All about car seat safety

Hey guys, I am very passionate about car seat safety, and I am ALWAYS willing to help others learn about how to make sure their little ones are riding safely and securely in the car. When I did pageants, my platform was Car and Booster Seat Safety, and I went through very thorough training to become a Certified Passenger Safety Technician. That's where my knowledge comes from, and I am ALWAYS frequently looking to expand my knowledge when new safety regulations/recommendations come out. However I would like to add a disclaimer that I have let my certification lapse and I am not certified currently, so I do not tell you ANY information as a CPS, because well, technically I'm not one anymore. I'm just a mom that knows A LOT about car seats and wants others to be educated as well!

Because I have so many friends who are first time mommies (and even friends who already have kiddos) I wanted to make a post about some basics about car seat safety. I hope you take these things into consideration when buying a car seat and when using one as well!


What to look for when buying a car seat

When you're making that big exciting purchase for your new little bundle, please take note: NOT all car seats are created equal! While it is true that every car seat currently on the market in the United States is required to go through rigorous safety testing and meet certain standards, some perform better than others. For example, your cheap low-end car seats you can buy for under $100 usually just meet the minimum standards and they don't bother going above and beyond. Basically, you get what you pay for. The high-end car seats that cost a lot of money cost a lot of money for a reason. They are made better, they have additional safety features, and they generally go far beyond the minimum safety standards. Since I am writing this as just a mom, I can tell you that I honestly believe certain car seats to be safer than others.

With all that in mind, these are things you should know when buying that first car seat for your baby. This is a list of things that comes from my favorite web site, Car-safety.org :

• Use rear-facing up to 22-35 pounds, depending on the model.
• A 5-point harness is preferred. Keep chest clip at armpit level and not on the neck or tummy.
• Harness strap slots should be at or below the shoulders.
• A front adjuster to tighten the harness makes it easy to use.
• Newborns and infants should have a 45 degree maximum recline.
• Built-in angle indicators and adjusters may help get the correct recline.
• Manufacturers have differing instructions on where handle should be while traveling. Read the instruction manual to learn if it should be up or down in the vehicle.
• A rear-facing tether or impact foam found on some models may improve safety.
• Infant seats may fit newborns better than convertible models.

My personal recommendations for an infant car seat are 1) Chicco (Key-co) KeyFit 30 or 2) Britax B-Safe. These two car seats are top of the line and offer superb safety for your little one. I have the Chicco (well, actually 2 now) and I love everything about it. It has a super easy to install base, and it fits well in smaller vehicles, as well as narrow seats. After you decide to purchase a car seat, please register it with the manufacturer so they can contact you directly about any recalls that may come out. This is very important!

Installing a car seat

First things first. Read the ENTIRE manual for your car seat. Then, read it again. and again...I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to read it! It has ALL the answers. Really, it does! You'll miss some things the first time around, so that's why I recommend to re-read it.

Second, read the manual to your vehicle!! Not all cars allow you to install a car seat in the middle position using the LATCH method. Why? Well, I don't know! They just don't! Your vehicle's manual will tell you WHERE you can install the car seat using both LATCH and seat belt. It should also tell you if there can be a passenger next to the car seat if it is installed using LATCH or seat belt. Every car is different, and sometimes it is tricky. For instance, in our car, if we install the car seat on either outboard seat using the LATCH method, nobody can sit in the middle seat using a seat belt. Why? I don't know, it just says they can't, so you follow the rules! Cars have been crash-tested and they have done all the work for you and they've written it out, so PLEASE read the manual! Do all this BEFORE you even take the car seat to the car to install. That way you know what you're doing beforehand and you're not standing outside the car reading and getting frustrated when you're confused.

After you've read all the instructions, go ahead and install the seat following the car seat's manual. Once you've got your seat installed and it is at the correct angle and doesn't more more than 1 inch side to side at the point of installation (i.e. where the LATCH is or seat belt path is) then you should be good. After you've done this, take yourself, your spouse and your car with the car seat installed to the nearest Car Seat Checkpoint to get it inspected. Why? Because sometimes you missed something and the awesome CPS technicians check your seat for FREE! They also won't consider the seat "checked" until you know how to correctly install it first, and you'll do that for them and they'll re-check it :)

Getting a car seat checked by a CPS technician

You can do this by clicking on this link and finding the nearest location to you! Trust me on this. It's important. When I was doing CPS checkups, there were SO many people who thought they had done it right, but then they were doing one little thing wrong (or in some cases one BIG thing!), all the while having NO idea that they didn't have their seat in right. 75% of car seats are used and installed INCORRECTLY! Don't be that 75%!!


