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My Valco Runabout pram was a gift from my sister. She used the Valco Runabout with both her children and showered her praise for the product – she insisted I use it as well. So I thought I’d see if the Valco Runabout would perform as well for me in Brisbane as it had performed for my sister in Sydney’s urban environs.

I took Baby for excursions to the Brisbane CBD as a newborn with the Valco Runabout in the Bassinet configuration. Baby seemed very cosy in the pram’s bassinet and when it was time for her to be in the seated configuration she seemed comfy too. The ground can get pretty soggy in Brisbane, especially with all the rain we’ve experienced this summer. So the ‘all terrain’ wheels came into their own to demonstrate they can perform in some of the most challenging weather conditions.

While it’s still wet, wet, wet in Brisbane, I thought I would road test the Valco Baby Protector Deluxe Raincover. The Protector comes neatly packaged and when I unfold the Protector it is quite intuitive as to how it fits on my pram. I slip the Protector over the pram, put the rear skirt at the handlebars and velcro the sides. I then stretch the elasticised foot over the foot rest and button it onto the frame. Super simple and could be done quickly if it rains unexpectedly. It provides some protection for Baby from UV and insects too.

The Protector is constructed from three main materials, a water repellent fabric which is black on the outside / silver on the inside, a clear waterproof material providing a flexible window for Baby and a stretchy black fabric for ventilation. The components are well assembled, the velcro is securely stitched, the zipper is clearly good quality and the whole product is hemmed neatly with a black edge.

So it’s time for Baby to review the product. I zip open the Protector and place Baby in her pram seat. At first she looks a little surprised to be zipped in but pleased she can see through her clear window. As we head out for our walk it starts to sprinkle, this doesn’t deter us, Baby reclines and takes in the view. I’m pleased knowing the Protector is well ventilated and Baby will remain completely dry. The Protector fits older and newer Valco models, including the Valco Baby TriMode, TriMode EX, Matrix, Quad Strollers and Runabout.

Another neat accessory I’ve found that is made by Valco is the Bevi Buddy. It holds large size cups and water bottles up to 1.5 Litres. It is fairly straight forward to attach the Bevi Buddy to your pram. You wrap the fastening strap around the pram frame, secure the Bevi Buddy cup holder to the fastening strap. It’s easy to attach / detach the holder with a push button. I’ve positioned the Bevi Buddy on the right hand side of the pram, so I can easily access my water bottle during our walks. For additional storage on my pram I have the Vee Bee Universal Net Carry Bag. It’s a sheer mesh bag perfect for carrying Baby’s water bottle, rusks, teething rings and toys.

Once again the Valco Baby Accessories highlight the ‘Versatility’ of my Valco Baby Pram. My Valco pram transforms from fine weather to wet weather conditions, from urban to regional, from bassinet to seat mode and extra storage mode. To find out more about the latest Valco accessories visit the Valco Baby website.

It would appear from the title of this blog that I’m expecting a highly developed child who will trot into the RTA and go for their provisional license at six months of age. Not so. Mind you, how much easier would life be if this was possible?

Science fiction aside, a new car is going to be a necessity for this ‘soon-to-be-Sydney-Mum’. Baby needs to be moved from place to place and until Sydney’s public transport system improves about one million fold, car it is for the time being.

I would like to opt for a more compact car or better still a hybrid or electric car in an effort to reduce my impact on our fragile planet. The former is no longer practical. The latter is not affordable (for the moment anyway).

So it was with much sadness that I embarked on the trudge around Sydney’s various car dealerships in search of a good second-hand car to do the job. The experience was – as always – every bit the soul-destroying demonstration of chauvinism I always fear it will be. I largely went it alone…unless you count the bump, which I don’t think effectively communicated my ‘empowered female’ attitude at all.

Car advice for baby

I asked around in advance for what I needed to keep in mind, and got a bunch of advice – including thoughts on specific brands and their mechanical prowess that made absolutely no sense to me or registered on the ‘care much radar’ at all.

