New 2010 Stokke Xplory Stroller Review
April 29th, 2010
After playing around with the stroller for a while, I want to share my thoughts with you in hopes of answering most of your questions about it. There are several great blog entries about the new Xplory already on the web, so I thought I would focus on answering the most common or popular questions we’ve been receiving from our customers.
If you have the current Xplory in stores now, it IS possible to upgrade to the new one. For $399, Stokke will be offering a stroller seat package which will include the seat, seat fabric, canopy, and under seat bag. So, if you are getting ready for your second child and want to give your existing stroller a face lift, you are in luck!
So, what’s different about the stroller?
If you have an Xplory with serial number greater than 113464 (these have been in stores for months), the chassis will be almost exactly the same. The only differences are:
Chassis (Stroller Seat 
- Brake pedal is now Red, not Cream colored
- There are 2 clips on the frame to hang your Stokke Changing Bag, or any other diaper bag with a strap
- The under seat bag has been completely remodeled. It’s larger, has a zipper closure instead of a drawstring, and fastens to the chassis much easier than the current model.
Bassinet (available with the Stokke Xplory Complete Stroller Only)
The hard plastic shell that makes up the bassinet is exactly the same. The difference are:
- Textile set (fabric inside the bassinet) is completely different. Stokke replaced the current fabric with a new micro-fiber material. It’s designed to create a softer and smoother look and feel. It will also take moisture away from your child more efficiently, to keep them dry and cool. It’s also water resistant.
- The Canopy now has a visor (2 inch lip on the edge of the canopy). You can extend it or leave it tucked in. When extended, it gives your child more shade from harmful sun rays.
- There is a great mesh window on part of the canopy, designed for better ventilation. It can be opened and closed easily and securely.
Stroller Seat
This is where most of the changes are, such as;
- Increased comfort with upgraded textiles (same as the Bassinet).
- Deeper seat for increased comfort and support
- The back of the seat (previously exposed plastic) is now coated with the same color seat fabric for a sharper, sleek look.
- Tighter seat rail fabric padding with easy on/off capabilities.
- The footrest features a one-handed adjustment, as opposed to the current model which features 2 clips.
- The canopy is the same as the bassinet description above, complete with visor and mesh ventilation
- The under seat bag is larger and zips up for added security and convenience
So, what works and what doesn’t from the current to new model? The short answer is that all current accessories will fit the new Xplory. Here are the details;
- The new parasol does not need the clip/adapter piece anymore. It plugs right in. However, the current parasol WILL fit the new model
- The Sleeping bag is now only offered in one color, cream. It had been completely redesigned and will match any color stroller. The current sleeping bags WILL fit the new model
- The new Footmuff is softer, and has a drawstring to create a snug cocoon-like fit around your child. It’s also a bit larger. The current footmuff WILL fit the new model
- Car seat adapter have not changed at all and WILL fit the new model
- The changing bag has been completely remodeled. The current bag WILL fit the new stroller
- Also to come, Stokke is planning to add a summer kit (only to fit the New Xplory) and a sheepskin insert.
New Items
Stokke came out with a new Blanket that they refer to as the “Celebrity Blanket”. It’s soft and cuddly, but can also be used as a shield from the sun and wind. With 2 convenient snaps, it clips around the stroller canopy securely so that it won’t fly off. As a parent, I definitely appreciate that feature.
Colors:
The new Stokke 2010 Xplory Stroller will be offered in 6 colors; Red, Purple, Green, Dark Navy, Blue, and Beige.
Price:
The Price will be increasing slightly. The Stokke Xplory Complete Stroller will retail for $1259.99. the Basic (without bassinet) will be $1059.99
Pre-Order Schedule
The New 2010 Stokke Xplory Stroller will be available for pre-order in June for delivery during the first week of July. The dates may change, but this is what it is looking like at this point in time.
PRE-ORDER NOW: Click Here
In the meantime, if you have any other questions, feel free to contact us anytime.