How long to keep rear-facing

My first answer to this question is simply, "As long as possible" but the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends you keep your little one rear-facing until at least age 2! It may seem like an inconvenience to some people, but really your first priority should be safety, not convenience. Our little one is 24 lbs and 19 months old, but I will be keeping her rear-facing until she outgrows her current car seat's weight limit, which is 40 lbs. In order to keep your child rear-facing longer, you'll need to buy a convertible car seat that has a high weight limit. We use the Britax Boulevard 70 and we love it. It is super safe, super comfy and super easy to use! Best of all, once we have turned our daughter around, she will be able to use this seat until she is 70 lbs, or gets too tall, which is going to be a long time! If keeping your child rear-facing past 2 isn't something you're planning on doing, at least PLEASE keep them rear-facing until 2. Visit this link for more specific information about keeping your child rear-facing. I personally believe it is better to have the risk of my child's legs being broken in an accident, rather than her neck being broken because you can fix little legs, but you cannot fix little necks.

Using aftermarket products

Again, here is great information from Car-safety.org about using aftermarket products such as infant support pillows, JJ Cole BundleMe and like products:

Can I use an infant head support? Is it OK to put a padded cushion under the child for comfort?
 
Generally, NO.  Unless such items come with the car seat or are recommended by the manufacturer of the car seat as an accessory, do not use them.  Aftermarket pads and cushions are not tested with the seat and any compressible material inside the harness may allow for more slack in the restraint.  With a small infant, it is usually OK to put a rolled towel or receiving blanket along the sides of the head (outside the harness straps) to keep it upright.  You may also put a rolled towel between a small infant and the crotch strap if there is a large gap, though you should never put towels or pads under a child in a car seat.

Please friends, just don't use these. If you're worried about your baby being too cold, then use blankets AFTER you've put your baby in the car seat. It's best to dress baby a little warmly or just add a blanket on top of baby after they're securely in the seat! Another thing to keep in mind, especially with older children is to not put them in the car seat with their coats on! If you don't think it matters, do this, put your child in the car seat with their coat on and tighten the straps then take them out, take the coat off and put them back in. If you need to tighten the straps with their coat off, don't let them wear their coat in the car seat.

Buying/using used car seats

Also from Car-safety.org:

Are used carseats safe to use?
If you are unable to verify that the carseat has never been involved in a crash, do not use it.  Above that, you should inspect it carefully to make sure all the parts and labels are intact, and that there are no visible stress marks.  You should also verify that the stickers with the manufacturer, model number and date of manufacture are legible.  You must also have the owner's manual, or get a copy from the manufacturer.  Finally, you need to make sure the used carseat has not been recalled (or if it has, that the appropriate corrections were made).  Older seats may not meet current safety standards.  Older seats may also be less convenient and more difficult to use, and may lack the latest safety features.  If there is any doubt on the condition or history of a used carseat, please destroy it completely and permanently (using a saw or otherwise) and purchase a new one.


Other important info about car seat safety:

Here are the ten basic rules from Car-safety.org

• Kids 12 and under should ALWAYS ride in the back seat. This cuts their risk of death by 36%.
• Kids should be in a carseat or booster until they can be seated properly in a seatbelt.  For most kids, this is around 8-12 years old or 4' 9" tall, but proper seatbelt fit is the most important factor.
• Never place a rear-facing carseat in the front seat when there is an active frontal airbag.
• Keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible.  That can mean up to 35 or 40 pounds in most current convertible seats, unless they outgrow it by height first.
• All current car seats pass government safety standards.   Select the one that best fits your child, your vehicle and your budget.  Some models do have different features; select one that has the features that will allow you to use it correctly EVERY trip.
• Always read the owners manuals for your vehicle and carseat thoroughly.  They often contain specific information about carseat installation that may not be obvious.  Some models may vary from what you would expect.
• Make sure that the harness fits snugly on your child, the carseat fits snugly in your vehicle, and that your vehicle seatbelts are locked properly.
• When you buy a carseat, make sure you have a good return policy in case it doesn't fit or in case you find you don't like it.  Have your seat inspected by a certified technician for free at a checkup event or fitting station.
• Please be wary of used carseats, especially those over six years old, those with an unknown history that may have been in a crash, those that show any form of cracks or damage, and those with missing labels, model number, manufacturing date, instructions or parts.
• Please give driving your complete, unimpaired attention and wear your own seatbelt all the time.  These two simple steps are among these easiest ways you can protect yourself and your passengers from injury or death.

