Sale time!!

Plus, I had a bad stroller.

My husband and I had scoffed at the seemingly crazy prices when we initially set out to stroller shop and ended up choosing a lightweight “travel system” (stroller + car seat) that had small wheels, no suspension or shocks and was made mostly of plastic.

After seven months of use, not surprisingly, it was in terrible shape. Its little plastic wheels shimmied all around, bumping over the tiniest sidewalk crack and although it folded up small, at the first snow, I couldn’t leave the house.

I’ve learned since then that with some baby products, you get what you pay for. Not that there aren’t some ridiculously priced, high-end models that are mostly about branding and flash but for the most part, they’re like a car and many people use them more often then their cars!

So I started researching “all-terrain” strollers and got sucked down a rabbit hole of information. So many strollers! So many new terms to learn: “jogging stroller,” “all-terrain,” “umbrella stroller,” “travel system”) and features to compare (width, weight, foldability, seat recline, type of metal for the frame)!

There were very few websites to compare features of different models and even less gave me the straight goods on what made one stroller better than an other or which features to care about (e.g. warranty) and which are nice-to-have’s (e.g. snack tray). I couldn’t find ANY that help me figure out which one(s) suited MY lifestyle the best.

So to help you along on your path of stroller discovery, here’s a bit of what I’ve learned:

How to narrow the field:
When someone comes in the shop looking for a stroller, I usually start by asking a pretty standard list of questions:

• Is this your first child? If not, is this your last or do you intend to have more? If this is your first, do you intend to have a second? How far apart do you think they’ll be spaced? (Yep, I get right up in your reproductive future without even buying you a drink!) This helps me understand whether you’ll need a single stroller, a double or something that can convert between the two.
• What do you see yourself doing after the baby’s born? Do you think you’ll use the stroller for more outside activities (e.g. local parks and trails, long walks) or indoor (e.g. malls)? Will you be getting in and out of the car a lot with the stroller? If you’ll be walking a lot, will it be mostly sidewalks or heavier terrain (e.g. gravel)? This helps to decide between 3 wheel (more all-terrain) vs 4 wheel, type of wheel (big and rubber are awesome for smooth ride but make the stroller heavier), etc.
• Are there any features you REALLY want to have? How much does style matter (and it’s okay if it does!)? Are there any other factors to consider (e.g. do you have a bad back or have to carry it up three flights of stairs)?

It can be hard to look into the future and answer these questions if you haven’t had the baby yet. How do you know if you’ll spend all your time trapped inside with a napper or be driven from your home on long walks with a cryer?

All you can do is make an educated guess: chances are, your personality and habits will be pretty similar to before you had baby. If you’re really active now, chances are you’ll find a way to stay active; if you’re not jogging now, chances are that getting out of the house with a little one isn’t gonna happen.

Your individual child will have something to say about your stroller choice, too: in terms of features, I had no idea how important a large canopy was before I had a little one who screamed every time the sun was in her eyes!

One important thing I discovered is that you can’t get everything in one stroller. We would all love a kick-ass three-wheel stroller with big rubber tires and great suspension that had a removable seat and second seat option. Oh, and it should be lightweight and easy for travel but have a huge basket.

It’s not going to happen. Stroller companies know this is what people want but the problem is that the very things (12″ rubber tires, big canopy, aluminum frame) that make an all-terrain so rad on a walk are the same things that make it a little too heavy for travel.

Not to say that there aren’t some excellent options for handling both (the UPPAbaby Vista is pretty near perfect at balancing features) but just beware the trap of looking for something to be all things for all occasions and therefore not being really great at anything. (Kind of like some politicians!)

The best solution I’ve found is to have an awesome stroller for daily use and then once they’re older and/or you find yourself travelling more, investing in a lightweight umbrella model (e.g. UPPAbaby G-Lux or Britax B-Nimble).

(Tip: If the thought of multiple strollers freaks your better half, maybe just wait a while before letting him/her know about the umbrella stroller part!)

So after many years now of researching, buying and testing strollers (hey, someone has to do it!), this is our lineup:

Our strollers:

Baby Jogger Elite ($499):

This is actually the one I ended up choosing after all my research years ago and it’s pretty phenomenal.