New Bugaboo Bee Stroller – Review
January 19th, 2010
The New 2010 Bugaboo Bee Stroller
The new Bugaboo Bee Stroller will be coming soon. The official date has not been announced, but it will be sometime in the Spring of 2010. Our best guest is sometime between May and July. We are all anxiously awaiting its’ release.
The new 2010 Bugaboo Bee Stroller will look very similar to its’ predecessor, however, there have been a few significant changes to improve the overall performance of the stroller. It looks like the designer, Jaap Der Boer, and the development team at Bugaboo listened to what customers had to say about the old Bugaboo Bee and worked hard to improve the already popular stroller. The seat is much larger and more aerodynamic and the knobs are easier to adjust and turn.
Some of the noteable changes are:
New Backrest
The new Bugaboo Bee features a height-adjustable backrest that simultaneously adjusts with the sun canopy and 5-point harness to four different height positions; a ground-breaking feature that has not yet been seen on any stroller in the market. This feature extends the height of the seat from 20 to 23.2 inches.
Backrest Shape
The new ergonomically shaped backrest has been redesigned to mirror the natural shape of a child’s back making the new Bugaboo Bee more comfortable for the child.Reversible Seat
The reversible seat has been re engineered with a circular joint system that allows the seat to be easily reversed so the child can either face the parent or the world.Wheels and Suspension
New rubber material and signature Bugaboo open star wheel design combine with less rigid, shorter springs for better driving Brakes
Optimized brake system. The way the brake works is the same, but the mechanism has been optimized to keep the brakes secure at all timesAccessories
The new Bugaboo Bee will now be compatible with the Maxi-Cosi Mico and Graco Snugride car seats. There will also be a new breathable seat liner, designed to whisk moisture away from your child keeping them dry and comfortable all year long. With a few improvements, Bugaboo kept the popular sun canopy and footmuff as well. Realizing that many Bugaboo customers have a Bee and a Bugaboo Cameleon or Bugaboo Frog, they decided to make a universal footmuff to fit all Bugaboo Strollers. With all the changes planned for this new 2010 Bugaboo Bee Stroller, this should be a great upgrade to an already popular stroller. It will retail for $649.
Beaba BabyCook Food Processor Review
December 8th, 2009
Beaba Babycook Food Processor
Our youngest son, Hudson, is finally ready for solid food, so we cracked open the Beaba Babycook box last weekend and started making our own baby food. This thing is great!
You might be asking yourself why you’d shell out $149 for another version of the food processor you have sitting in your basement or tucked away behind the pots and pans in your kitchen. I know I did… All I can say is that it’s worth the money and is much different than the blender you’ve already got.
Taking it out of the box, it’s pretty easy to assemble. There aren’t many parts to it, just the blade, splash lid, cover, spoon/spatula, and steaming basket. It took 2 minutes to put together. It comes with a cooking guide/Recipe book which is very basic, but gives you a good idea of how to steam and blend as well as some ideas on what to cook for your little one.
What makes the Beaba Babycook so unique is that it steams and blends your food in the same blending bowl. The steaming feature can be used to soften raw vegetables to prepare them for blending, or to defrost baby food that you have already made. Steaming time is determined by the amount of water you put into the Beaba. There is a chart in the recipe book to help guide you with that. We started by steaming raw carrots in our Beaba, then blending them…all with the flick of a switch! The Babycook has one dial, with 2 settings; “Blend” and “Steam”, so it’s hard to screw it up.
Beaba Babycook Multiportions Tray
Beaba also makes the Multiportions Tray, a soft plastic tupperware tray with air tight lid to store and freeze your baby food in seven 1/4 cup portion sizes. Once frozen, the soft plastic compartments make it really easy to push and pop each portion out. If you opt not to get the tray, any household tupperware will work just fine.
Overall, this is a great machine. It will save you money by not having to buy all that expensive baby food. It’s also much heathier for your child and comforting for you to know exactly what you’re feeding them.