 
Do some research if you have a question about if you can/should do something pertaining to using your car seat. The forum provided on Car-seat.org is a wonderful place to find every answer imaginable for any question. An example of the things I have looked for on the forum are what car seats will fit 3 across in a Honda Odyssey and in what seat positions. I found the answer and now I feel better knowing it is safe and can be done. Please use this resource!



Check your vehicle's manual for information about weight limits on the LATCH system. If it isn't specific, assume that you can only use it until your child is 40 lbs, then you need to be using the car's seat belt.

Here is a great resource for picking a car seat based on ease of use rated by the NHTSA.

Refer to your car seat's manual any time you have a question about weight/height limits or anything else. Please take note that the inserts that come in your car seat can usually only be used up until a certain poundage is reached, so make sure you know what that limit is and follow it! Another thing that will be listed in your manual is whether or not you can leave the handle of an infant car seat up while using it in the car. These are the types of things you can find in your manual.

Most car seats expire 6 years after the date they are manufactured, NOT the date you purchased it. So, pay attention to the manufacture date when buying a car seat. If your car seat expires, you can take it to a car seat recycling center or destroy it. Yes, it seems harsh to destroy something you spent so much money on, but you don't want someone using your expired seat so cut the straps, and frame so it's unusable. 

 
Please visit the Car-safety.org FAQ page for any other questions, and for A LOT more information than what I have provided here.

One last thing I like to tell friends and family when they cringe at the cost of a good high-end car seat is that you can't put a price on safety. Many people are so willing and eager to buy a new iPod, iPhone, other electronic device or something for $200+ but not willing to spend that on a good car seat for their child. To me it is a matter of priority. I would rather have less "fun things" and have a better car seat, which is why I have bought expensive, high-end car seats. That's just my two cents. 

I hope this has benefited someone, and please, feel free to ask any questions! I will for sure point you in the right direction if I can't answer the question myself!

For my soon-to-be and new mommy friends: What you'll want and what you don't need.

Because I have SO MANY friends expecting their first baby, I decided to make a list of things we loved with our new baby, and baby products that we could have done without so, here it is! Keep in mind, these are all my opinions, and there are people who will disagree with me on what you really need/don't need. Honestly you can get by with the SUPER basics, but hopefully this list helps you weed out the things you won't really use so you don't waste your money!

For Breastfeeding:

What we loved

1) A good nursing pillow. I had 2 nursing pillows. The super popular Boppy, and a Cuddle-U. Which one did I prefer? Honestly, I liked the Cuddle-U lots better than the Boppy. Why? It is thicker, fluffier, and it propped baby up more than the Boppy did. I used it a lot more than the Boppy. It is also nicer for early sitting babies because it has a strap that can go around the baby so they are secure (not that I was worried about my young baby flying out of the pillow) but it's nice for peace of mind. However, it was nice to have two nursing pillows so I could use one strictly in the nursery, and the other lived on the couch. If you have two levels of living space, you'll probably want two so you aren't running up and down the stairs going to get the pillow!

2) Good nursing bras. My favorites come from Motherhood Maternity. They are comfy, supportive, and made of good materials. Wait to buy them until AFTER your milk comes in. For those early days, just get a sleep bra. I doubt you'll be out and about running around needing a good supportive bra. You'll be engorged and wanting to just wear your PJ's so don't worry about it until you settle down...I bought some right at first before my milk came in, and they never fit again and they sucked and were uncomfortable (partially because of the place I got them/brand they were)

3) Breast pump. Because I returned to work when baby was only 7 weeks old, I needed a really good pump to pump multiple times a day while I was gone. I got the Medela Pump In Style Advanced and I LOOOOVED it. I actually used it a lot before I went back to work to relieve some engorgement and it was so great to have. After I stopped working, I used it on average at least every other day, if not more to keep up supply, and have extra milk for any time I wanted to go out. If you need to buy a pump, wait for it to be 20% off at Babies R Us when you sign up for their rewards program. You'll most likely get the best price during that time. If you don't plan on using one daily, or even more than a few times a week, you probably can get by using a single manual pump. It's really just up to you and what your needs are. Even if I wasn't going back to work, I would have bought the pump I have because it's just that good and it is SO great to have. Is it weird that I'm looking forward to using it again? lol!