• the easiest fold of any stroller on the market.
• near flat recline vented seat with a weather cover that tucks out of the way when not being used
• 8″ rubber tires (that have permanent air chambers inside so they never go flat!)
• Awesome three-panel canopy with “peek-a-boo” windows and side vents.
• Adjustable legrest for small children and easy access to under seat basket
• Hand-lever parking brake
• front wheel shock absorber
• auto-lock on frame when folded
• Now comes with a multi-pocket parent “console” (aka place to put your phone and water bottle!)
• Goes up to 75 lbs (!) and has a lifetime warranty on the frame (that part is important)

Baby Jogger City Mini GT:

*sigh* This stroller is brand new in 2012 and it fills us with so much love.

You know what I just said about how you can’t have a lightweight stroller that’s all-terrain?

Now you can. The Mini GT is like the child of the Elite and the City Mini: it has rubber wheels, an adjustable handlebar and great suspension but it’s light and compact!

Perfect for: a parent wanting a one-and-only stroller from birth to preschool. The plush, reclining seat is comfortable for your baby while roomy enough for older toddlers (26″ headroom!).

Not great if: it’s your first child and you think you’ll need a stroller that can take two (the Baby Jogger Glider Board works with the Mini GT but it doesn’t have a second seat option).

Baby Jogger City Mini Double: *SOLD OUT UNTIL AUG 2012!*

All the goodness on the City Mini, but with two instead of one!

Has all the features we love from the City Mini (fabulous fold, big canopoies. near-flat reclining seats with we

ather covers, etc) but allows you to get around town without feeling like you’re driving a bus (less than 30″ wide.).

If you’re looking for something a little more rugged, check out the City Mini GT Double (has rubber tires instead of EVA plastic). If you’re looking for maximum portability though, this one only weighs 26.6 lbs compared to the Mini GT Double’s 32.5 lbs.

Perfect for: Parents of twins or two kids close together, especially for running errands.

Not great if: you want something really rugged. In that case, check out the Baby Jogger Select or Elite Double.

Baby Jogger City Select ($549):

Chances are, if you’ve talked to me in the store, you’ll know the story about how, a month after we bought our wonderous City Elite single stroller, we discovered we were expecting our second child.

My only options at that time were to then buy either a terrible, front-heavy plastic tandem stroller or a gigantically-wide side-by-side double all-terrain.

If only the Select had been invented then!

Depending on your day (or your life) the seating arrangement has up to 16 unique combinations (with the second seat kit, which is sold separately).

It’s the only stroller we know of that can take two infant car seats and can switch between single stroller mode and doubles mode with two full-sized seats.The Select is the boss. It has the Baby Jogger features you love (quick-fold, big rubber wheels, front wheel suspension, hand-operated parking break, aluminum frame, etc) but with a multi-seat design that is a game changer.

Perfect for: First-time parents (who intend to have more), parents of twins or two kids close together or even not that close together (the Baby Jogger Glider Board fits really nicely on the Select). We love the way it suits your needs when you need it to.

Not great if: you need something super lightweight. It’s 34 lbs in doubles mode (28 lbs asa single) which is great for all-terrain but not if you need to carry it up stairs.

UPPAbaby:

The other “baby” we carry is the UPPABaby Vista ($749).

Currently one of the most popular strollers in North America, it is a sweet, sweet combination of all things good:

• shock absorbers on all four wheels
• an alluminum alloy frame
• rubber tires with foam core (so they’ll never go flat)
• a seat that can be taken off and turned to face you or for putting just the infant car seat on the frame
• AND it weighs 24 lbs!!

It grow beautifully with your family, from your first (comes with a gorgeous bassinet) all the way to your third (can attach a rumble seat and a ride-along board).

Welded and formed aircraft aluminum alloy frame with shock-absorbing front + rear suspension

It’s great for everyday walks, getting in and out of the car easily (if you’re using it with an infant car seat, all you have to fold is the frame!), taking to airports and then walking on sandy beaches or cobblestone streets or just going to pick your kid up from schoo.

Perfect for: Almost everyone, especially those expecting their first and who intend to have more.

Not great if: you expect to be walking on trails a lot (e.g. Shubie or Point Pleasant Park) – take a look at the Baby Jogger Elite in that case – or if you don’t need a bassinet. The price can also set this stroller out of reach for some.