However, helpful advice from seasoned parents included:

• Make sure the boot accommodates not just the buggy or pram or stroller or whatever you call it, but your shopping and any other stuff you need to put in your car too. Including yourself.
• Ask about the anchor points: Where are they? Do they reduce the boot space? Are they easy to get to?
• Four doors are a must. How often have you seen a poor parent bending their spine into the shape of pretzel around car seats to get to the capsule and waking/possibly dropping/certainly disturbing their blissfully slumbering infant in the process
• Auto vs Manual: a heated debate. More stuff goes wrong with an automatic. The stop-start of a manual combined with the eight-arm dexterity and rearward-facing eyes required of new parents may not be the best. Jury is out. Mine was, anyway, to lunch I think.
• Seats that fold down are a good thing. The space needs to be flexible, and so do you.
• Side opening boot doors are a preference – easier to maneuver when you’re short on hands, but upward opening is ok if the lip of the boot is low. Big fat tyres on the back of boot doors aren’t really an appreciated design feature when you’re already laden with various heavy items.
• Low boots win, high lips on boots not a great thing. Heaving that buggy in and out of a car is going to be the bane of any parent’s existence, so access is key. Also a friend pointed out that that a low and roomy boot allows you a little space for an emergency nappy change. Quite nifty!
• Consider safety very carefully. It’s important. You’re transporting very valuable cargo here.
• Central control on window and door locks is a great feature. Curious little hands do get the hang of these things quite quickly.

Car for baby: the expedition

I don’t cry easily, but a hideous man from an unnamed car dealership in Auburn in Sydney’s western suburbs had me there.

It was a 32 degree summer’s day, I’m eight months pregnant, had driven there on the Sunday because they advertised they were open then – and weren’t. Returned on the Monday (in equally scorching temperatures) and asked to test drive one of the cars and mentioned my husband would come with me in the afternoon to take a look if I liked it. I was told it was too much hassle to take the car out twice in one day and to come back later. I didn’t.

Twenty or so dealerships later and a few private sale investigations and we had the following shortlist:

• Suzuki SX4 Crossover: really fab car, but the boot was too small for pram et al.
• Holden Zafira: suited our needs in every way, but the seat sits too high for my short little arms and I had to reach down to get to the handbrake. Fine for the longer limbed of us. They don’t make this anymore, which is a shame.
• A Toyota Corolla Ascent wagon (up to a 2005 model): great little car with a fair sized boot…if you can find them. They’re like hen’s teeth.
• The Subaru station wagons – Liberty or Outback: just fantastic, really. Great sized boots, safe cars, roomy cabins, run like a dream. A little pricey for our budget, but if I had a bit more cash I’d go for it.
• Subaru Forester: as with the station wagons of same brand, great car and sort of between a station wagon and an SUV. Besides, the in laws drive one and they make sensible choices, so there was a good family endorsement there.

The decision

I got a call from the lovely Seddon at AMR Motors in Petersham, located in Sydney’s inner west. Seddon seemed to defy the entire stereotype of car salespersonship that I had encountered previously and I honestly thought I was hallucinating when we went to meet him. He was decent, and straight talking and helpful. I asked the Hubby to pinch me, but I was in fact awake. So then I asked him to please stop pinching me.

Seddon had a great 2002 Subaru Forester in impeccable condition with just over 70,000 kilometres on the clock and going at a great price. We drove it. We measured the boot. We went for a little spin. We bought it.

I do feel like I’m driving my parent’s car because it’s all so roomy and grown up. So I keep expecting to be asked for the keys back. Then I realise we’re ‘The Parents’ and that freaks me out even more. Anyway, it won’t be roomy for very long. I’m about to fill it with a buggy, a bassinet, a capsule, a baby and bags and bags and bags and bags of stuff.

Watch the films on YouTube: Subaru Outback, Subaru Liberty, Subaru Forester.

Baby is becoming a more independent eater. No longer is she content with just being spoon fed - she now attempts to feed herself. Some attempts are more successful than others and her bibs are becoming a canvas for her splatter artworks! To assist in the development of Baby’s independent eating, I’ve decided to introduce my Baby to the BabyBjorn Spoon, Plate and Soft Bib.

For Baby to review these products from the BabyBjorn Kitchen Range, I place pumpkin puree on the BabyBjorn plate first. This will be followed by serves of broccoli and spaghetti (Baby’s favourite).  I put Baby in her highchair wearing the BabyBjorn soft bib and place a BabyBjorn spoon full of pumpkin puree in Baby’s hand. Baby grips the spoon and after much gazing at the pumpkin, she swings it around and puts it in her mouth. I think she’ll need some practice developing her new found skills.

