Product Review: Cosco Flat Fold High Chair - a Surpise Value

With all the co-pays and other costs adding up, as well as the thought of saving for college, my spending behavior has been quite parsimonious of late.  That's a fancy way or saying frugal, which is a fancy way of saying cheap or unwilling to spend money.

Once my son Clark was old enough for solids, I knew I would need a high chair, eventually.  However, I tried to fight it.  First, I tried feeding him in his Bumbo Baby Seat.  He would lean forward, instead of sitting up and back when eating.  So that didn't work.  I then tried feeding him in his child seat (not car seat).  Things went a little better, but I still felt I needed a tool designed for the job.  I needed a high chair but didn't want too spend much money on one.

I went to BRU, and thought I was looking at prices for thrones, instead of plastic chairs with trays designed for feeding babies.  Prices ranged from about $75 to $200.  Frustrated, I visited America's favorite big box store (it's also the most hated).  They carried many of the same models as BRU, maybe a little cheaper.  There was one that caught my eye, well, its price did. $30 (regular price) for a model from Cosco, not to be confused with Costco.

I don't think said big box store was too proud to offer this model, because the display model was hidden behind the others.  I took the effort to fight my way back there and pulled it out, placing it on the ground.  I compared it to the other models on display and my impression was that it did not feel sturdy, and not something I would feel safe putting my child in.  The construction felt like someone had repurposed an ironing board.

Baby Furniture Wars: the Basics (Crib, Dresser and the Glider)

Alejandra's Dad has joined the Baby Furniture Wars Series:

Unless you live in a 5,000 SF mansion adding a new baby to your household comes with a certain amount of displacement. If you're not sure what 'displacement' means; think of a full glass of water... in order to add another drop, some water has to spill over the side. In my case, my stuff spilled out of the house and into boxes in the garage.

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There are 3 key furniture pieces necessary for a baby's room. They are a crib, dresser and glider. (Sure, you can have more .. but these are the essentials and the ones that you'll have to negotiate into a standard room.)

Crib:

Choices - New or Used? Drop side or not?

We opted for a hand-me-down crib. I figured any piece of furniture that has survived the upbringing of another child, would survive mine. Plus, the price was right. The biggest issue with the hand-me-down crib was the 'drop-down' side which apparently was designed with the best intentions in mind for ease of loading and unloading of a baby into the crib without sacrificing your lower ribs in the process (assuming you haven't had your bottom two ribs removed for 'professional' purposes).

Leaning over a crib may be a bit uncomfortable; however, you may want to take this opportunity to start training for you new role as caregiver by easing up on the cheeseburgers and maybe one less six-pack per week and maybe try lifting up a bag of groceries a few times. This will get you in prime shape for lifting a baby from the crib and may buy you a year or two to see your kid graduate college or maybe get married. Practically speaking, having to lean over a normal crib height side railing is not the end of the world. It helps that when your baby is a few weeks old and ready to graduate from the bassinet to the crib the mattress height will be closer to the top of the railing so you don't have to lean as far.

Baby Furniture Wars: Cribs vs Playards vs. Bassinets

During the process of nesting, when moms and dads are furnishing and decorating the living space for their new baby, one decision parents must make is what will the baby sleep in.  Some parents choose the traditional baby crib with its furniture like feel and weight.  Others choose a playard/travel crib, a bassinet or simply place the baby into the parents' bed.  Some babies even wind up sleeping in swings and rockers.  However, for most parents it comes down to a decision between crib, playard or bassinet.

I actually know a family who owns all three baby sleeping devices, but my guess is that's rare.  Here is a comparison of those three choices (in alphabetical order).  There is no choice that's perfect for everyone, so each parent will need to make their own final decision.

Bassinet:

Size: small, about half the size of a traditional crib.  They tend to be very cozy and provide an intimate feel for the baby.  Unfortunately, because of the small size babies often outgrow the bassinet by 3 months of age and parents are once again in the market for something for their baby to sleep in at night.

Features:  they rock - literally.  You can rock your baby to sleep in one.

Price:  about half the price of a traditional crib.