4) Nursing pads. I know some people don't need these, but man oh man I would have been in trouble without them! My favorite are Lansinoh. I've tried others, and they just don't compare. If you buy them on Amazon in a 4-pack, that's usually the cheapest way, especially if you subscribe and save. You can ALWAYS cancel subscribe and save, but it's nice to get a little bit more savings by using it.

5) Bottles. If you plan to leave baby to get out of the house at any point in his/her life, you'll need bottles! We liked the Avent bottles best, but I know many people like Dr. Brown's. Because we knew our baby would need to take a bottle once a day when I went back to work, we followed the advice of our pediatrician and started giving her a bottle once a day when she was a couple weeks old. Why? So she would take one, but still breastfeed. Also, it's important that you let daddy give baby the bottle so the baby will take the bottle from someone other than you. Trust me, if you train your baby to take a bottle but also breastfeed, you'll be SO GLAD because it comes in handy SO many times, even for non-working mommies!

6) Lanolin. This was nice to have for the beginning when you're cracked and sore. Again I prefer Lansinoh. You can buy your own tube of it (and it will last you through the eternities...I have one that looks like I never used it, even though I did) and the hospital will probably give (meaning charge you like $1 something ha ha!) a small one to you while you're there. I hated the Medela brand. Ick. Just trust me. In addition to Lanolin, as your OB/Midwife about a concoction called Newman's Ointment and if you can get a prescription for it. This stuff SAVED MY LIFE! It's a special mixture of anti fungal/anti bacterial cream you use to not only prevent thrush, and other nasty infections, but to treat mastitis as well. And trust me, I had mastitis 3 times so I totally know what I'm talking about here! If you get mastitis, I'm really sorry, but know that there is an end and you can get through it!

7) Rocking chair/glider. I cannot emphasize this one enough! The one we have is LOVELY, and I don't know what I'd do without it. It is SO COMFORTABLE and for all the late night feedings you'll go through, you won't be sorry you splurged on a really nice chair! Test them out at every furniture store and find one you really love.

8) Nursing cover. There are SO MANY BRANDS of nursing covers, or you could even make your own. Mine is a Bebe Au Lait and I LOOOOVE it. Why? Because it has this great pocket on the inside made from terry-cloth that can hold nursing pads, binky and can double as a clean-up method if you don't have a spit rag on you. I also loved the size and the boning in it to make it arch so you can see baby and baby can see you. Not everyone uses a nursing cover in public. I personally believe it is up to you. Do what makes you feel comfortable, because that's what matters. People are weird and will even scoff at you for nursing a baby in public WITH a nursing cover, so don't let this get you down. Nursing is natural and beautiful so people who think otherwise can just stuff it. :)

OK, I think that covers breastfeeding. There wasn't really a product I had and didn't use/didn't like. Obviously you'll want a bottle brush to clean your bottles :) I also really liked having the micro-steam sterilization bags to clean my pump parts in after each use. Super quick and handy.

Baby Gear:

What we loved

1) Car seat. Obviously! We opted to go with the Chicco KeyFit 30 and I LOVE everything about it! It's got excellent crash test ratings and is SO EASY to install. It's also the best option if you've got a smaller car since the base is narrow and it fits into small cars well. The other one I'd recommend is the Britax B-Safe. It's pretty much just as awesome as the KeyFit 30 and I think it's actually a bit cheaper than the Chicco now. For after baby grows out of the infant carrier (if that's the route you're going) you'll want to purchase a good quality combination seat that can be installed rear-facing and forward facing as well. For this stage I would recommend the Britax Boulevard 70. It is amazing, and it keeps your little one rear-facing until they are 40 lbs! Rear-facings is ALWAYS safest, no matter the age of the person, but especially from birth to at LEAST age 2! Our little chika is only 24 lbs and still rear-facing, and I'm going to keep her that way until she reaches 40 lbs. She's not going to know any different if I never turn her around, so if you do the same with your little one, you should have the same results. The Boulevard is also a great choice if you want to just buy one car seat and not spend extra money on an infant carrier, since you can use it with an infant who weighs at least 5 lbs. FYI I have bought both the car seats we use from Albeebaby.com and I am 100% satisfied, and I don't think you can find them anywhere else for as great of a price! They've got fabulous customer service, too! Look for another post later ALL about car seats/safety/ random info!