The BabyBjorn spoon is purposely designed to help little ones eat by themselves earlier. The spoon is only short, making it easier for little hands to hold the spoon and the handle of the spoon has sufficient friction to make it easy-to-grip. The bowl of the spoon is shaped to scoop food from the plate or eat soup from the BabyBjorn cup.

Of course the BabyBjorn spoon is compatible with the BabyBjorn plate - an indentation on the back of the spoon handle allows the spoon to rest on the edge of the plate without falling into the plate. It’s these small details that make this range really clever. The shape of the plate is a three leaf clover and has been thoughtfully designed to make it easy for little ones to get food onto the spoon from all directions. The plate is steady with a rubber base on the bottom to prevent it from sliding around.

So Baby takes the spoon in her hand towards the plate. After what appears to be some drumming to test the acoustics of the spoon against the plate, she scoops up some pumpkin and tastes it – giving me a smile and a scrunch of the nose. It appears Baby approves of the plate and spoon.

Baby has been comfortably wearing the BabyBjorn soft bib throughout her review of the plate and spoon. The bib is made from durable and recycleable material, featuring soft beads around the neck which are adjustable and easy to button. As with all BabyBjorn products, ergonomic design is paramount – the bib is designed to fit a little body and isn’t so long that the bib pocket gets stuck under the tray of her highchair. The catch-all pocket has managed to catch some of the broccoli and spaghetti which didn’t make it to Baby’s mouth and has kept Baby’s clothes reasonably clean in the process. Baby seemed more at ease in the BabyBjorn bib than her fabric bibs which she usually tugs on at the end of mealtime. Once baby had finished eating, I remove the bib and give it a quick rinse so it will be ready to use again.

The BabyBjorn Soft Bib, Spoon and Plate are part of the BabyBjorn Kitchen range. All materials used in the product range are recyclable and free from BPA and PVC. The range is available in Bright Red and Ocean Blue, so Baby can always be colour coordinated at the table. To find out more visit the BabyBjorn website.

Saturdays are always busy and today was no different. First stop – Mathildas Market held at the Brisbane Racing Club at Ascot. The markets are a hive of activity offering beautiful handmade baby wear, toys and nursery decor.

I bought Baby a Li’l daks cloth nappy for her swimming class. The first thing that strikes you about Li’l daks is the funky range of fabrics. The design I chose for Baby was quite retro, featuring red apples, green pears, blue chickens and yellow flowers against a white background. Under this outer layer is a hidden waterproof layer and under that is a water resistant fleece which is soft against baby’s skin. The nappy fastens with cute red plastic snaps.

So after a morning of perusing Mathildas Market, it was back home for a nap and then to swimming lessons to test li’l daks in the pool. Our new purchase caught the eye of our swimming instructor Julia who complimented Baby on her daks as we made our way into the pool. This was the first time I was taking Baby for her swimming lesson and as expected on a Saturday, there was one other Mum and six proud Dads in the pool with their babies.

I now understand why it is recommended for the parent to wear a t-shirt during baby swimming lessons. While Baby’s confidence is improving in the pool, she still did grab onto my t-shirt for extra security. The lesson started with a song introducing the babies to each other. We were then practising floating and submerging. My favourite part was testing her palmar reflex. I held my index fingers under her palms and she instinctively grasped on, then after felling weightless in the water she started treading water – amazing!

I thoroughly recommend swimming lessons for babies and I think there are so many benefits of starting early. Baby received her first swimming progress report card today and she’s doing an ‘awesome job’, making progress on many of the benchmarks of the Starfish program. I must say I am very proud of her.

What about the Li’l daks? How did they perform in the pool? Not only did baby look comfortable and stylish in her Li’l daks they kept everything contained (not that there was much to contain). So they did an awesome job too! Li’l daks can be purchased online or from Mathildas Market which are run in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide.

