be a good option for moms who are pumping exclusively for a premature baby or those who are back to work and need to pump all day.

Thank you to Lansinoh for sending this pump over for us to review.

The newest addition to the Baby Einstein DVD collection is World Animals Adventure.

This follow up to World Animals is not only well done, but it includes some great features that cater to kids of all ages.

Parents now have the option of playing the movie straight through or tailor their experience to meet their child’s schedule.

• The select-a segment feature gives you the opportunity to choose a 5 or 10 minutes segment OR a compilation of the fun puppet shows.
• The Grow with Me feature ‘enhances the DVD with language and new puppet shows that grow with baby’.

While both of my boys are very fond of Baby Einstein, they prefer the animal DVDs. Before this video arrived, the original World Animals was the standing favorite at our house.

This new version adds new animals not seen in this series before like manatees, llamas, camels, the snow monkey, the arctic fox and Meercats,

Also new are a long list of cute new characters including horses, zebras, pandas, seals and Koala Bears. Most of which are parent and child.

As a parent, I noticed this Baby Einstein has nicer camera angles, probably as a result of all of the great ‘Earth’ footage Disney filmed. The extreme close-ups and high angles made for a nice view for mom and dad as well as for the kids.

Closer to the end, both kids liked the Caribbean-like song, that encourages kids to get up and dance around. The little one enjoyed the music, while our older son mimicked what the kids on the screen were doing. This is great segment to combat ‘digital kid syndrome’. For us, it is also a nice way to transition into a new activity after the video has finished.

As always, Disney delivers a timeless video that allows both of our kids to watch the TV together and enjoy what they are seeing on different levels. I highly recommend this DVD for animal loving kids.

Thank you to Mom Central for providing us with a copy to preview.

Related Articles:

• Featured Product Review: Baby Einstein World Music DVD
  
• Baby Einstein Celebrates 10 Years

Even though camping season is coming to an close, it doesn’t mean the outdoorsy fun has to end.

Caring Corners has followed up their hugely popular play house Mrs. Goodbee with a personable camper named Daisy Greenway($35). This bright pink, interactive play mobile features a pull-out cabin with bunk beds and a movable slide, a restroom, a kitchen with recycling bins and a dog feeding station, a pull-down TV, removable captain’s chairs, and a flip-down grill.

As soon as Daisy arrived in the mail my son immediately went to work and within just a few minutes he had figured out every feature she was loaded with. Along with the camper, we also received a couple family members(not included), who proved to be perfect for role playing.

The nice part for for us was that both our boys (1 aged 4 and 1 – 8months) played together with Daisy for quite some time. This was the first time we had ever seen the two of them share a toy and not fight.

Even though our little testers were not of the genders the camper was created for, all of the basic principles still applied. Many of Daisy’s features could work for boy action figures as well as a family or small-ish Barbies.

I like that some of the characters created for this toy promote some sort of wellness; Dad is walking the dog, a teenage daughter is shopping with a recycled bag and there is even a tandem bike with a trailer on the back to tote little ones. They normalize activities we should all do, but don’t always get to.

Also available for the Caring Corners interactive toys are a grandma baking cookies, a baby in a highchair and a mom hauling groceries in a shopping basket.

Just like Mrs. Goodbee, the rearview rewards panel on the back of the camper rewards eco-friendly behavior. Kids can earn stickers by doing simple activities like, turning off the water while they brush their teeth, packing a trash-free lunch, turning off the lights when they leave a room or helping you plant a garden.

As with anything, my son’s playtime came with future recommendations. Three things he would like to see changed are to have the drive/passenger doors open, to have the hat come off and for Daisy to come in a Blue (without the flowers)!

Regardless of her color, this interactive camper offers enough play options to keep kids busy for hours. Sometimes my guys love to just sit and push her horn to hear her ask questions and watch her lights flash.

More information about Daisy is available at learningcurve.com

*This Product was sent to us by Learning Curve for review.*

Manitoba’s Baby Sherpa, has introduced a new backpack called ALPHA SHERPA. While this heavy-duty bag was specifically designed for families on the go with little ones in tow, it also is a versatile bag for everyone from teens to senior citizens. Now that my youngest child is almost two years old, I figured I was ready to ditch the diaper bag and give the ALPHA SHERPA a shot at being our family’s tote bag of choice. Inaugural mission: a day at the beach.

Fitting

Initially, my first thought was that the fitting instructions were pretty complicated(there are 9 steps!). But, after I figured out how to get the hip belt across my hips (and not directly under my boobs!), I was able to take advantage of the ergonomic design. It was a good fit and I certainly didn’t look like I was carrying a diaper bag.

Features

I then began the task of loading up for the day. Exploring all the features of the ALPHA SHERPA was a lot of fun. I was happy to pack our picnic lunch and snacks in the integrated soft-sided cooler, which eliminated the need to bring a traditional cooler. I used the insulated bottle holder to pack milk for the kids and put an additional bottle of water in the mesh holder. I then added towels, bathing suits, diapers, extra clothes and hats in the main compartment.

There is no shortage of space for personal gear with individual, zippered pouches for my cell phone, digital camera, sunscreen and wallet. One of my favourite features was the key retriever; great peace of mind when you’re at the beach… my keys weren’t going anywhere! I decided to use two karabiners to hook some pails and shovels to the D-rings and then I slipped our beach umbrella through the open pouch on the front of the bag.

When it was fully loaded, I was carrying almost 30 pounds (yes, I weighed myself) and I managed it comfortably as we made the trek from the parking lot to the beach. As soon as we hit the sand, everyone’s shoes came off and I hung all four pairs from the bungee X for the remainder of the day. Though I didn’t feel the need to cart my notebook to the surf, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the laptop sleeve and found a change pad that I used both as a seat on the sand AND a place to change my daughter.

Style

The ALPHA SHERPA is a great looking hiking pack that hides all the parent essentials that usually have to be toted around in a diaper bag. The most telling evidence of the SHERPA’s style is that my husband can’t wait to steal it for himself, and not just for use when he’s on Daddy duty.

The ALPHA SHERPA bills itself as “the first total parent hybrid diaper and laptop bag”. It truly is a hybrid, offering parent-focused versatility in a smart, comfortable design. I was impressed by the SHERPA’s sheer carrying potential, its well-thought-out organization, and its gender-friendly style. It had definitely earned its new place as our family’s go-to tote for family outings.

To receive 20% AND free shipping off use code Blog20 until Oct. 31, 2009.

Baby Sherpa is offered one(1) Growing Your Baby Reader the opportunity to win an Alpha Sherpa Backpack.

Congratulations to our reader Vickie!

Thank you to the blogs that blogged about our giveaway:

• ceeceeblogger
• kngmckeller-glorias.blogspot.com