Baby gear

Car seats
A car seat is one of the most important products you will buy for your child. He will use one from the day he makes the trip home from hospital until he weighs at least 18 kg (40 Ib.) or reaches a height of 101 cm (40 in.). With all the use and abuse the item rakes, it's worth finding the best you can afford.

First and foremost, the car seat must meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS)-check for the label and buy in Canada. If you are borrowing or buying second-hand, be certain that the seat has not been involved in a collision and is not on Transport Canada's Notice List- Don't use a seat that's over ten years old. After that, it's up to you.
The best car seat to buy is the model that you will use properly every time. An infant-only seat ($45-$ 105) is the most convenient during the first few months. It is designed to be a used facing the rear of the car and protects babies from birth up to 10 kg (22 Ib.) or 66 cm (26 in.). It can be used until your baby is between four and six months of - age. Its major advantages are portability and convertibility; many models convert from carrier to rocker to baby-feeding chair. For newborns, a five-point harness is essential; an easy-carry handle, a shade canopy, and a stay-in-the-car seat base are helpful extras. A head cushion that supports the baby's head and a protector for your car seat are also worthwhile additional purchases.

Some parents choose to skip the infant seat, because as soon as the baby gets too tall or heavy, they need the larger car seat. These parents might go for the convertible seat ($75-$ 150), which is used rear-facing until the child is over 9 kg (20 Ib.) and can sit independently for long periods. Then it can be placed so that the child, up to 18 kg (40 Ib.), faces
forward. You might look for a car seat that has washable upholstery, a T-shield, and a retractable belt that adjusts automatically to snowsuits and growing children.

Choose a model that's easy to use-the best is the one that you are comfortable adjusting and that works well with the seat belts in your vehicle. If possible, try a pre-purchase test of the seat in the store, filling it with a large doll or stuffed animal. Then test it in your car to see that it fits properly and that your seat belts hold it securely. Once you've made the purchase, keep the manufacturers instructions handy, and fill out and mail in the registration card so that you'll be notified if there's a recall.

Strollers
With their high-tech ergonomics, suspension and braking systems, and a multitude of options, strollers can prove as difficult to choose as a car. You may want to direct some thought and money into this item because you'll probably use it for a few years and for more than one child. Decide where you'll likely stroll-through the woods or the local mall?
Will you be putting it into and taking it out of a car trunk often? Or will you have to lift it on and off the bus? There's a Stroller for every kind of scroll and for every budget-they range in price from nineteen dollars to several hundred dollars. Remember to take a test drive before you buy!

Look for dual rear-wheel brakes, swivel wheels with a secure locking system for moving over grass or gravel, a folding mechanism that locks in place so it won't fold up when you don't want it to, washabllity, an adjustable-reversible handle, and a harness that completely encircles your baby's waist. ITSA notes also that rubber tires last longer than plastic; nylon or rubber are less likely to crack in the cold; double tires wear better than single tires; balloon tires have the best shock absorption; and larger tires are more durable.

All-terrain strollers and umbrella strollers are also available. The latter is convenient and inexpensive, but it doesn't offer good positioning for very young babies. Prams can be big and awkward, but they're great on bumpy winter sidewalks, and they hold a lot of groceries. Look for inexpensive prams at garage sales or consignment shops.

Nice to have

Baby carriers have come a long way from the one-position-only kind that were popular a few years ago. Many front-carriers ($25-$60) are used until your baby is four or five months old or weighs 6-7 kg (13~"15.5 Ib.). They are designed to let him face forward or back.

Backpacks (about $70) may be used from about 5 months of age up to 3 years of age or 19 kg (401b.). With a backpack, you can carry a baby and a whole slew of extras. Think carefully, though, before you buy one of the backpacks with wheels-are you really likely to take the pack off and pull it? Will the terrain be suitable for wheels? Try the carrier on first, ideally with the baby inside. Look for one that's comfortable, easy to use, and made of a fabric appropriate for the weather.