2) Stroller. We just went with a travel system for our Chicco, and we liked it a lot. I'm not a runner/jogger and neither is David so this wasn't important to us. I don't have a lot to say about the stroller, other than it's really nice to have one that either goes with your car seat and can just click and go or that has an adapter to make it a click and go stroller. The other stroller we own is a Chicco lightweight stroller, and we love it for quick trips/traveling.

3) Baby swing. For our little one, we used a hand-me-down swing that was almost ready to die, but ALWAYS kept working for us. It was just a simple open-top swing and it worked well for us. After we were done with it, we got rid of it, because it wasn't very reliable, and for baby #2 I wanted one that plugged into the wall. So, for our twins, we bought the Fisher-Price My Little Snugabunny Cradle 'n Swing. It looks awesome, so hopefully we like it! FYI, we bought it from Amazon and had it on a wishlist until the price kept creeping down :) I hate paying full-price for ANYTHING so I would recommend this method of attack!

4) Bouncy seat. 1 BILLION percent necessary for us. For the days when baby would just scream and cry at David, he stuck her in the bouncy seat and it soothed her at least somewhat. I don't think it matters what kind of bouncy seat you use. Ours is a hand-me-down and it's made by Fisher-Price, and it's most similar to this one. It's awesome and we love it. You can't go wrong with any of their bouncers.

5) Bassinet/Pack 'n Play. We have a Bassinet, and we used it for the first few weeks to have baby in our room with us, or to move it to other rooms in the house. After she was a few weeks old, she slept in it in her own room so she would get used to sleeping in her room, not ours. It's nice to have so baby isn't in that big huge crib at first. We'll be getting this Pack 'n Play for the twins to keep downstairs since we've got two levels of living space.

6) Jumper that goes in the door frame. Holy moly, our child LOOOOOVED this! We're so glad we had it! It's not necessary, but it's nice to watch baby be so happy (and be contained) so you can get some things done. You won't need this for 4 or 5 months, but it's nice to have when the time comes.

7) Highchair. Any kind will do. It's 100% up to you. Ours was a hand me down, and we didn't love it, but we used it because it was free. Now we use one that sits on one of our kitchen chairs because we wanted something that saved space and it turns into a booster for later. For the twins when the time comes, I have no idea what we'll do, as we'll probably be living in a different house by the time we need to get these.


8) Baby carrier. There are a lot of opinions on what kind to use, but we really loved our Baby Bjorn and got a TON of use out of it when we lived in NY last summer. Totally worth it. Find one you like :)

Things we didn't love/didn't NEED

1) Play mat. Our little one didn't really love playing with the one we had, but maybe yours will. You don't really need one, as baby will most likely be entertained by something you got for free/your keys, sunglasses/anything they aren't supposed to play with lol!

2) Bumbo. I know people SWEAR by these, but we didn't get one, and we were JUST FINE! We borrowed one, and our child quickly learned how to escape from it, so it wasn't a super great option for us, and she just didn't like sitting in it (until she was 1 and wanted to sit in the neighbor's Bumbo...). Totally optional in my opinion. If you get it at a shower, great. If you don't get one, save your pennies. I don't think it helped my baby "learn" how to sit or anything like people claim. She was sitting on her own at 5 months old because she's a fast learner and totally independent.

For the Nursery:

Aside from the obvious like a crib, here are the things we liked/didn't like/need:

Things we liked

1) Changing table. Ours doubles as a dresser, and I LOVE it. It kept us from having to buy a dresser since all the clothes we had for baby fit in the dresser. Also, I loved having a basket to organize diapers in. For the twins, since we're going to use cloth diapers, I plan on using the top drawer of our changing table for all the diaper supplies and the other two drawers for clothes.

2) Small lamp. This was nice for late night feedings, but we ended up using the light in the hall a lot, too. Some people prefer night lights.

3) Wearable blankets. I inherited some, and we loved them for the winter and when our little one wasn't walking yet.They are really easy to make, and you don't need to spend a fortune on the HALO brand ones. Seriously over-priced!

4) Baby monitor. This is nice to have, but you don't need anything fancy shmancy. A basic monitor will do. If you live in a big house you'll really want one, but if you're in a tiny apartment, it's probably not necessary. Trust me...you'll hear your baby cry at night, and you'll wake up. It's just a mom thing that will automatically come!