Check out SJP rockin’ the Vista with the second seat!:

Umbrella Strollers:

We also carry the UPPA Baby G-Luxe and Britax B-Nimble umbrella strollers. We love that the G-Luxe is super lightweight (you can throw it over your shoulder while running to your gate at the airport!) but doesn’t make you sacrifice a smooth ride.

Are you frustrated because you can’t quite figure out what your child wants?

Baby sign language is an effective way to help support language development and communication well before their speech organs are mature enough for them to speak. It’s a win-win situation!

They learn a way to tell you what they want and you gain a deeper understanding of what your baby wants and needs.

Michelle Swinimer, a certified Baby Sign Language Instructor, will be offering a new session starting Thursday, May 24th- June 28th from 9-10am.

This is the last one before the fall so don’t miss it!

Register at online at the Wee Sign website, drop by the shop or call 405-8801. $90 confirms your spot for 1 adult/baby pair($45.00 for each additional caregiver).

A growing number of parents are discovering that infant massage is a nurturing, joyful way to bond with your babies while dramatically improving their responsiveness and overall health.

Learn how to massage your little one with our Infant Massage Workshop by Amy MacAulay of Embrace Doula on Fridays from May 18th to June 15, 9-10am, $85.

Not only is it a great way to bond with your baby but studies have shown that babies need loving touch to grow emotionally and physically strong. Infant massage can relieve symptoms of gas and stomach discomfort, help facilitate motor co-ordination, reduce the effects of postpartum depression, relieve stress through increased relaxation for parent and baby and regulate sleep patterns.

Parents, parents-to-be and family members are welcome to join us for classes designed to educate and support you in the beautiful art of baby massage.

Register with us by dropping in the store or call 405-8801.

It’s arguably the most important job we do but it’s the one we get the least training for. It can be the most exhilarating and rewarding but also the the most physically gruelling and emotionally draining experience of your life.

And that’s just the first year!

No one gives you a performance review and a raise for doing a good job as a parent (although toddler kisses and “I wuv you!s” are pretty awesome). The daily routine can be mind-numbing: it’s like running on a hamster wheel because it takes tons of energy but you never get ahead. Popular media constantly tells us we’re doing everything wrong but then screams about the hazards of helicopter parenting.

Now imagine all that but add crushing poverty. Not to bring you down but imagine working a 12 hours for less than a dollar and then going without dinner so your kids can last another day.

According to NetAid roughly one in six people in this world (over a billion) live in “extreme poverty” (live on less than US$1 a day) and all told, nearly half of all the people on this planet lives in poverty.

What does that mean? Well, in the most concrete, heart-stopping way: my daughter just turned five and has had access to heaps of nutritious food her whole life but nearly 6 million children in the world die every year before their fifth birthday, as a result of malnutrition. That’s roughly equivalent to the entire preschool population of Japan.

In our lives, it’s so far away (culturally and geographically), it’s basically unimaginable but those are someone’s children. It puts our hard days into perspective, doesn’t it?

We’re used to knowing this and thinking there’s nothing we can do but for this Mother’s Day, we think a great way to celebrate motherhood is to reach out and support moms who don’t have it quite so good.

It can be hard to know where to start since you’re never really sure of the impact you’re having when you donate to a charity but that’s where Kiva comes in.

Kiva is a non-profit that gives loans to save lives. They work with partners around the world to give “micro” loans to people who don’t have access to traditional banking systems. They’re called micro loans because they can be as small as $25 and they’re mostly to women, many of whom are moms.

The idea behind micro-loans is that instead of straight charity, you lend your money to someone to help them grow their business. This type of support can spur entrepreneurship, increase incomes, alleviate poverty and often also empower women.

And the best part is, you get the money back so you can lend to others again and again, keeping the cycle going!

For this occasion, we’ve chosen to support Group Giringoga (picture above), which is a team of women in Burundi. Loans to groups are more successful because the individuals are there to provide support and peer pressure to repay.

One of the members of this group is Isidonie:

She is 28 years old and married to Oscar, a tailor. Together they have four children aged four to eleven; two of them attend primary school. She has two orphans in her care, who study in primary school.

She has been retailing corn for four years. She is on her eighth loan with Turame. With the Kiva loan granted her, she will increase her capital and purchase a lot of corn to resell and earn more.

