Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 12, 1990 TAG: 9008080170
SECTION: PARENTS' GUIDE PAGE: 12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH COX
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"The focus is convenience and travel," said Jim Myers of The Baby Store at Oak Grove Plaza. He said that playpens are a good example of this - "Playpens are dead. Pack-n-Play, Happy Campers . . . that type of thing has really killed playpens."
Parents look for products that can do more than one job. Graco's Pack-n-Play and Evenflo's Happy Camper fold up and away into a duffle bag to be used as a travel bed or a playpen.
"A lot of people will buy these and use them as cradles in their bedrooms," Myers said. Fisher Price's Travel Tender, which has to be assembled but is also ported in a duffle-size bag, is now outdated, according to Myers. If you lose a part to it, he said, you can't really use the bed. The others take less time and trouble.
And although conventional playpens supply nice, sturdy wooden slats for the baby to pull up on, he pointed out that when they fall in a port-a-crib, they fall against soft mesh sides.
Myers said that people are looking for products that can do two, even three different things - for example, Evenflo's 3-in-1 swing, which converts from a car seat to a carrier to a swing. The infant car seat and carrier is most popular, he said, and one of the best is the Travel Tamdem by Evenflo. "It has a base that the infant seat sits on, so you don't have to take the seat belt on and off. And it can be used as a car seat without the base - it's safe and has been tested."
Another product that is being tested for versatility is the stroller. Some are available with removable body doubling as a bed, "but the cost is expensive, and it doesn't turn into a good stroller. Some have a separate seat that you can add on, but it's not popular in this area," Myers said.
When shopping for a stroller, he suggested looking carefully for these essential features: removable seat liners; adjustable height handles; quad swivel wheels; locking wheels; and a three-position seat. Brand new on the market is the Prodigy Co.'s "Shuttle," a stroller-car seat combination that Myers said hasn't been received too well yet. "The right concept is there; the product is a good product." However, he said, it's expensive, but the company is still refining the design.
Back and frontpack carriers are still popular. The frontpack is sold year round, Myers said, while the back pack is seasonal. Making sure the baby is safe and the carrier is comfortable are important when shopping for them. They should have padded shoulder straps, adjustable seats, good head and neck support (baby should be able to hold head up if in a backpack) and waist belts.
Frontpack carriers now come with such conveniences as drool bibs (perhaps an essential), a breast-feeding zipper and vinyl-lined front pockets. Mothers with colicky or just fussy babies find frontpack carriers wonderful - particularly since babies often fall asleep in them, and leave the mother with two free hands while still tending to baby.
For baby recreation, parents still buy swings - or swings with seats that convert to other uses. Myers suggested looking for swings that are battery-run for longer operating time, one that has a long-lasting wind-up, or one that has a cradle-option with a seat for older babies.
Walkers aren't sold as much now (there are safety hazards involved with walkers), but Johnny Jump-Ups are popular. "A big surge in the last two or three years has been the bouncey seats," said Myers. "They are fun, and comfortable if you buy the right one. Look for good posture for the body, one that extends for leg support, and one with a toy bar."
Perhaps the most important purchase of all is the crib, and its mattress. "The mattress is the most important part of a room," said Myers. "And you can find a wide variety of prices out there. A good mattress will cost $55 to $100. It should be firm, have a good warranty, and thick gauge wire - about 13 1/2 , or larger. The baby is going to spend the majority of its baby life on a mattress. If it's sagging, it's not good for the spine or overall development. Go with a good name manufacturer, and make sure the mattress is ventilated, to keep the seams from ripping."
Other things to look for in mattresses: hypoallergenic, triple laminate nylon-backed covers and cloth bindings. If the crib purchase is for a first child, and there are subsequent children twinkling in the wings, a sturdy and well-made crib may be a pound-wise decision. It will last through several children. This means, according to Myers, a hardwood crib of maple or oak that will withstand shaking without the screw inserts working themselves out. It also means that the wood won't splinter if chewed on - and it will be. Slats must be no more than 2] inches apart. A good crib will run about $160 and up, although the price range overall is $79 to $500. Without mattress or bedding.
A last word on trends. High chairs are back in style, and they are now more aesthetically pleasing, made to match kitchen interiors.
Wood is the preference, although not the last word in practicality. But look for the bigger, adjustable, wrap-around trays and chairs that recline. Along the same decorator lines, Myers said parents are buying furniture that grows along with the baby. For instance, the changing table/dresser combination that converts to a dresser with the screw-off flip kit.
He carries hutches and mirrors to add to these dressers, as well as twin headboards to match dressers.
What does the nursery of the '90s look like? Musical mobiles, primary colors, crib mirrors so babies can admire themselves and matching bumber pads, sheets, lamps, wallpaper, borders and comforters.
by CNB