Bugaboo Cameleon Stroller Review
December 7th, 2009
Bugaboo Cameleon Stroller
Pampered Tot is one of the largest Bugaboo Retailers in the USA. As a Dad to two young boys, I have had a 2006Bugaboo Cameleon for 4 years, and a 2009 Bugaboo Cameleon for the past 6 months. With my experience as both a parent using one, and a retailer selling them, my goal is to give you enough practical information to help you decide if the Cameleon is right for you.
Let’s start with the version or model, since so many of our customers seem to be worried and confused about getting the latest Bugaboo Cameleon on the market. The significant model change was in the 2008 model year. In 2008, Bugaboo added foam wheels (replacing the air filled ones) and easier height adjustment clips for the handlebar (previously a fly-nut that you had to twist). They have not made any changes to the stroller in 2009 or 2010 (aside from the Bugaboo RED Special Edition Stroller which has a black Chassis). So, any Cameleon made in 2007 or before is an older model. Anything made in or after 2008 is the new model.
The Bugaboo Cameleon comes in 4 Standard Base Colors (Sand, Red, Dark Grey, and Dark Brown) and one special edition Bugaboo RED Denim Base. These 5 Base colors can be matched up with any of the 9 Tailored Fabric Set colors to provide 45 possible color combinations.
Bugaboo Cameleon Stroller with Accessories
What about functionality? Well, there isn’t much this thing can’t do. The stroller seat and bassinet can be placed on the stroller chassis in either direction, so you can have your child forward or backwards facing. Although, with the movable handle bar, there’s no need to move the seat. Unique to Bugaboo, the Cameleon (and Frog) stroller handlbar can flip forward or back, allowing you to change your child’s position and view without having to remove them from the stroller! It’s a bit harder to push when the larger fixed tires are in front, but it’s a nice feature to have when you want to change your child’s position without disturbing them. Shocks on the front wheels makes for a really smooth ride, not matter where you are. Large rear tires allow you to take this stroller anywhere. We take ours to the park, beach, and on unpaved terrain. It performs well on all surfaces. Add a height-adjustable handlbar for those really tall parents, and you’ve got a complete and comfortable ride for both child and parent.
There are so many accessories for this stroller, so you have to break them down into want vs. need. What you really need is a Cup Holder and, most importantly, the Car Seat Adapter. The cup holder is pretty self explanatory; It’s great for a coffee or a baby bottle. For the car seat adapter, you have 3 choices; The Graco SnugRide, Maxi Cosi Mico, and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP adapter. Bugaboo created all 3 so that parents could choose from amoung the best selection of car seats on the market.
Bugaboo Cameleon Footmuffs
The footmuff is essential if you live in a cold climate. We thought we could get away with blankets instead. However, even in Southern California winters, the footmuff is a great item to have. The bottom half of the footmuff stays on the stroller seat like a seat linner (the seat straps poke through it, so they can be used with the footmuff), while the top half just zips up around the seat, creating a warm sealed sleeping bag.
The Sun Canopy is a great add-on; not a neccessary purchase. However, if summer days are stiffling, your child will appreciate the extra ventilation of the side and top mesh windows. They’ll also appriciate being able to look through them, as it brings in some light and a provides a bit of a view! They come in 9 different colors, so it’s also a relatively inexpensive way to change the look of your Cameleon.
The Sun Shade and Parasolare both meant to do the same thing; block the rays. However, they do so very differently. The Sun Shade is great because is blocks/protects your child no matter where your stroller is facing. It encloses your child in a cacoon-like pocket, completely sheltered from the
Bugaboo Cameleon Sun Canopy & Sun Shade
elements. It’s a little hard to see into the “caccoon” to check on your child, but easy for them to see out. The Bugaboo Parasol is great at shielding your child from the sun, but requires constant adjusting if you are moving in different directions. So, the sun shade is great because it doesn’t require any adjusting. However, if you want to see your child and have better airflow for them, I would recommend the parasol. We used the sun shade when our kids were born (they slept all the time, so it was great to have full coverage), and the parasol when they got a little older and wanted to look around.
