Bugaboo Cameleon Vs. Bugaboo Frog – What’s the difference?

April 27th, 2010

Bugaboo Cameleon StrollerAt www.PamperedTot.com

we sell loads of Bugaboo strollers. We love the brand and the product. It’s well made, durable, and backed by a generous 2-year warranty. When customers looking for a Bugaboo stroller call us, their first question is “What’s the difference between the Cameleon and the Frog?”. Well, enough people have called and emailed us, so I thought it was time to write about it.

The Bugaboo Cameleon

and the Bugaboo Frog strollers have many similarities, more so than differences. So, what does the Cameleon have that the Frog does not? (or shall we say, why should I pay $220 more for the Cameleon…).

The Cameleon has these added features:

Bugaboo Frog StrollerSo, after reading through the list of Cameleon extras, what should you do? Well, that depends on you. If you are tall and want to make sure your feet don’t constantly hit the stroller when you walk, the handlebar extension is a great feature. If you plan to use the stroller until your child grows out of it, the extra 2 inches in length on the stroller seat will ensure longer use. If you have a girl and want pink, then have a boy for your second child and need to switch your stroller to blue, a $99 Tailored Fabric Set

will essentially change the look of your stroller and adapt to your needs (the Cameleon is made up of a base color and your choice of 13 tailored fabrics. So, changing the look is easy, fast, and relatively inexpensive).

You can’t go wrong with either stroller. They are both excellent products that will last longer than you need them to. Our Cameleon is 5 years old, and is just as functional and great looking for our second child as it was when we bought it. If you need more guidance or assistance with your purchase, please let us know.

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Stokke Xplory Stroller Rider Board Review

April 23rd, 2010

The New Stokke Xplory Rider Board

is finally here! Stokke Xplory Stroller Rider Board

I have to say that it’s, by far, the best stroller-branded board we’ve seen. It’s sleek, easy to put on, and extremely easy to use. It took a long while, but now Stokke Xplory Stroller users can finally hitch 2 kids on this totally awesome ride!

The setup is simple. Take it out of the box, the clip the 2 ends of the board into the clips alredy provided on your current Strokke Xplory Stroller chassis. PLEASE NOTE: This new Rider Board is only compatible with Stokke Xplory Strollers with serial number 113464 or higher

The use is just awesome. Unlike many wheeled rider board, Stokke’s version requires absolutely no hardware or dangling cords. When in use, it glides smoothly under the seat handle. When you’re done with it, just kick it up. It fastens completely out of the way and onto the stroller chassis with an ultra strong magnet. There no need to tie it to anything. Once it’s up, it will not get in the way of your walking stride at all. I was really amazed.

So, for all you Stokke fans waiting for the Rider, it’s now available

 for $119.99. For fans of other competing luxury strollers, you know have a reason to take another look at the ever popular Stokke Xplory Stroller again…

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New Bugaboo Bee Stroller – Review

January 19th, 2010

The New 2010 Bugaboo Bee Stroller

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 times
Accessories
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.


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What Stroller Should I Buy?

January 15th, 2010

Trying to find the right baby stroller?

Trying toe find the right baby stroller?

This is always a difficult question to answer, and usually ends with 2 stroller purchases rather than one. These days, one stroller doesn’t seem to do the trick anymore. We are spoiled and used to the conveniences that are out there nowadays. Parents are looking for a lightweight, compact, full featured, all-terrain do-it-all stroller. While many strollers succeed in providing most of the functionality you need, you still might want a backup. After all, a jogging stroller is never a top choice when wheeling your kids onto the plane…Conversely, you wouldn’t want to jog with a lightweight compact stroller with wheels the size of your palm.

So, when selecting a stroller that’s right for you, try not to make it a brand-driven decision. Ask yourself what you’d like it to do for you, and make your choice around your lifestyle. Your stroller will be with you for a while. So, if it doesn’t work for you, it will be a frustrating and expensive mistake that you will be reminded of every day for the next 4 years.

The most important question you should ask yourself is “What am I going to use it for?”. If you are a jogger, and enjoy the outdoors, you may want a stroller built specifically for that. Then opt for a “family” stroller as your backup. If you are constantly in and out of the car, go for something more lightweight, compact, and easy to fold. Your back will be thanking you later…

Whether you choose a Bugaboo, BOB, Stokke Xplory, Quinny, Maclaren, Peg Perego or an Orbit Baby

, it’s going to set you back a few bucks. So, before shrugging your shoulders and turning away from the $200 to $1200 strollers, try to look at the purchase as a long term investment. No, you won’t be able to sell it for more than you paid for it, but it is the single most used piece of baby equipment that you are going to buy. If it costs you an extra $200 to get the one that’s right for you, just do it. You won’t regret it, trust me.

If you need some help choosing a stroller that is right for you

, let us know and we would be happy to help!

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Buggy Baggs – Review

January 5th, 2010

Buggy Baggs Shopping Cart Cover

Buggy Baggs Shopping Cart Cover

I love the Buggy Bagg – so convenient.  My son hates the infant car seat, and I always had to carry him around the grocery store in a baby carrier, which works, but can be cumbersome when reaching for heavy items.  I always felt like something would fall on him.  Now that he is 6 months and can sit up on his own, I decided to try the Buggy Bagg Shopping Cart Cover

.  I had always heard great thing about it and thought I would put it to the test myself.

