A guest post by Sara McAllister, a self proclaimed gear obsessed nanny who loves to share the latest and greatest in nanny gear with others. The ABC Kids Expo is the best of the best for all baby gear enthusiasts, like myself!! This yearly convention brings together child product experts from across the country, launching new and exciting strollers, carseats, furniture, carriers, toys, and so much more! While the convention is only open to industry officials, the rest of us love following along from home through social media!
The expo just started today and I am already very excited about many products I have seen! As a nanny, I choose to own all of my gear. I own my carseats, stroller, diaper bags, and other accessories. Being responsible for other people’s children with this gear, I put a lot of research into each and every gear choice in order to be able to explain to parents why my selections are great options for safety and functionality as a nanny. There are a few products that have been getting quite a bit of buzz from today’s conference that I would absolutely recommend as a nanny, products that I personally use or stand behind! Carseat
I personally use the Clek fllo in my vehicle. I have invested in two of these amazing convertible carseats to use with any children in my care. The two convertible car seats are very similar; the fllo is like a little sister to the foonf, a bit lighter and more compact! A few reasons I have chosen Clek seats as a nanny:
• Clek seats are among the most eco-friendly and toxin free seats on the market. Their crypton fabrics are greenguard certified and the seats, unlike many others, contain no brominated fire retardants. • Having seats that will fit children at a variety of ages and sizes is very important to me. Both the Clek convertible seats can be used from birth (with the optional infant thing” infant insert sold separatly) up until 65 lbs or 49”. • Clek convertible seats are steel framed and come with steel anti-rebound bars (optional of the fllo), improving stability by limiting rotation of the child seat in the event of a crash. • These seats have a very narrow, compact profile and will fit 3 across in most vehicles! • In my opinion, nannies should all exercise best practice by following extended rear facing recommendation for children in our care. The foonf and fllo are 2 of the absolute best seats for extended rear facing, allowing most children to remain rear facing until age 4 or beyond with a rear facing limit of 50lbs or 43”.
Strollers There are a few strollers that are getting some buzz after the first day of ABC kids! A couple companies who have caught my eye today are Uppababy and GB Child USA.
Uppababy is one of my favorite stroller companies! Today, they showed off their much anticipated G-Link, Uppababy’s new double umbrella stroller. I am generally NOT an umbrella stroller fan, I prefer having a full multi-function stroller at all times. However, based on the amazing quality of Uppababy products, I would definitely assume this may be able to change my mind! Some features:
• Independent one-handed actuated recline with 4 seat positions • Lay-flat recline for travel from birth with included headrest and foot barrier • Individual adjustable footrests • Lockable front wheels for added stability • Hand-level folding triggers • Extendable SPF 50+ sunshade • Stands when folded • Included removable cup-holder Aside from the new G-link, Uppababy makes a line of amazing strollers including the G-Lux, Cruz, and Vista! Diaper Bags Ju Ju Be is my favorite diaper bag brand and they did not disappoint today, launching a new style bag, the Be Classy! I have many Ju Ju Be bags as a nanny, each with a specific purpose in my nanny life! This new style may be one of my favorites!! I think this may be my new everyday bag eventually! Directly from Ju Ju Be: Some of the features of their bags include: • Machine Washable – Air Dry.
• Agion® treatment inhibits growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew. • Teflon® fabric protector, helps repel stains. • Memory foam changing pad included, nice ‘n comfy, super cushy. • Structured bottom with luggage feet. • Metal Hardware, no cheap plastic stuff. • Light-Colored Linings, see what’s inside. • Quiet Magnets, no noisy velcro here. All while being cute and stylish too! I would absolutely recommend each and every bag Ju Ju Be makes based on your individual space needs!!
Other Gear Some other companies to mention based on today’s conference: • Tula baby carriers: Tula is by far my favorite soft structured carrier maker. The standard tula is an incredibly supportive carrier for use from birth up to close to age 2 for most kids. The company has recently launched ring slings, bags, and as of today…Blankets! • 4Moms: Many know 4Moms for their Mamaroo. This company is known for high tech products including a stroller, bouncer, play yard, bathtub, and now a highchair! The highchair released today features a magnetic tray! I will be excited to check out the high chair in the future! • SkipHop: The Uplift Baby Bouncer definitely looks interesting and I look forward to hearing some more hands on reviews! Its essentially a bouncy seat that is height adjustable!
Sara McAllister is a full time nanny to two wonderful little girls in Newport Beach California! Sara found her love of working with infants while volunteering in Peru, working with premature babies at an underprivileged hospital and orphanage. She started her nanny career working as an overnight nanny to multiples throughout college while working on her Bachelors in Child Psychology. Today, living in beautiful Southern California, Sara co-runs the Orange County Nannies group. Sara’s passion for baby wearing and an all-around crunchy” have shaped her nanny career, finding nanny families with similar views.