The Wheeled Board is great if you have 2 kids, or if your child gets restless and wants to stand up. Bugaboo just came out with a Universal Wheeled Board, which can be used with any Bugaboo Stroller. Installing it is really easy (2 plastic brackets, no screws). When using it, your child stands in back of the stroller and through the handle bar. The Wheeled Board gets in the way of your walking stride, so you will have to walk with a shorter stride or a little off to the side. When not in use there is a bungy cord draw string to pull it up, much like a draw-bridge so you are able to walk normally behind your stroller again.
Bugaboo Cameleon Stroller (Folded without wheels)
So how big is it, really? Well, it’s not small, but it will fit into most 4-door and even hatchback car trunks. The 2-piece fold is a little frustrating at first, but shouldn’t deter you from buying one. After 2 or 3 tries, you won’t even notice it anymore. It’s easy to open, easy to put away, and rolls through the tightest spots at the supermarket and small retail shops. The underseat bag looks tiny, but is deceivingly massive. It’s a little tough to access, but has enough room to store just about anything you need for a quick stroll or a long day away from home.
Hopefully, this has answered many of your questions about the Bugaboo Cameleon. In the 4 years that we’ve had ours, we’ve never had an issue with it. It’s a stylish workhorse. However, if you do have an issue, the stroller comes with a great 2-year warranty (and the customer service is excellent).
Overall, the Bugaboo Cameleon is a great stroller. Very expensive…but worth the $979 price tag (I can’t believe I just wrote that…).
Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair Review
December 3rd, 2009
Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair
The Tripp Trapp Chair from Stokke is not your typical high chair. In fact, it hardly looks like one at all. If you’re looking for the tray you will looking for a while, and that’s because the Tripp Trapp doesn’t have one! The whole idea behind the design of the Stokke Tripp Trapp is to bring families closer together, by enabling everyone to eat at the dinner table. That’s right, even your 8 month old baby will be part of the dinner conversation, as the Tripp Trapp pushes right up to the table, much the same as any dinner chair. If you think it could get a little messy, make sure to get a Table Top, Stokke’s version of the ultimate child placemat. It comes with 6 printed plastic inserts featuring different patterns, designed to enhance your child’s developmental skills. It also provides a topic for fun dinner conversation. The Stokke Baby Set allows children as young as 6 months old to join the dinner table.
At $249, it’s pricey for a high chair. However, what most parents don’t realize is that the Stokke Tripp Trapp is weight tested up to 200 pounds. Therefore, it can be used by parents as well! The stength of the chair allows kids to use it as a desk chair when they’re done with it at the dinner table. It can be used with the Stokke CARE Changing Table (which turns into a desk). When you weigh these benefits, it actually a bargain!
Stokke Tripp Trapp Table Top
The Tripp Trapp comes in 10 cool colors to match your dining room, or to provide contrast to make a bold statement. Parents can also choose from several fun chair cushion choices, making the Tripp Trapp the most stylish high chair we’ve ever seen.
There are several height adjustment options for both the seat and the footrest, accomodating the growth of your child for years to come.
At Pampered Tot, we sell hundreds of these every month, and for good reason. It’s built well, made in Slovenia of solid wood. It has more uses than just a typical high chair. It’s also really easy to clean. There are no plastic parts with hard-to-clean and hard-to-reach nooks and crevices. It’s also not a huge eye soar. The chair blends into the decor of your home, instead of created a whole new theme.
Sleak, stylish, and unbelievably practical, this chair gets high marks from us. As a store owner and as a parent with 2 kids and 2 Tripp Trapp Chairs, I give this product and the Norwegian company that designed and built it very high marks.
2010 Quinny Buzz 3-Wheel Stroller
December 2nd, 2009
New 2010 Quinny Buzz 3-Wheeled Stroller
So many of our customers are calling in and asking us when the new 2010 Quinny Buzz 3-wheeled strollers are coming in, and what’s different about them. So, here’s what we know;
The new Quinny Buzz and Maxi Cosi Mico car seats will be available between late December and mid-January 2010.