I have used it twice in two days and I love it.  First of all, you can position the Buggy Bagg shopping cart cover into the shopping cart using only one hand if necessary – which always comes in handy when holding a baby or extra large coffee.  The Buggy Bagg unfolds into the cart with the release of one large and very smooth zipper.  Once opened, it is like a little padded oasis for your baby.  I have the jungle pattern which is very bright and colorful (but it is available in more subdued prints).  There is a storage compartment which hangs behind the “seat” of the shopping cart – which can be used for wipes, toys or snacks.  Also, the Buggy Bagg extends over the handle of the shopping cart, which creates a resting place for a child’s toys or snacks.  The Buggy Bagg is extremely convenient, hygienic and fun.  I recommend it for anyone who regularly shops with an infant or toddler.

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Skip Hop Toolbox Diaper Caddy – Review

December 18th, 2009

Skip Hop Toolbox Diaper Caddy

Skip Hop Toolbox Diaper Caddy

Our family uses most of the products we sell. That’s how we seperate the great from the not-so-great. The combination of having 3 floors in our house and a 6-month old baby made me realize just how great this item really is. The Skip Hop Toolbox Diaper Caddy

is a rather simple product, but its the simple things that are often the best and most useful.

The box itself is made of hard plastic, totally maintenance free and easy to wipe down. It’s got 2 handy side slots and 2 little drawers for the small stuff. 

I spend most of my weekends up and down the stairs, going from room to room in a never-ending quest to entertain my kids when we aren’t at the beach or the park. With all that moving around, the ToolBox is a great lifesaver. It’s got enough space to hold everything you need for a diaper change and/or a cleanup. We’ve got our wipes, diapers, changing pad, baby powder, cream, swabs, nail clippers, and a few other things that I can’t think of because my wife’s the one who fills it up! Of course, if you are looking for a great stationary storage organizer, this Skip Hop Diaper Caddy is great for the nursery as well. So whether you leave it there, or carry it around the house, I highly recommend it to organize and simplify your diaper changing “experience”. 

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Holiday Gifts for Mom and Baby

December 17th, 2009

Serena & Lily Take Me Home Gift Set

Serena & Lily Take Me Home Gift Set

So, it’s the holidays and it’s really time to get shopping. While we seem to busy from Thanksgiving Weekend until December 23rd, nothing beats to crazy rush starting today until Christmas Eve. It’s tough to find the perfect gift for expectant parents and their kids. So I thought I would share some of our favorites and best-sellers for this season with you.

If you are looking for great quality and great packaging, the Serena & Lily Market Sling

and Take Me Home Gift Set are two big winners for us this year. They both come in great looking pale blue boxes that look like you spent way more than the $129 and $68 price tags respectively. 

If you are anything like we were when our son, Dylan, was born, you’ll want to keep a daily record of sleep and feeding times and quantities to help with scheduling. The Skip Hop Day To Night Baby Log Book

is a great way to do that. This is a really useful gift that’s great to look at as well. It comes with a little time capsule with a flash light, timer and clock. At $44.95, it won’t break the bank, but certainly look like you did. It also shows that you put lots of thought into your gift. A great keepsake…

If you are looking for toys, we always recommend anything from HABA

. These wooden toys are crafted in Germany (not China), using non-toxic paints. The craftsmanship is excellent. With lots of options and multiple price points, there is sure to be something for all developmental levels and age groups.

Skip Hop Day To Night Log Book

Skip Hop Day To Night Log Book

If you are opting for something on the useful side, Aden & Anais

have the bst swaddling blankets we’ve found. Made with cotton muslin, these blankets are ultra lightweight, yet very durable. They come is sets of 2 or 4, with lots of fun prints to choose from.

One of my favorite items is one that I’ve already written about earlier this month, the BEABA Babycook

. This food processor is really cool. It’s tiny, good looking, and very useful. If you have the inclination to make your own baby food, this is a must have. This is also our best selling item of the season so far.

Of course, the natural choice in baby carriers, after you are done with your baby sling, is the Ergo Baby

. The company came out with lots of new colors this season. Most notably, they added several new Organic baby carriers to choose from. My wife and I use the ergo religiously. It’s a great carrier and super comfortable for us and our kids. Although mom is usually seen using one, you might want to consider a neutral color just in case dad wants to give it a try.