5) Diaper pail. We loved having this, but could have done without if someone didn't give it to us. Ours is the Diaper Dekor Plus and we liked it a lot, up until baby was eating solids and had gross stinky poo. Now we use ours for our cloth diapers and it works great for that.

Things we didn't use/didn't need

1) Wipes warmer. Over-rated in my opinion. I never had one, and will never need one.

2) White noise maker. We did have a humidifier in baby's room, but I didn't find it necessary to always have a noise going while she was sleeping. I was able to vacuum while my baby was sleeping, and she'd sleep right through it. But, she's a GREAT sleeper, so that may not be the case for everyone!

3) Mobile. I never got one, and I felt like my baby was sufficiently stimulated, as she was always ahead of the curve with milestones. Also, I wanted to keep the crib a place to sleep, not to play.

Bathing & Safety:

1) Baby bath tub. I am somewhat indifferent to this one because you don't really NEED it. Seriously. A big bowl or your clean kitchen sink is fine for when baby is tiny. Plus after you are finished using the baby bath tub, it's really annoying to store since it's such an awkward shape! I really liked having a little seat thing for the tub for when I started bathing baby in the big bathtub. It's handy and small and easy to store. I can't find the link, but it's just a small little seat for baby to lie down on and it's mesh.

2) Those cutesy tiny baby towels. They are only good for the first few months then you'll find they're really thin and small and not very useful. Instead, I would suggest making your own hooded towel out of a normal sized towel and a hand towel. This is wonderful for when baby is bigger and can be used through the toddler years and many years after that!

3) Outlet covers, drawer locks, toilet locks and so on come later when baby is mobile and you need to baby proof. They're nice to have, especially the outlet covers.

4) Baby gate. We never got one, but we've never had stairs before. Maybe we'll get one this time around?

5) Little baby nail clippers. These are great! Any brand will do. You'll love them because baby's nails grow SUPER fast and are razor sharp. Just make sure you cut the corners of their nails so you aren't leaving a sharp corner to scratch both you and the baby.

6) Baby first-aid kit. We got one of these at my shower and the only thing I ever used from it was the nail clippers and the thermometer. The bulb syringe you get at the hospital is the best one you can find. The ones you get at the store are crappy.


Random tips of advice/misc. products:

 1) Read the book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" It should be your go-to for any sleep problems/training. I read just part of it one day when baby was about 4 months old, and the things I learned started working THAT DAY! It's been a great resource for us, and I thoroughly believe we have such a great sleeper because of this book.

2) We DO use a binky and we did when baby was small. I am personally not a fan of the ugly green one they give you in the hospital and I don't agree whatsoever with the nurse in our Lamaze class that claimed they're better for baby because if you have a different shaped one baby will clamp down on you and it will hurt. Lies. Breastfeeding is a learning curve and at first it just hurts. Period. End. The binky didn't cause baby to latch on differently. We really liked the Avent binky because that's what our baby took really well, and I especially loved that it had a snap on cover for when it's not in baby's mouth. Now, our little monster will suck on anything...including outlet covers. (ugh!) but she likes both Avent and Nuk binkies.

3) If you are having a girl and you want her to look cute and keep her headbands and little bracelets on, put them on her DAILY from the time you bring her home. I'm not kidding. She will learn to leave it alone because it is always there. This is also true when it comes to doing her hair. Start doing something with it even when it's super short and she barely has any. She'll learn that it's normal for you to do her hair and she won't try to pull it out. I started putting our little one's hair in pig tails as soon as she had enough hair for them! Sorry, I have no advice on boys! ha ha!

4) If you're going to make your own baby food (I made some but not all) you don't need a specific "Baby food steamer, maker, etc." They are a waste of money and just take up space. Just buy a food processor since you can use it for lots of other things as well. Steam your fruits and veggies, or bake them. This is a GREAT website for baby food recipes. I am planning on making 100% of the twins' baby food since I know I will be able to do that. Last summer, we were in NY and I didn't have my whole kitchen with me so I opted to buy it. If you do buy it, I really loved Beechnut. I did a lot of research, and when comparing Gerber to Beechnut, Beechnut always came out on top. You can do your own research though, and use what you think is best for you, your budget and your needs. Baby will be OK no matter what route you choose so don't stress too much!

WOW that was a lot of info, and I hope that at least SOMEONE benefits from it!! Other mommies, please feel free to chime in and comment on what you liked/didn't like or if I missed anything. Good luck new and soon to be mommies! You'll all do GREAT!