At Parenting Without Tears we review a whole range of products and equipment from birth to teens. Here are some of our top recommendations – equipment which will last and give maximum value for money. In no particular order our accolades go to:
We are still using this three years on. Snoozeshade has definitely stood the test of time and is perfect for protecting your baby or toddler from the sun as well as providing a dark environment for sleeping on the go.
This is a really useful piece of equipment. The MOTOROLA MBP36 Baby Monitor allows you to see your child without disturbing her by going into the room. It's tempting, as a new parent to respond to every snuffle and whimper. But new parent make noise as they sleep and with this monitor you can check whether the sound is just baby turning over and going back to sleep or merits a parential visit. Great for when children (and adults!) are unwell or if a member of the family has special needs.
Penrose Products have come up trumps with their bedding. Their duvets are made to order and will help provide the perfect temperature for you baby or toddler (the range includes adult sizes as well). The Alpaca wool used in the filling is anti-allergenic, deters dust mites and is Vegetarian Society approved.
B-Sensible have created the perfect solution to protecting mattresses. You need to do this but buying a mattress proector separately is not cost effective especially as you'll need two for when accidents or sickness occur. We have been really impressed with our B-Sensible waterproof fitted sheet and they come in a range of sizes.
Previously parents have had to invest in a range of car seats to accommodate a growing child. Now you can buy just one the MAX-FIX Car Seat from Britax. You can start with this rear-facing seat for a new-born and still be using it up to the age of four so a really good investment. The ISOFIX system means the seat can also be tranferred to different cars with minimum fuss.
Choosing a pushchair or buggy can be a nightmare but Britax have made life simpler by designing a pushchair which will suit a new-born and carry her into her early years. On top of this you can personalise your options by choosing from 18 different colour combinations and each buggy has its own individual code (similar to a vehicle registration number) to deter theft.
MAX-FIX Car Seat