Think Baby Complete Feeding Set

Think Baby Complete Feeding Set

A relative newcomer to the baby products industry, Think Baby is making waves with their line of BPA free feeding products. Again, a product that we currently use with our kids, the Think Baby Complete Feeding Set

is a real winner in our house. It’s great for feeding and food storage (each piece comes with a lid so you can take it with you). When you combine food safety with convenience, this gift set is at the top of our list. It’s really great looking too…

If you are ready to pull out the big bucks, Stokke

seems to be the real winner for cribs, strollers, and high chairs this season. Partially because of their looks and commitment to quality fabrication (almost everything is made in Europe). However, in this economy, I think it’s also their commitment to building smart, long lasting, adaptable products that is winning over our customers. The Tripp Trapp Chair can be used from birth to….well…forever? Yes, that’s right, I sit on my son’s Tripp Trapp sometimes. It was designed for the kitchen table as a high chair, as well as a desk chair for homework 10 years down the road. The CARE changing table converts to a desk, and the Sleepi Crib to a set of 2 chairs. It might be pricey stuff, but in our view (and in the view of almost all of our customers) it’s well worth it. Now they just have to figure out how to convert their Xplory stroller to a bike or a scooter….

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BOB Jogging Strollers – Review

December 14th, 2009

BOB Revolution Stroller

BOB Revolution Stroller

BOB is, arguably, the best jogging stroller brand on the market today. The question is not whether or not to buy one, but rather which one is right for you and your lifestyle. As a retailer that sells tons of these strollers, we get this question every day. So, here’s what you need to know about BOB and how to go about choosing the right jogging stroller for your needs.

If you are a hard core runner, the BOB Sport Utility Stroller (SUS)

or the BOB Ironman Stroller will be a popular choice. What matters to runners is weight, stability and durability. The stroller needs to roll smoothly, be able to stand up to the hundreds of miles that you’re going to put on it over the next few years, and be as lightweight as possible.  Both of these BOB Stroller models have these features in spades. The 16-inch aluminum wheels help keep the overall weight down to 20.4 pounds on the Ironman and 21.1 pounds on the D’Luxe SUS. They both have fixed front wheels to add much needed stability, a necessity when using the stroller primarily as a jogging stroller. 

The BOB Revolution was a welcomed addition to the BOB family a few years ago. It’s the swivel-wheeled version of the Sport Utility Stroller that BOB is best-known for. It was created for parents that want the performance of a jogging stroller combined with flexibility and versatility of a standard everday stroller. If you like to walk on the beach, through the park, up a mountain, and through the tiny aisles at the supermarket, then the BOB Revolution Stroller

is a great choice for you. The front swivel wheel enables you to maneuver just about anywhere. Lock it in place and you’ll have the stability needed to go for a long walk and a light jog.

BOB Ironman Duallie Stroller

BOB Ironman Duallie Stroller

The BOB Revolution also comes in a 12″AW (All-Wheel) version

. Instead of the 2 large 16 inch back wheels on the standard Revolution, the AW features 12 inch aluminum back wheels, to match the front swivel wheel. The result is a lighter stroller with increased maneuverability. Simply put, a smaller wheel means a smaller turning radius. So, it takes less space to turn, allowing you to steer through even tighter spaces. The smaller wheels also take up much less space in your car trunk.

All BOB stroller models are available as Duallies (double stroller) as well.  You will compromise a bit  on performance, but with 2 kids you must be used to compromise by now! All BOB Duallie Strollers

fit through standard doorways, making it just as easy to get around with two kids as you were accustomed to with one. BOB is one of the very few stroller brands to offer such versatility.

So, remember, the scale from hardcore runner to casual stroller starts with the Ironman (large, fixed wheels), and follows with the SUS, the Revolution, and finally the Revolution AW (small wheels with a swivel).

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Kushies Shangrila Activity Mat Review

December 10th, 2009

Kushies Shangrila Mat & Arch

Kushies Shangrila Mat & Arch

This was the best Activity play mat on the market (according to our customer reviews and sales volume figures), but then the Kushies Shangrila Acitivity Mat

took a 6 month hiatus…Even though the mat was a top seller, there were numerous reported defects. Mostly, it was the mat arches that kept braking off.  Kushies took it off the market for a little while to iron out the manufacturing issues. Now the mat is back and it’s better and stronger than ever!

My younger son, Hudson, has been looking at, and crawling  all around this thing since he was born. What makes it such a great mat, and better than all the others is its versatility and simplicity. First off, the mat is reversible. On one side, it features a black and white pattern of shapes and other designs. The black and white contrast is great for early childhood development. Also, babies are color blind at first anyhow. The other side is a soft plush mat filled with various colors and detachable toys (secured with Velcro tabs). This side is great once your child becomes more interactive.

The mat can be used on it’s own or with the arches, giving you the option of limiting the amount of stimlulation your child gets at one time. It also allows you to use the mat in the park or at the beach (don’t worry, it’s easy to clean).

Kushies Bobble Teether Toys

Kushies Bobble Teether Toys

The Arches get attached with Velcro on all four corners as well, making it really easy to put on and take off. Kushies  includes a few teething toys as well. these can be clipped onto the arches through the plastic ring at the top, or simply velcroed to the arches around the mat. As I’m writing this, I am realizing that Kushies really loves Velcro! Joking aside, we prefer it over hard snaps. It provides a smoother surface and a stronger hold. 

Kushies also sells a few clip-on teether & toy sets

that can be used with the Shangrila Mat & Arch, making it an even better buy.



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Beaba BabyCook Food Processor Review

December 8th, 2009

Beaba Babycook Food Processor

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 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.




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