With some good weather upon us here in Bethesda, Maryland, my daughter and I went to Target earlier this week and purchased a Cosco Juvenile Altura stroller. It cost about fifty dollars and was middle of the road in terms of price.
It took about fifteen minutes to assemble, which was a little bit less time required compared to the Graco stroller I’d put together in the past.
Here’s a picture of the completed product:
Review
I’ve taken two longs walks with this stroller and it works fine for me. The handle grips are a little lower quality than I wanted. I doubt that they will last very long, but handle grips are not essential and are relatively easy to replace or do without. The wheels work fine and one thing I like about this stroller as opposed to the Graco I’ve used before is that the foot brakes don’t lock when accidentally kicked while walking.
My daughter seems comfortable enough, though she can’t talk yet so I’ll have to wait to ask her what she thinks of the stroller!
One thing that isn’t directly related to the function of the stroller that bothered me was the strong chemical smell that emitted from the unit components after I opened the box. The smell I’m talking about is the “new car smell” which some people like, but is considered by some to be toxic. I realize that plastics are a cheap way for manufacturers to produce durable goods, but if they put our health at risk, is it worth it?
Expecting our second baby in a couple of months has launched me on a search for which bottle we’ll use this time. I am hoping to nurse for the first year again, but I need something to bridge my absence. Last time, gulp, we used Avent, having no idea 3 years ago they were laden with BPA. They have since changed the composition to be BPA free. I am so irked by the whole BPA issue and that I used those bottles with warmed milk, no less, but I have to remember 90% of the time she was nursed so I can’t beat myself up over it.
Anyway, I am reading lots of reviews on the great and growing number of BPA free choices we have now. (amazing what 3 years can do) I am aware that the baby might not like my first choice but I want to start with one that come with high safety reviews (on testing for chemicals that is), easy usability, least leaky, etc. then if the baby needs a new style we’ll take it from there. I really want ones that are BPA, phthalate and PVC free.
Here is what I have narrowed it down to at this point…
Born Free
Green to Grow
Medela
ThinkBaby
and the new BPA free versions of Avent
and Dr. Brown’s
.
I am so happy to say that not only are there more bottles coming on the market, but the manufacturers of many traditional brands are switching due to consumer demand. Ah, sometimes the greater population does have a voice…
And glass bottle options are, as usual, BPA free. I think we are going to skip them though because I really don’t like the idea of broken glass. (My daughter dropped bottles enough for me to feel like we would have broke many)
The SafeMama BPA free cheat sheet
Great BPA free bottle comparison chart from Soft Landing
Another fantastic guide from Soft Landing/Squidoo