Baby loves breakfast time. It is the meal we always have together as a family. We take our respective seats around the table, Baby in her highchair of course, Dad on her left and me on her right. This morning is special because while Dad drinks his coffee from his favourite mug and I drink my tea from my favourite tea cup, Baby will be tasting cows milk for the first time from Baby’s First Cup.

Baby will be drinking from the BabyBjorn Cup. The design of the cup helps baby learn how to drink from an open cup just like Mum and Dad. While BabyBjorn is synonymous with Baby Carriers (see the post on Carrying Baby). BabyBjorn make a delightful range of feeding products for babies.

The BabyBjorn cup has a striking appearance, with a large stable brilliant red base and a frosted plastic top. The ergonomic design of the cup is designed to be easy to grip for small hands. The funky red base is non-slip and a rim on the base outer edge allows the cup to slide instead of fall when baby knocks it or pushes it. The weight distribution of the cup, which is heavier on the bottom, means it is less likely for an excited baby to knock it over!

The cup is thoughtfully made from durable and recyclable plastics and contains no BPA or phthalates. The frosted top has a motif of a bear for Baby and measurement lines in ml (and oz) making it practical for parents. The cup can hold up to 100ml (3.4oz). It’s easy to wash by hand or dishwasher and is microwave and freezer safe. I’m impressed by the practicality, design integrity and durability of the BabyBjorn cup. So it has won me over but the real test is how baby will review this product.

So Dad pours Baby a small amount of cows milk and I pass her the BabyBjorn Baby’s First Cup. She takes it from me with both hands, brings the soft rim to her lips, takes a big gulp of milk, most of it comes streaming down her face and she gives us both a big smile followed by an uncontrollable giggle. This sends Dad and I into fits of laughter. It seems the BabyBjorn Baby’s First Cup has won Baby over too!

The BabyBjorn Cup is recommended for babies from 8 months old. It’s ergonomic design has been specially designed for little hands and baby’s way of drinking. The BabyBjorn Cup is compatible with the BabyBjorn Plate and Spoon. To find out more about products from the BabyBjorn feeding range visit the BabyBjorn website.

Baby and I arrived at our first Baby Sensory class a little unsure what to expect. I’d heard of Baby Sensory classes in the UK and was surprised to find classes in Australia too. We were greeted with a big warm smile by Jewels and joined the circle of other parents and babies.

Jewels explained that Baby Sensory classes are designed to support early development of babies from 0-13 months and to activate Baby’s senses of hearing, seeing, smelling and touching. Each class is 1 hour long and consists of 3 phases. The first phase includes all sorts of sensory activities starting with a “Say Hello to the Sun” song – complete with actions.

As the class progressed there were more songs and I learnt that many of the actions to the songs were based on Baby Sign Language. This was the first time I had seen Baby Sign Language in action (and not just on Meet the Fockers). Singing “Old MacDonald had a farm” complete with signs for the various animals and the chorus “E-I-E-I-O” not only taught us the baby sign language for animals but baby sign language for vowels!

It wasn’t too long before we were in the second phase of the class which is all about Discovery. In this phase parents are encouraged to take their baby to the large play area and discover the activities in this space. Baby discovered two teddy bears named “Nutmeg” and “Cinnamon” (each teddy bear smelt like their respective name). Baby ended up submerging in a pool of plastic balls which resulted in squeals of excitement as she was trying to crawl her way out and find her balance at the same time. It wasn’t too long before she found a baby around the same age and they began playing a baby xylophone together. While the babies were playing together it was lovely for me to meet some of the other parents in the class.

It was then back to the sensory area for more sensory, visual and therapeutic experiences in the third phase of the class. Jewels sung “Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?” while performing a puppet show with little pigs and a wolf. We mesmerised the babies with tinsel pom-poms, bubbles and a parachute. Throughout the session Jewels explained the benefits of each activity and suggested good ideas to take home. Finally, we gave the babies a therapeutic baby massage before singing the “Good bye song”. We all had such an enjoyable time that we organised to go to a nearby cafe after class.

Baby Sensory is not a course and you can join at any time. We went to our Baby Sensory class in the Brisbane suburb of Hawthorne. To find out more contact the Baby Sensory team in Morningside on (07) 33992004 and mention www.babyreview.com.au to receive your “First 2 lessons FREE”. To find out more visit the Baby Sensory website.