Baby Present for Travelers
 

Some good friends of ours have had their first baby and we'd like to buy then a present that will make it easier for them to travel as that has been one of their great loves, whether it's a safari, scuba diving, or just hiking near home. <BR> <BR>Looking for recommendations including the brand name/model of something as since we haven't experience this we have no idea. Initial thought was one of the backpack-like baby/toddler carriers, but don't know if those are good/useful and what to look for. <BR> <BR>Major bonus points for ability/information for purchasing the gift on-line as we don't have a great selections of stores near us! <BR> <BR>Appreciate your input (and sincerely hope that I'm not breaking any forum rules w/this inquiry,etc) <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR>Lori

I have 2 suggestions. First, there is LL Bean (www.llbean.com) which has great general stuff. They do have some baby accessories for traveling people. I have personally ordered alot of things from them and they were very good. Also, there is an interesting website for travelling tikes (I think it's www.travelingtikes.com - or something like that). They have a whole range of items as you described by some pretty well known brand names. Good luck.

A baby backpak and a folding travel crib were life-savers when our kids were young! I think Kelty makes an excellent backpack. The folding cribs come in a travel bag that can even be checked with luggage on to a plane. I don't have a specific brand name for the crib - but I would look for one that sets up easily and is light weight.

I posted this under the Europe forum, and thought I would repost. There was some discussion recently on that forum on stroller vs. baby carrier, and people recommended both. Combi has some very lightweight travel strollers that fold up compactly. I just bought one yesterday online at babystyle.com. The Combi Travel Savvy 2100 usually goes for $75. Babystyle has it for $54.99, but there is a $25 coupon (code: 25FREEDEAL). I got it for $34. A gift that won't break the bank. Another gift would be a diaper bag/backpack to be used especially for travelling. There are some great ones out there. LL Bean makes very sturdy bags. You can then fill it with items that would make travelling with a baby easier. In case anyone is wondering, I don't get a single thing for referring Lori to the website or giving her the coupon code, which was emailed to me. I just thought it was a great deal.

Lori: <BR>I like www.magellan.com for travel things. You might find a really unique item there.

A baby on a safari? Scuba diving? Why not offer your services as a baby sitter so they can do these things without endangering their baby. Others would probably also be grateful to you for ever.

I don't think Lori is saying they will take their kid scuba diving or on a safari. It seems to me that she is highlighting that they love to travel and have diverse tastes.

<BR> <BR>Lori: <BR> <BR>I raised three infants over a span of thirteen years, and, in my opinion, the greatest baby-related invention of all time is the canvas-stroller-on-bicycle-wheels-thing (sorry, I don't know what it's called). My first two children, being older, were deprived of the thing, and thus were carted about in wagons and traditional strollers. But the third kid was treated to many-mile walks because of the ease of pushing--and running with--this device. And it folds up like a cot--I took it everywhere. I think it cost me about $150 (five years ago, and I had to shop around--Toys R' Us had the best price). And I had to replace the rear tires once (about $30). <BR> <BR>Another suggestion--someone above mentioned a "carrier," but I don't think I'm talking about the same thing. I call it a bassinet, but, whatever, it's a basket-like thing that an infant can sleep in. It has a handle that allows one to carry the baby around. It's only good for six months or so--unless the baby is really tiny--but it looks really comfortable, and my babies always seemed snug in one. It was cheap--it's just a basket. <BR> <BR>Or, just buy them a bunch of diapers--say a half-dozen packages of each of the first three sizes. In the long run, they'll appreciate this most of all.

Gary hit the nail on the head! <BR> <BR>A jogging stroller would be awesome. <BR> <BR>It is the type that has 3 large wheels, 1 in the front, 2 in the back and a canvas sling type seat. Has a strap for your wrist and of course, brakes. <BR> <BR>My husband and I travel with our 15 onth old daughter and it is the best!!! <BR> <BR>Folds easier that the reg stroller, samll too, more compact which allows for more room for luggage, etc. Heavens knows you travel with tonsof stuff with babies! Also, it is great for off road terrain, such as you would find a National Parks etc. <BR> <BR>It is a blessing when we traveled and visited parks that all of the walkways were not paved. Very easy to manuever. <BR> <BR>Tyr logging on to Babiesrus.com, Babycenter.com. I am sure one of them will have it. <BR> <BR> <BR>

How about the Baby Bjorn carrier? It's great to take your baby on hikes with! You can find it on Babycenter.com and I think Babystyle.com. You could also try babygear.com

I have 4 children and although I don't consider myself any sort of expert I can tell you that my MOST VERY FAVORITE thing for travel as well as to have at home was a backpack type carrier. I used it with my oldest son - who was a non sleeper - at home doing simple chores as well as on the road. He was perfectly happy as long as he could see what was going on. The other children liked it as well and it was wonderful at mall, events, etc. but an absolute live saver with a non sleeper. My son is 22 now but if I needed to buy a baby gift a back pack carrier is the first thing I would go for. <BR>

Thank you all for some great suggestions. And especially to Ilisa. Not only for the "coupon" hint, but also for sticking up for me (as she hit the nail on the head, I was not suggesting that they take the baby on a safari or scuba diving). <BR> <BR>You gave me some great choices. I almost went w/the stroller suggestion, but since they could also use it hiking or almost anywhere, I finally decided on a framed baby back pack carrier from babystyle. <BR> <BR>Thank you all very much!

An invaluable gift we received was a bag with big pockets on the side for diapers, bottles etc. and it folded out into a small bed with padding and sides. It folds up to about the size of a large diaper bag. We used it for all three of our kids when we traveled and they were able to sleep in it until they were about six months old. We gave these as gifts for years. OUr friends and family are now too old for babies and too young for grandchildren so I don't know if they're still around.

I know the 3 wheeled strollers are really the "in" thing these days. But the stroller I enjoyed the most had 4 oversized tires, was more compact than the jogging stroller, and had a spacious storage bin underneath. I found it on clearance at a Wal-Mart several years ago. During that time we went to a lot of football games at Auburn University. It took cobblestone sidewalks, hills, curbs, wooded areas, etc. like it was made for them. It was! It also had plenty of room for jackets, drinks, bags of souvenirs, etc. <BR> <BR>Don't know if the current jogging strollers are this accomodating of all the other "stuff" that seems to accompany jaunts with small children. Originally they didn't, since they were designed simply for jogging - not shopping/sightseeing/etc. trips.