Britax Duo Plus Isofix

These are just a few of our picks for the ‘gadgets’ that are available on the market now that may make life easier for you and your child.  You can find out more information by clicking the links.

If you come across anything else that you think may be of interest, please let me know or post it yourself.

Sophie

Philips AVENT SCH550/20 Bath and Room Thermometer

The Philips AVENT Digital Bath and Room Thermometer conveniently combines room and bath temperature measurement. Being digital, is is easier to read and more accurate than an analogue thermometer.

Why measure the temperature of baby’s room?

A newborn baby cannot yet regulate its own body temperature. If baby’s room is too cold baby’s body temperature can drop dangerously.

Why measure the temperature of baby’s bath?

As baby’s skin is so delicate, this makes it highly sensitive to external influences like temperature and moisture. It therefore reacts more quickly to water that is too hot and will burn much faster than the skin of an older child or an adult. As a newborn baby is not yet able to regulate its own body temperature. This means that when it is exposed to a cold environment (e.g. cold bath water), baby’s body will cool down quickly. Therefore, measuring baby’s bath water is important for baby’s safety and comfort. The thermometer can also be used for testing the water temperature of baths for older children.

It also looks quite cute!

Gro Anywhere Blackout Blind

Anyone who has stayed away from home with little ones will know that it can be tricky to create a snoozy sleeping environment when there is too much light flooding in. The versatile Gro Anywhere Blackout Blind has been designed from a lightweight material that blocks all daylight, and can be put in place in minutes using suction cups. There are eyelets at regular intervals so that you can place the suction cups where you need them. The one shown is 130cm by 200cm and comes with it’s own travel bag, but you can also get larger ones.

For those of you wondering, the Gro Anywhere Blind is a new and improved version of the Baa Baa Blind.

SnoozeShade Latte Trim Limited Edition – The Ultimate Blackout Blind for Pram, Buggy and Pushchairs

Where the Gro Anywhere blind is designed for windows, the SnoozeShade is a unique blackout blind for prams, carrycots, pushchairs and buggies (in flat-lying or upright modes). SnoozeShade attaches to the buggy’s frame quickly and easily using Velcro straps and has elasticated top and sides to allow for a flexible fit. The bottom is straight so your childs legs can poke through as they grow. SnoozeShade fits twin and triplet strollers with hoods where each child has its own hood. Simply use one per baby and then you needn’t disturb one if the other wakes up. It can also be used with rear-facing child car seats as long as they have a hood–excellent for blocking out the light from street lamps if you are travelling at night.

BabyDan Magnetic Drawer/Cupboard Lock

BabyDan Magnetic Drawer / Cupboard Lock (known as Mag Lock) is a great product for childproofing. Magnetic Locks help prevent a child’s access to draws & closets containing dangerous fluids, knives ect. This Adhesive Magnetic Lock from BabyDan is fitted with strong Adhesive Pads making it perfect for installation where screw fitting is not possible.

Angelcare AC401 Baby Movement Sensor Pad and Sound Monitor
(see video below)

Iis this just another baby monitor? The Angelcare AC401 baby monitor is a 2-in-1 monitor that detects sound and movement, so if your baby is still for 20 seconds, you’ll be alerted. And that’s just one of many great monitoring features. You’ll find the sound quality is crystal clear, and it also comes with a rechargeable mobile Parent Unit.

There is an under-the-mattress sensor pad, a parent and a nursery unit, charging cradle, a couple of adaptors and strangely, comes with batteries for the Parent unit but not for the nursery unit.

I’ll leave it to you to decide whether you need a movement sensor for your child based on your own worries, concerns and past history.

Second hand baby equipment is a necessity for many people but that does not mean you have to compromise safety or comfort. Hopefully, we can provide you with a few tips here on what to look out for and where to get what you need.

Turning to safety first, the number one product that you really should try to buy from new is your baby’s car seat. If you are totally sure of the seat’s history, fine, but don’t buy from someone you don’t know. Why? Basically, you don’t know whether the seat was ever involved in an accident. If it has been, this may have seriously affected the structure of the seat, even if you can see no obvious signs of damage. Even a very minor bump or sudden stop may become an issue if the seat has been damaged. So, if at all possible, do your research and get the best babies car seat you can for your budget.

Second hand pushchairs are OK as long as you make sure that the brakes work and the wheels look correctly aligned. Give the pushchair a good shake, open and close it a few times to make sure everything works properly and that the locking mechanisms function safety. Look for rust and signs of weakness in the structure and frame and also that the fabric is not torn. You will of course expect signs of general wear, but if the fabric is torn, it won’t be long before it goes completely. Please also note that the latest recommendation for the harness is a five-point rather than a three-point design.

When considering a second hand high chair, you need to firstly consider what your priorities are. Do you want something that is easy to clean, needs to fold when not in use or one with “bells and whistles” on? Then, look for the obvious missing nuts and bolts and that the structure is sound and not damaged, do this by eye and by running your hand over everything to look for sharp edges. Do the catches all work properly, is all the padding secure and finally, is the harness in good working order.

Second hand baby equipment also includes items that baby does not directly use. For example, when buying second hand baby monitors make sure any wiring is safe and that all the plastic bits are intact and do not fall off easily. Give the unit a shake to make sure nothing is lose inside. Check that the cords are less than 20cm long to comply with current safety suggestions. Finally, note that a digital monitor is less likely to ‘hiss’ at you and will be much clearer.

When buying second-hand stair gates, make sure you try them out first as some are more difficult to fit than others. Doing this will also allow you to check the locks work properly. Look at the whole frame as well as the slats (these should be spaced at least 6.5cm apart) for splinters, bumps and bangs. If the gate has been painted, walk away, as this may be covering up damage and the paint used may be hazardous.

Generally speaking, when buying second hand baby equipment remember that if an item carries the British Standards safety mark that this applies to when the product was new, not when it’s been used. Always ask for a set of instructions. These are unlikely to be available from the owner, but you can always search for them on the Internet.

Where to buy?

Good sites for second hand baby equipment.

This is just a list of possible places to get second hand baby equipment. Can’t say how good or bad they are that’s up to you to decide. They are mostly UK ones, but some will have international links as well.

As mentioned, if at all possible try and get a new baby car seat, but other things have a short life span and buying second hand is ideal. Prime examples are cribs and carrycots, baby bouncer, swinging cradles etc.

www.uk.Freecycle.org is as you would imagine, freebies! People just want to help out and get rid of things in your local area.

www.Nappyvalley.co.uk
www.preloved.co.uk
www.gumtree.com
www.adtrader.co.uk
www.friday-ads.co.uk
www.loot.com
www.uk.ebid.net

And of course, possibly the best known place to get second hand baby equipment is to get baby equipment from Ebay.
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