In the coming years, she would like to purchase a carrier bike, which can contribute to earning enough food on days when she cannot trade corn.

So for Mother’s Day, join Team Fiddleheads and give a loan! To support Isidonie and Group Giringoga, it’s as easy as going to the Kiva website and clicking the Lend button. You can also give a Kiva gift card to the mom in your life who already has everything she needs.

For every dollar loaned to Giringoga group by Team Fiddleheads members, we will match it until the group reaches their loan total!!

Almost everyone can afford to lend $25 (especially because you can get it back if you need to!)  and on a day meant for honouring motherhood, what better cause is there?
Want More Info? Here’s how Kiva works:

1. You look through the loan requests and select the one you’d like to fund. You can fund as little as $25 and as much as the entire amount of the loan.
2. You make a loan. Throughout the life of the loan, you will see progress updates from Kiva through your email or on their site.
3. As the borrower repays the loan, the money becomes available in your account. This is called your Kiva Credit.
4. You can now use that credit to fund another loan, donate it to Kiva for their administrative costs, or withdraw it to spend on something else.

Here’s the overview on the Kiva site.

You don’t have to worry about your money going to administrative costs because 100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes directly towards funding loans; Kiva does not take a cut. Furthermore, Kiva does not charge interest to their Field Partners, who administer the loans.

Other Ways to Make a Difference:

For my daughter’s 5th birthday, we chose a couple of quality, wooden toys (from guess where?!) as presents and asked guests to purchase Kiva gift cards if they wanted to give a present.

That $25 used to purchase a plastic toy (that may quickly be discarded and end up landfill) can make a much bigger difference as a micro-loan!

Sometimes we can have a product in our store for months and its awesomeness doesn’t truly sink in until you’re doing a demo one day and then … POW!

You realize that it’s amazing and you want to run out and tell everyone you know how great it is!!

(Can you tell I’m talking about a stroller yet?)

That’s what happened today. I was talking to a mom about her options and she mentioned she had a bad back and can’t lift much weight (not an uncommon requirement). I showed her the Britax B-Nimble lightweight stroller and mentioned that it takes a Britax car seat (the B-Safe) although since it’s a relatively new stroller for us, I’d never actually seen them together.

I clicked the B-Safe infant car seat into the built-in adapter and suddenly realized: we have a great travel system!

I never really think of any of our strollers as part of a “travel system” (a stroller + car seat combo where you usually sacrifice stroller features in order to have something a car seat clicks into well) since they’re awesome strollers in their own right but these two fit together like missing puzzle pieces (not surprising since Britax makes both!).

And I’ve never seen an umbrella stroller that can take a car seat before, let alone one that fits so low and deeply into the stroller!

I always say that there’s no perfect stroller (the perfect stroller is the one that fits your lifestyle best) but if your lifestyle involves mostly travelling by car, indoor shopping and you want something easy to maneuver and lift, this is perfect!!

It’s also easier on your credit card than other strollers. At $219, it’s the least expensive well-made stroller (metal frame, all-wheel suspension, etc) we carry and it has the added bonus of coming with lots of free accessories (especially the car seat adapters, which can cost $40-85 for other strollers).

Meet the B-Nimble:

• Multiple position recline
• All-wheel suspension (makes for a smooth ride)
• Simple fold with automatic chassis lock (only have to lock once as opposed to other stroller where you have to lock each wheel)
• Removable/reversible seat liner pad (great for cleaning!)
• Lightweight (14lbs) with a sturdy carry strap attached (perfect for travel)
• Deep, wide seat (seat to canopy height is 28″ which is great for tall kids) and a 55 lb weight capacity!
• Comes with lots of free accessories: Adult cup holder, Rain cover, infant car seat adapters and adapter strap (for other major infant car seat brands).
• Britax B-Nimble stroller is $219 CAD; Britax B-Safe infant car seat is $199

Alternate options:

• Looking for something a little bit lighter and don’t need the infant seat option? Ask us about the UPPAbaby G-Luxe umbrella stroller.
• Looking for something a step up in terms of all-terrain? Check out the three-wheeled B-Agile or the Baby Jogger City Mini.

Questions?

