Baby shower registries are widely popular today and are great to get ideas about what mom would like. Some guests will simply buy something from the registry store. Others will buy gift cards, especially if mom is flying in for the shower. I would caution about buying gift cards. Did you know that when a company goes bankrupt, your gift card is usually worthless? There is nothing wrong with giving the parents to be cash or a check. If you really want a gift card, opt for a bank gift card or American Express gift card. Be sure to ask about dormancy fees.

I have noticed the chatter among my female relatives about baby shower registries. The younger women tend to favor them. The older women, less so. Especially the ones on fixed incomes. Old Great Aunt Tillie cannot afford hundreds of dollars for a gift. And in fact, she is wondering why baby gear is so expensive today. Great Aunt Tillie may be onto something there. I have attended showers where the gifts would have filled a small bedroom, wall to wall. The last shower I attended, the parent's had a friend with a pick up truck. They made 3 trips to transport all the baby booty.

So what is a guest to do? Well first of all, remember that you are a guest. If you were invited to the shower, it is because you hold an important place in the lives of the parents and the baby to come. Yes you are expected to bring a gift, but you are not expected to take out a second mortgage to do it. Look over your budget. Hopefully you have a fund for unexpected gifts. Do you have an idea of how many wedding, baby and holiday gifts you will need to buy this year? Be honest with yourself about what you really can afford. If you know a baby is coming early enough, you can even start a spare change jar to save ahead. I know people who buy small gifts when they see a good bargain so they are never caught short. You could start watching for special sales and pick up a real bargain. I strongly do NOT recommend this if you are a pack rat!

The grandparents and special friends of the new parents will likely buy the bigger gifts. And you might want to check around with others who you know are on a budget and might like to chip in together for a gift. But don't feel obligated buy the registry list. Keep in mind, stores make sure the parents to be list everything under the sun. But they often don't list enough of things new parents REALLY need. You simply cannot have too many Onesies®, which by the way is not a generic term. Onesies® is a registered trademark of Gerber just as Kleenex® is a registered trademark of Kimberly-Clark. And while I think about it, the nursery needs Kleenex® too. For more on budgeting for baby shower gifts, read my next post titled, Baby Shower Gift Baskets on a Budget.

*  Safety Harness - 3 or 5 point.
*  Fully reclining seat for infants.
*  Wide wheel base for stability
*  Rear facing option especially for infants to face mom or the back of a car seat.
*  Thoughtfully designed cargo systems, low and to the rear.
*  Locking moving parts to guard against collapse
*  Wheel brakes that lock.

Extra Considerations If Buying a Pre-owned Stroller

Ask about the condition of the stroller if it is not apparent, especially with an online auction.  Avoid saggy seats, missing parts and excessive wear.  Make sure all components of the stroller can be cleaned.  If I can’t hose something down or throw it in the washer, I am not buying it used for my baby.

As I have said in a previous post, there is no reason to settle for junk if you are buying used.  There are simply too many mint condition strollers out there ready for the buying.  Why?  Well some strollers simply do not get enough use.  Mom found something that better fit her needs and the cast off sat in a corner some where.  Doesn’t mean there is a single thing wrong with it.  Just wasn’t right for that particular family.  Their buying gaffe can be your buying bargain.

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association “is dedicated to promoting the industry and the safe use of juvenile products”.  Visit JPMA.org for brand names of strollers and other products that pass the association’s rigorous testing and wear their certification seal.

As always, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the individual manufacture will be your best source of info regarding recalls.

Safety starts with the manufacturer but ends with you.  If you do not use a product properly, the safety results cannot be accurately predicted.

Using Your Baby Stroller Safely

Read the manufacturer’s instructions.  If these are not available in the case of a used purchase, try contacting the manufacturer’s website.  If that doesn’t work, ask for help on one of the million baby oriented online forums.  Undoubtedly someone will have the information you seek.

Watch where you are going.  Keep in mind baby is traveling ahead of you.  You must allow for that extra distance when gauging motion, especially crossing streets.

Never take your eye off baby when he is in the stroller.

Keep hands and feet inside the ride at all times.  How many times have you heard this at the amusement park?  Aim for that same level of safety with baby in a stroller.  Obviously baby is going to reach and lean.  Account for that distance when moving.

When moving from car to stroller and back, secure baby in the car while opening and closing the stroller.  If you are already walking with both baby and stroller in hand, try to find a place to safely place baby while you set up the stroller.

Keep an eye on the stroller condition during every use.  One small lose string or broken dangly toy can be a big problem in the making.

The stroller is not a toy.  Older children will want to push it.  As baby toddles, she too will want to push it.  Only allow this under your most careful and close observation.  Think about it.  A toddler is pushing but is also depending on wheels for balance.  We don’t want a slip in the wrong direction.

Never use the stroller as a shopping cart adjunct.  Buy proper storage accessories if needed.  Your stroller will likely be designed to stow a bag beneath it.  Don’t try to overload it no matter how tempting.

Give your stroller a once over frequently.  Check for possible hazards, signs of excessive wear and lose or missing parts.

Safely used, a stroller can be a great tool for parents.  Happy rolling!