Quinny lowered its price for the stroller to $499 (down from $579), a smart move given the state of the economy. The price reduction was made possible by removing a few less needed accessories from the box, such as the bug net and rain cover. Since most people don’t use these at all, why pay for them! At the $499 price, these should be flying off the shelf. Based on the emails and calls we’ve been receiving about them, we expect sales to be really strong.
The 2009 model was offered in a 3-wheel and 4-wheel configuration. The 2010 model will only be available as a 3-wheeled stroller, with an option to convert it to a 4-wheeled stroller by purchasing the 4-Wheel Accessory for $89.95.
New 2010 Maxi Cosi Mico Car Seat in Choco Mint
If you find the standard stroller seat be be too small for your child, Quinny came out with the Buzz XL Seat, which is a stroller seat made with a thinner layer of foam material to create more space for your toddler.
All-in-all, Quinny is moving in the right direction. The color selection for both the Buzz and the Mico are quite refreshing. At a more moderate price of $499, the Buzz is a very appealing choice.
Orbit Baby Stroller Review- The New G2
December 1st, 2009
New Orbit Baby G2 in Ruby Red
Many of our customers have been asking about the new Orbit Baby Stroller Collection, known as the G2 or Second Generation, so here’s the situation; Orbit Baby is taking their wildly successful stroller line and giving it a bit of a facelift. They are expanding the color pallet from 2 to 3 colors by introducing Ruby Red into the mix, and they nailed it. The color is perfect…a great addition.
For all you Orbit Baby Stroller fans out there, you’ll need to be patient. The G2 collection is only coming out in Mid-February to early March 2010. Unitl then, stock of the G1 (current version) will be hard to come by. So, if you are expecting your child within the next 10 weeks, you better hurry and get one! If you have a few months to go, holding out for the G2 will give you the following new features;
The Stroller Chassis will feautre a solid cream color, a larger cupholder, slightly different handlebar adjustments, lockable front wheels, foam filled tires (no more tire pumps needed!) and their new patent-pending QuadShock system which Orbit Baby claims is the most advanced stroller shock system on the market.
New to the Stroller Seat, Orbit Baby has added a custom reversible infant insert (with hard outer shell so that it can be used from birth), a removeable support bar with detachable snack tray, an extendable and removable footrest and, the most impressive “3D Rotation”, the world’s first rotate -and-recline interface. Yes, that’s right parents, you can go from forward facing incline to a rear-facing reclined position with one easy motion. This is the only stroller seat on the market that can do this. This feature is sure to grab the attention of any Bugaboo Cameleon or Stokke Xplory buyer out there and give them some food for thought.
The Bassinet will be a little deeper and offer a removable apron. The Toddler Car Seat and Car Seat Base will remain unchanged from the G1 model.
All in all, I think Orbit Baby is making some significant strides forward in the ever-competitive luxury stroller market. Being an engineering-minded company, their products are always thoughtfully designed and offer great features that every parent is looking for when buying a stroller.
UPDATE: The New G2 line is finally available for Pre-Order!
Maclaren Stroller Recall
November 25th, 2009
We have had several inquiries lately about the Maclaren stroller recall, so I thought I would weigh in on the topic and help shed some light.
The issue is with all 9 Maclaren stroller models, new and old.
The recall was voluntary and it was issued because 12 kids had their finger tips amputated when their little fingers got stuck in the side hinges during the stroller unfolding process. When it comes to child safety, we must all take caution. However, please keep in mind that this issue was caused during the folding and unfolding process, not while strolling. So, parents, take the appropriate measures to fix the issue, but please don’t panic. Your stroller is fine, you just need to contact your retailer or Maclaren directly to have them send you a package of hinge covers.
Maclaren is providing all retailers and stroller owners with a package of 2 Hinge Covers. When installing them, it sufficiently covers/blocks the hinge area, preventing kids from getting their fingers caught.
Once you have these and install them, you are ready to roll again!
Maclaren is a great brand, and they make great products. I stand by them as a parent and retail store owner.
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