• In case you can’t tell, we love talking about strollers! Call (405-8801) or drop by any time and we can help find the perfect stroller for you!

And at the time I didn’t have anywhere to go to ask for advice. None of my friends had experienced the problems I was having and I felt totally alone and like a failure at parenting right out of the gate.

Therefore, I’m totally thrilled that we’re finally able to offer a FREE, drop-in when you want, breastfeeding support group.

Starting April 16, it’s happening every Monday from 10-11 am.

Here’s the scoop:

“Breastfeeding is natural and normal, but while baby and mother learn this new skill there can be obstacles to overcome along the way.

Whether you are in need of support or have experience to share, spend time with other moms and learn from experienced breastfeeding mothers. Enjoy the support and understanding of other new moms, ask all your questions, find solutions and enjoy your breast feeding relationship with your baby.

This is a mom-to-mom support group is facilitated by Amy MacAulay, a Certified Birth Doula CD (DONA) and breastfeeding mom.” (And super nice, supportive person!)

For more information, call the shop (405-8801), check out Amy’s website or email us at classes@gofiddleheads.com.

p.s. We also just got in a fantastic book about breastfeeding that I would highly recommend. It’s called “Breastfeeding Made Simple” by Nancy Mohrbacher and it talks about really practical things like establishing your supply, maintaining your supply, nursing in public, going back to work, etc and it’s more up-to-date than what you find in most breastfeeding books. It’s perfect because it explains the importance on nursing without going overboard or being preachy. This would make a great gift for a new parent – I wish I could go back in time and give it to myself!

When my daughter was two years old, she could say less than 20 words, which compared to her friends (and my baby book’s “milestones”) seemed pretty low.

But she could understood practically every word we said and generally didn’t like to do things until she was perfect at them. Her grandfather was apparently mute until three and then started speaking in full sentences!

Our gut said to give her a bit more time. And eventually she did have a language explosion and now (at five) won’t ever STOP talking! But what we learned was how hard it can be to know if your child is developing on target for their language skills and figure out what you should do if you’re concerned.

To help answer some of these questions for parents, our very own Sarah Dhooge, a Fiddleheads fave and Speech-Language Pathologist, is offering a fabulous workshop called “Communication Toolbox.”

Here’s the scoop:

“Frustrated or worried about your child’s communication development? Interested in learning more about useful language development strategies?

The Communication Toolbox workshop will address questions and concerns surrounding your little one’s language development. In a small, personalized setting, you will learn more about your child’s stage and style of communication, and learn practical strategies for language development using everyday routines.

If you are a parent of a child who is 5 years old or under, and are interested in or concerned about your child’s language development, come build your communication toolbox!”

Details:
Date: Sunday, May 27 NEW DATE!!
Time: 9:30 – 11 am
Cost: $20

Registration:
Register with us by dropping by, calling (405-8801) or sending an email to classes@gofiddleheads.com. Payment confirms your spot.

So what does that mean?

Well, you don’t have to save the world in one day. It can be as simple as planting some seeds or going to a local store / farmer’s market or even just taking a long walk in a park and talking to your child about things we can all do to help the environment and why it matters.

(Does going to see The Lorax count?!)

If you’re interested in some easy-to-implement changes you can make around the house, Babycenter.com has some great suggestions (e.g. “change your dryer’s lint trap before every load”).

You’re already making a substantial contribution if you’re using cloth diapers instead of disposables. There are lots of stats out there about how many diapers you save from landfill so we won’t get into that but some aren’t familiar with using cloth wipes, which can help even more. In order to celebrate cloth diapering, we’re putting all our cloth diapers, cloth liners and cloth wipes on sale (10% off) this Saturday and Sunday.

In terms of baby products, other good things to think about are the materials they’re made of. Even wood, which seems so natural, can be harmful if taken from productive forests. You have more power than you realize: every thing we buy has an impact, which is often easy to forget. (For an example of a company worth supporting, check out Plan Toys.)

One favourite of ours of course is buying previously used clothing: you can both prevent valuable resources from being consumed to produce new clothes AND keep old clothes from going into landfills. (And save a ton of money while you’re at it!). Yay for the Clothing Exchange!!!

We’re closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. We’re open on Saturday, April 7, regular hours (10-5pm).

Happy hoppy weekend!